Beyond the Marathon

When I started running in 2012, I didn’t know that there are people who out of their passion (and craziness) would run beyond the standard marathon distance 42.195 kilometers on the road, much more so on trails–and that someday, I would no longer be an outsider looking in. Thanks to the trail running community who made me see and experience the possibility that I could also be as crazy as them and do ultramarathons.

In 2019, I started religiously training in Wawa–alone or with new-found friends–doing hill reps in Mt. Parawagan and tackling its vertical kilometer, enduring the heat of the Wawa-Malasya out-and-back, chasing and closing loops that pass through its many sitios, and exploring new routes. (It was there where I met Ann/Aeshyah who has played a big roled in my ultra adventures.) I was building that endurance so one day I could qualify for King of the Mountain (KOTM) races in the Cordilleras–the Pulag 100 and the Hardcore Hundred Miles. To be allowed to join Pulag 100, one needs to finish a 50KM trail race first.

As early as April 2019, I was already searching for a 50KM-race that fit my budget–cheapskate alert! I stand by my self-imposed rule that I would only join 1-2 races every year (and run the Milo full mary every 5 years). So in September 2019, I travelled alone to Cavinti, Laguna for my first trail race–the 50-kilometer South Sierra Ultra presented by Trail Mania where I luckily finished 7th overall. (I saw Emman there– our would-be honorary ultra race director).Three months later, with all the mustered faith, I registered for Pulag 100 which would take place 3 months later.

My teammates from Team Titans Manila were very supportive of this personal project that they signed me up for another ultra-trail marathon–but this time around–in the Cordilleras so I would have a ‘feel’ of one of the segments of the P1 route. In February 2020, I toed the start line of my first ever sky race–Akyathlon 2020’s 49KM race organized by the Philippine Skyrunning Association . It was extra challenging for me–not just because of the elevation of that race (and its undulating terrain), but because I was transitioning from being a lacto-ovo-pescatarian to becoming a vegetarian/plant-based person that time. I almost ran out of fuel towards the tail-end of the race because I did not bring enough trail food. (Tip: You gotta be self-sufficient even if there are aid stations.) Nevertheless, finishing that race in 9 hours and 23 minutes injury-free, was a big morale booster.

From lacto-ovo-pescatarian to being fully plant-based

Even during Akyathlon 2020, cancellation of other trail events was already looming due to covid-related community lockdowns. In 14-15 March 2020, I had my last ultramarathon trail training in Wawa–a 50KM-loop which started at midnight. In March, KOTM organizers announced the cancellation of its events as expected. The next few months were a hard-fought battle to stay active through indoor running and strengthening exercises.

It was already June when I came back to long distance running when I ran a marathon from Pasig to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan for my father’s 60th birthday. This was followed by a 56-KM long slow distance (LSD) run to Pililla in Rizal in July to further check if I could still do it. These solo LSDs were mental-health saving breathers as I was drowning in graduate school work and work-related stress.

In November, I got an invite from Ann to join her and Emman in their second attempt of the Laguna Loop–a 200+KM trip around the municipalities surrounding Laguna Lake. I said yes to the invite as this rare opportunity was hard to pass up–even though I wasn’t sure if I could finish the loop as I haven’t run a distance beyond 56 kilometers on the road. True enough, I bailed out at KM 170 in Binangonan when I started entertaining the thought of it–when I failed to block the pain on the sole of my feet. This was my first unofficial did not finish (DNF). (Tip: Rest but don’t quit.)

The rumors about the addictive nature of ultramarathon were true as I ran two other ultras with them two weeks after the other. A 113KM Cogeo-Infanta-Mabitac-Tanay (this time with Ces Wael who was very patient with my pace), and a 104KM Luneta-Mabitac-Lumban with Aeshyah where it was raining 90% of the time. Those three runs were unfinished loops that served as my 2020 endurance guidepost. I couldn’t pin down whether it’s the thrill of visiting a new place by foot, the bragging rights of posting a running log in Strava, the pride of outdoing your self-imposed limits, the (dis)comfort of dozing off in waiting sheds, or the sheer joy of having the borrowed strength to run long and far that makes me want to get a second or a third helping of it. Or maybe it’s the rewarding feeling of munching my Tipas hopia while on the road.

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With the likelihood that trail routes would still be closed in 2021, I knew that 2021 would be a spillover year of my ultra-road running adventures. I opened my ultra calendar with a 56-KM solo run to Norzagaray’s famous Bitbit Bridge where I witnessed a collision between a motorbike and bicycle as I was catching my breath in one steep uphill portion from the bridge. (Tip: Pay attention to your surroundings all the time.) This was followed on February 12-14 by another group LSD dubbed as Paniki Loop with seasoned trail and road ultrarunners Aeshyah, Emman, and Rhod.

Celebrated Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day with them. [L-R: Jerson, Emman, Aeshyah, Rhod ]

When RD Emman told me the name of the loop, I looked it up on the Internet. What I found were blog/vlog entries of motorcycle riders and cyclists traversing this ‘paniki’/bat-shaped loop; no one has posted about doing it by foot. I already gave my yes before I found out that it’s another 200+KM loop. The excitement of running by the sea–along the coastal roads of Real, Quezon–seeing the Pacific Ocean–was greater than the fear of recording another DNF.

The dreaded Paniki Loop that Emman and Rhod slayed.

The incomplete Paniki Loop I did–bailing out in Mabitac.

To cut the long run short, I detoured with Aeshyah in Santa Maria, and closed our loop at 182 kilometers in Mabitac, Laguna while Emman and Rhod made it back to Antipolo and logged 222 kilometers to complete the Paniki Loop. It was another DNF for me but there’s still a number of reasons to celebrate as this was my longest ultra distance, and I ran 50-60KMs (conservative estimate) in my huaraches Hugot sandals for the first time (transitioning to minimalist running).

My Luwas huaraches–loving its tie-it-yourself cords.

The Infanta portion of Marilaque Highway is hard to resist because of its Cordillera feels.

(Ultra)running has greatly impacted my life in more ways than one. It taught me to challenge my limits, to confront the discomfort, to deal with the difficult, to take calculated risks, to prepare for the worst, to discern when to stop, to rest when things get tough, to absorb the beauty of God’s creations, to listen to the stories of the locals, to spot the cleanest public rest rooms, to hydrate and refuel all the time…

….and to tap into the grace of God and believe that He who began a good work in me shall take it into completion–that maybe, just maybe, someday I would close that elusive major loop.

On to the next one

Photo Credits: Emman M.,Rhod A., and Aeshyah T.

56KM for 54 MW [Pasig to Pililla]

I took a back seat and let Google Maps take the lead in our trip to Pililla, Rizal to see its windmills up-close–and this web-mapping service did not disappoint. I had an instant multi-municipality day-trip, on foot, to these parts of Rizal.

1.  Taytay
2.  Angono
3.  Binangonan
4.  Morong
5.  Baras
6.  Tanay
7.  Pililla

56.3KMs: longest road run to date; 8 hrs 57 m; 470 m elevation; 4157 calories

GMaps sensed my need to reach the Windmill Farm at 12 noon, so it offered short cuts–a landfill-ish community in Angono, the maze-like sitios in Binangonan, and the cemetery-laced stretch in Baras.

Manggahan Floodway flooded with silt (?)

Taste of Trail in Binangonan’s tree-lined streets.

Binangonan was giving me the countryside feels with this view. Across the road is an ongoing mass-housing project.

I had an idea that the windmills are up there in the mountains so I just accepted the fact that tackling the last 10KMs would be that challenging at 10 am. The scenic view of the Laguna Lake made up for the uphill struggle.

This 90+m elevation of Binangonan helped me prepare for the ascent to Pililla.

 

 

 

View of the Pililla mountains from Morong. Look closer to see the windmills’ silhouettes.

Selfie after an early lunch #1 in Baras. Forced myself to have a cup of rice and a few spoons of laing.

 

 

Thank you Team Titans Manila teammate, Ai, for the pop-up aid station at KM 40–ice, water, apple juice, and bananas!

Closest I could get to them. Area is temporarily closed due to COVID-19

From the website of alternergy.com : On this site sit 27 wind turbines from Gamesa of Spain, arranged in three clusters. Each turbine stretches up 125 meters, as tall as a 33-story building. In total, these turbines produce 54MW of wind power per year, providing electricity to approximately 66,000 households in Manila.

In my mind, I knew that this was not yet the day to log a 100-km road run. I was physically exhausted (choice of gears might have contributed), and could not enjoy the way down. I was also worried that walking all the way home would make me miss the 8pm curfew of Pasig. So at KM 56, I ended my attempt to break my road run PR, looked for a karinderya, and had ginataang puso ng saging.

Packed a set of clothes for changing in case I would decide to spend the night on the road. This is a perfect area to camp out.

Pililla is a Mecca for bikers and motorcycle riders.

Luck was with me when an LGU-contracted jeepney passed by and gave me a free 2-km ride going to the municipal hall of Pililla. From there, the battle plan was to be in Binangonan by 6 pm–where the Pasig-bound vans were waiting. After 10 KMs of walking, a concerned tricycle driver from Baras offered a 10-peso ride to his destination–Morong Public Market. “May pera ka pa ba, hane?” He was insistent and genuinely concerned–and who am I to decline such kindness? That random stranger was an angel.

 

Trike Ride 1: 20 pesos

Trike Ride: 150 pesos

From Morong, I took another trike ride to Binangonan. I was lucky to be ferried by a chatty driver who is a great Vico Sotto fan, who is not physically fit according to his ECG results, who has been to Daraitan and Jalajala (and recommends that I also visit those places) and who is considerate enough after giving him incomplete instructions.

 

To cut the long run short, I made it back to our house in Pasig at 7 pm–with sore legs, sun-kissed skin, and a full heart.

Note: I was alone for the most part of this solo run #physicaldistancing and was wearing a mask to comply with the health protocols of the government.

Paano Gawing Mala-LMS ang Isang Private Facebook Group

Disclaimer muna bago ang lahat. I’m not an EdTech person, kaya wala masyadong magaganap na malalimang discussion on EdTech terms/principles/tools sa series na ito.  We’ll try to keep this straightforward and practical. Sana. I got the inspiration to use FB as an LMS from a private FB group formed by Habi Education Lab. I just explored the features and applied what I’ve learned sa actual work ko. We tried this out sa isang cap-build for school leaders, and it worked naman.

 

Bilang panimula, in-assume ko na naghahanap ka ng learning management system (LMS) dahil based sa nakuhang data ng inyong school, isa sa mga learning delivery modalities (LDMs) na preferred ng ilan mong learners (child or adult man sila)  ay online distance learning (ODL). If you’re a teacher, patanong sa iyong school head kung data-driven ba ang pagpili n’yo ng LDM at may ginawa ba kayong readiness assessment for the chosen LDMs. Kung di pa, pa-share sa kanya ang mga modules na ito on LDM course for school leaders. 

 

IMPORTANT:  Ang age requirement para maka-create ng FB account ay 13 years old. If you will use FB as an LMS for younger learners, dapat ay account ng adult guardian ang gamitin. At dapat isa sa mga program of activities ay ang orientation to the kids and guardians ay patungkol sa positive and ethical use of this tool–or ICT in general.

Bakit Facebook?

1. Karamihan sa atin ay nasa FB.
2. Medyo kabisado na natin ang pasikot-sikot sa FB.
3. Accessible siya kahit wala kang load.

 

Facebook Group Bilang Virtual Classroom

 

Kung ikaw ay isang teacher o trainer at kailangan mong i-gather ang iyong learners (o guardians ng iyong learners as household partners in the case of our young learners) sa iisang lugar, baka isang private FB group ang sagot diyan—ito ang inyong magiging virtual classroom o training hall.

Mahalagang naka-private siya para exclusive lang sa mga members ang content na pino-post sa group. Dahil private, p’wedeng by invitation ang membership o kaya naman magre-request to join pa ang isang tao at for approval pa ng admin or moderator—at take note, p’wedeng maglagay ng membership questions para ma-screen ang mga gustong maging members.

Kung ia-identify na for social learning ang FB group, ia-allow ka ng system na magdagdag ng social learning unit (SLU) tab. Ang mga SLUs na ito ang p’wedeng gawing space for each subject area/ session/module.

After changing the group type sa group settings, mag-add ka na ng Social Learning Units under Sections section.

Sa context ng basic ed, ang Unit 1 ay p’wedeng Homeroom, Unit 2 ay first subject, Unit 3 ay third subject and so on and so forth. Yan ay kung mag-a-agree kayo ng mga co-teacher mo sa ganitong sistema. As an overview, sa bawat unit ay p’wedeng mag-post ng iba’t ibang content/task—readings, video lecture, motivation question, poll, external links atbp. (I-discuss natin to thoroughly in another post.)

So magandang pag-isipan at pag-usapan n’yo ng mga co-teachers/ co-learning facilitators mo kung kailan kayo magpo-post ng content sa mga units. Plan together. Ilatag ang mga plano ninyong ipagawa sa mga students sa loob ng isang linggo. I-check kung nahi-hit ang  mga most essential learning competencies (MELCs). Hanapan ng mga areas for integration lalo na siguro sa assessment part para mabawasan ang mga tasks. Given the different contexts ng mga learners, kadalasan ay asynchronous learning ang magaganap kaya araling mabuti ang mga content na ilalagay sa mga units.

Para ma-feel talaga ninyo na nasa classroom kayo, p’wede kayong gumawa ng isang chat group na nando’n lahat ng teachers at learners. P’wedeng may video call minsan. O kaya naman, p’wedeng mag-schedule si admin/teacher ng FB Live for live lectures o kaya kumustahan. (May separate post for this.)

P’wede ring magsama-sama ang mga teachers sa isang video conferencing platform at i-stream o i-upload ito sa FB group. P’wede ring mag-form ng mga chat groups or Messenger rooms for group activities/breakout rooms.

This private FB group will be the classroom of your advisory class (AC) or training hall for your activity.

 

Mga Roles sa FB Group

 

Administrator/Admin

• Siya ay may power to post and organize content, pati na rin approve or disapprove membership requests. P’wede rin siyang mag-remove members. Kaya niyang i-adjust ang mga settings sa FB group—magdagdag ng ilang tabs, i-limit ang posting powers sa admins at si member ay react at comment lang sa mga posts. Kaya n’ya ring i-moderate ang mga posts at comments. Super powerful.
• Possible na maraming admin—ikaw at ang mga co-teachers mo na subject teachers ng AC mo.

Moderator

• May power siya to control who can be included in the group—mala-registrar. The moderator can also review posts and comments in the group. Kung wala ng extra person who can do this task, p’wedeng wala naman na. Kaya naman na ni Admin—unless may volunteer friends ka na p’wedeng pakiusapan to do this for you.

Member

• Kung classroom ito, si member ang learner mo. Taga-consume ng content, at taga-ambag din ng kanyang mga nalalaman. Siyempre dapat learner-centered pa rin tayo. Si member ay p’wede rin palang mag-invite ng other members subject to the approval of the Admin or Moderator.

 

Yan na muna for now para di tayo malunod sa info. In the next blog post, i-discuss naman natin ang mga tabs na madalas nating magagamit at kung paano sila mama-maximize.

Pero sana ay na-pique na ang iyong interest to use (or consider) a private FB group as an LMS, kaya i-explore mo na siya on your own. Kung may tanong, bukas ang comment section ng post na ito or i-PM lamang ako sa FB.

Sana ay may naitulong ito.

 

 

 

Trail Running Year 1

Welcome to the annual blog entry brought to you by my urge to share updates on my trail running journey 🙂

Almost a year ago, I posted a short entry on my initial thoughts on trail running and racing (consoling and convincing myself that I could still enjoy the mountains even without the thrill of joining races aka austerity and gaiety measures).  True enough, in my 7 years of running, 2019 had been the most productive in terms of mileage, per Strava.

 

Most of these runs were in the Sierra Madre of Montalban, Rizal–alone or with newfound friends in the Metro Manila trail running community who call themselves Wawathletes United and teammates from my workout group Team Titans Manila.

Our playground–the Sierra Madre

We’re cultivating (aka recruiting) more TTM members to join our subgroup.

In some out-of-town business trips, I was able to squeeze in a quick run to local trail routes like the traverse of Mt. Loay in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, and a section of the Spartan Trail in Cebu City.

Spartan Trail in Cebu City

I was running on trails almost every weekend. During the summer–peak of trail running–friends were asking if I was preparing for a specific race since I was putting in so much mileage week after week. In my heart, race or no-race, I would still be coming back every weekend because [ trail ] running has become second nature to me.

But the curiosity of running a race–beating cutoff-times, testing your perceived limits, and reaping the fruits of your laborious training runs–enticed me.  I told myself that I have to be very purposeful and selective in the race/s I would participate in, and I need to work on a budget.

I think it was in June when I decided that I would join the 2020 edition of King of the Mountain Pulag 100 –one of the most scenic races up north. [Insert jitters here.]

The race rules state that I need a 50K trail run (or longer) to qualify. (Mesuggests: How about a Strava log? ) Through the help of the Trail Running-Philippines Facebook page, I  found 50K races, compared their fees, routes, elevation profiles, COTs, venues, and registered in one that fit my budget.

And in  September 2019, I ‘slayed’ my first 50km trail run (or was it the other way around?). 7th out of 31 runners. Not bad at all. Thank you, Trail Mania,  for the wonderful experience in the South Sierra Madre trails of Cavinti, Laguna.

Faking it ’til I make it to the finish line. Official Time – 7:18:06

 

I took it easy after my first trail race. In November, I volunteered (and fanboyed) in the Clark-Miyamit 50 Trail Ultra race in Pampanga. (I might join its 2020 edition).

And in December, I’ve started doing the science of ultra trail running i.e. watching videos and devouring articles to learn the proper way of power hiking, uphill and downhill running, sleep-walking, choosing your gears, and proper nutrition (By the way, I’m celebrating also a year of being lacto-ovo-pescatarian. )–basically, increasing my trail running vocabulary and who’s-who. Hi, Courtney, Killian, Emelie, Harry, and Sage. Hopefully, this would increase my chance of finishing my first 100k race in April.

I was prompted to write this entry during the last day of our church’s Prayer and Fasting week because the Lord has been giving me lyrics of songs that have the word run in it.

By Your Side – Tenth Avenue North

Why are you looking for love?
Why are you still searching as if I’m not enough?
To where will you go child?
Tell me where will you run, to where will you run?

 

I Will Run to You – Hillsong Worship

Yes, I will run the race
‘Till I see Your face
Oh let me live in the glory of Your grace

 

Perhaps, this is His way of reminding me to check my heart’s health (yes to medical certificate!) and to focus on the race route He has set before me and run it with endurance.

See you on the trails!

 

Disclaimers:

1. No office deliverable (or tax since I’m a government employee) has been compromised in the course of my trail running escapades. How I wish there were funds we can tap for our health and wellness needs. Charot!)
2. I was supposed to write a technical report today, but guess what, I know my priorities. Chz. This is a warm-up exercise, I guess. 

Going Back

How do you move forward from a seven-year relationship? Part I

Two weeks before our eighth year, I’ve decided to leave DepEd Central Office and go back to my previous employer Teach for the Philippines. It was an unpopular decision to some–with all the perks that come with working at the main office of DepEd.

When I was in high school, I wanted to become a teacher so I could be a school paper adviser who would coach students and travel to different places to compete. DepEd CO travels exceeded my expectations. During the first few years, I looked forward to those bus and plane rides. But when weekends were already invaded by pre- and post- travel preps, it was not as fun as it used to be. Nevertheless, I am grateful for the opportunity to have visited places in the country for free.

Some of my favorites are Batanes, Baguio City, Silay, Cebu City, Tuguegarao and Butuan.

Batanes is hard to forget because we went there in December–when the monsoon reigns supreme and there was no cellphone signal.

I would never run out of reasons to keep coming back to Baguio City because it is the doorway to the chill weather of the Cordilleras. It’s a haven for road and trail runners looking for high altitude training.

Silay would always be my favorite heritage city. We would just pass by this city during our Bacolod or Talisay business trips. But when I discovered the guapple pie of El Ideal Bakery, and the old houses near the plaza, I spent a day in Silay during a solo vacation trip.

Cebu City, without a doubt, is every government person’s most frequently visited city outside Luzon. It felt like the Recto/ Quiapo area of Manila except that people speak in Bisaya. I love Cebu City’s track oval which used to be open 24/7, the accessible Pamutan trails, and its Cebu-Cordova bridge. It was in Cebu where I had my first solo trip as a DepEd employee. I also had my last speaking engagement as a government employee in this Queen City of the South.

Tuguegarao holds a special place in my heart because it made me appreciate again long bus rides (hello 12-14 hours). I also discovered that I could travel up north (like in Sta. Ana, Cagayan) or deep into the Cordilleras (like in Tabuk then to Bontoc then to Baguio) via Tuguegarao.

Butuan is another sentimental favorite because it’s close to my hometown Magsaysay, Misamis Oriental.

I would do my future forgetful self a favor by mentioning what I love about other places I visisted for DepEd work: La Union’ beaches and sunset, a side trip to Lake Sebu while we were in GenSan, the durian ice cream in Davao City, freshly cooked piaya in Bacolod, the esplanade of Iloilo City, buko pie of Laguna, and my love-hate relationship with Metro Manila venues.

There were a lot of movements–of travels–during the last seven years but I still felt stuck.

Pulag 100K + 20 – 2023 Edition

With all the photos and videos I took, I guess I can already use Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes’s lines –that “I’ve had the time of my life”–in my first King of the Mountain Trail Run race Pulag 100* last April 2023.

Balete to Cabayo AS: Favorite sunrise during a race

Sa sobrang pag-e-enjoy ay muntik ko pa ngang maubos ang 35 hours na cutoff time.

1. Jogged the runnable parts of the first 30KMs especially the flats of the Balete-Cabayo segment, as per advice (para magamit naman ‘yong training runs!)

2. Had tinola soup (and sayote) in all the aid stations na may pa-rice meal–except in West Kayapa where Ecka of AlterMeatph shared her vegan longganisa and bbq–super thank you!– (lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet pa rin naman)

3. Hiked with different groups na maabutan from Cabayo to finish line. Interesting convos with old and new friends habang nagagalit ang araw, sumisipol ang hangin, nangangalabit ang mga limatik, at nangyayapos ang ulan at lamig. Favorite convo was about the moral dilemma of helping a fellow runner even if it means finishing beyond the cutoff time.

4. Sang and hummed along my worship playlist while praying/meditating in motion–to ward off those quitting thoughts, and ignore the nagging pain in my left knee and minor chafing in both feet

5. Bathed in Poblacion, Itogon before tackling the last 11KM (changed top, washed my cycling pants and bought a new pair of socks) because a philosopher once said: clean as you go

6. Had haluhalo before ascending Happy Hallow trail.

I’ve had the time of my life, it’s the truth, and I owe it all to the Lord for His grace is always enough–lagi Niyang sagot no’ng napapadasal na ako sa pagod at antok

– Salamat sa aking pamilya na napuyat ko pa yata para lang i-monitor ako. (First major race ko na may ganitong live timing technology!)

– Salamat sa mga kaibigang nagbigay/nagpahiram ng ilang mga mandatory running gears. (‘Yan na po ang bago kong love language.)

– Salamat sa mga kaibigang nagbigay ng advice/tips/notes; nag-cheer/nag-asikaso sa mga aid stations; nakasama sa recce; nakasabay sa van/lodging house/actual race; kumuha ng litrato/video

Uulit pa? Yes–bitbit ang mga aral (pero less bitbit na sa vest hahahuhu and more pei pa koa I guess)

*Pulag Ranger Station to Camp John Hay; approximately 120KMs; EG 6430m EL 7410m

Leaving Cabayo Aid Station with a toothy smile

Bongbernadez Photography

Cowbells Trail 60 Race Report

I signed up as a volunteer for this 60KM trail race but, to my surprise, my name ended up in the stacked start list just three weeks before the race. I knew how beautiful the race route is, so I gave it a go–although I was still recovering from a road 100K and still figuring out if the sciatica in my right glutes is actually piriformis syndrome.

Cowbells Trail 60 Zero Edition Class Picture. © Ren Enciso

Two weeks before the race, I tapered–or more of rested and rehabilitated– doing a lot of walking, online scrabble, and a few 5Ks. A day before the race, I filed a leave so I could get to the venue and get some proper sleep. Huge thanks to Ann for lending us her tent.

Pre- and post-race camping ground. Many thanks to Kuya Omeng for letting us camp in his property.

The ultimate goal was to beat the intermediate cut-off (10 hours at KM 40) and finish before dusk. It helped that I am familiar with 70% of the race route and that the GPX reader was made mandatory. It was in Mt. Purro where the app came in handy. I was alone navigating the area so I relied on the GPX. It was still dark when we were summiting and descending it. The precarious vertical downhill from Purro overwhelmed me that I had to pause several times and take really deep breaths so I could mindfully navigate that ridge. It was in Apia where the battery of the headlamp I borrowed got drained so I had to rely on my portable flashlight.

Stopping by each AS was a smart choice. AS 2’s cold soft drinks and plant-based foods (i.e. cassava, banana, choco bomb) were most welcome and much needed for the assault to Mt. Malemod and Sitio Quinao.

The next segments of the race were new to me. Quinao’s downhill left me breathless that I had to stop and take in the beauty in front of me–the great Sierra Madre.

The Great Sierra Madre in Rizal.

Runners were rewarded with the cold and clean waters of Tayabasan River–before another series of uphills. It was there where I hiked Mt. Kaypipili and Mt. Kalumpog with trail running vets –Otep, Dan, Allan, Ed, Jeff, Dex, and another guy–until we reached AS 3 in Paglitaw. It was in AS 3 where I ate my lunch– Veega Meat-Free ‘s adobo flakes plus the tinola soup offered in that station.

Crossing the Tayabasan River in Sitio Quinao. Caught up with trailrunner-friend, Dexter.

We left Paglitaw at around 10:30 to experience the most pristine and most technical part of the race route. (I wish I could do this segment again to take more photos and marvel at this enchanted side of Mt. Domire.) It was drizzling when we reached the highest point of the route at 859m.

At KM 42. Somewhere in the slopes of Mt. Domire. Forcing a toothy smile after getting bitten by a fire ant.

With our knees and legs still recovering, we hiked the undulating terrain of Mt. Masola. I separated from the group after crossing the Tayabasan River–power hiking and jogging whenever I could. In my race plan, I had to make sure that I would be crossing the finish line before dusk.

Reaching AS 4 felt like reaching the finish line with its festive mood and abundant food supply. Volunteer-friends were an epitome of hospitality, generosity, and care. They served food, refilled my water container, and sprayed something for muscle relief. I left the AS before the next batch of runners arrived.

Props to AS 4 for the top-notch service. Clearly the photo shows how famished I was. © Ren Enciso

The last two major ascents to Mt. Kawakawa and Mt. Mapatad might have been short and gradual but they were still unforgiving so I psyched myself up–that I should take it one step at a time, dig deep, and add fuel until I reached Nanay Lolit’s store. At 4 PM, I made it to the store, and inched my way towards the finish line.

I could not have finished this race–my farthest trail run–without God’s grace–from blocking the pain in my glutes and the impending cramps in my quads, provision of race gears (I still miss my Nike Zoom Kiger though), favorable weather, abundance and generosity in every aid station, up to the mental fortitude to finish what He had started. Thank you, Lord, for the freedom to run. Congratulations to all the entrants. Thank you, Wild Boar Trail and Bar-R-Camp Sierra Madre for this early Christmas gift. Kudos for the post-race outreach in Sitio Paglitaw too! Kitakits! #

PS. 23/74, 14 hrs, and 31 minutes. 3800m+ elevation gain. Not a Foodpanda employee/ambassador (yet)

FB Group as LMS [Part 2] Tabs

As mentioned in my previous post, ang focus natin ngayon ay ang mga tabs na madalas nating magagamit to organize the content in our LMS.

 DISCUSSION tab

This tab gives the users a preview all the posts found in all the other tabs. Kung super dami na ng posts sa group at maraming nagko-comment sa mga posts, medyo mao-overwhelm ka sa feed ng iyong discussion tab. A way to sort of put some system  in this tab is by adjusting kung New Activity or Recent Posts ba ang gusto mong nasa top ng feed.

Pero kung gusto mo talaga ng order sa buhay, i-set mo as default landing tab ang Units –ibig sabihin, tuwing ia-access ng mga members ang page, sa Units tab ang bagsak nila dahil mas organized ang content dito.

UNITS Tab

Tulad ng nabanggit sa unang post, p’wedeng gamitin ang mga Tabs to organize content per learning area + homeroom.

For the Unit Name, yan ang name ng learning area/subject. So bawat subject teacher ay kanya-kanyang Unit, at kanya-kanya ring manage ng Unit. For the Unit Description, kunin ito sa curriculum guide/ MELCs or you can express this in your own words. Ano bang learning outcomes ang gusto mong makuha ng mga students mo?

 

There are two ways to post a content in each unit. The first one, which is the more simple pero mas limited, is through the Units Tab. To do this, just go to your Unit, and just below the Unit name is this space.

You will be prompted to give your post a title. Ang suggestion natin is that dapat may naming convention for your post–like always start it with a Week # dahil hanggang April mo ito gagamitin. Pag-usapan n’yo yan ng iyong mga co-teachers (kung marami kayong mag-a-admin sa FB group) kung paano n’yo ito gagawing systematic.

Kung through Units Tab ang posting, limited lang sa regular post (written instructions, external links),  quiz, event, at media file (readings, picture, video, etc) ang p’wedeng i-post.

Another way to post content in a Unit is through the Discussion Tab. Mas mahaba ang process na ito pero mas marami kang p’wedeng i-post at may iba pang features na maa-unlock.

Refer to the image above for the different content na p’wedeng i-post through the Discussion tab. Ang added features (or value) niya ay p’wede mong i-tag under a topic ang iyong post. Sa sample natin, nag-create tayo ng topic na English Q1 (English Quarter 1). Kung may hinahanap na post si member, p’wede niyang i-click ang topic na nasa upper right corner ng screen para mapabilis ang kanyang paghahanap.

Ang limitation ng way na ito, di mo mabibigyan ng title ang post mo at di mo siya mailalagay sa unit mo. Ang work around this ay i-schedule mo ang post.

Scheduled posts need to be shared between 30 minutes and 2 months from when you create them.

Kung ikaw ay masipag na tao at ayaw mong nagka-cram ng content, perfect sa’yo ‘to.

When you schedule your post, lalabas ang notification sa Discussion Tab na may scheduled post ka sa ganitong araw at oras. I-click mo ang See Post. Dali.

When you click the See post, you will be diredted to a page where scheduled posts are queued. At marami kang options na p’wedeng pagpilian/gawin, and one of those is to add that post in a Unit.

When you add it to a Unit, you will be prompted to add a title to your post. Automatic na pasok na siya sa iyong Unit.

Kung nagbago ang isip mo at gusto mong i-delay pa  ang pagpo-post o gusto mong agahan, may options to post it now o i-reschedule.

As admin, you have the power to re-order posts in your assigned Unit. Just click the pencil icon to edit  across the name of your Unit to enable this. Drag the titles of your post to reorder them.

Instruct your learners/members to click the DONE icon after accomplishing the task. This is helpful for you, the teacher-admin, in monitoring the progress of your learners/members–na pwede nating i-discuss in another post.

When they click it, magkakaroon ng green check icon before the title of the post signifying that they have finished that task.

Sa Units Tab, ito ang bubungad sa kanila pag na-populate na ng posts ang bawat Unit. May pa-progress bar for self-monitoring at pang-motivation na rin.

Ang last tab na idi-discuss natin ay Announcement Tab. (Sorry sobrang haba na yata nito).

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS Tab

Hindi automatic na may announcements tab when you create a group. You have to mark a post as an announcement to surface this tab. To do this, go to a post and click the three dots (…) after the post, then choose Mark as announcement.

All posts marked as announcement will appear in the Announcement Tab, and at the top of the Discussion Tab feed.

Maiging gamitin ang Announcement Tab for homework/assignment or very important info na gusto mong i-relay sa mga members/learners.  May option ka to Pin that post to Top para unang-una sa Discussion or Announcement Tab.

Kung na-achieve mo na ang objective mo for making that announcement, you can remove it na para di malito mga members/learners.

 

Hanggang dito na lang muna at mukhang may info overload na naganap. I suggest that you create a test page para i-try ang mga bagay-bagay. Again, i-explore ang mga features ng private FB group. Mag-practice nang paulit-ulit hanggang maging competent at confident sa paggamit ng tool na ito.

UPDATE: May Messenger Rooms na sa FB group. Now you can create breakout rooms!  When you create a room, Facebook shows the room to your group members. You can control who sees your room by choosing who it is visible to. You can always lock your room if you don’t want new people to join. You can also set the time the room opens.

You can create the rooms using the Rooms Tab or via the Discussion Tab.

   

 

You can also add these rooms to a Unit of your choice. OMG. And to top it all, the rooms do not expire immediately–so you can use them repeatedly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

COVID-19 Diary

On 15 March 2020, the Philippine government implemented a Metro Manila-wide enhanced community quarantine (read: lockdown) as a strategy to contain the  COVID-19 virus. The ECQ later on became nationwide, and got extended indefinitely. This post is my personal timestamp on where and how I was during this pandemic.

I.                   Daily Life

On weekdays, I wake up at almost the same time—between 6-7 am regardless of the time I sleep the night (or morning) before. I’d  figure out what I would have for breakfast—pan de sal from the bakery in front of the building (kung walang pila), left over food, or champorado from the carinderia two blocks away (that closed down two weeks into the ECQ).

After wandering in the rabbit hole of social media platforms, I’d find my way back to my road of deliverables which I set myself. I’d read a few research journals, extract highlights, craft discussion points, draft emails, attend online meetings, and repeat the cycle until I bore myself. This monotony prods me to take short breaks in my exercise mat a couple of meters away. I’d force myself to do push-ups, stretch a little, and whatever movement my body feels like doing.

Workout Companion

Workday usually ends at 3 or 4 pm unless something urgent pops up beyond that and requires immediate attention. At 5 pm, I’d cook for dinner—that is sauté or boil plant-based ingredients I’ve bought from the mega market.

It’s another trip down the rabbit hole after dinner—switching between FB newsfeed, IG stories, Messenger, anime movies/TV series, Twitter threads—until the sleep fairy arrives between 11 pm to 2 am.

 

II.                Feelings

I was feeling calm and peaceful at first believing that this unprecedented (at least in my lifetime) pandemic would soon end—normalcy will be restored—that this is just one of the many humps that any country faces —until things got out of hand. Establishments closing down, medical personnel getting infected, death toll outnumbering the recovery rate, people starting to panic buying, netizens expressing their dissatisfaction on the government’s efforts to be on top of the situation.

Smizing my way through this crisis and hiding the storm within

When COVID-9 news populated my social media news feed, this triggered my subtle anxiety attacks. I was restless at times–couldn’t sleep easily at night, felt tense muscles in my legs, lost my appetite at times or overate sweets at times. There is that lingering feeling of loneliness being away from my family in Bulacan, my friends in the road and trail running community.

Because work is still on from Monday to Friday, there is that pressure to be as productive as I am on a regular office week. During the first two weeks, I realized that I operate better on a work-from-home setup since I like doing solitary tasks. But since my work requires me to coordinate with my officemates and external partners, I feel that it requires more energy from me (which I find draining) when I attend Zoom meetings with them. It takes a lot of conscious effort to enjoy those moments, and patience too given our spotty internet connection.

On most days, I feel sluggish and would just drag my self to the table where I work, eat, and procrastinate. During the day, when there’s no scheduled meetings, I would take afternoon naps that last for an hour or two.

 

III.              Things I Miss

One of the things that I really really really miss during this extended enhanced community quarantine is running on the road or trail. I was training for my first 100-kilometer trail running race when the lockdown was implemented—Tuesdays and Thursdays in Pasig with Team Titans Manila and on  weekends in Montalban, Rizal with my Wawathletes friends.

March 13-14, 2020 – Pre-ECQ 50-kilometer trail run around Montalban, Rizal

Hoping that my 100-km race would push through on April 18-19 when the lockdown would have been lifted by April 15, I was determined to train at home to be able to finish that race. Three weeks into the lockdown, the organizer announced the postponement of the race.

I utterly miss waking up very early on a Saturday or Sunday and commute to Wawa. I miss the joy and pain of tackling uphills and bombing (or walking) downhills. I miss the euphoria of gazing at ridges and summits. I just miss the outdoors.

 

IV.             Ways of Coping

Keeping oneself sane during this crisis is a bit of a challenge. We all have ways of coping—some  are healthy while others do more harm than provide help. In my case, some of the things I do are already habits I’ve built over the years while the others are forced habits—those that I must learn to survive.

Spending time reading the Bible reading or what Christians call devotion/ quiet time is one thing that I try or struggle to do every day. 20-30 minutes of 2-3 chapters and a short insight writing before I eat my breakfast or while drinking my morning cup of coffee.

As someone who believes in the power of physical (and even social) movement, I always make it a point to do simple body-weight exercises. It could be in the form of workout challenges, programs from Team Titans, or just random drills that pop in my head when I feel exhausted sitting in front of my pc screen. Taking a video of myself working out (and posting it later on Instagram or sending it in our team chat group) is quite helpful as this somehow motivates me.

Grateful to groups offering free livestream of their workout

I have never considered cooking as a hobby. I do not consider boiling root crops and preparing instant noodles proper cooking. I have always depended on carinderias and the office cafeteria for my meals. As someone who tries to follow a more plant-based diet, I was forced by circumstances to do culinary experiments. I have already made several dishes using tofu—adobo, fried, marinated. I have discovered the magic of spices and seasonings (hello paprika, turmeric, rosemary, oregano, five spices). I have learned that soaking your beans overnight saves you time.  I just cook for myself so I have no choice but to consume the same viand for two to three meals—regardless of its taste.

Jute mallow (Saluyot) and Spinach Pool Party feat. Mr. Tofu

Video chatting with my family has also saved me from homesickness. Seeing my parents, siblings and nephews in Bulacan and sister in Washington doing fine despite the crisis gives me a taste of home and hope. I also initiated Zoom meetings with former housemates and high school classmates because we now have all the time in the world to catch up and relish those fond memories.

Watching our baby transition into a toddler

Living with three other colleagues from DepEd-Central Office who are Teach for the Philippines alumni makes this lockdown more bearable because of the shared interests and work experiences that we have. Conversations in our living room would range from telecommuting challenges, education reform concerns, love life (or the lack of it), social issues and what have you.

The last coping mechanism which resurfaced during this lockdown is playing online scrabble at lexulous.com. I learned how to play this wordgame when I was in fourth grade, took a class on it in college, and never look back. This is the only online game that I play which keeps me awake even in the wee hours. What I like about this online game is that you get to play with real people—mostly people in their 50s or 60s—and chat with them as the game progresses. It also sits well with my competitive self because players rakes points every time they win resulting to improved ranking in the game room.

V.                Learnings

The extended time I spend at home–in our apartment in Pasig–allows me to ponder over this situation and reflect. This lockdown, out of boredom, led me back to my old blog which gave me an idea to write this entry. A few years from now, I would revisit this write-up and relive the ups-and-downs of living in this historic time.

One key takeaway from this crisis is the need to check my privilege first (and its spelling) before sharing my sentiments on social media. Learning from the backslash celebrities (and ordinary citizens) got for their insensitive comments, one must be more circumspect in exercising his/her freedom of expression. (This is better than being a fence-sitter). My rule of thumb on expressing my thoughts is to strike a balance between faith-based optimism and reality-grounded constructive criticisms and solutions. (By the way, if you have the capacity to give—services, cash, or in-kind donations, please do.)

Another self-discovery that I have kept from myself for years is that I could cook proper food if I force myself to. If I were to sustain this plant-based diet, I must learn how to love the culinary arts. Thanks to vegan/vegetarian/plant-based Facebook groups and YouTube channels for the inspiration and recipes that I try to follow (and tweak most of the time).

With all the webinars, MOOCs and online learning opportunities available these days, it’s hard to live up to the productivity pressure that we (or the society or our office) might impose on ourselves.  An advice I’ve read somewhere prompts us to go easy on ourselves and be kinder to others since we are in a crisis. If we are not as productive as before this, it is okay. (On a side note, telecommuting should be a norm or a viable option after this COVID-19 crisis.)

Office Essentials

For singles, this season might test our heart’s fragility spelled as r-u-p-o-k. Sending a DM/PM to our (ex-)crushes, liking their posts, or reacting to their IG stories could be considered healthy coping mechanisms when done in moderation and with utmost care and consciousness. Knowing when it is unhealthy already, i.e. late night conversations, and deep emotional attachments,  is a sign of maturity, experts say; let us always keep our guard up. We don’t want another heartbreak in this heartbreaking crisis, right?

Be right back. Soon.

 

 

 

 

 

Running With a Chance of Racing

Seven years ago, I decided to have a more active lifestyle–because standing/walking around the classroom does not count as one. I hiked a few mountains, applied in a mountaineering org (got cut during the app process), and ended up running on the road religiously.

During my first three years as a recreational runner, the pull of participating in ‘fun runs’ was quite strong. My first race, which was a half-marathon along Commonwealth Avenue, was followed by two 10Ks, and a full Milo marathon after 6 months (July 2013). When I transferred to Laguna, I did another 21K in Nuvali sometime in 2015. It took me three long years before participating in another race–my 2nd 42K.

2nd full marathon. 5 years after my first. Sub-5. Trained for 3 months.

In those three years, I would squeeze in 5KMs before going to work, and do LSDs on weekends. My favorite solo  Strava LSDs are 30+KMs Biñan-Los Baños, Biñan-Tagaytay runs, and the epic 50KM San Jose del Monte-San Ildefonso, Bulacan ultramarathon.

Races are fun, but here’s why I am distancing myself from most running races:

1. Registration fees have become quite expensive. (Keywords: business, expenses)
2. Most races are not environment-friendly. (Keywords: plastic cups, bottles, trash)
3. I am running for the joy of running. (Keywords: recreation, intrinsic motivation)

Perhaps, many would not agree with the reasons I stated above. For the record, I am not totally banning races from my run calendar. I’d still join a few ones–like the prescribed runs of my running group Team Titans Manila, and maybe a trail run race, especially now that I have rediscovered the joy of wandering in the mountains.

We all have our own ‘whys’ which fuel our endorphin tank.

What I like about running, as a sport and/or a hobby, is that you could do it anywhere and anytime, alone or with a group, with your shoes on (brand new or pre-loved) or barefoot, on the road or in the mountains, with a simple hydration bottle or a random reusable bottle.

New Playground: trails of Rodriguez, Rizal

Whatever floats your boat, whatever keeps you coming back to the road  or to the trails, keep these close to your heart. One day, you might outgrow these ‘whys’. And when that day comes, look for new ones.

See you on Strava!