Hunat Sugbo

Parklane International Hotel is organizing the Hunat Sugbo 15K Run on May 15 at the Ayala Terraces. To drumbeat the hotel’s activities that include the opening of their native restaurant called “Kan-anan”. Why a run? Well, if you don’t know, Parklane has probably the most number of long distance runners among the hotels. In fact, they even have several ultramarathoners headed by Ervin Limpag who finished the Cebu 50K Ultramarathon late last year. The 80-man strong Parklane runners is headed by HRD director Stephen Taylaran while GM Cenelyn Manguilimotan is starting to run a 10K herself. And above all, it is also the birthday of its late president, Maning Ting, one of the pioneer runners of Cebu, and don’t forget Allan Ting, the hotel’s VP who also used to run with a best personal time of 37 minutes in the 10K. Registration starts soon at Runnr Ayala Center Cebu, Casa Ilongga at Robinsons Place and at the Cebu City Sports Center.

Reunion

It was a reunion of sorts with my wards and undoubtedly some of the country’s best chess players. It has been 19 years since I was instructed by the Philippine Sports Commission chair Cecil Hechanova to trek to Baguio City and whip the National Chess Team into a physically fit machine to the Manila World Chess Olympiad. Although I must admit I don’t know how to play chess, my mission was purely to condition the team true to the saying “What the mind can conceive the body can achieve” or maybe vice versa. So during last month’s Cebu Charter Day Chess Championship at the E-Mall, I was reunited with my team, Grandmaster Joey Antonio, IM Rodrigo Atutubo, IM Barlo Nadera, IM Chito Garma and NM Manny Senador. We shared memories of the 10 months that I was with them at our quarters “The Haven Of Rest” near the Botanical Garden. The other members of our team were GM Eugene Torre, GM Banjo Barcenilla, NM Mirabeau Maga, IM Rico Mascariñas, IM Rolando Nolte, IM Ricky De Guzman, NM Petronilo Roca, IM Eric Gloria, Fide Master Adrian Pacis and the late Ruben Rodriguez. We also had five women chess players headed by Susan Itaas of Cebu City. Thanks for the memories guys!

Adlaw Sang Iloilo

Boyet Rentoy of Prosports Iloilo called to inform that whether I like it or not, he has designated me race director of the Adlaw Sang Iloilo 21K Half Marathon on April 10. Of course I can’t say no since I also directed the last staging of the race in 2005 to commemorate the anniversary of the province. Besides the 21K main event, there will also be a 10K and 5K categories that is expected to draw runners from Antique, Capiz and Bacolod City. The registration is now ongoing at the Faforma Boutique in Gaisano City. The race is also backed by Casa Ilongga, Prosports, Metrografix, Front Runner Magazine, City of Iloilo and the Province of Iloilo.