Saturday, December 31, 2011

New Year Wishes by Garnett Ann Schultz

Happy New Year everyone! Sharing to you a great poem...
~
Photo credits to Timo Taburico
New Year Wish...
Perhaps a bit wiser, 
a bit kinder, too, 
a little bit braver, 
a heart that's more true, 
a touch of believing
I've not known before, 
in joys I'm receiving
a little bit more. 

A little more anxious
to reach out my hand, 
despite hurt or problems
to still understand, 
accepting the heartache
that life often brings, 
a little more beauty
in life's simple things. 

A prayer when I'm weary
as onward I trod, 
a little more trusting, 
believing in God, 
'tis this I would wish for
within moments dear, 
not a lot - just a little
this wondrous new year. 
~

Saturday, December 24, 2011

My First Zip Line Experience at Phillip's Sanctuary-23Dec2011

Yesterday, December 23, 2011, our company held its annual Christmas Get Together and Team Building at Phillip's Santuary in Antipolo, Rizal.

The travel from our Head Office in Mandaluyong to Phillip's Sanctuary took almost two hours. Upon arrival, we were briefed about the place, its rules and amenities, etc. Then we were divided into ten groups for the different activities.

The activities were also grouped into different categories such as Ice Breaker Games, Lagoon Courses, Low Ropes Courses, Obstacle Courses, etc. I will be discussing more on these activities in a separate post.

After accomplishing all of the team activities, it was our free time, which can be utilized for swimming in the pool or trying the zip line!

So, I took the chance to experience my first ever Zip Line adventure. This activity was not included in our company package so we need to pay Php 100.00 for a two-way zip line. But that's okay, considering that it is way cheaper than other resorts offering zip line.

Harness okay, ready to fly!
Taken at the second, returning zip line
The fearsome part is the time you need to jump from the zip line platform. But once you're in the air and the line is running, the feeling will turn into excitement and fun. I have tried several poses like superman, and other pose while flying in the zip line. In conclusion, the experience was so great and I would love to try again in other resorts having zip line adventure!

P.S. Hopefully I can update my Zip Line photos as pics are still coming in from other camera holders during our event. Merry Christmas everyone!

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Our Annual Feeding Program at Mandaluyong City on December 18, 2011

Our Feeding Program Group
For the past years, our company have been conducting Feeding Program to different under privileged communities nationwide.

And this year, I was tasked to lead Group IV which consists of our department and two Metro Manila branch. We chose Purok 3, Fabella St., Barangay Mauway, Mandaluyong City to be our venue and we aimed to feed more than 200 kids.

The preparation and planning of the said event started almost two weeks ago but the most hectic part was the last two-three days leading to the D-day and of course the event day itself.

Our menu this year are as follows:

1. Spaghetti with mushroom in Red sauce
2. Puto
3. Saging na Lakatan
4. Pineapple juice with real tidbits
5. Selecta ice cream (courtesy of Ma'am Carina from Purchasing for getting Selecta as sponsor)





Aside from our menu, we also prepared and bought giveaways and prizes for the kids. As a contribution from our part, I brought in vitamins for kids from my wife who is working at Fabella Hospital as a Resident Doctor.



For now, I would like to share some photos during our feeding activity this morning, December 18, 2011. You can visit my FB page for more photos, or click HERE.

Preparation/Cooking time from 6AM to 10AM
Start of Program at 10:30 AM
Feeding time at 11:45AM
Lastly, I would like to express my big thanks to my groupmates and to everyone who supported and made our event possible!

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Friday, December 16, 2011

Runner's Prayer

Hi guys! I would like to re-share this post I have read from my Dailymile friend Reginald.


Photo credits to HoB
Thanks for the nice pic taken by Hangout Buddies (HoB) during the Michelle Estuar's FUNd Racing last November 30, 2011 at ULTRA, Pasig.

See you on the road guys!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

A Very Happy Pinoy Fitness Peeps Get Together @ Marina MOA

Sharing our very memorable and happy Pinoy Fitness Family Get Together last December 11, 2011. This was initially posted from my running blog, Runner's Toe.
~
December 11, 2011 -  Just after the National Finals of the 35th Milo Marathon, the Pinoy Fitness peeps gathered as planned by the organizers Ms_Mars and company at the Marina Resto in the Mall of Asia for the Yuletide Party or we can also call it Get Together :-)

Roxanne, Goldy, Joyce and the PF Peeps @ Marina
We had our breakfast buffet at Php149.00 and while enjoying the food, everyone took turns in taking pictures and the usual get to know each other or chit chats to those already old acquaintances.

One of the long tables of PF Peeps :-) Photo credit to PF
The event also served as the submission time of the registration forms for the upcoming PSE Bull Run on January 8, 2011 which Pinoy Fitness will be competing as a team or a team of two- PF Mamaws and PF Baby Mamaws :-)

But the main event of the get together was the raffle time, several items were raffled off such as PF tech shirts, singlets from previous run events, vitamins, running gadgets, GC's, and two FREE race kits to the Condura Skyway Marathon 2012 courtesy of Team Alpha! Wow!!
And the lucky grand winners.... (drum beats!)
Congrats to JC and Ma'am Jackie for bagging the FREE racekit for any category at the Condura Skyway Marathon 2012! Lucky PF peeps indeed!

JC and Ma'am Jackie
The get together was also attended by our runner friends from OK OK Runners, ARC runners,Team Alpha and more whom I still need to know personally.

Our class picture, bow! Photo credit to PF
For more pics, please visit my FB page, or click HERE.

Also please click HERE for more pics courtesy of Pinoy Fitness.com.

Happy Holidays everyone! See you on the road next year!!!

Friday, December 9, 2011

QCIM3 on December 04, 2011 - My First Full Marathon Experience

I would like to re-post/share my first Full Marathon (42K) experience last Quezon City International Marathon 2011, this was a post from my running blog, Runners Toe.
~

December 04, 2011 at QCIM3 - I conquered my FIRST FULL MARATHON with official finish time of 5:01:15.


I was aiming for a sub 5Hour finish for my first FM but I was short of more than a minute. I am still happy of my results, the route was very challenging with lots of elevation especially at the La Mesa Park and UP Diliman campus and not to exclude the ever famous "killer highway" Commonwealth Avenue with a deceiving elevation.


Plus the unending rain which started at around 7:30 AM, that time I was already at around Ever Gotesco Commonwealth.


This is my photo documentary of my first Full Marathon at the Quezon City International Marathon. For more pics, please visit my Facebook page or click HERE.

Before the 42k gun start. Photo credits to Grace Lao
Inside UP Diliman campus after two turns
At the La Mesa Park, uphill before U turn
After exit of La Mesa Dam
Just outside the La Mesa Dam main gate
Few seconds after crossing the Finish Line
After 5:01H running my 1st FM
With fellow marathoner Grace Lao
With the PF peepz 
It was a memorable first full marathon, nice route elevations, great views of the La Mesa Park and UP Diliman and a cool rainy weather.


See you on the road guys!


UPDATES!

Race Results:



Updates source from www.pinoyfitness.com

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Countdown to my First Full Marathon at QCIM3 - December 04, 2011

Re-posting from my running blog, Runners Toe, about my first FULL Marathon last Sunday, December 04, 2011 at Quezon City International Marathon. 

~
In less than 10 hours, the gun will bang for the start of the 42K event at the Quezon City International Marathon 2011. This will be my first Full Marathon after running seven official Half Marathons since February 2011 and one Afroman Distance (32K) last November 13 at Run United 3.

It's mixed emotions now especially that I am feeling that my body wants to have colds (signs of itchy throat and slight headache since yesterday). I have been bombarding myself with Vitamin C to combat it.

Though I have tried running half marathons with colds, running 42K will be a lot different.

As a motivator, I am posting the finisher medals for both half marathon and full marathon events.


Photo courtesy of JazzRunner
Medals have the same design except that the medal with yellow ribbon has "Marathon Finisher" engraving while the Blue-Ribbon medal has "Half Marathon Finisher" engraving.


For the last time, here's the various race maps for our reference.




Last year's QCIM was my first 10K event, this year it's my first Full Marathon! I will be running under the banner of PinoyFitness.com this time.
See you on the road guys!

Monday, November 21, 2011

Re-post: Making Things Happen as a PF Community-JeepneED

As a proud PF community member, I would like to share/re-post this article from the PinoyFitness.com website.

sarangani-jeep-1

Last August 2011 when Pinoy Fitness launched the first version of the Technical Shirt aimed to support education, we decided to support JeepneED! Now after 3 months I am very proud to show you guys the Jeep that we all together funded!

sarangani-3

The Jeep was for Sarangani and the symbolic key was just recently been turned over (Nov. 14, 2011) to Governor Migs Dominquez by Shaina Tantuico (left) and Erika Pineda (2nd left) at the flag racing ceremory at the Capitol. You can check out the full story at the Official Website of the Province of Sarangani.

jeepneed-pinoyfitness

Now look at how nicely the Pinoy Fitness logo was placed at the side of the Jeep! But more importantly it’s going to be a symbol how each and everyone who supported the tech shirt helped and will continually help to uplift the education of the students in Sarangani.

sarangani-students

This Magic School Bus is equipped with 10 netbooks, 3G hub for internet connectivity, printer and scanner, projector and other basic science materials for a community of five public schools in the province!

This might not be as big as Cleaning the Pasig River or Saving the Dolphins, but it’s a start right!? As a small community we can make a small difference, imagine what we can do as we grow bigger. Hoping for everyone’s continuous support!



Read more: www.pinoyfitness.com


Monday, November 7, 2011

My Advance Birthday Gift - NB MR770 Running Shoes!

Last October 20, 2011, I purchased my advance birthday gift for myself at New Balance Shangri-la Plaza Mall. And it's an NB MR770GR running shoes!


This is stability shoes because I am an overpronator. I got a 9 1/2 size so that it can give enough room for my toes, my regular shoe size is 8 1/2- 9 inches. I just still have some problem with my wide feet.

Since purchased, I have already accumulated at least 50 kilometers mileage with my new running shoes. Longest of which is during the 21K/32K LSD run organized by OK OK Runners last October 30th at the Kilometer Zero, Rizal Park to MOA and into the old walled city of Intramuros.

With the lead group. Photo credits to OK OK Runners
Photo ops time, wow! Photo credits to OK OK Runners
During that LSD, I still suffered some runner's toe injuries but I am hoping that as I use more my NB's I will get rid of that kind of toe injuries.

As also I will be using my new NB's in my upcoming 32KM run at the Run United leg 3 on November 13th, and also for my upcoming full marathon which maybe next year.

My special thanks to Roxanne for the NB gift voucher which gave me 1000 pesos discount. And to all who have supported my love for running through the years.

See you on the road guys and girls!

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Our Cebu-Bohol Trip: Day 2- Bohol Countryside Tour, August 29

After our lunch buffet at the Loboc River cruise, we immediately continued our countryside tour, it was already 3PM so we need to hurry.

Second stop was at the Sevilla Hanging Bridge, from Loboc River we arrived at the Hanging Bridge in around 20 minutes.

Wifey at the first hanging bridge
The entrance fee to the hanging bridge was Php 10.00 each. There's two hanging bridge, one going to the other side of the river (entrance), and another one going back to the road (exit).The hanging bridges are kinda freaky especially when it sways while you walk, the steps was only made up of  bamboo that add up to the freaky feeling.

At the other side of the river, there are several stalls selling souvenirs and native food. We took this  opportunity to buy our souvenir "pasalubong " for our friends then we resumed our tour.
Third stop was at the Tarsier Conservation Center. It was a 15-minutes ride from the hanging bridge.

The smallest primate in the world, only in the Philippines!
I observed that the conservation center was a new one, works for the pathway and other amenities was still on going. And no entrance fee yet but there are donation boxes.

No camera flash was required and touching the Tarsiers were also prohibited. But in other zoos or areas in Bohol were there are Tarsiers, I heard that they allow touching these tiny creatures.

Fourth stop was at the Bilar Man-made Forest, thousands of mahogany trees were planter in the hillside along the road going to Carmen (Chocolate Hills). We arrived there at past 4PM which make our ride from the Tarsier Conservation Center less than 10 minutes.

At the Man-made Forest in Bilar
Fifth stop was at the Simply Butterflies Sanctuary, the entrance fee was Php 30.00 per pax. But the nice part was that every visitor were given a tour guide inside the sanctuary who explains everything inside and also served as cameraman :-)

Instant camera effects? :-)
Inside the live butterflies garden
At the sanctuary, we learned the life cycle of the butterflies as well as the moths. Moths are much bigger than the butterflies but not that attractive and colorful.

I would love to share more on butterflies in a new blog post (soon).

Sixth stop was at the Chocolate Hills in Carmen, Bohol. This time it took us a 20 minutes travel to the overlooking deck. Entrance fee was Php 50.00 per pax.

The majestic Chocolate Hills
On top of the world, este chocolate hills!
The breath-taking view of the thousand Chocolate Hills was awesome! It took us a while to climb the stairs up to the top of the overlooking deck, we took every opportunity to pose for a pic with the help of our tripod.

We spent around 30 minutes for going up and down the overlooking deck that includes our pictorials. Then we are back again on the road, back to the city or to the beach of Panglao or Dimaluan? A question we kept on arguing while on the way from Carmen, Bohol.

Seventh stop was at the Batuan Ship Haus, the house was already featured to Rated K and other TV programs.

At the ship haus in Batuan, Bohol
Our eight stop was at the Dimaluan Beach, where we supposed to have our overnight stay. But unfortunately, all rooms were reserved. So we have no more option but to proceed to Tagbilaran City. We did not opt to consider Panglao beach anymore because for sure all rooms were also taken as it is more popular than Dimaluan beach.

On our way back to the city, we passed by the towns of Dauis, Baclayon and Albuquerque. In Baclayon, we supposed to also visit the Baclayon Church but due to time constraints, it was already 7PM. We decided to return the next day also to visit the Blood Compact Shrine before departing back to Cebu.

Our last and ninth stop for the day was at the Dao Diamond Hotel in Tagbilaran City. Where we stayed overnight at around Php 1,300.00 for a couple's room.

At the hotel's reception area
I will also feature Dao Diamond Hotel in my next blog post. Rest time for we will still have our Day 3 of our Cebu-Bohol Trip.

For more photos of our Day 2 of Cebu-Bohol Trip, please click HERE.