Leo the Lion-Hearted

In the 1998 Gatorade Everyman National Triathlon held at Plantation Bay Resort Hotel in Mactan Island, a lanky, chinky-eyed triathlate approached me to report a lost Giro bike helmet. Unfortunately the helmet was never found. I told the guy to just charge it to experience and to be a little careful next time. Probably his first triathlon, he was soon a fixture in the then rising sport. Being a dedicated and disciplined athlete, he was soon making waves. Then it was the adventure races that brought him to New Zealand. With nothing to conquer here anymore, he trained his sights to what was first just an "impossible dream", climbing Mt. Everest, the world's highest peak. Well even before it was made public that a national mountaineering team is being formed to scale Mt. Everest, I got first-hand information from my good friend and "kababayan" former DOTC undersecretary Art Valdez. Art also told me that one of the team members is Leo Oracion who is based in Cebu but actually is from Lucban, Quezon. Then the rest is history. Leo's training in the triathlon and adventure races really came in handy. Leo together with Pastor Emata and Romi Garduce are now the toast of the country, they were able to prove that the Pinoy always steps up to challenges. Just imagine we don't even have snow here. Pretty Gaisano Metro Ayala sales person Jonahmie Rumaguera couldn't believe Leo and company accomplished the feat. Jonahmie who recently completed an 11-kilometer trek in the mountains of Kalunasan, however added "IBA ANG PINOY". Well said Jonahmie. To Leo and Art, you have made the country proud. Congratulations and keep on climbing.

Mountain Trail Run

Speaking of mountains, let's talk of not so tall ones. After checking the schedules of other organizers, I decided to move the 3rd Cebu Mountain Trail Run originally scheduled on May 28. On that date will be a cycling event organized by Al Chuachoy. Then on June 4 is another cycling race organized by former Cebu City Sports Commission chair Atan Guardo and finally the DYAB Anniversary Kapamilya Run that falls every Independence Day, June 12. In order to give the runners some needed rest, we are rescheduling the Mountain Trail Run on June 25 in Kalunasan, near Guadalupe. The race is being backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, Waterfresh Drinking Water, Ben Café, Rudy Project, Stanford Laboratory, Energizer, Coppertone, Pryce Pharma, Ultimate Solutions, All Seasons Marketing, & Dot Sports and Skygo Motorcycles of Mario King. Also joining the race is Pepsi Cola which will provide Gatorade sports drinks to the runners. The run is also being supported by Eruf, PSC Region VII and the Kalunasan Barangay Council under Capt. Francisco Pintor. Registration is now ongoing at the PSC Office at the Cebu City Sports Center.

Rudy: Beyond Disability

I'll soon be departing for Iloilo City to start preparation for a photo exhibit at SM City Iloilo dubbed "Rudy: Beyond Disability" slated mid-July. The exhibit sponsored by Epson Printers will feature over 40 photos of one-legged triathlete and former Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition housemate Rudy Fernandez. We will be featuring photos of Rudy while swimming the Iloilo-Bacolod channel, cycling 250 kilometers from Iloilo City to Roxas City in Capiz and running in the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon and Singapore Marathon. We will also show Rudy's photos during his stint in the PBB house. Gracing the opening will be Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas and Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas. During the opening, Rudy will be dancing to the tune of Pinoy Ako with several elementary students.