Banning Kenyans and the Baston Marathon

From their numerous corners, upstairs and downstairs, even in their restrooms, we almost always bump into familiar faces and acquaintances when we drop by SM Consolacion.   Considering the proximity of the newly opened mall from where we live, meeting somebody from our place is always a given.

About two weeks ago, me and the wifey, while checking out Henry Sy’s money cemetery, met someone who is not exactly from our locality but rather has one of his businesses located inside the mall (one of the many burial sites for our cash). Me and this gentleman come from Western Visayas, have made Cebu our home base and we had some things in common, ergo, we have the same locality also.

Elvis Presley, who also moonlights as Raffy Uytiepo in normal times, and I had a nice chat and among the topics we discussed was the obvious discrimination on foreign runners, Kenyans particularly. Cebu’s foremost running guru had a column on the matter last Wednesday and the points he made were exactly what we talked about.

I’ll just assume that you have read his article so I won’t elaborate much. Banning or excluding these Kenyans defeats the purpose of the race. For seasoned runners, regular races are their gauges if they’re doing well and improving or doing a nosedive.

Almost two months ago, Liloan organized a 5k run to help pay for the heart surgery of Baby Alexa. Yes, the Kenyans were present and the locals tried their best to outrun them. They completed the route with a time of under 16 minutes and sure, they ran away with the top prize. No one complained. I think organizers even invited them to spice up and drum interest for the event.

Having a strong competition drives a true competitor to make good. Of course, the cash prizes and other freebies are the primary aim but along the way, performances will be upgraded. As what happened in the fund-raising Liloan 5k, many tried to keep up with the Kenyans but in the process, their tongues were hanging up to their waists before they reached the halfway mark. 

Make these Kenyans and other strong foreign runners the motivation for us to train harder and strategize. Maybe someday, just maybe, we can let them eat our dust as we glide by them and yes, collect all the prizes.

Organizers who bar Kenyans from their races are no different from ill-mannered bus, taxi and jeepney drivers and conductors who chose their passengers, traffic and law enforcers who ignore luxury cars and SUV’s weaving in and out of traffic but are too eager to apprehend low-end cars, multi-cabs and other lesser made contraptions.

If we insist on banning these guys from races, will we also be preventing the senior basketball squads of UV and SWU from playing in the CESAFI because they have tall and athletic Cameroonians on their teams? Hala, tubag.

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Raffy and I also talked about his planned event around SM Consolacion. I’m not exactly sure when this is gonna be held since it’s still ten years before I’ll be officially a dual citizen, meaning a Filipino and a senior citizen. Anyways, Raffy bared his Baston Marathon for the Senior Citizen’s Month. Yes, its Baston, not Boston because you have to be 60-years old and above to qualify for the event and for some members of this elite group, walking aids are a must (and several other available aids). I won’t discuss details here, it kills the excitement. Seniors, just wait for future announcements on Raffy’s column and on posters and fliers around SM Malls. And say farewell to your money because surely, some cash are gonna be interred there. Yeah, SM – Sementeryo sa Money.

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Birthday greetings to my sister Carmel, Liloan Councilor Dr. Adi Pilones and Radisson Blu’s Charisse Fuentes. To my one and only wifey (ang-ang oy), Denden, it has been a good and great 22 years with 2 good and great children. More 22’s to come for us. 

E-mail me at [email protected]