Laughter is the Best Medicine for Climb Begginers

As a blogger (an ambitious one), you have to make sure that all of your wonderful experience (even the most nonsense)are posted in your blogspot just to make sure that all of them are shared on the net.  I was just beginning my life as a blogger, and there are lots of unforgettable experience that took place that I was not able to published. 

So, for the sake of writing down my life's achievements, success and experiences, let me present you, "Allen on the Top of Pico de Loro." (October 30, 2011)

Yes! I was able to climb the "peaks" of this freaking work of nature. Not bad as this was only my second mountain to conquer, next to Mt. Tagapo in Binangonan, Rizal.  Comparing the two mountains, Pico de Loro was the hardest and the most adrenaline-rushing climb, specially when ascending the second peak.   Well, thanks to my climb buddies, Rexadel, Glody and Christian, I was able to reach the peaks and return home safe and sound.

Fact:

I was struggling climbing this peak, and I was regularly asking for a break, but my co-hikers (unfortunately were also my barkada) were making fun of me that they keep on pushing despite my creed.  Well guess what?  I spilled-out a lot of jokes just to make them laugh and dismantled their breathing, with the plan that this would lead to break.  It worked. 

My First Challenge as a Runner

My first Race Kit, and YES!  We got it for free!  Regards to Hyundai for organizing this worth-taking event.  See on race day!!

The Science (and Faith) of Running

I was never a fan of running or jogging.  I remember when I was in my tertiary, I used to jog with my cousins as preparation to the upcoming basketball league that time and we made it a habit to run every morning weeks before the opening of the tournament.  I ran twice. 

I hate it the most when I push myself to wake up early in the morning which is the best time to exercise.  I find it boring running in a circular motion in a subdivision full of grasses, trees and old people trying to stay in shape in their prime.  Its not a good view, it never was.  Usually, I don't push myself in doing thing I don't like.  In short, running was not in my heart.

When I started working in an office-type institution, I gained a lot of weight because of the lifestyle-change brought about by my new environment.  I lost time to play my life-defining sports, basketball.  And imagine, your 8-hour stay inside your 4-walled office doing things that requires minimum body movement (except sweeping the floor and other household stuff that you do) like typing, answering the phone, meeting with co-leagues, printing, chatting and the likes.

Before, I ignore the weight-gain that I've experienced and keep on telling myself that "I am not fat, I was just skinny before."  Until I've joined the 4th season of our annual, basketball tournament.  I was not the same me when I stepped inside the playing court.  It was then that I realized I had to do something to get me back in shape especially now that we have a strong chance to be in the finals. 

Then I decided to run (and eat less).  On the first day, I had a hard time waking up 5am in the morning.  But I persisted.    I choose to run inside a subdivision (the same subdivision I used to run with my cousin) near our place and I found it hard to run a 2 and a half minute of 1 full lap.  I was breathing hard through my mouth on my 2nd lap.  To sum up, I ran for 6 laps, with 1 minute rest every 2 laps.  I did the same routine on the 2nd and the 3rd day.  I added another laps on the following days, each exceeding my laps on the previous.

I was on my second week of my jogging regime when I immediately feel lighter and I saw my cheeks and belly to be a little smaller than usual.  Then that was the point that I decided to keep on doing this new-found endeavour, not only because of my plan to be back in my old basketball form, but to be physically fit and active in totality.  I was now falling in love with the sports. 

I kept on running for 3 straight weeks, resting only on Sundays.  Step by step, I was playing basketball like I did before, though this time, I focused on defending the best player of the opposing team since I believe that this will be an integral nucleus in winning the title.  Like the basketball cliche that a championship coach said, "offense wins ball games, but defense wins championship." I was able to run with my the player whom I am guarding, moving freely, either moving to the left or right, switching directions with ease.  I credit this to my cardio-exercise, jogging. 

Then came a time when my best bud posted "Hyundai Run for a Cause" on my wall.  It was a great news, to run for a cause (I chose Community Development) is a challenge I want to take to measure my skill (and future) in my new sports.  I had a hard time registering since many people are trying to register as well because the fun run is for free, but when I did, I decided to run harder than before.  I was running for 20 minutes, resting and running again for another 5.  I kept this pace for a few days then decided to hurdle longer. 

My feet and legs are tired, feeling pain and stiffness.  Then, I was able to read a qoute about jogging, "when your feet hurts, run using your heart."  This was a very meaningful message to me and now serves as my motto for running.  That was when I decided to pursue this sports, for I think, what I lack in physical strength, I can cover it with hard work, perseverance and the will to finish what I started.  With this attitude, I can now run for 40 minutes in just 3 weeks of pursuing this journey. 

I fell in love in the sports.  It was a good feeling knowing that you are able to outlast your previous run and that your perseverance has been fruitful.  I  think that this is the one sports that I can excel on, because running only requires your time, effort, a running shoes and an untiring heart to propel you towards greatness.  Unlike in basketball, you have to have good teammates, jump high, run fast, shoot the ball with accuracy, pass the ball timely, receive good breaks from the refs, defend hard, score at will, and on and on.  But I will not leave the sports that I used to call, "My Life" since the only reason why I tried jogging is because of my unending love for basketball.   I am happy that this two sports coincides, like most sportsman believes in, "to excel in one sports, you must have another one that will serve as your cross-training."

Basketball has taught me to be a team player; running has taught me self-discipline.  Basketball showed me the importance of sharing; running showed me the importance of enduring. Both sports taught me to love and appreciate life, and the faith that I can conquer all obstacles that's obscuring my path towards greatness. 

BAB Getbackerz: Identifying Individual Roles Towards Redemption

It’s been 4 long season since the BAB-SJB Basketball Tournament (which was previously known as BAB Basketball League) took place. Historically, the mere purpose of the league that started with 6 teams is to have a summer activity that will build camaraderie between players (who are all in one clique) and to showcase individual skills in playing the sports.

Now on its 4th season, stakes are higher and the competitive level has stepped-up since the number of teams joining the tournament has reached 11.  Each teams made sure that their team will be up to the task of winning the prestigious championship trophy by adding up key players to their team, trading players or even merging two teams from the previous season.

Team BAB, the group who pioneered the said tourney will teaming up together for the first time in four seasons of play.  During the previous seasons, Allen Baloloy, Rexadel Valle, Christopher Ela, Arjhay De Luna, Junril Candelario, Lorence Jay San Miguel and Christian Alcantara were playing for different teams, but this season, they decided to form an alliance to be successful in their basketball journey.  It was a very exciting moment, listing their names in one common paper, naming their team as BAB Getbackerz, with the idea of getting back the championship trophy which they got way back the 1st season and bringing back the glory that they all lost in the past two seasons, for these seasons, the champions were not from BAB.  Yes, the formation of this special team was easy, but getting the most sought price was not a walk in the park.

Each players from the Getbackerz are all unique players with different skill and talents, and once this individual talent runs in-sync with another individual talent, plus the unified goal of getting back the most sought trophy, they will be hard to stop.  They must also embrace the role assigned to them individually, and must realize that in a team, there are star players, role players and players playing for one another, and the latter was the most important.

Junril Candelario #10, Guard

Tata is one of the league's premiere shooters, shooting 3's with a high percentage accuracy.  A potent scorer and a willing passer, Jucan is at best when he is in triple threat.

Role:

Candelario must accept the role of coming off the bench, providing the spark once his number is called.  He will have no problem of putting up points, that's what he can provide once Ela sits on the bench.  He must also play his position off the ball at times spacing the floor which will create havoc for the opposing team.

Allen Baloloy #9, Guard

Allen is the playing coach of this team.  With his basketball IQ and natural approach in playing basketball, he could be the team's most important player on and off the court.  Allen is the type of player who is a stabiizer, a leader, calling plays and designing substitution patterns, a court director calling up plays an d loves to set-up his team mates.

Role:

Baloloy has never been known for his scoring, but with his never say die attitude, he could be the team's perennial defensive specialist.  Taking pride of his individual defense, he is best when stopping a scorer who plays on the wing.  His special defensive talent will take off the load on defense for Candelario and Ela, so the two could focus on scoring.

Christian Alcantara #1, Guard/Forward

Itian is probably the first player that a team would want to have to provide support for their star players.  He has a nose for the ball, diving for lose balls and grabbing every rebounds.  "Scavenger" as his teammates call him, Alcantara will not score bunches for you but he will give his 110% once he comes off the bench.  A good defender who could defend the post and the wing.

Role:

What else to give him that he cannot?  He has shown over the past years that he could provide merely everything that he is assigned to do.  He knows his roles, he embraces it.  That what makes him the ultimate teammate.

Christopher Ela #23, Forward/Guard

Loloy is still in his prime,  a multi-dimensional player who could shoot lay-ups with either hands, dribble the ball and score on the drive and the post.  With his scoring prowess, Ela could draw double team instantly, but dishes the ball even in traffic that you would not expect even if you are his teammate or defender.

Role:

He is the heart of the team, the team's star player.  His role is to ensure that he will give his all-out effort  that will be contagious for his team mates.  He must also play with limited, (he is better when he is playing fresh) but fruitful minutes due to the team's depth in bench.

Lorence Jay San Miguel #25, Forward/Center

Enzo is a competitor, a warrior.  He will shout once he scores and he will blame himself once his defendee scores over him.  The team's emotional and character leader, he brings the tenacity and toughness that a team would love to have during the course of the season.  A good scorer inside and out, San Miguel is also an underrated one on one defender who can defend multiple position.

Role:

San Miguel must stop the players of the opposing team.  With his biometrics, he can play virtually all positions and guard any player assigned to him.  He must also rebound the ball offensively and defensively, taking off the heavy loads for Valle and De Luna.  Must provide the mental and physical toughness for the team.

Arjhay De Luna #21, Center/Forward

Do not be deceived with his physical appearance.  Despite his hep, he can dribble the ball and penetrate and defend the wing well.  Despite his lack in his height, he is the team's go-to guy in the post, ceiling very well and with a fake that's irresistible for the defender to bite.  He provides toughness inside the court and the veteran leadership that the team needs especially in crunch time.  An undersized good rebounder.

Role:

Be in his A-game ever single game.  De Luna could score 30 points in a game but the next game, he can have a bad night.  Consistency is what he needs and once he provide it, Getbackerz will take it all the way to the finals.

Rexadel Valle #28, Center

Valle is the best defensive center in the league even though he is not the tallest in the tournament winning several best center title during the past seasons.  He defends with great pride, blocking shots which will make the opposing team to think first before shooting.  The team's defensive pillar, he is the key for the team's success especially when playing against bigger players.  With a decent post scoring, he could be a great option on offense providing variation for the team that will keep the other team guessing.

Role:

Adhe is a good rebounder but must rebound more tenaciously.  He is the tallest player on the team and he must anchor the team's defense specially that all the players are committed to play tough defense.  He must give his killer instinct to make the Getbackerz a force to reckon with.  Must score near the basket at will.

These individual players must play as one and treat this season as their last chance to take the title to be back on the glory road.  On strength of this team is that all players are players who would uplift the morale of his teammates since all of them are best buddies.  They also have the support of the BAB community, their girlfriends and wives who serves as the team’s source of strength in times of need.  One thing more, this team, no matter what the ending might be, they will be the most happiest team on the planet with the dream of being in one team playing for one goal has been brought to life!

Animo BAB Getbackerz!  Win that crown! 

Our Fate is in Our Hands

Our country is experiencing downfall with regards to economical, natural and societal aspects.  Of these three, I believe that the main reason why our country is chaos is because of our leaders and us, apathetic Filipinos.

We are living in a society where the poor becomes poorer and the rich becomes richer.  They say that we are living in a country administered “democratically”.  This means that the masses, living in the depressed areas, are the ones who have the power on our state.  In my point of view, we are governed under an “elite democracy”.

One of the characteristics of a democratic is that the power is in the hands of the poor people, those who are living under the bridges.  But the power is handled by the prestigious people, those who are living in an executive village.

The rich people illusively runs this government.  They uses their power to maintain their status in life.  If you have money, you have power.  This two inseparable entities coincide to form an “elite-driven society”

The problem I’ve cited would not be be possible if the people had done something to keep power under their sleeves.  People are becoming too cynical, letting anything just pass by as long as they are not directly affected by such acts.  For example, during election, some people  keeps on voting candidates,not capable of running a government, because of the money they will receive from this trapos. They didn’t even recognize the effect of this act in the long run.  In the end, the problem that our society is facing is occurring because of the apathetic condition of our fellowmen.

This problem we are having will be solved by the time we Filipinos realize that we have the chance to change this trend.  In our hand lies the fate of our democracy.