After-run experience

The night before the run, I went to Quezon City Circle to see how the River Warriors were faring. In the post-run affair, they had to come up onstage and introduce themselves. But it had to be done with discipline. “Kami ay ang river warriors ng Estero de _______ (the estero where they came from).” “Ang inyong lingkod — para sa Diyos at Bayan (We are the River Warriors of Estero de _______ (the estero where they came from) At your service, for God and Country).” It was important to me that they walked and talked with pride and dignity. It was important to me that they felt good about what they were doing.

Going up onstage I met a group of individuals who were quite overwhelmed by what was happening. My goodness, their life had been living in really dirty places, and now they were going to be onstage saluting in front of thousands. Frightening. So over and over again, I had them rehearse. I asked them “Gusto niyo bang maging malinis ang estero at umangat ang buhay ninyo? At magkaroon ng tiwala sa inyo ang mga tao?” (Do you want the esteros to be clean, that your lives will come up, that people will trust you?”)

After I went through all the esteros and River Warriors, I had to go home. I had to be awake at 2 a.m., or even earlier, so I needed to go home to sleep.

I ended up sleeping at 10 p.m. and woke up at 2:30 a.m. the next day. Darn. Late for me because I had wanted to get up earlier. Meditate, and do intense offerings so that it wouldn’t rain and the day would be kept safe.

By 3:45 a.m. I was on site and I was surprised to see so many people there. I got on my bike and waited for the gun start. I frankly felt some trepidation because I had never done this before. Attempting to bike 7.5 kms? That’s long for me. Well, I had been able to go that distance in La Mesa, but with only one uphill. This was different. Well, if anything, I am certainly brave and bold.

Riding and rolling for the Pasig River. (Clockwise) Photos by Cynthia Ortega and Erik Lacson

So with the gun start, I ambitiously moved forward, seeing everyone speed past me. But I kept on. It was my first uphill. My security man said, “Ma’am, just keep on. It’s downhill after.” I just kept going. Towards the end of the first half, one of the escorts, seeing that I was having a really hard time with the “uphills,” said, “Ma’am, do you want me to help?” He put his hand on my back and pushed me forward. That weathered me through a difficult climb, such that when I did the U-turn, I thought, “Hmmmm… Maybe if he helps me I can do the whole route...”

So I went for it. I did the whole 15K. In fact the way back was surprisingly easier. It was always a relief during the downhill because I could rest my legs. When it would get really hard, that very welcome “hand” would be on my back giving me a push forward.

It started raining going back. The rain was actually refreshing. It wasn’t a heavy rain; although I had no coat, I didn’t get drenched.

I finished the bike ride, stretched, and then got ready for the 5K run. I did this too, but I stopped intermittently along the way. It took me 43 minutes — way over the 38 minutes last year. But then I was running with the police, with Gen. Bartolome at my side. I was embarassed to stop because I had a batallion of police behind me so I kept on. This time it was me, my security, Col. Manny Ramiro, head of NCR Com. I had retired Gen. Tristan Kison who used to be the head of NCR Com, now the Operations Consultant for Kapit Bisig para sa Ilog Pasig and PRRC. They were oh-so-patient with me, stopping whenever I would. So I made it.

The outcome of it all is I now want to do the 21K next year. I just have to start training six months before. I have already told my household help, and challenged whoever wants to go with by promising a new pair of rubber shoes. The best place to train is in the UP Sunken Garden. One round is 2.4K. On Sundays there are no cars. The air is fresh.

There were so many people that made the run successful. AFP provided 800 men for security. Air21 has been our constant partner all these years, providing logistics support. Manila Water provided the water stations. CHED endorsed the run to all the colleges and universities, such that runners get NSTP credits. MMDA has been invaluable in terms of traffic control. The MRT has been so supportive in providing free rides to runners. PNP provided more than 2,000 police for running and security. We even had P1 million in insurance care of Prudential Guarantee. Of course ABS-CBN gave its airtime, Studio 23, WRR 101.9 FM Radio. Martin Aguda, ABS-CBN Executive, made sure everyone was safe. And my dear staff, who didn’t sleep for days: Miko, Ish, Faizza, Monchet. They deserve a medal. These four race organizers have been doing the Pasig River Run since the beginning: Rio, Eric, Thumbie and PJ. I told them they can’t stop until we clean the river. What can I say? The list is actually endless. This is precisely why I am so sure that the river can get cleaned because of the joy we feel in being together.

Lastly, I must mention again the commitment of P-Noy in allocating P10 billion every year towards the cleanup. This goes to relocation, dredging and easements. This will be one of his most enduring legacies: the cleanup of the Pasig River.

I love these runs. They do something. I love the spirit of camaraderie that ensues. I love the feeling of hope and possibilities. The runs are unfailingly joyful, made more so that Sunday because of the full moon. A full moon has a direct effect on one’s mood.