Rock, run and rain

As early at 3:30 a.m. Sunday, I was already up. I started putting on my new Elvis jumpsuit which I was intentionally tailored by Flickers with light materials, so I could run with it. The suit didn’t have the usual beads since it would be heavy. The eagle design was hand painted by one of Cebu’s best artist, Pepe Villadolid. While I was about to step out, a heavy downpour started. I said to myself I’ll wait a few minutes as it will soon stop as in the previous days. But the rain kept on pouring and only slowed down by 6:30 am. Since the show must go on, I hurried to the starting line at the Cebu International Convention Center. Along the way I noticed that most of the streets were flooded. I was wondering if the race will push through. When I got to CICC, musical director Vince Russo said it’s impossible to perform since the equipment including the baffles were all wet. Race organizer Johnie Lim said he has to call off the rock portion featuring the Stagecrew Band. Johnie wanted me to sing a few Elvis songs but it was also impossible without the band. While over 600 runners registered, only 200 showed up and answered the starter’s gun fired by Johnie. As expected Mary Grace Delos Santos of Zamboanga and Elmer Bartolo of Davao City won. The duo have been winning all the races in Cebu since they started running here. Donna Cruz Larrazabal and Haide Acuña continued to add glitter to the races when they landed in the women’s top ten. Since I’ll be spoiling my costume, Johnie asked me not to run anymore and just assisted him in the awarding. Anyway, Johnie said Rock N Run II will be staged at the Cebu Business Park in November. I just hope nature won’t spoil it again, please don’t be cruel.

BACOLOD – ILOILO SWING

I took a quick trip to Iloilo City after a two-day swing in Bacolod City. I was in my home court to serenade my aunt, Sofia Uytiepo on her 85th birthday. I was at the posh Planta Centro Hotel, one of Bacolod’s newest and classiest hotel, as the King of Rock and Roll. Again it was some sort of hitting two birds with one stone, as I was also able to attend my uncle Pancho Uytiepo’s 55th wedding anniversary earlier at lunch. It was also the ground work for the Uytiepo Clan Grand Reunion next year. Right after the press con for the Rock ‘n Run Marathon on Sunday, I was off to the airport for the flight to Bacolod. As usual I stayed at my cousin Larry Kilayco’s Northwest Inn and didn’t have time to rehearse for that evening show. But coming from the Marco Polo gig, the adrenalin was carried over. It was a successful birthday bash for Tita Nene. Bacolod is excited with the Milo Marathon Leg on August 30. I also informed the Bacolod runners that there will be no race on the Masskara Festival as Parm, organizers of Move Masskara Run opted not to hold one this year after staging a race last July at UP Diliman. So again it’s only Milo that has a race in Bacolod. After the Bacolod leg, Milo goes to Iloilo City. Would you believe one event organizer in Bacolod suggested holding an “Elvis at Masskara” instead? Oh No! I’m really getting crazy. “Abi nako makapahulay na ko sa dagan, naay kanta pa diay.”

Notes:

Good luck to Cebuanos who will be joining the 70.3 Ironman Triathlon in Camarines Sur on August 23, especially to former national triathlon record holder Nonoy Jopson and the Flying V Team of Gerry Malixi that includes Annie Neric CERC’s Jane Jane Ong. Races to watch are the Cebu Doctors University Run for Sight on August 23 and the Don Sergio Osmeña Sr. 10K Run on September 9, 2009.

Speedy recovery for Joel Baring who met an accident as they were driving home from the race. Joel who was on the wheel suffered cuts that required stitches, when their vehicle slammed on a wall. Joel must have dosed off after having no sleep at all preparing two races on the same day.