Once on this island

MANILA, Philippines - People travel for many reasons. But for a humble farmer from Lucban, Quezon, running is a good enough excuse to leave the rice fields and explore the world. Before plowing the fields, Pepito Deapera would condition himself for the grueling task ahead by running as early as 4 a.m. What started out as a form of exercise eventually became a career for this accidental runner.

“Being a farmer is a tough job. Katawan mo ang puhunan dito. You have to be physically strong and healthy. So I make it a habit to run five to 10 kilometers a day to have that staying power,” shared Pepito.

During town fiestas, Pepito would get invited to participate in fun runs. Lured by the cash prizes, he would sign up and eventually win all the races he would join in his hometown. Today, race organizers in Quezon wouldn’t let him join races anymore.

It was in one of those fun runs where Pepito met Mt. Everest climber Leo Oracion, who’s also a native of Quezon.

“He approached and asked me if I would be interested to join The North Face 100 Ultra Marathon, which was held last year in Batangas City. Well, I had nothing to lose so I said yes right away,” recalled Pepito.

Held at the Evercrest Resort in Nasugbu, Batangas, Pepito battled it out with the more experienced trail runners from the Philippines, Australia, Singapore and China.

After running for 13 hours and 11 minutes, Pepito was the first to cross the finish line and bagged the title as the Pinoy Ultra Marathon champ.

“I didn’t expect to win because I wasn’t used to trail running. My rigid training paid off,” he said.

Pepito received a gold medal and P25,000 cash prize. Part of his prize was the opportunity to represent the country in the third annual 2008 Guam Gatorade Ko’ko Road Race in Guam. Needless to say, Pepito once again emerged victorious.

“I was so excited to go to Guam. I never imagined that I would be able to ride a plane and compete internationally. That win boosted my confidence. Hindi lang pala pang fiesta ang talent ko, pang Guam pa,” Pepito enthused.

RUN FOR KO’KO

Organized by the Guam Visitors Bureau, the Guam Gatorade Ko’ko Road Race is held in line with the country’s effort in preserving the Guam rail, or ko’ko bird, which is endemic to Guam and is on the endangered species list.

“Ko’ko is already endangered. It was driven to the brink of extinction by the brown tree snake, which devastated the island’s avian population after being introduced in the middle of the last century,” explained Gerry Perez, general manager, GVB.    

We were part of the media group invited by the GVB, through Matua Agupa Corp. president Herbert Arabelo and GVP Philippines’ Bryan Tayag, to explore the island of Guam and to cheer for Pepito as he tried to defend his title in this year’s Guam Gatorade Ko’ko Road Race.

Now in its fourth year, the race featured a half marathon (21k or 13.1 miles) for solo runners.

“Another component of the race is the Ekiden relay, which is for four-person teams running the same course split into four,” Perez explained.

The race attracted more than 1,000 local and foreign runners from the Philippines, Australia, Japan, and Taiwan, who came dressed as runaway brides and superheroes.

“Although Pepito didn’t make it this time, it’s to be part of the movement that helps save the endangered bird, for which the race is named,” enthused Ramon Magno, general manager, Continental Airlines. Continental Airlines is the official carrier of the Philippine delegation.

Proceeds of the race go to the ko’ko bird awareness fund. Part of the money will go to the Department of Agriculture and Wildlife so they can perpetuate the species.

The Guam Gatorade Ko’ko Road Race was held simultaneously with the 22nd annual Guam Micronesia Island Fair to be able to attract more visitors to the island.

“Since the race is now an international event, we wanted to expose foreign race participants to the beautiful cultures of the entire region. Through the Guam Micronesia Island Fair we are able to showcase and highlight the beauty of the other islands in Micronesia such as Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, among others, under one roof,” explained Perez.

Held at the Ypao Beach Park, which is a few blocks away from the Pacific Island Club where our group was billeted, guests were treated to a whole day of fun and merry-making. Hawkers set up stalls offering food and souvenir items to local and foreign tourists.

Cultural dancers from all over Micronesia performed onstage to the delight of the crowd. A highlight of the event was the traditional hut-building demonstrations conducted by representatives from islands of Guam, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae. They’ve banded together to showcase their native huts and more.

At the Ipau Chamorro Cultural Village, we milled around a gathering, cooking and carving house and watched the weaving and cooking demonstrations.

“The fair has brought island people together and shared with each other the uniqueness of their culture,” enthused Perez.

Around Guam In Three Hours

Three hours is all it takes for one to get a glimpse of the beautiful island that is Guam. This we realized after our à la Amazing Race city tour, which we managed to squeeze in our tight schedule before boarding our Continental Airlines flight bound to Manila.

Together with PDI’s Vangie Reyes and her Guam-based relatives Tina Cepeda, Carol Aguilar and kids (who served as our tour guides), off we went to check out Guam’s must-see places.

First stop was the I Sengsong Chamorro Village. Centrally located along Hagatna Bay, the village is the go-to place for those who want to learn more about Chamorro culture as it offers a glimpse of the island’s lifestyle and cuisine. It also reminds one of the old Spanish markets we see in history books with its quaint stalls and eateries. In fact, the aroma of barbecued ribs greeted us as soon as we entered the village. I Sengsong is a popular lunch spot for local residents and visitors alike. Here, one can indulge in a hearty meal at reasonable prices.

Sitting atop the site of the first Catholic Church in Guam (built by Padre San Vitores in 1669), is the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica, which serves as the mother church for the Archdiocese of Agana. As a “model church” for parishes and faith communities, it is where the Archbishop celebrates the church’s most sacred liturgies.    

The 50-year-old structure boasts a contemporary design. The handcrafted stained-glass can be seen from all angles as they are spread throughout the church overlooking the central altar.

Named after “The Sweet Name of Mary,” the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica is also home to Santa Marian Kamalen, patroness of Guam and the Marianas.

For the über-romantic, Two Lovers’ Point is the place to be. This 378-foot cliff tells the story of two star-crossed Chamorro lovers who leaped to their death to be together forever. A wedding ceremony was taking place when we arrived at the park. Unlike the legendary characters, the newlyweds sealed their union with a kiss instead of taking the plunge. What a letdown!

Seriously, what makes the Two Lovers’ Point a sought-after wedding destination is the breathtaking view it offers. From the cliff, you get a panoramic vista of the Tumon Bay and central Guam, not to mention the spectacular sunset.

For those who want to know more about the culture and history of Guam, visit the many cultural and historical sites throughout the island. We passed by the Fort Santa Agueda, which was built to keep Agana Bay and the city of Hagatna safe, and provided defense from pirates for trading ships that docked in the bay. It provides a splendid view of Hagatna, the capital city of Guam, and the Agana Bay that stretches out below. Adjacent to the fort is the Government House, the official residence of Guam’s governor.

At the south of Hagatna is the Adelup Point, where the governor’s office and other government agencies are located. The other interesting sites are the War in the Pacific Historical Park along Asan beach, a protected area that was established in 1978 in honor of those who participated in the Pacific Theater of World War II; and the Cetti Bay Overlook, which provides an awesome view of Cetti Bay and Guam’s southern coastline including Cocos Island and Guam’s southern barrier reef.

Don’t leave Guam without a glimpse of the latte stones, the symbols of Chamorro culture. Latte stones are stone pillars used as foundations for of important structures in Chamorro villages. These pillars are notable for their two-piece construction: the supporting column (hala-gi, made from coral limestone) topped with a capstone (tasa, made from natural coral heads collected from the reef). Eight of these stones are currently displayed at the Latte Park in Hagatna.

If you belong to the “born to shop” crowd, Guam doesn’t disappoint. The island’s duty-free status means that no tariffs are added on the prices of designer bags, shoes, watches, among others. Also, check out Guam’s largest retail outlets such as K-Mart in Upper Tumon, The Micronesia Mall in Dededo, the Guam Premier Outlets in Tamuning, for interesting finds that won’t leave a hole in your pocket.

Water activities are definitely not the only pastimes one should look forward to when vacationing in Guam. Well, three hours are not enough to explore Guam’s hidden treasures but the experience definitely made us look forward to our next island adventure to the land of Chamorros.

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Continental Airlines flies daily from Manila to Guam. For flight schedules, call 816-0527, 817-9666 or e-mail www.continental.com.

For inquiries about Guam, visit the Guam Visitors Bureau-Philippines at the second floor, The Promenade Bldg., 198 Wilson St. cor. P. Guevarra Sts., San Juan, or call 727-7755 or e-mail gvbphil@pldtdsl.net.