Thank You, Running Atom!

My fellow TBR marathoner and good friend Alfredo A. Vedarozaga posted this beautiful message in FaceBook that I would like to share with you.  It is his comment to my blogpost "Choose to be Happy Now" which I published last October 17, 2010.  Pido is otherwise known as the Running Atom, being the genius behind the awesome blog http://www.runningatom.blogspot.com/.

"Hi Tita Nora, I was touched by your blog post about being happy now!  


You always make my heart melt and I so adore you for being strong despite those trials and adversities in your life.  Though we don't know what lies ahead of us, I'm sure God is so happy for you both for being a good child, and a very loving parent at the same time.


Your positive thoughts and spirit surely vibrates among your blog readers, friends, and colleagues.


I believe that we chose who will be our parents before we came down and experience earth life.  So whoever our parents are, we really have to love them and give them our due respect.


Keep on inspiring us Tita Nora, and be strong always.


God bless you po always =)"

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YES! I'm Back With My Newest Recruit: T. CHINKY

Yes, I know.  I have been "lazy" for the longest time now and would have been hibernating for eternity if not for the much-needed Divine Intervention sending T. Chinky to drive me out of my newly found comfort zone.

T. Chinky is Eia's lovely new SPED teacher.  For those reading this blog for the first time, Eia is my 11-year old daughter with Down Syndrome who is at present studying in IMAI (Integrated Movement Academy Inc.).

In the middle of our Parent-Teacher Conference, they suggested that Eia should be encouraged to engage in sports.  I told them (T. Chinky and T. Lily, the Principal) that Eia joins 3K races and plays tennis.  That's when T. Chinky expressed her desire to join the Milo 5K Fun Run.  I told her she's quite lucky because Runrio opened additional slots for 5K.  

And so the following day, Saturday, I dropped by Toby's MOA before proceeding to my appointment in Makati to register T. Chinky, Ate Ella, Gio, Eia and myself.  But to my frustration, the lady informed me that the 200 additional slots that came Friday were filled-up in just one hour.  In her own words: "Dinumog po kami dito."

Oh well, better luck next time.

Or so I thought.

Thursday, July 21, I went to BGC to pick up my takbo.ph runfest kit.  I first went to Runnr to register for Unilab Run.  It caught my attention that people were carrying Milo 5K race kits so I inquired if there were still slots and when the ladies said yes, I excitedly asked for 5 registration forms!

It took me one whole year to train for my first 5K race and only 1 week to train T. Chinky!  Whew!  What a challenge!  I had to read and reread my Runnersworld complete book on women's running.

T. Chinky was able to convince T. Ellaine (Eia's former SPED teacher) to train with her and I said to myself: "Good.  The more, the merrier."

Monday, July 25:  We walked 1 km for 10:26 mins. This eased T. Chinky's apprehension of not finishing within 1 hr.  Surely, she would arrive in less than 1 hour even if she'll just walk.

We then followed 1:1 sequence (1 min. run, 1 min. walk) completing 1 km

We then followed 2:1 sequence (2 mins. run, 1 min walk) completing 1 km

We then cooled down by walking 1 km for 14 mins.

Wednesday, July 27:  Classes were suspended due to Juaning.  We trained for 45 minutes inside the covered court in our village with varying sequence.

Friday, July 29:  We skip training due to hectic schedules

Saturday, July 30:  We skip training due to emerging cough and cold of T. Chinky

Sunday, July 31:  RACE DAY      

3:30 AM: I called T. Chinky 'coz I was having second thoughts.  The weather wasn't cooperative. And she wasn't feeling well due to lack of sleep and slight cough and cold.  But I could sense that she really wanted to go.  So I decided to leave my kids with Ate Ella and meet her just outside Philamlife Village. Luck was still with her for her brother Matthew consented to accompany her.  It wasn't safe to travel alone early in the morning.

Due to bad weather, T. Chinky and her brother Matthew arrived quite late at our meeting place.  But MOA was just near so I had no doubt that we'll arrive before 5:30 AM.

It was the first time that the MILO Marathon was held in MOA.  I didn't anticipate that Diosdado Macapagal Ave. would be closed.  We had to drive back to MIA Road to make a U-turn to Roxas Blvd. then right turn to Edsa and make another U-turn to go to MOA.

We were still looking for parking space when the first wave of 5K runners went through.  We successfully squeezed ourselves to join the 4th wave and we were off.

As expected, we just walked for the first 4 minutes.  After that, we executed the 2:1 sequence: 2 mins run, 1 min walk, stopping at every water station.  I promised T. Chinky that I would be with her up to the Finish Line.  And so her brother.

T. Chinky, very much alive and jubilant (and wet) with her first 5K and her brother Matthew who's wearing Gio's singlet (hussh . . . pls don't tell Coach Rio). 

The trainer and the trainee:  Congratulations, T. Chinky!  Out of the 6,937 5K runners, only 5,332 finished within the 1-hour cut-off time.  You ranked 2,375 with an official time of 45:32.  Would you believe you're ahead of 4,562 runners?  Galing galing!  Let's start training for your first 10K heh heh . . .

Eia in her Milo singlet.  Next time, I will bring her to run with me -- rain or shine.

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Saying Goodbye Thrice

Tuesday, March 29, 2011:  I said goodbye to my helper of almost 8 years.

Sadness tried to stop me from letting her go but I had to set her free.

Remember the feeling of breaking it off with the person you really love, but you have to end the relationship because it isn't right?  You initiated the break-up but it still hurts just the same.

It was my decision to terminate my helper's services but for some unexplainable reason, I still felt a slight stab in my heart.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011:  I said goodbye to DELANOR Health Products Trading.

My business technically ended last Feb. 15, 2011 when I decided not to renew my contract with Starmall Las Piñas.  However, I didn't apply for closure right away  because I still had to establish "closure" to the very core of my being.

As I was sitting in the Treasurer's Office of our City Hall waiting for my turn, I still couldn't believe that I was about to say goodbye to a dream I once had -- a dream I thought I could turn into a reality which would last forever.

But the feeling of emptiness didn't last long.
I just told myself: " If I could say goodbye to my dear husband, I could say goodbye to anyone or anything."

Thursday, March 31, 2011:  I said goodbye to STI, my son's second home for 4 years (from Grade 4 to HS 1)

Dec. 15, 2010 . . . as I utter these words in opening my speech during the final recognition day of STI, I could already see tears flowing down the cheeks of my audience.
Dec. 15, 2010 was the day STI informed everybody that it will close its basic education program.  I don't know how and why I was chosen to give the inspirational talk in the culminating activity of my son's school but I'm happy I did it.

Last Wednesday, however, as I was driving from home to STI to get Gio's Form 137 and Certificate of Good Moral Character, it dawned on me that this was the very last time that I will set foot on this school. Suddenly, my heart hardened and I found it difficult to breath. It wasn't just a stab that I felt.  It was more of an elephant leg crushing my chest.  Sure, there are a lot of schools in Las Piñas but it was already inputted in my CPU that my son would finish high school in STI.

After I got the 2 envelopes, I said goodbye to the staff and teachers who were playing cards in the lobby trying to amuse themselves.  I wanted to tell them that "everything is for the best" but opted not to.

As I walked back to the car, I said a prayer for everybody.  My heart grieved for them and for a while, I forgot my own problems that were choking me for the past 3 days.

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A Quick Update

Hello everyone!  Before you think that something bad happened to me, here's a quick update of what transpired during the past 5 months that I was invisible.

1.  Tested myself if I could finish 32k without the proper training.  And the verdict is . . . YES, I can!  I joined RunRio Trilogy 3 last Nov. 21, 2010 and thanks to my cousin Jun Muego who went back for me, I survived the 32K.  Coach Rio knows that runners hit the "wall" on the 32nd km and that's exactly what happened to me.  Thank God after the 32nd km, it's the Finish line already!

What I vividly remembered about this race was the different ways my name was called.  My favorites were of course "Nora" and "Ms. Nora".  Some called me "Ma'am, Tita, Ate, Mommy" and I don't really mind being addressed as these.  But when runners and marshals ask me "Nanay, kaya nyo pa ba?"  I was almost tempted to challenge them to run 42k with me haha . . .

2.  December passed in a jiffy and I just woke up one day realizing that it was already 2011.  I thought I could hide the 10 lbs. that I gained during the holidays but anywhere I go, people would ask me "Ma'am, tumaba ho ba kayo?"

3.  In desperation to lose weight fast, I registered online for the the Condura Skyway Marathon, only to back out at the last minute when I learned that there's a 6-hr cut-off time.  With my extra 10 lbs., there's no way I could finish 42k in less than 6 hours.  So I did the most sensible thing to do:  I signed up for the half-marathon instead.  21k is my comfort zone.  It's a distance I'm confident to finish, with or without training.

This is one memorable race for out of nowhere, Bong (Pagong) Ortiz greeted me!  I couldn't believe at first because I knew that Bong lives in Canada.  I was sooh happy to finally see Bong, who's very instrumental in my humble pursuits.

4.  Last year, I wasn't able to join the RunRio Trilogy 1 because it coincided with the Happy Walk of the Down Syndrome Assn. of the Phils.  This year, there was a registration booth at the Condura Race so without thinking, I registered for 21k.

I almost decided not to go through with this race because Eia's recital was also scheduled on March 6, 2011. But the runner in me prevailed.  I ran 21k, then proceeded to the 21k booth, then ran to the car and immediately went home even without changing clothes and having breakfast.

5.  I am happy to announce that I'm back training and playing tennis.  And I have a new-found love:  Tai-Chi every Tue. and Fri.  Oh, and I have a fantastic running buddy, Pam.

See you at the takbo.ph nightfest this April 9!

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Choose To Be Happy NOW

Picture this:

You're an only child and a single mother.

You take care of your 86-year-old father whose favorite pastimes are worrying and whining.  Stress is his time-tested form of therapy.  While it is true that stress kills, stress is what makes him fully alive hehehe . . .
You long for the tender, loving, care of your mother who has been an OFW (Out For Work) for as long as you can remember.  You have been missing her since your infancy, childhood, adolescence and adulthood.  You desperately want to catch up with her through your golden years but at 76, she's still very much alive and active with her chosen career. You only get to feel her warmth and positive presence during Saturdays and Sundays 'coz she works and lives away from home during week days.

You battle it out with your 13-year-old son every single day.  They say God is so providential that He gave parents 12 years to develop the unconditional love for their children before they turn into monster aliens whom we call teenagers.  You may be the Judge of the Supreme Court but you won't stand a chance against my son. He's simply too smart and manipulative.

You gather all your reserved patience, strength and energy to tutor your special child everyday and bring her to therapy every Saturday.  Some parents swear that having 1 special child is equivalent to having 10 normal children.

You fantasize of having a supportive husband to share your sorrows, pain and suffering but you realize that he's only a figment of your wild imagination.

Yes, we did not choose to be alive in this world.

BUT WE CAN CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY, NO MATTER WHAT LIFE BRINGS.

Hence, I will no longer wait for my father to have a change of heart before I make myself happy (but I won't stop hoping).  I choose to be happy NOW.  If I were to be a punching bag to prolong my father's life, I will be the happy punching bag.

I will no longer wait for my mother to retire in order to be happy. (There's no retirement in sales.  Contract with the company only expires in case of permanent disability or death.)   I will treasure every moment that she's with me.  I choose to be happy NOW, even if I'll never understand how she managed to survive a life away from her only daughter.

Yes, I know I will probably lose upcoming battles of wit with Gio but I will never lose my love for my only son.  I will say goodbye to hurt and misery and choose to be happy NOW.

My daughter with Down Syndrome may never finish school but that's alright with me.  I choose to be happy NOW, and not wait until she speaks clearly and know when it's New Year's Day.  (Eia can sing the whole soundtrack of HS Musical 1, 2, and 3 but couldn't remember that Jan. 1 is New Year's Day!)

Let's not wait for our dreams to come true before we can be truly happy. 

CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY NOW.  (but I'll be happier if I find a partner who'll run all the way with me through eternity hah hah . . . )

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A Child's Prayer

Every night, my daughter Eia always say this prayer on top of our usual prayers:

"Jesus, heal Lolo.  Take care of Nanay in Pampanga.  Heal Mama's hand, knee and foot.  Bless Mama's work, business, tennis, marathon, fun run and Bull Run."

And last night, Eia surprised me by adding:  "Help Federer win"!

Let's Run to Read!

Last Friday, July 9, 2010, the angels took pity on me and made my impossible schedule available for the launching of the Run to Read at Max's Greenbelt 1, Makati.

It was a wonderful evening, a night that I thought could only happen in a dream. (Thank you, thank you Eric for inviting me!)

I always enjoy meeting fellow runner bloggers -- it's as if we've been friends forever! (you may find our pictures in Face Book).

Listening to Nikky (of BrandWorX), Patty (the friend-sidekick of Anne, who's the "brains and heart" of this cause), Bea (the National Book Store Foundation representative) and Eric Pasion (president of Run4Change) made me shed a bucket of tears. Here's why.

Below is one of the articles included in our kit.

Running to a better future through reading:

It's no big surprise that running marathons has become one of the most participated sports recreation events in the country. For one thing, running can easily be anybody's game, one that almost everyone is equipped to perform" no goals to kick the ball into, no rings to shoot at, no paddles to swing. One relies on his strength and power to achieve -- a common goal that everyone, runner or not shares. It's either a competitive or non-competitive sport depending on what the participant chooses to make out of the distance he runs. while running is generally a solo sport, here in the Philippines, it's become a healthy way of bonding among groups of friends, work colleagues, active families and young couples, making it an even more attractive sport to get into.

Hearts pounding, sweat dripping, soles bouncing on the pavement -- runners always get their rush when they're out on the road. There is also that fulfillment in seeing the finish line up ahead, in knowing that they've overcome themselves once more. The runners' high gets stronger though when a worthy cause is at a race's helm.

A child's ability to read and learn is by far the most important skill that will get him or her through life. Unfortunately, children all over the country suffer from having little access to books that can feed their minds and broaden their knowledge on various subjects. Public libraries supposed to be their means to learn more are ill equipped, under-funded, unmanned and simply in bad physical condition, thereby failing on their function.

The Philippines only has about 688 public libraries, less than 40% of the required minimum 1,851 libraries to serve 220 congressional districts, 136 cities and 1,495 municipalities. This affects some 40% of the population or nearly 40 million Filipinos as it unacceptably deprives our children of a resource that could spell a difference for their future. Together with National Bookstore's Buklat Aklat program, the Run to Read fun run was created to raise funds to build Leave-Behind public libraries in rural and less fortunate urban areas to offer hope for our youth's future.

Run to Read Fun Run will be held on August 15, 2010 at Bonifacio Global City. (Eric announced that this will be a new race route!) The run will be composed of 4 major distance events: 3K, 5K, 10K, 15K and a 500 meter dash for kids with their moms or dads. An informative Sports Running Clinic for new runners will be held on July 28 on the basics of running, healthy living and the great cause behind the Run to Read Fun Run.

Run to Read is an effort in participation with National Bookstore (we were told by Bea that National Bookstore will equal the amount that will be donated from the proceeds of this Run), Bonifacio Global City, The Philippine Star, Sony Ericsson (5 phones will be given away in the raffle), Moms Today, Health Today, Pocari Sweat, Toby's Sports (duffle bags as raffle prizes), Delta Airlines (2pcs of 250USD Electronic Credit Voucher to the lucky raffle winners), Tapa King (available at the venue), Yellow Cab (would you believe P10,000 worth of Yellow Cab GC is included in the raffle?), Reebok and Drypers Wee Wee DRY diapers (2000 pcs loot bags).

 Runners and interested participants who'd like to take a step in contributing to this cause can register at:

Secondwind Store QC, 88 Maginhawa St. Teachers Village, Diliman Quezon City
Secondwind Store Ortigas, Ortigas Home Depot, 1 Dona Julia Vargas Ave, Ortigas
All Terra Cyclery, Club 650 Libis, Quezon City
BrandWorX Inc Head Office, Penthouse Eurovilla 2 Bldg., V.A. Rufino St. Makati City
Runnr Store B3 Bonifacio High Street, Taguig City, Philippines
Reebok Festival Supermall, SM Megamall and TriNoma
Royal Sporting House, AliMall, Glorietta 4 and Robinsons Place Ermita

Registration may also be done online thru runnersrunner.com. And if the early bird catches the worm, registrants from July 1 - 15, 2010 get P50 off the registration fee. Registration for Run to Read Fun Run is from July 1 to August 8. Fees to participate in the run are from P350 to P500 depending on the distance.

Be up to date with Run to Read, visit run4change.com/runtoread. Facebook.com/runtoread. For inquiries email read@run4change.com.

And if the above article doesn't convince you 100% to join this heroic event, feast your eyes on their multi-colored singlets!

A singlet of your color choice! (of course I'll pick red, my favorite color)

See you August 15!

Take care, everyone!