Of Cement Benches, Lamp Posts, Waves and Balot

Zamboanga City's boulevard, I must admit, is not the best in the world. It's not even the best in the Philippines. But it's the only one we've got around here. And it has a million stories to tell. If only those white paint colored cement benches could talk, it could tell of men who promised the moon, the full moon, and the stars littered in the dark, dark sky to win the hearts of women. If only those lamp posts could speak, it could tell of those who found light and reason to go on and move on. If only those rough rocks mossed by the rushing waves from Basilan Strait could talk, it could tell of the countless souls who have searched for answers. If only the sea itself could talk, it could tell of those who have breathed its salty breeze to find peace, to find meaning.

Last Saturday night...

Yes, dot dot dot! I was looking at my posts here and saw this draft. I can't remember which Saturday night I was to refer to.

Besides, there have been too many Saturday nights I want to forget! Too many I want to bury. Too many I want those waves to crush on those mossed and sharp rocks .

From now on, no more blue musings. Oh, I just crossed my fingers. :)

The Marathon

The Ateneo Fiesta 2007, dubbed AtFest07, kicked off last Friday, November 30, 2007. The opening event was the traditional 5-kilometer run. This was from the waterpool in Pasonanca to the La Purisima Campus of Ateneo. Over forty joined the event. I was one of those who arrived at a little past five am. It was to start at 5 a.m.

But I was lucky because the run started late! I failed to prepare for the event. I wasn't there to win anyway. I was there to prove to myself that I can do it. That I have the balls to run the 5 kilometers in short shorts and a pair of pink socks! :) I don't have to say that I didn't win. I did not even figure in the top ten! It took me 34 minutes to finish the race sans water, sans rest! I ran, actually more like jogged! I enjoyed it. I really did. Father Tony, the Father President, also joined the marathon. Even grade schoolers were there. And those kids were amazing! You should have seen them running like mice! They were fast! I'm not sure if two of them outran me, but someone from their group did, that I am sure of!

When I reached the finish line, I was looking for Lito who was covering the event on a bike. He was carrying my pink bag. Yes, apart from my socks which were pink, my bag was also pink. :)

He was nowhere to be found. Apparently, he had a flat tire. So, I was roaming around the campus in those short shorts. I didn't care anyway. I was just worried about the wet shirt I was wearing. It wasn't pink! Though I brought one. I was to wear the shirt of the team I was representing, the Faculty and Staff. It's gray. Oh well, at least I had my bag and socks. :)

Finally, after waiting for a little over thirty minutes, Lito arrived with my bag. I changed clothes, got into a pair of pants and a pink superman shirt, all too ready for the parade.

It was, well, a memory I'd want to come back to someday. When everyone and everything seem to run after me, I will just have to go back to the Marathon and relive it. I faced it, I ran for it and I finished it!

I placed eleventh. :)

Go to ateneofiesta.com to check out AtFest07.