Saving our rivers

Over 2,600 runners flooded the streets of Cebu City  last Sunday as they responded to a call to help save our rivers after  they joined the second Run For The Rivers at the SM City Northwing.  The best runners of Cebu were there including national women’s marathon record holder Mary Joy Tabal,  Lorhiz Echavez Lopez, Mona Lisa Ambasa, Philip Duenas, Mt. Kinabalu Climbathon veteran Merlita Arias, comebacking Terso Pamaybay and the Andrin sisters, provided strong challenge to the Kenyans.     As expected Tabal  made the race  a walk in the park when she clocked 1:22:21 to win the run.  Meanwhile in the Men’s division, Isaac Simat, reigned supreme 1:14:15 to edge fellow Kenyan Willy Tanui who wound up second in 1:15:10.  Duenas pocketed third in 1:15:47 the race started on time after a brief warm up conducted by  Fitness First, followed by invocation of CCCI executive director May Elizabeth Ybanez . Dennis Wong of IPI, chairman  of Run For The Rivers fired off the runners.  During the awarding ceremonies,  Director Sabelo Montejo of DENR thanked the runners but wished the corporations (sponsors) could contribute more if they channel their support directly to DENR, as the run itself could only generate so much.  Also gracing the awarding ceremonies were CCCI president Tess Chan and Felix Tiukinhoy Jr., CBM 2014 over-all chairman.  Entertainment was provided by Wonggoys, an acoustic band and Elvisaya, the Elvis of  Visayas who’s  slated to perform in Tacloban City this weekend.  Of course the race  would not have been successful without the support of our partners and sponsors.  We would like to thank Cebc Province and cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Talisay, MCWD, Cebu Academe Network, CHED, DEPed, DPWH, Assn. Of Barangay Councils, ERUF, CITOM, BPER, CTTODA, CUSW and Mabolo and Pardo Fire Stations.

The sponsors included IPI, SM City (venue) , NGCP, San Miguel Brewery, Coca Cola, URC, RC Goldline, Dunkin Donuts, Nature Spring, Timex, Jollibee, Aquamarine, Krispy Creme, Virginia Food Inc., Fitness First and WTG Construction.  Our media partners, The Freeman, Cebu Daily, SunStar, ABS-CBN, Sky Cable, Race PH, 90.7 Crossoverand 93.1 Brigada News FM.  And to those names escape us for the moment “Daghang Salamat”.  I would also like to commend Cebu City Chamber of Commerce’s Ann Cabigas and Mariel Destacamento for their non-stop work on the preparation  of the race  and oh yes, to the  race officials headed by my technical director Precing Capangpangan and Lyle Larida.

Obesity

The pork barrel issue has been the talk  of the town  for quite sometime especially now that Bong Revilla is detained. Pork or “baboy” could also apply to a person  who is fat or overweight or worse, obese.  Did you know that there are now 2.1 billion overweight or obese people in the world? That’s 30 percent of the world’s total population.

In a study of 188 nations from 1980 to 2013, it was found out that nations in the Middle East and North Africa, Central America and the Caribbean have the highest rates.

The biggest obesity rates among women is in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Honduras and Bahrain and for men, New Zealand, Kuwait and United States.  The US obese population is 13 percent.  Obesity is caused  by eating cheap, fatty, sugary, salty, high calorie ”junkfood” and rise of sedentary lifestyles.  Some years back, I wrote how we are losing the battle to the computers.  Our children no longer engaged in physical activities  but watch TV or video games all day on top of frequenting the fastfoods.  Even a 3-year old knows how to operate lap tap today.  So let’s run before time runs out on us.