Philippine Update

The 'training', you ask? I'm just glad I get out every once in a while for a 4-miler with this unrelenting and unforgiving heat. I guess that's what you get when you're in a country that is right at the equator...

It's taken about 45 minutes to upload these few photos so...you get what you get :)


Anna and I with her 'SUPER Lola' i.e. my dearest grandmother.


Nick and Anna pose in front of our famously recalled Virgin Mary statue in the yard of my Mother's childhood home. Poor Anna squints from the sun. Can you guess what religion we grew up with?!


Me and my cousin, Michelle have drinks with my brother, Nick, in Eastwood - a hip night life area of Manila.

I have yet to post pictures from my Dad's side of the family because of the slow connection speed I'm having right now but I did manage to get up a preview photos since I've been with the Javiers :)


The Javier House in Pasig, Manila.


A garden view from the Veranda, which is an outdoor living room. It's a bad photo but the house sits on a cliff and looks out onto the Marikina Valley.


Another garden view from the Veranda looking down on the first floor level. Across is a window of the Master suite.


Anna and I make a pilgrimage to the Jose Rizal Shrine in Intramuros, the old walled city of Manila established by colonial Spain but built by Filipinos.


We toured Intramuros via Karitela and made friends with our horse, Kiko (not pictured, unfortunately)!

Stay tuned for more photos and updates on runs once I get my stats uploaded form my iSports kit...

Amongst the Asians: Picture Update

I've managed to accomplish quite a few things in Taiwan so far:

1. Beat my jet lag and am now officially in 'Asian Time' :)
2. Completed two respectable runs
3. Survived the heat and humidity

Here are the stats for my runs:
Friday, 7/6 Distance 2.1 miles | Time 18:05 | 8:36 min/mile
Sunday, 7/8 Distance 2.16 mi | Time 18:27 | 8:31 min/mile

It's been really difficult to log these miles what with the DEATHLY heat and humidity here in Taiwan. I've been out in the mornings by 5:00am and I can honestly say that I'm worried for my health when I run (hehe). In fact, during the day, it's indoors for me and under the umbrella while out on the streets. And um, NO, I feel no shame walking around with an umbrella under the sun.

Some of you know that I'm training for a half marathon in September and I'm pretty sure I'm gonna be pulling that race out of my ass. For now, I'm just happy that I'm able to hit the pavement and am hopeful that once I get settled in the Philippines (hotter still) and now that I'm over my jet lag it will be smoother sailing. (FYI I will literally be flying into the country and then running the race. Not the brightest of my ideas. *shrug* It will be grand!)


One of our many airport stops



The Grand Hotel in Taipei (i.e. NOT my hotel in Taipei)


On our way to the Palace National Museum in Taipei. Checking out the spoils of the KMT.


Some lovely palm trees that I ran past on one of my runs :)


A pic from Nick's wedding. I KNOW, I will post more later!


Anna and I blindly order food at a local restaurant. She's gotten REALLY good with chopsticks!

I All Done Wit Airpane- Reflections on my Manila Run

As I looked out upon the lights of Manila--relieved after 16 + hours of plane travel--it was a strange thing to think that I was born here. Indeed, this is my 'native' land. And despite being irreversibly tied to my adoptive country of America, I know that a part of me will be forever tied to this land as well.

With Anna peacefully sleeping on my lap, I braced myself for immigration, customs and baggage pickup.

Today I realize that I have lost 12 hours with the date being July 4th, two whole days after our departure date. I'm trying to ignore the countless hours of sleep i have lost along the way...in fact, I can barely keep my eyes open writing this.

Unlike in years past, i ahve opted to stay with my Mother's family while here in Manila. It will be a huge departure from staying with my Father's family who enjoy the pampered and exclusive life of gated communities. I knew I wanted to see and experience the Philippines from a completely different perspective. I'm finding that even my fair share of time with the intellectual elites of the country ought to be balanced with understanding the community's sense of social justice.

In true fashion, I got my taste of this on my run this morning with my cousin MP. We've been close since we were in diapers and it was wonderful to join her on her morning jog--it was the perfect way to spend my first morning here in the Philippines. Ahh, the joys of mixing research/business with pleasure.

We ran along the newly developed marikina River waterfront , an area previously inhabited by 'squatters' as well as an area plagued with litter and pollultion. The new water front trail and accompanying restaurants, stores and other businesses has brought this community outdoors. I saw joggers/runners, cyclists, walkers, couples and everyone and anyone else you could think of. MP expalined how the mayor in charge of the development proejct was reelected by a land slide and that the community now self-polices top keep the area clean. Furthermore, the 'squatters' in the area were relocated to a low-income houseing development and were thought of in the process.

Textbook community development project!

We didn't run too far and we ended up walking after a bit since MP is just starting to run but I didn't care. Besides, on such little sleep, I think my body couldn't take much more.

Experiences for Anna to check from today (and for my Dad to freak out about): Jeepney ride and Palenke (Market), complete with an 'it stinks' face that is priceless in and of itself.

Off to Taiwan tomorrow. Will post pics asap. :)