TITA CORY

I will never forget Tita Cory Aquino for as long as I live. Whether I like it or not I’m part of Philippine history because I’ll go down the record books as the first “Freedom Runner” during the first Edsa Revolt Anniversary in 1989. In the height of our reign as marathon team champion of the country, our club the Nike Running Team, was asked by then secretary of tourism Antonio Gonzalez of Mondragon Industries to participate in the event. I was tasked to carry the torch and run from Makati to Camp Crame in Edsa, where 12 other runners representing the different regions waited for me. The rest of the runners were the country’s best then with the likes of three-time Milo Marathon champion Jimmy Dela Torre, former national marathon record holder Herman Suizo, Pilipinas Marathon champion Primo Ramos and one-legged triathlete Rudy Fernandez.

So the stage was set, I started running from Makati, escorted by hundreds of runners and cyclists with helicopters hovering above showering us with confetti. It was probably the proudest moment of my life, a great honor of being designated as the Freedom Runner. When I reached Camp Crame, I lighted the torches of the waiting runners and after a few minutes, we proceeded to Ortigas Ave. where the Lady of Edsa statue was to be unveiled. After a brief ceremony, I went to the shrine’s cauldron where I started the flame.

On the stage were a young Kris Aquino who represented Cory who was in Japan then, ex-president Fidel Ramos, Juan Ponce Enrile, Cardinal Jaime Sin and the rest of the Edsa heroes. As I mentioned it was the happiest moment of my life which I will always treasure. As I write this column. Tita Cory is being laid to rest at the Manila Memorial Park where she will join another hero Ninoy Aquino. So Ninoy, “Hindi ka na mag-iisa”. Tita Cory has arrived.

Dateline Tacloban

I took a quick trip to Tacloban City over the weekend to shoot two birds with one stone. First, I was there to check on our new Casa Ilongga outlet at the new Robinsons Place Tacloban and second to run in the Milo Marathon leg there. Well, it’s nice to know that the outlet operated by franchisee Tricia Torres is currently number one in the foodcourt. Tricia’s mom Pipit is likewise amazed with the soaring sales of the outlet in its one-month-operation. I promised to organize a Casa Ilongga run during our first anniversary and likewise perform as Elvis.

 I saw several Cebuanos in the Tacloban Milo Marathon leg. In fact I was together in the plane to Tacloban with CERC member Jane Jane Ong who was in the top ten of the 21K event with Camilla Luterte bagging second place. I also saw former Cebuano champion Tirso Pamaybay but he was visibly out of shape while Miljune Luterte also figured in the top ten.

On my part, I was testing my injured ankle sustained when I had a freak accident in the Cebu Business Park, a few days before the STAA Move with Air Run. Well, the ankle did hurt and this means I will be going back to Dr. Renald Ramiro’s clinic for the cure. I’m now begging off from the Ironman 70.3 in Camsur on Aug. 23 as I know I’ll be having problems while one-legged triathlete Rudy Fernandez will also skip Camsur and concentrate on the Ford Ironman World Triathlon in Kona, Hawaii on Oct. 10.

Rock And Run ¼ Marathon

Registration for the Rock and Run ¼ Marathon set on Aug. 16, at the Cebu International Convention Center is now in full swing at the PSC office at the Cebu City Sports Center. Providing the music is the Stagecrew Band., with the King of Rock n Roll, as special guest. Then on Aug. 23, the CebuDoc Run for Sight Anniversary Run blasts off in Mandaue City. On Sept. 9, the Don Sergio Osmeña Sr. 10K run will be staged with over P200,000 at stake then on Sept. 20, the Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers (PSME) will hold an 8K run at the Baseline Restaurant Complex along Juana Osmeña.   (THE FREEMAN)