Law against beggars

This season of sharing we are "taught" of generosity. Everyday, especially this Christmas season, we are flocked with kids on the streets knocking on car windows, caroling in the streets, clinging to jeepneys. And almost instantly we drop a coin or two, for whatever purpose it serves the beggars, or us... What we were not taught is that there this is a law against this act.

What is the law against beggars? The ANTI-MENDICANCY law signed in 1978, says that mendicants, exploited infants (do you see women carrying babies in the streets?), children who are 8 years old and below, minors found begging, parents of exploited infants and children are criminally liable under Article 59 and 60 of Presidential Decree No. 603. Definition of terms, penalties and scope of the law in
http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/presdecs/pd1978/pd_1563_1978.html

There are avenues to sharing your blessings to the "rightful" poor and helping them improve their lives. Please take the route to a LAWFUL "alms-giving," fund raising.

"Out there is the real world ... in here is the dream"

A paraplegic marine dispatched to the planet Pandora becomes torn between following mission orders in exchange for a spinal surgery that will fix his legs and saving a civilization he has considered his own.

In the movie Avatar, it gives one a view of the "struggles" in living on earth. Faced by greed and selfishness, we human beings have to make a firm resolution to preserve early inhabitants' culture, protect and uphold their rights and not force them to take ours.

In the Philippines, the Dumagats and Remontados, the indigenous people of Laiban, Rizal are under threat to lose their heritage, dominion, livelihood for the sake of  "supplying water" to the lowland people, the Metro Manilans, through the construction of Laiban Dam. 

The environment group can not reconcile how there are visible leaking water pipes, "mishandling" of water, connections of illegal origin and claim that the only way to cure the shortage of water is to destroy ecology by building a dam.  Have we really looked at other means?  Have we done root cause analysis?  Have we determined the variances, risks, defects, underlying factors that are leading to the unfavorable outcome?  Are we really addressing the real problem or just patching up a problem for business interest, to rake in profits?

The Laiban Dam project is not only disadvantageous to the native people of Laiban, but also to the Metro Manilans who is claimed to be the direct recipient of the project.  Father Bienvenido Miguel Jr issued a statement, "The project is anti-poor.  It will create unsustainable debt obligations and it will always be the mass who will again bear the burden of shouldering the high cost of water just to pay the huge loans incurred in the building and maintenance of the dam."  Alongside, Freedom from Debt Coalition advocacy coordinator Dianne Roa said that "Each household that consumes around 30 cubic meters of water has to shell out an additional Php540 to Php600 monthly should this proposed project push through."

The loss of biodiversity from 25000 hectares of virgin forest which will be submerged in water, the displacement of 6000 indigenous people is not a localized issue.  We should all be vigilant in the movements of the government towards this project, however secretive they may be. 

Our hearts go to the people of Laiban, and you?  Where is your real world?   (this photo was taken during a tree planting activity in Laiban, while trying to ease the sadness of the locals.)

Laiban Dam, Tutulan by Greg Bituin Jr

(10 syllable poem)

Proyektong Laiban Dam ay para lang

Sa pagpapayaman ng ilan

Laiban Dam ay dapat labanan

Pagtayo nitong ating tutulan

Ang kalikasan ay alagaan

Pati katutubong mamamayan

Sierra Madre by Sidhay B.

Sierra Madre tinubuan

Pama ng kalikasan

Yaman nitong silangan

Binhawa ng pamayanan

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR):  let's do tree planting in Laiban!  email us activeculture@Ymail.com, activeculture.club@Gmail.com
More about Laiban Dam Project,  visit the following links:
Freedom from Debt Coalition
Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines
Philippine Online Chronicles

photos courtesy of Alda, the prospective princess in pink :) and avatartrailer.com

"Rice is Life"

This is the theme of the Adventure Marathon I am in Dumaguete now for, inspired by a gesture of a key Philippine government official to the Saudi Arabia king--  What will you gift a king who has it all?  "Rice is Life.  King, here's rice so that you may have a long life!" 

Started in November 2006, the "Rice is Life" marathon by the Foundation University is the only race that's giving sacks of rice as prize.  The idea is to bring more people to realize that it's not production (and definitely not importation!) but conservation of rice is the key to sustainability.  Incidentally, it's also the Rice Awareness Month this November!

I have not eaten so much rice in my whole life!  For breakfast of fried rice (organic, straight from the farm and warmly prepared by working students of Foundation University, Dumaguete), to puto (made of glutinuous rice like "suman"; not the puffy bread-like the popular native delicacy in Laguna, Philippines) to more rice at lunch and rice noodles for dinner, ended by "budbod" which is "suman" dipped in chokolate-ah (and sometimes served with ripe mango). 

It's carbo-loading galore!  The people in Dumaguete fed me so much.  I think it's in connivance with the Marathon-founder who was enticing me to do the 28k -- so I can burn all the taken calories!

During one of the race meetings, when i asked the founder-organizer how I can help, he replied with "Do the 28k!"  I was eyeing to do a fun run only, a 10k the most.  The morning of the race day, i found myself at the gunshot for the 28k!

The start line at the Boulevard gave it a romantic shot of the bay, so picturesque that i felt I was chasing for my prince charming (this morning i found a cute little frog by my door). 

And so I run, I run in long slow motion as if Hollywood is capturing this moment.  Then there were butterflies in my stomach, not the ineffable experience related to psychology of true love. It is more related to something i had this morning -- something that my body was not familiar with. 

My stubbornness or was it more of a no-choice because i did not have somebody to prepare my "normal breakfast" of Ampalaya soup and Boiled saba (plantation)?   I was between getting starved or eating unfamiliar food.  You know what i decided on.   Let me give you my version of Do's and Dont's in running a race out-of-town.  This is Running 101 and I am pretty sure that any newbie (moreso, the long-time runners) is familiar with but it helps to be reminded -- probably not for you but for ME!

1]Let's start with food.  For those who are on a restricted diet, make sure you either pack your own food or prepare your own or at the least, have somebody you know who can prepare your meal for you.  When you introduce new food into your body, make sure you do a "test-run" at least a few days before the race to mitigate the food's adverse reaction to your body.  It's ideal to do the normal running regimen with the new food or drink ie sports drink, energy food. 
2]Medicine.  Ensure that you have packed in all your prescribed medicines and emergency drugs such as aspirin, paracetamol, maalox, immodium.  See here RedCross First Aid kit
3]Lodging facilities.  You need to get well rested before the race.  It's crucial to have a complete quality sleep two nights before the race so fly in early enough to have time to adjust to the hotel or the place where you are staying at.  The night immediately before the run, most often, "runner's high" is experienced where runner is anxious, excited, agitated that keep him up all night.
4]Get familiar with the race map.  If you must visit the course then do so so you have the "unknowns" figured out.  Some race organizers (i am not charging the organizer for Dumaguete Marathon as one) fail to orient the runners of the toughness (level of uphills and downhills) of the course.  If you are the adventurous type, then this is not an issue.  Moreso, a plus-factor.  Know the right type of shoe, gear, hydrate stations etc...  Doing a race out of the country spells the difference -- on the weather, temperature, terrain.  Go check forums and query the marathon organizers. 

These are the few things I first-handedly learned from my first out-of-town run.  I may not have a full experience of the course, but i had an unforgettable and irreplaceable experience with the hands of the "Gentle People" (of Dumaguete; as Jose Rizal, the Philippine national hero, put it).  I wouldn't dare say, "Noli me tangere... "

MUST SEE/TRY IN DUMAGUETE:

~"Dumaguete express" and grilled fishes at Lab-As restaurant along Baybay (pronounced with short 'a' and not with long a in "bay", the body of water)

~Rice cakes at the market near Quezon Park.  Email activeculture@Ymail.com or activeculture.club@Gmail.com  for directions to the best one that serves them!  Ooooh, mouthwatering...

~"Eveything under the sun" market at Malatapay which opens only on Wednesdays

~Malapatay is the get-off point to Apo island where you can find the prismatic animated marine sanctuary.  It's just a stone-away, about 15 to 30 minutes boat ride.  Prepare to get there in the morning to avoid the rough waves in the afternoon, or have the most enthralling boat ride (I did =)!

My early Trick or Treat

Twenty-third of October, my first run after my first half-marathon on a course where it all happened. I was back in time... Gripping with pain as i run with tendonitis, i distracted myself with enveloping breeze of the early morning, the canopy of moss-green trees with sun rays seeping through as dawn comes to an end, the contagious euphoria of runners, the strength of para-athletes, the smile and greetings of the human posts brought icing to the cake (at this point my heart leaped reaching my max heart rate and not because i was gasping for air). I feel renewed. I feel my God has blessed me with angels who will guide me during the race no matter how challenging it may be.

Two kilometers has passed in the race when my angel-pacer cut the silence, "What is your heart rate?" He is also my Trainer-mentor who did not have a choice but to supervise my training for the last three weeks and look after me during the whole 21 kilometers. Y'see, i was diagnosed to have cardiomyopathy on a very unlikely incident (it was asymptomatic all my life!) and i told my Trainer about this. By then, He was hesitant to either tell me he does not want to train me because of my condition or my goal is unachievable. I can see struggle in his eyes during our first talk and the initial excitement that he will train somebody for a half-marathon subsided.

Tritorns as he is fondly called in triathlon community has finished full marathons and is an Iron Man. After thinking twice whether to train me or not, he finally reasoned "Even if dont train you, you will do it anyway. So might as well have somebody experienced to see you through..." He was right. I was so determined to achieve this goal i have set for my self at the start of the year. I saw myself ticking this off my list so more and more i got excited as the race came closer. Week-in, week-out for the past three weeks i run like never before until the tendonitis came.

Threatened to hear that i cannot run the race, I was fearful to consult a doctor but my Trainer kept bogging me so i submitted myself to medical authority. He prescribed a topical ointment and pain killer after my plead to ease the pain. In spite of, I felt fortunate to have had the tendonitis in the Tapering stage of the training.

Two forty-two hours I finished the race. I ran side by side a Kenyan runner who was finishing her 42K. I did not feel sorry for myself. It was more the opposite. I was proud to finish it without walking and no major injury although at the last Two kilometers my legs were extremely heavy and sore. One, because of the tendonitis; two, because my feet were soaked from hydrating my head (now i know the trick for keeping them dry).

Tigerose (tiger+my name) is the moniker i earned from my trainer for finishing the race with a heart ailment and tendonitis and now, aspiring to become a Triathlete. I wish to be an inspiration to people -- You can do whatever you want to! Believe in the vast possibilities!

Till next run! Join us:

1]Dumaguete Run on Nov 22, 2009

2]Annual Executive Classic Run on Dec 20, 2009.  (moved to Feb 28, 2010)
3]Running Clinic every Sunday 6AM, UP Diliman QC, in front of Abelardo Hall (College of Music), left wing of the Oblation

Email activeculture@Ymail.com or activeculture.club@Gmail.com Take care!

On your mark, get set... CARBO LOAD!

Are you a QCIM-21k or QCIM-42k runner?

Carbo load with Runnex, candidates for Miss Quezon City, celebrities of GMA-7 on Friday, October 16, 2009, 6pm at Aurora Park, Quezon Memorial Circle. (directions: for those driving, take east avenue gate for parking while for those commuting, get off at QC hall and take underpass to the QC circle.)

Here are some eating tips to guide you by your first marathon:

(from about.com)

Two days Before the Marathon

if you want a pasta party, the time to do it is 2 nights before the marathon. Do not overeat. Reduce caffeine and alcohol consumption. Drink plenty of water. A giant bowl of pasta and a huge salad with lots of roughage are not recommended-you need moderation

One day Before the Marathon

eliminate any high fiber foods and foods that cause gas, such as beans, broccoli, bran cereals, etc. If you are lactose intolerant, eliminate milk products. If spicy foods speed up your gut, eliminate them. Stick with low-residue foods and eat only enough to satisfy your basal metabolism. Eliminate alcohol and reduce caffeine to the bare minimum.

Morning of the Marathon

many marathoners can't eat anything before the starting gun. Whatever you choose for breakfast should be bland and high in carbohydrates and easy to digest. If you must have some coffee, have as little as possible. Drink a large glass of water 1-2 hours before the start and have nothing more to drink until the starting gun. That starts you off well-hydrated but gives you enough time to eliminate any extra.

NOTE for 21k and 42k PACERS: briefing and distribution of singlets at the party. Be there!

RSVP: Michelle or Tess 742-0283, 917-6202441

Feast your eyes with the beautiful candidates of Miss QCIM http://jazzrunner.wordpress.com/2009/10/09/miss-qcim-whos-your-pick/

photos courtesy of jazzrunner

Whatcha beat?

1234.. 1234.. like the chant we hear from the military men as they welcome their morning with a run in the base.

One Sunday, it was not military men, but a group of runners learning a new way of running long distance(albeit: the traditional scientific run was not as effective after all). "Kenyan run" it is called and it took a coach with the name of Jojo Macalintal to teach the "new trick." The old (READ: old-time runners; dont mistake old for age --ahem; remember running takes age back every year) were all so ready to learn it. 1234.. 1234.. Stand tall! Fall tall!

"Kenyan run dictates a straight body to a slight forward lean (find the core gravity), a mid-foot landing on a slightly bent knee, a fast turn-over or cadence of about 130 steps per minute, and short strides or the so called baby steps. The Kenyan way uses less over-all energy and alleviates the shock in the knees."



Without the count, the form reminisce of a dance i see getting it's way through the hearts of running men. With a cow bell, 123--567.. 123--567.. is how some runners break the dawn with?

And yo, whatcha beat?


Do--It!
RUNNEX, the race manager of the first Quezon City International Marathon (QCIM) is:
-holding a FREE RUNNING CLINIC every Sunday morning, 6:00 AM, UP Diliman Quezon City, RUNNEX Tent fronting Abelardo Hall (College of Music), Osmena cor Ylanan Streets, left wing of UP oblation

Likewise, the Salsa Fanatics is inviting you for a FREE SALSA LESSONS every Thursday and Saturday night.  Email us for more information by clicking here.

photos courtesy of jazzrunner

Blogger Grapples With Her First Half-Marathon

We are the first ones to register for the 1st Quezon City International Marathon (QCIM) set on October 18, 2009.

While I was filling out the registration form I was wrestling with myself, "Is this really what you want to do? Run for half marathon? Why not the full marathon?!" The latter was a voice smaller than "let's just take the sideline!"

At the start of the year, I have set this goal to myself, run a long distance marathon but I was not specific as to what or how or why. I just want to --period! When I walk, my strides are long and fast that seem to want to take off (not kidding). Sometimes I give in. Even how much short the taxi is just to make my body happy. I feel like one of those planes flying from Busuanga (a place in the Philippines I love and keep going back to; another blog due soon). At the start of the engine, in a blink of an eye, you are in cloud 9 (more like the state I am in when I run). But of course, it's an exaggeration. Until now I do not know why my passion for running came to this point. I am running 21k at the 1st QCIM. Double history-in-the-making for me! My first half marathon at the 1st shoot of Quezon City in the International Marathon limelight.

It's another opportunity for our country (Quezon City to be specific) to be highlighted to the world so this is not just a localized dream but a nationwide ambition.

While the organizers are expecting a number of first-timers like me, they are also expecting a number of experienced international marathoners to join. Prices are lucrative amounting to Php3 million in total and it has drawn local marathoners the like. Incidentally, RUNNEX, the Race Manager, is looking for pacers for the full marathon, with the first timers in mind. They wish to drive the momentum high while they run on a grueling trail. Interested individuals or groups, please email Dave de Leon. Incentives will motivate pacers to motivate runners.

Only a month to go.. While my race packet is resting face-to-face with me at the end of my bed, waiting to hit the road on the big day. I, with the rest of the runner-blogger community, will update you on the big event (a week long celebration of the 70th founding anniversary of Quezon City). Continue to plug into our site!

Detailed information about the race and registration is available online at QCIM 2009 website.
http://www.runnex.org/qcim2009/

Spice It Up with Salsa Nights

Want to learn a hot way to burn calories, get into shape while having a great time meeting new friends? Salsa Fanatics Entertainment in Manila gives free lessons at Dolce Vita Restobar, Makati City every Thursday and Saturday nights. http://www.wmn.ph/article/589/spice-it-up-with-salsa-nights

Ecotourism: Travel for Less

There is so much hype about ecotourism in the travel industry. What is it actually? Ecotourism Society defines it as responsible travel to natural areas which conserves the environment and improves the welfare of the local people. Nature Awareness and Conservation Club Inc, in the Philippines supports this and here's what they offer for Travel for Less:
http://manila.craigslist.com.ph/eve/1305227296.html

Quezon City International Marathon Race

On the 18th of October 2009, an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 runners from all categories will gather at the Quezon Memorial Shrine to begin writing the history of the first ever Quezon City International Marathon in celebration of the Quezon City's 70th year of existence. History will mark it's footsteps on http://runnex.org/qcim2009/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=5

UNWTO has set up a "Tourism Resilience Committee" to respond to a turbulent world economy while staying on course the challenges of climage change and poverty alleviation. Following the Ministers' Summit, a series of response groups focusing on the regional impacts and action by the sector will follow looking at both immediate and longer-term response.

The rest of the news at:

http://www.worldecotourismconference.com/

Conference registration closes on July 7th

To see something that is not there is a great image

I had an honor to meet an award-winning photographer last night in one of my friend's 'dinner-assembly.' He perked our appetites by showing us slides of pictures backedground with music, he himself concocted. Wonderfully put together! The photos filled our senses with things one would take for granted. I could not let my eye blink as I take a bite on each festive, emotional, life-giving, silentious photo. As I digest the five-course meal of photos, plates and bowls of food come rushing on our table.

NOTE: Mr Deichmann is conducting photography classes around the world --he may be in your country next! For more information, get in touch with him through numbers or contact details posted on his website. http://www.deichmann-photo.com/

Cogito Ergo Sum

Cogito ergo sum.. I think, therefore I exist -- is one of the philosophical statements I studied in college that induced thinking of human's existence. Originated from Rene Descartes, simple meaning is that if someone is wondering whether or not he exists, that is in and of itself proof that he does exist... ...

A lot of my lifetime is spent hoarding knowledge about new things like earthworms (?!), understanding how things go about --lifecyle of butterflies (?!), how things affect each other, the ecosystem. Every new learning goes to my hard database, i call MY LIFE NOTES.

My day to day experiences with people and other living beings-- from the trivial things: how watching a bug put a smile on my face OR what the clouds formed in the sky, to the more serioues: what transpired during the day and my reflections on them. All these i put in MY PERSONAL JOURNAL.

You see for me it's necessary to take time to pause, quiet down, enjoy the beauty of nature and be present with my god. I would write about how god speaks to me daily and review them later, kind of how people in a relationship do, read love letters over and over and over...

animal behavior,
human psychology,
personal discovery...
I pound my brain with these information until there is no more space in my brain to store data... ...

For me, understanding the minds (mine and otherwise) enhances one's self awareness, empower my life and the lives of people i interact with.

...this sum up to the philosophical statement that i lived with most of my lifetime, as Socrates said, THE UNREFLECTED LIFE IS not worth living --now think about that!

Why We Do What We Do?

Tony Robbins answers this at TedTalks, a small non-profit devoted to ideas worth spreading.
Tony on the otherhand is a life coach and founder of an organization that feeds 2 million people inspired by a life experience shared at (either watch the video or read the transcript)
http://www.ted.com/talks/tony_robbins_asks_why_we_do_what_we_do.html

Are You Fully Alive?

Excerpt from an email sent by Bo Sanchez: "My 4-yr old Francis is a good singer. Yesterday, my 4-yr old son asked me, Daddy, why can I sing? I was about to open a biology book to explain vocal cords which are the 2 mucous membranes horizontal the larynx, and the science of audiophonics, when he answered his own question: Is it because Im a human being? Such wisdom. Like my boy, I love being a human being. Question: Friend are you fully alive? Be all that you can be. Rise up! How? I think the only way to do that is to align yourself to god's purpose for you. " You can read more of this in the free ebook, How to Know if Your Dreams are God's Dream, which can be downloaded from http://www.bosanchez.ph/

Welcome to activeculture club!

We are ACTIVE CULTURE CLUB, a group of people who are passionate about nourishing:


our MINDS with the wonders of the world
our BODIES with sports, exercise, eco-adventure, proper nutrition
our SPIRIT with meditation, social responsibility.

We believe that these are the very components that make people 'successful' in life. (READ: success is defined and measured by you!)

If you have something to say about any of these areas of success, found an article that is worth sharing, please feel free to become a member and write on this blogspot :-)
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Carpe diem!