Frankly, hospital owners don’t like me. Well it’s because they don’t get any business from me especially for one who hasn’t been hospitalized for 60 years. The same goes for the many athletes whose only trip to the hospital are for sprains and strains probably caused by too much physical activity. We are also blessed because we are surrounded by many friends who are doctors. For example if you’re getting crazy, there’s Dr. Abe Manlawe to see if the screws on your head are tight. If your face or skin is turning people away, there’s Dr. Vic Verallo, one of the best derma in town. If you want your face changed to Brod Pete, Susan Verallo is the right person. When your leg needs amputation due to too much running, we have several surgeons like Dr. Peter Mancao to do the honor. Dr. Renald Ramiro could always take care of a busted knee or a dislocated shoulder while Dr. Yong Larrazabal could fix your detached retina. But why bother these busy people if you could prevent it? Isn’t prevention better than cure? If you ask the doctors, sure they need the money but they don’t want you to get sick. But if you could be healthy it’s one big thing.
Holiday Gym & Spa Health Run
With wellness getting popular all over the world, spas and gyms are sprouting like mushrooms. Competition among these clubs are also getting stiffer, prompting owners to come up with promos and gimmicks. But there are gyms and spas whose goal is to really instill physical awareness among the communities. So after the long Lenten break, Holiday Gym & Spa will hold a 10K and 5K Health Run on March 30. The run will start and finish at the gym’s headquarters in Banilad. Gym supervisor Annie Neric, a runner herself who finished 15th in the Mizuno-Shell Sinulog Half Marathon said this will be the first run organized by a gym. Annie also said they are limiting participation to real physical buffs and will not go for quantity. Champions in the 10K category (Male/Female) will each receive P5,000. The second and third placers will each receive P3,000 and P2,000 respectively. In the 5K open race, champions in both male and female go home richer by P3,000 while second and third placers pocket P2,000 and P1,000 respectively. All participants will receive a singlet and certificate. There will also be a category for gym members led by national triathlete Nonoy Jopson and top executive female runner Milet Chiongbian and national karate champion Dalhia Espinosa. Registration to the race is now on going at Holiday Gym and Spa in Banilad (032) 2324828 and at the PSC Office at the Cebu City Sports Center. The run is sponsored by Smart, HP Hi-Precision Diagnostics, RCTV, BP Bratpack, the Travel club, Gimik Barkada KTV and Graphic Star. It is also backed by the SRP Bikers, ERUF,SEIKO and Casa Ilongga Robinsons Place.
Badminton Jam
Just as I’m preparing for a much-needed summer holiday, several sports organizers has kept my phone ringing. After helping set up the Guimaras International Mountainbike Festival in Iloilo, Nedgar Garvez, tourism officer of Southern Leyte called to ask if we could organize a trail run in Limasawa Island on March 30. Why does everybody want an event on that date? It’s the same date as the Guimaras Bikefest and the Holiday Gym & Spa run. Nedgar said Governor Roger Mercado wants to promote the first mass in the Philippines as a tourism event. So again I have to beg off. The next day, Pfizer’s Gerry Cannonigo rang to invite us to the Summer Badminton Jam on April 12-13 in Naga City (Cebu). Gerry who is the tournament director said there are 3 categories namely men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles. The event that will be played at the Naga Badminton Arena dangles P1,000 cash and Yonex racket to the champions while first runner ups will receive Yonex racket. Registration is P300 inclusive of T-shirt. For more information call Gerry (09178734674) or Jeneth (09068542376).
