Save the Date! Nov. 27 for Run BGC with Flag Football!

New Challenge!

Sunset Run. Race & Rave for Cause

Imagine a thousand pairs of feet rushing amidst the sunset. Feel the adrenaline racing through their veins. See passion come to life in a race to help reach the dreams of the next generation.

On its 3^rd year, SunPIOLOgy 2012 enjoins everyone to RAVE and RUN to RAISE funds for a cause as Sun Life Financial-Philippines collaborates once again with Piolo Pascual’s Hebreo Foundation.

Run to raise funds

“Sunset Run” which celebrates good health and the exhilaration of conquering one’s goals and aspirations, no matter the distance. “Running is a meditation for me, a time to think and just let myself go. It is also a challenge to see how far I can go,” volunteers Piolo who is, himself, a duathlete and a competitive runner.

The race begins with a Vertical Run at the Sun Life Centre at the corner of 5^th avenue and Rizal drive Road races for 3k, 5k and 10k distances will commence one after the other a few blocks away at the 11^th Avenue, North Bonifacio. A 500-M costume run is open for kids age 5-10 years old.

Registration is accepted in Toby’s and Runnr outlets in Alabang Town Center, Bonifacio High Street, Shangri-la Mall, and TriNoma until November 4.

Rave for art

The triology opens on December 10 with a benefit exhibit to be unveiled at the lobby of the newly-inaugurated Sun Life Centre, a pioneering GREEN structure in Bonifacio Global City.

Themed “Panoramic Portals,” the 24-piece visual piece features Pascual’s latest photo collection side by side with original artworks hand-drawn by a Hebreo scholar who happens to be an upcoming artist as well. Using old masters classic strokes, the paintings would illuminate Piolo’s different persona in and out of the limelight.

adidas KOTR Race Results and Discussions

I ran the 16.8km distance even I haven't got enough mileage. KOTR 16.8km was my first long run after the Cebu Marathon last January 2011. It didn't matter to me what time I may finish the distance as long I'll see my friends along the road. I've been leading one of the running groups in BHS and I would like to know how they performed during the race.

I am so excited opening my computer checking if the results are available already and when you search it, you will see "adidas KOTR Race Results and Discussions" of this site and when you "click" it, there's nothing available information for you to see. I've been fooled and deceived! Did it happen to you also? Have you ever been fooled of this site. Actually, these has been a practice of this site, first to post the "Race Results and Discussions" just to get hits. The site doesn't care if you are being fooled and deceived. This site only care is the "HITS" as if this is their bread and butter.

Speak with integrity.

I believe what you say reflects of who you are.

Be a responsible cyber user. Be a responsible blogger. Feed only the truth.

So, to my fellow runners, if you want to see your official race results, go to the owner of the race. Go to the site of the official organizer or to the site with integrity. Think before you click.

The Ruins

This is the reason why we missed our flight back to Manila. Blame it on EZ Map! hahaha! Don't be deceived by EZ Map said. We've lost a lot of time finding how we can get there only to find out that we were so close when we were in Bacolod City. It says, it was located in Talisay City, yeah technically, but the best way of going there is to take Brgy. Bata jeep from Bacolod City and drop off at Pepsi Cola Bldg. at the corner of circumferential rd. (flyover). From there, you will see the Ruins tricycle terminal. Fare is Php20.00 or US$0.44, one way per person.

Anyway, The Ruins is the mansion of Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson. It was built in memory of his wife Maria Braga, who died in 1911. Don Mariano sought the services of the best architects and builders by flying in an architect and sourcing materials from Europe. The mansion is an Italian architecture inspired, designed for Don Mariano's devotion and love to her wife. It was the largest and one of the grandest structures in 19th century.

If you want to catch the best vista of the mansion, better come out at four in the afternoon. At this hour, everything turns golden.

More photos of the Ruins.

How to get there: Take a Brgy. Bata jeep from Bacolod City. Drop off at Pepsi Cola, Carlos Hilado Highway (circumferential Rd.) where the Ruins tricycle terminal is located. Take a tricycle. Fare is Php20.00 or US$0.44, one way per person.

Address: Talisay City, Negros Occidental

Entrance Fee: Php60.00 (US$1.36)

Open Hours: 8:00am to 8:00pm daily

Related article - Negros Occidental - the Journey (part 1) , Negros Occidental - Silay City (part 2)

Who's Running at the Adobo Run on Oct. 29?

Seemingly the stars will align on October 29 at the adobo Run After Dark at Aseana City (near Mall of Asia). Big names from the entertainment industry, business sector, and the running scene are all taking part in the 2nd edition of the novel night run, which promises to have a lot of spectacles. Major corporations such as Meralco, McDonald's, St. Luke's Medical Center, Pocari Sweat, Manila Beer, Toby's, Runnr, R.O.X., Video Sonic, Studio 58 Lab 10, Soleus, MyPhone, print media giants The Philippine Star, The Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Business Mirror, Business World, Inquirer.net, sports magazines thebullrunner, Multisport, Frontrunner, sports cable channel Balls TV, and top FM station Mellow 94.7 have banded together for this distinctive footrace event in support of its main beneficiary Isang Litrong Liwanag project headed by notable social entrepreneur Illac Diaz. Asia Brewery big boss Bong Tan himself has confirmed his participation in the race.

For the post-race activities, Ebe Dancel, noted former vocalist of Sugarfree, will be jamming with the race participants who are in for some wholesome rock party. Also provide rocking beats at the race are top band Stonefree and rising indie band Blue Boy Bites. Other standout bands from the music scene will sustain the live performances at the adobo Run.

Ebe Dancel

Blue Boy Bites

Stone Free

On the serious side of running, top Filipina marathoners Mercedita Manipol and Joan Banayag are all set to claim the spotlight in the 5k and 15k categories, respectively. This will be the first time Manipol and Banayag will compete in a night run. Providing, however, top-class competition to our home-grown running heroines are the formidable slew of Kenyan runners.

Mercedita Manipol

Joan Banayag

Possibly going to elicit shrieks and provide celebrity appeal to the event are the sure participation of GMA Artist Center's rising jewel Gwen Zamora. Gwen will don her erstwhile Cinderella costume of the telefantasya fame Grazilda as she joins the 3k category. Illac Diaz himself will be in a general's costume as he runs with a whole platoon of real-life soldiers in the 5k category. Noted sports host and personality Rovilson Fernandez and ace comedian Bearwin Meily would prefer to keep their costumes under wraps even as they set their sights in setting their respective personal bests in the virtually flat course of the 15k category. Several more celebrities are reportedly going to make surprise participation in their chosen race categories in the adobo Run, undoubtedly the biggest night race of the year.

And to further provide excitement to male participants, the Playboy Playmates will be donning their titilating bunny outfits as they strut it out throughout the 3k course.

Registration for the adobo Run After Dark is extended until October 28, Friday. Visit now R.O.X. in Bonifacio High Street, Toby's EDSA Shangri-La Mall, and Runnr Trinoma to catch the remaining race slots. Satellite registration outlets are the adobo Magazine office at Unit C2-A Bldg., Karrivin Plaza, 2316 Chino Roces (Pasong Tamo ext) and Crush Communications office at the Ground Flr of Jupiter 1 Bldg, 56 Jupiter St., Bel-air, Makati. On-line registration facility is also an alternative via www.adoborun.runningmate.ph. On-site registration will also be available on race day Saturday, October 29 at the Aseana City Business Center lobby (just beside McDonald’s in Macapagal Blvd cor Bradco Ave) from 10am till 6pm.

Negros Occidental - Silay City (Part 2)

Since we have a limited time to visit Negros, we maximize our time. Our itinerary brought us straight from the airport to Silay's downtown.

Silay City is located 16km North from Bacolod. The City is where life is sweeter. In Silay, the past comes alive in the architecture and fine craftsmanship of its ancestral homes. It is sugar that made Silay one of the richest towns in the country and the sugar barons or hacienderos spared no expense in the construction and furnishing of their homes. Silay earned the title as "the Seat of Arts, Culture and Eco-trourism in Western Visayas".

Silay City was founded in 1760 and was at the forefront of sugar production at the turn of 20th century. Built between the late 19th century and the pre-war years, 29 surviving ancestral houses were identified by the National Historical Commission as national treasure. Silay is a living Museum. It is my favorite amongst other town in Negros Occidental.

The Balay Negrense (Don Victor Gaston Ancestral House)

Since no one explained to us the history of the house, I just mirrored a brief history of the house from wikipedia.

The Balay Negrense was originally the ancestral house of Victor F. Gaston, a son of Yves Leopold Germain Gaston and Prudencia Fernandez. The elder Gaston is credited as one of the pioneers of sugarcane cultivation in this portion of the Philippine archipelago. A native of Normandy in France, he married Filipina from Batangas where he initially began experimenting with sugar production before relocating to Negros.

The house is of the type called bahay na bato, literally "house of stone", however, reflecting American colonial influences, the lower storey is not constructed of stone but of concrete. The foundation posts are made out of trunks of the balayong tree, a local hardwood; the floorboards are of the same material. The house's upper storey is constructed of wood topped with a roof of galvanized iron instead of tile.

How to get there: From Silay City Public Plaza, ride a tricycle or walk to Cinco de Noviembre St. cor. Zuelueta St.

Address: Cinco de Noviembre, Silay City

Museum Hours: Tuesdays to Sunday, closed on Monday, 9:00am - 5:00pm

Entrance Fee: Php40 (US$0.90)

Photos of Balay Negrense

Hofileña Ancestral House

The Hofileña house was the first ancestral house opened to the public in 1962. Located a few meters from Balay Negrese on a nondescript neigborhood on Cinco de Noviembre St. Let Mr. Ramon Hofileña, the son of the original owner and the unofficial first Filipino bikini model, fascinates you to the story behind in every pieces you can find the house. He is the untiring and the most passionate preserver of Negros Occidental's cultural heritage. The house is a massive depository of artworks. When you entered the house, you can see the 200-year-old piano belonging to Sir Mon great-grandmother sits innocently on the living room. Also on the first floor, potteries, authentic period pieces,furniture,miniature dolls, and photographs of the first owner of Negros Navigation and so other original pieces.

When you go upstairs, you can see one of the Philippine's finest and rarest art collections. Works of Manansala, which I am proud of carrying the same surname :), Juan Luna, Amorsolo, Hidaldo and Jose Rizal are displayed on the wall. If Mr. Mon said he talked to much and consuming your time and ask you if you wanted him to stop, don't stop him because he has so much interesting stories to tell about the life of those artists. One particular interest among the featured painters is the unknown artist to many, Conrado Judith. Even in google you can not find any article about this artist but Mr. Hofileña can tell you more about him. Conrado Judith died of tuberculosis at 34, befitting the life of the starving artist. His abstract impresionist pieces made the cover of international publications and won prizes overseas.

The house's gem is over 70, once he is no longer around to provide these great tours and share these interesting stories, he says he is adamant in training a successor like the one who toured us at the first part of the tour in the house. However, finding like Mr. Hofileña of such caliber to tell its stories from generation to generation is a challenge.

Trivia:

Did you know that Rey PJ Abellana, the father of Carla Abellana, is a grandson of Mr. Ramon Hofileña? His mother is a sister of Mr. Mon who's also an artist, a singer.

Mr. Ramon Hofileña is conducting an Annual Cultural tour of Negros Occidental (ACTNO), the longest-running cultural tour in the world, all Saturdays of December except holidays.

How to get there: From Balay Negrense, walk towards North of Cinco de Noviembre St. It's only a few meters away from Negrense

Address: Cinco de Noviembre, Silay City

For appointment please call 034 4954561

Entrance Fee: Php40 (US$0.90)

Photos of Hofilena Heritage House

Don Bernardino Jalandoni Ancestral House (Pink House)

The house was first owned by Don Bernardino and Doña Ysabel Jalandoni. It was completed in the year 1908. Although grand scale and strong in its construction, its design follows the typical Philippine Nipa Hut. The exisiting wooden structures are the same hardwood that the couple had originally shipped from faraway Mindoro. Most of the embosed tin ceiling trays on the second floor are the very ones imported then from even more remote Hamburg, Germany. Its wooden transoms done in "callado" or cut out style, using elaborated visual aesthetics and function. The creative use of glass, "capiz" shells, steel grills, wooden louvers and panels foe windows continues to maximize light, ventilation and security today as it has since it was designed a century ago.

In 1993, the National Historical Institute recognized it as the first museum and heritage house in Silay City. The heirs, Mr. & Mrs. Antonio J. Montinola ahve entrusted its care to the Silay Heritage Foundation, Inc., a non-government organization.

How to get there: From Hofileña House, Cinco de Noviembre St., walk towards East of Burgos St. until you get to the National Rd., Rizal St. across the street you can already see the Jalandoni house also known as the "Pink House"

Address: Rizal St., Silay City 6116

Museum Hours: Tuesdays to Sunday, closed on Monday, 9:00am - 5:00pm

Entrance Fee: Php25 (US$0.56)

Photos of Bernardino Jalandoni House Museum "Pink House"

The Cathedral of San Diego de Alcala

The Cathedral of San Diego de Alcala lies in the center of Silay City. Designed by Italian architect Lucio Bermasconi in 1920, the cathedral's silver-colored Byzantium dome was inspired by that of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Its architectural grandeur and treasury of religions art is testament to the people of Silay's deep faith and religiosity. The ruins of the old church whose foundations date back of the present church and is now an adoration chapel.

Silay is a small town that you can go around by foot. Silay's surviving ancestral houses and old buildings.

Related articles - Negros Occidental - the Journey (part 1),

the Ruins

Born to Run: FUNd Racing for Tuloy Foundation

Who wouldn't know Michelle Estuar in the running community? For those who don't know her, Michelle is a Professor at the DLSU-Manila, Cycling Instructor at Fitness First Philippines, a contributor writer of FrontRunner Magazine, a Running Ambassador of AKTV on IBC 13, an accomplished Ultramarathoner and Triathlete.

Her passion to run led her to create a team of volunteer runners to help her organize a thanksgiving birthday run and raise funds for Tuloy Foundation called “Born to Run 2011: A FUNd-RACING Event”

Tuloy Foundation, Inc. is a non-government, not-for-profit organization registered with the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission in 1996 and licensed and accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development to “provide residential care services for children and youth”. It was founded in 1993 by Fr. Marciano “Rocky” G. Evangelista of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Their mission is to provide a center of excellence in the rehabilitation of street children though a comprehensive program of caring, healing and teaching (http://www.tuloyfoundation.org).

Born to Run 2011: A FUNd-RACING Event that will be held on November 30, Wednesday (Holiday), from 5:00-10:00am, at the ULTRA Oval. The race events include 10KM, 5KM, and a 400meter dash for the kids. A minimum of Php100 donation/registration fee but runners can also donate any amount they are willing to give.

Let's support the cause. Save the date! For more details e-mail Michelle Estuar at michelle.ironmitch@gmail.com