Clash of the Titans

Last April 9, after accompanying my girl in her check-up, we decided to make use of our movie birthday passes at SM City The Block. I am really not aware of what is the 'hottest' movie at the moment, so I let my girl decide. But like me, she is also caught off guard. Thus, we just decided to choose what seemed to be a blockbuster at that time, and it was 'The Clash of the Titans'.

The film is pretty well understood [even without subtitles]. Also, you need not review your mythology classes to fully understand the movie. But I'll bet you'll dig in to those myths after seeing it. We do.

Shall I recommend the movie? Hmmm, not really. The movie is not something that is worth the watch [at least not for me]. The movie is good [but not great]. I am giving it 3 out 5 stars.

National Geographic Earth Day Run 2010

My Running Diary:

1. Adidas King of the Road 2009 - October 25, 2009 : 0:48:59
   
2. A Run for the Pasig River - November 8, 2009
   
3. Time is Running, The 2009 Timex Run - November 15, 2009 : 0:43:49/0:41:23
   
4. Men's Health Urbanathlon and Festival 2009 - November 22, 2009 : 0:53:50
   
5. New Balance Power Run, Raising Hope 2009 - November 29, 2009 (Bandit) : 0:38:19
   
6. 1^st Catholic Ministry to Deaf People Yes Run 2009 - December 6, 2009 : 0:42:25 (unofficial)
   
7. Pioneer Mighty Bond Mighty Run 2009 - December 13, 2009 : 0:38:13 (unofficial)
8. PhilStar.com Christmas Celebrity Run 2009 - December 20, 2009 (chaos)
9. PSE Bull Run 2010 : Takbo Para sa Ekonomiya - January 17, 2010 : 0:36:23
10. Condura Run 2010 - Run for the Dolphins - February 7, 2010 : 0:33:18 (unofficial) 0:37:00 (official)
11. Century Superbods Run 2010: RunRio Trilogy Leg 1 - February 21, 2010 : 0:49:10 / 0:39:35
12. UNILAB Run United for Wellness - March 7, 2010 : 1:22:32
13. Globe Run for Home 2010 - March 21, 2010 : 0:38:22 / 0:37:37
14. Mizuno Infinity Race 2010 - April 11, 2010 : 1:19:49
15. National Geographic Earth Day Run 2010 - April 18, 2010 : 1:30:18
    

I am really planning at meeting the 01:10 target that my girl and I have set back at the Mizuno Infinity Race 2010; but I failed to do so. I started strong. I even left my girl behind. I am still on target at the 5K mark (35min); but I am surprised how my girl overtake me at around halfway of 5-6K. She told me she is doing the Galloway Method. I tried to pace with her. But I just can't keep up. She made me eat her dust. From 6K onwards, I just walk until the finish line. My girl even met me up at around 200m from the finish. She was at the finish line at a considerable amount of time already. I need more practice and training.

Thumbs Up

• I believe everybody love the limited edition technical shirt. The registration is worth it.
• Hydration booth. I am on crossroads on whether to place it here or in thumbs down; but I prefer to have it here for it is sufficient. But I would have love to sip a Gatorade than water to re-fuel myself.
• Sufficient kilometer markers.
• Marshals that are equipped with sufficient knowledge about the race route.
• An organized after race event. We were welcomed with free Nature Valley granola bars, a slice of limited edition of American Idol Greenwich pizza, a box of multivitamins (which we were unable to have), photo op with placards showing how we support Design Against the Elements (DAtE), and green bandanna.
  

Thumbs Down

• Hmmm, so what's a 'Thumbs Down' with this event? I believe many had been ranting about the registration fee of the event. But I believe if runners simply think of the beneficiary, they won't feel any loss with the amount they had spent/donated.
• Dust. They should have placed the event area at the parking lot instead of the dusty venue. Nonetheless, it was still a well-organized event.

I am glad that I had run for a good cause, to help the with an ambitious goal of DAtE searching the brain of a genius that could architect a habitat that could withstand the elements of the Earth. I did my part at helping our Planet Earth with the climate change that we are currently experiencing. Have you done yours?

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While running for a good cause, I still find some time for my photography. A view of SM Mall of Asia's Globe during sunrise.

The 10K runners racing for a podium finish. Go Pinoys!

My girl, leaving me behind

Crossing the Finish Line

I care for our Mother Earth, and so I ran. How about you?

Mizuno Infinity Race 2010

My Running Diary:

1. Adidas King of the Road 2009 - October 25, 2009 : 0:48:59
   
2. A Run for the Pasig River - November 8, 2009
   
3. Time is Running, The 2009 Timex Run - November 15, 2009 : 0:43:49/0:41:23
   
4. Men's Health Urbanathlon and Festival 2009 - November 22, 2009 : 0:53:50
   
5. New Balance Power Run, Raising Hope 2009 - November 29, 2009 (Bandit) : 0:38:19
   
6. 1^st Catholic Ministry to Deaf People Yes Run 2009 - December 6, 2009 : 0:42:25 (unofficial)
   
7. Pioneer Mighty Bond Mighty Run 2009 - December 13, 2009 : 0:38:13 (unofficial)
8. PhilStar.com Christmas Celebrity Run 2009 - December 20, 2009 (chaos)
9. PSE Bull Run 2010 : Takbo Para sa Ekonomiya - January 17, 2010 : 0:36:23
10. Condura Run 2010 - Run for the Dolphins - February 7, 2010 : 0:33:18 (unofficial) 0:37:00 (official)
11. Century Superbods Run 2010: RunRio Trilogy Leg 1 - February 21, 2010 : 0:49:10 / 0:39:35
12. UNILAB Run United for Wellness - March 7, 2010 : 1:22:32
13. Globe Run for Home 2010 - March 21, 2010 : 0:38:22 / 0:37:37
14. Mizuno Infinity Race 2010 - April 11, 2010 : 1:19:49
    

Mizuno Infinity Race 2010 was my 2^nd 10K race. But this one's different from my first (UNILAB Run United for Wellness) for a couple of reasons:

1. My girl and I had a competition between us, and that is to be at the Finish Line by 01:10; and whoever wins will have a free compression tights from the loser; and,
2. The race route is very challenging (at least for us) for it'll be our first time to traverse Buendia Flyover to and fro.

I must say that I enjoy the run; despite the fact that I am unable to win a free compression tights, LOL! Running at the Buendia Flyover brings some feeling of accomplishment for me (for it was my first time). Anyway, let's proceed with my thumbs ups and downs.

Thumbs UP

• My girl and I were late in the gunstart of the 10K; and it was amazing that we don't find it hard to squeeze into the piled up 5K runners for the marshals form a sort of express lane for the late 10K runners.
• As for hydration, it was sufficient. And they also have sponges for 10K runners. Most races have it for distances above 10K.
• The race route. Registering for 10K is already a courage for us who were comfortable at 5K distances. The challenge that welcomed us makes me really wanna run 10K distances all the more.
• The finishers' shirt is also a thumbs up. Almost everyone wore the shirt after the race. Not to mention the sling bag given back upon registration.
  
• Gatorade was also available for the finishers.
• Shower at the end of the Finish line stretch where I was able to damp my towel for refreshment.
  
• A post event for the runners to be held at Fort Victoria on April 25.
  

Thumbs DOWN

• Bananas. Well, they were only offered for Mizuno users. So, it was a thumbs down for me since I am not one, LOL!
• KM markers seem to be insufficient. Nonetheless, it was not that significant for me.

Mizuno Infinity Race is a never ending battle against oneself. They were challenging each and every runner to improve their time each year. Definitely, I would want to run again next year and beat my own time.

Happy RUNNING!

A Five Star for Globe's Fast Service

I can still remember the rants my girl had made against Globe Telecommunications (GT) a year ago. Her cellphone just go a No Access to Network without doing anything. By instinct, she reported the incident to GT's Customer Service and had to answer the SOPs over and over again which did not make any improvements on her concern [it just adds up on her dismay]. She even drop by on GT centers and still of no help. She was even blamed for what happened to her SIM. Oh my, something that really makes her mad.

Good thing, all these inconvenience were relieved by GT when she reported the case (after a year) to GT's Twitter account. Contrary to her experience (a year ago), GT's Twitter response is fast and that they were really after customer satisfaction.

This Thursday, it happened to my Globe SIM. I chose not to report it to a GT Customer Service for I know I will just be hearing same old questions, giving me false hopes that they already had reported the matter to their technicians, and make me wait for a week or so without any progress at all.

I just send a message to GT's Twitter account with the hope of a fast response like they did to my girl. Unfortunately, I got nil. We also seek the help of GT's NGMA Area Head. But we got a little bit late response for he has personal matters to attend to. For our lat resort, we asked my girl's former officemate (now a GT employee) about the SIM upgrade he had mentioned a year ago which is only available at their Cubao branch and is for a certain fee. Surprisingly, he told us that it is now available anywhere and for FREE!

So we tried our luck at Waltermart, Plaridel yesterday. And yes, we were open-mouthed when the very approachable GT personnel attend to our concern without questions leading to "hot heads". She smilingly greeted us, make us wait for only a couple of seconds, and presto, I got my SIM card upgraded. With access to network and with my balance in tact. That was a breeze!

I still can't get over it. I would no longer worry buying a new SIM and having to text everyone from my phonebook my new number. It was really a five star for Globe's fast service!

Earth Hour 2010 at SM City Marilao

I hardly remember where I'm at exactly a year ago for the celebration of Earth Hour 2009. But it's history; and I am glad that I had taken part of the Earth Hour 2010 at SM City Marilao. Yes, I am one of the lucky few who were invited to the simple, yet dignity-driven, activity.

The meeting place was at David's Tea House where we were served with mouth-watering dishes. And so I took my part on being the photographer of the group.

While eating at David's Tea House

After a pleasant dinner, we proceed to the venue of the program. The program is entitled "Chants and Dances for the Earth Hour at SM Marilao". It was held in front of the mall. A mini-stage was set-up for the presentation of dances from selected students and teachers from Sophia School of Meycauayan.

But before anything else, I had a photo taken with Al Gore's poster.


A brief introduction about Earth Hour was presented followed by the singing of the Philippine National Anthem and Marilao Hymn. Then, before the clock strikes 8:30PM, a countdown was made and the turning off the lights was symbolically done simultaneously with the lighting of torch. Only 50% of the mall's lights were turned off for security purposes; nonetheless, that 50% already helped a lot in saving our only planet, the Earth.

Here are some of my shots during the program/celebration:










At the end of the program, a freedom wall was provided allowing anybody to post his pledge on "What will you do to help save Mother Earth".


It was an activity worth celebrating and joining. Thanks to SM City Marilao for inviting me.