Admit it… you run either to stay fit or to win. Now, it’s time to put your money where your foot is… This August, make a difference! Lace up your running shoes and be counted! Tiffy and I are going to face the challenge; the question is, ARE YOU UP FOR IT?

The Men’s Health 10,000km Miracle Run
is a unique event that will gather all sorts of runners—those who run to compete or simply those who want to push their limits. This time, they’re all running for those who can’t.

Be part of this unique running event where finishing first or last doesn’t matter at all.

Be one of more than 1,000 runners who will run a 10km. course (OR a cumulative total distance of 10,000 km.) for the benefit of those who can’t.

Now you won’t just be cheering for the first ones to finish!

What’s at stake?
There are no losers in this event. Everyone who signs up is already a winner. For every finisher, Men’s Health will donate P200 to GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc. If all runners finish the course, the event will donate a minimum of P200,000!

http://www.menshealth.com.ph/miraclerun/

This song really stuck in my mind after I heard it the first time last week from Dee. I kept on singing this since then. I think this encapsulates the theme of the Beijing Olympics 2008. Here’s an MTV of the song, which I got from YouTube. I also found some English lyrics translation online. Go Philippine Team! Go Philippines!

I knew Fr. Mena when he was the Treasurer of Xavier School. Though I’ve only gotten the chance to talk to him and get to know him better only when I was in 3rd year.

The strongest memory I have of Fr. Mena, besides the batch mass he did for our class during my 4th year, was that he is a man with a passion.

He has this huge collection of stamps, which I really admire. During that time, when he displayed his collection in the HS LRC, I was a frequent visitor. I was amazed at the enormous set of stamps, which covered more or less 13 countries from around the world. Ever since, I became more thrilled in expanding my collection. Thanks to Fr. Mena, I learned to appreciate the stamps that I have in my collection even more.

For more, I got really excited, and was very thankful because he shared his collection (excess) to the students who want to have stamps or who want to collect them. I remember that he had this whole big 2-3 foot box full of stamps.

Besides the stamp collecting, he was passionate about Xavier. His years of service to Xavier and, of course, his book, Luceat Lux, says it all. Without Fr. Mena, I personally think that Xavier wouldn’t be what/where it is today.

Early last Monday morning, the 14th of July 2008, Fr. SANTOS MENA, SJ joined his Creator after years of fighting cancer. He was 79 years of age. Upon his request, Fr. Mena returned to Spain to stay in the Jesuit Infirmary in Salamanca, Spain, where he received the medical care that he needed.Born in Cevico-Navero (Palencia), Fr. Mena entered the Novitiate in Salamanca on 30 July 1947. Soon after entering the Society, he was assigned to the China Mission. He was ordained a priest on 18 March 1962.

A memorial Mass will be held in honor of Fr. Mena today, Friday, July 18, 6:00 pm at the Xavier School Multi-Purpose Center. Alumni, colleagues, and friends of Fr. Mena are all invited to honor this great missionary who spent most of his life serving in Xavier School.

Notes of condolences may be sent to his sisters, Ma. Socorro Gonzalez Mena (Cisneros 6, 2 Izqda., 34004 Palencia, Spain) and Ma. Angeles Gonzalez Mena (Apartado de Correo 733, 34080 Palencia, Spain).

This was what happened last year. (See pictures below) Now, if you want Celebrities to serve you while you dine with good food, plus you get to help the less fortunate children, this is the event for you! Contact Digicon Wizard Events Group at 09173251218 or email them at events@digicomwizard.com.

Pictures from Kimberly Ong

I’m actually really happy right now to find out that Gian took the duty as head of the Appreciation Day Committee. The Appreciation Day Committee or the A-day Committee is responsible for the events for that single day in the last few weeks of September (September 26 for this year) wherein students recognize and feel proud of their teachers and other school staff and employees.

I was once the head of it when I was back in 4th year high school, and I am proud to say that since then, all the heads of the A-day Committee (Sherwin, Rod, and now Gian) was with my team back in 2006. Go Gian! Continue the Legacy!

Related Articles:
A-day 2005 Photo Gallery
A-day 2005: Buhay Superstar!
Appreciation Day 2005

I was able to hunt down the very endangered/elusive species - the Toki - for more, the FREE RIDE Toki jeep, which I rode from the College of Arts and Letters area going to NCPAG. I must admit that I felt happy that I got to ride in it. Hey, it’s not everyday you can see free rides in UP–so don’t blame me ^^;;

Not only that, after my class in NCPAG, I wanted to ride the Free Toki going to the Arts and Sciences building (Palma Hall), but I failed to do so because the jeepneys weren’t stopping for us. That’s so unfair and so infuriating, really. There were 3 Tokis that passed us, but they weren’t stopping or giving a hint that they’ll stop at all; this is why I opted to ride the Free Ikot instead of waiting for nothing.

Another thing that I noticed is the ignorance of people about the free ride. They still try to reach and give their payment, only knowing after the driver says “libreng sakay po” (the ride is free) that the ride is really free.

Well, to emphasize, it’s true that not everyday you get free rides in UP, so I guess people were really confused at the same time really thankful for it.

Because of this treat con advertising promo of Accenture (yes, fine, there, free advertising for the company…haha) I was able to save 28 pesos — not bad, not bad! That’s one very cold drink from CASAA or some place else to quench my thirst from the very warm and humid mornings in UP.

I am sure that this free ride every Tuesday until December thingy going around made everyone happy today, even though they don’t really know why they are given such comfort. But after a while, I think they’ll be aware of this and would kill one another just to get a free ride? (I hope not!)

Thank you for the free rides!

There will be a special screening of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of The Crystal Skull on May 22, Thursday, at the Mall of Asia, 6pm. It will be for the benefit of the Children’s Charity Ward of the Philippine General Hospital. If you watch, it will surely go a long way in raising funds for new beds, dialysis monitors, bandages, casts, vaccines, and other medical supplies and equipment. You may visit the official Indiana Jones site here.

Please contact Valerie @ 09178583678 for more details.
Thank you very much and God Bless!

Since I wasn’t able to go out and celebrate Earth Hour with the people in CCP Complex, where all the festivities were, we observed it instead at home. At exactly 08:00pm, my dad turned off the power. No electricity in the house. We lit candles for lighting.

To pass time, we took pictures of ourselves instead. I would link the photo album here, but I’d rather not because it’s all vanity pictures. You don’t want to see that. :))

An hour passed. A lot of pictures were taken. Earth Hour done. I’m glad we did it. I really hope we have Earth Hour every month at least?