My 2012 in photos.

January

New Year's Day/Tejadas exchange gift | Grandma's place, Sucat | January 1, 2012 | Photo taken from Regina Ding's FB page

Sound of Music | Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila | January 15, 2012

Rivalry: AdMU-DLSU The Musical | Meralco Theater, Meralco Compound | January 26, 2012

Grand Baby Fair | SM Megatrade Hall, SM Megamall | January 29, 2012

February

Brianna's 1st Birthday | Shakey's Pizza, West Ave. | February 5, 2012 | Photo taken by Chris De Luna

Hot Air Balloon Festival | Clark Freeport Zone, Clark | February 11-12, 2012 | Photo taken from Regina Ding's FB page

April

Easter Sunday | Grandma's place, Sucat | April 8, 2012

Ate's Babang Luksa | Holy Cross Memorial Park, Novaliches | April 15, 2012 | Photo taken from Mico Tan's FB page

Clark-Subic Weekend | Hotel Vida, Clark Pampanga | April 29-30, 2012 | Photo taken from Peng Belleza's FB page

May

Zoobic Safari Adventure | Zoobic Safari, Subic | May 12, 2012

June

One Run, One Family, One La Salle 3 | Mall of Asia Complex | June 10, 2012

Stacey's Birthday Weekend | Pansol, Laguna | June 16-17, 2012 | Photo taken from Regina Ding's FB page

July

Declaro Kids Recital | 19 East, Paranaque | July 1, 2012 | Photo taken from Regina Ding's FB page

Brianna's first haircut | Cuts 4 Tots, SM Megamall | July 2, 2012

Outbreak Manila | Bonifacio Global City Open Grounds | July 28, 2012

August

Habagat | Mercedes, Pasig | August 8-11, 2012

CAM105 Reunion | Garage 88, Bonifacio Global City | August 17, 2012 | Photo taken from Henrik Batallones' FB page

October

Jason's Grandfather's Wake | Loyola Memorial Gardens, Guadalupe | October 9, 2012 | Photo taken from Rica Arevalo's FB page

Jason's Welcome Home/Despedida Dinner | Krocodile Grill, Greenbelt | October 12, 2012 | Photo taken from Sara Ramos' FB page

CAM105 Reunion Part 2 | Frankie's, Citygolf Pasig | October 26, 2012 | Photo taken from Malia Viardo's FB page

Serrano Family Lunch | Dencio's, Tagaytay | October 27, 2012

November

Fontana Weekend | Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino, Clark | November 1-2, 2012 | Photo taken by Bong Tejada

CAM105 Nightout | Skye Lounge, Bonifacio Global City | November 17, 2012 | Photo taken from the Skye FB page

December

Prosiyat Christmas Party/Ru's Birthday Inuman | Firmalo Residence, Blue Ridge | December 15, 2012 | Photo taken from Neil Medina's Instagram account

Welcome Home, Lau Dinner | Capricciosa, Greenbelt | December 19, 2012 | Photo from Lauren Montino

Hongkong Trip | Hongkong Disneyland | December 20-23, 2012

Prosiyat Exchange Gifts | Legisma Residence, Bangkal, Makati | December 17, 2012 | Photo taken from Neil Medina's Instagram account

I can exceed my limitations!

Before 2011 ended, I made a goal for myself to finish on 2012. I went as far as converting it into a S.M.A.R.T. goal. The goal is to run (and of course, finish) my first ever 5k marathon. I kept this goal in mind every single day since 2012 started and everyday, I would do little steps that would help me achieve this: I (online) window-shopped for running shoes, I actually purchased my first "official" running shorts, ran a 3k fun run, all those stuff when finally, an opportunity to run 5k presented itself.

My cousins and I were talking about joining the Outbreak Manila fun run back in April 2012 in Nuvali. Long story short, we forgot to register. The great thing about it, though, after a couple of months, they've announced another Outbreak Manila run that will actually happen in Manila. Outbreak BGC happened last July 28, 2012 at the Bonifacio Global City open grounds (near Mercato). I have my experience chronicled here.

I didn't know that Outbreak BGC was a 5k run prior to the event. I just heard the emcee of the event say it when my sister and I were waiting for our wave to run. It was a pleasant surprise and right then and there, I knew that I wanted to finish this run more than ever.

It was a great run except I didn't get to verify if I was one of the top finishers right away. August 3, the Outbreak Manila Facebook page posted the final list of the top finishers and...well...

That's me on number one! And I even have a medal to prove it:

Not only did I finish my first 5k this year and attained my goal, I even finished on top! Talk about exceeding my limitation!

My most favorite sports enthusiast as of the moment has got to be Kuya Kim Atienza. The guy suffered a heart attack last year and a year after it, he ran a full 42k marathon. As if that wasn't enough, he participated in the Cebu Ironman a few months after his 42k! You wouldn't even think that he had a heart attack if you only knew of his achievements this year. If he could exceed his limitations having had a heart attack the previous year, those of us who have healthy hearts could definitely do it, too!

I bet that Kuya Kim, too, takes his odor protection seriously and that is one of the reasons why he can focus on his workout. Good thing, I take this one seriously, too. Imagine an unhygienic me, running the course of Outbreak BGC... I bet the zombies would run for their lives (Wow, how ironic).

Safeguard Active won't let bad hygiene distract you from exceeding your athletic limitations and in beating your personal best! To prove that, a bunch of people have been dared by Safeguard Active to beat Coach Rio's 20-meter dash record. Watch this #BeatCoachRio by Safeguard Active video to see if someone actually beat his 2.3-second record:


Since 2010, I've been a firm believer of goal setting and the impact of the Law of Attraction. My personal experience as well as these people's experiences are proof that whatever it is you put your mind into, you can achieve. You just need to have the determination and the perseverance to make it through and you will make it through.

I knew it!

Remember when I said I felt I was part of the top 20 of our wave at the Outbreak BGC? Well...

I ran a shorter course, though, me thinks.

The Outbreak BGC experience

I was way too excited to run the Outbreak BGC as documented here, here and here that when I got there, I got stressed out by the traffic. Yes, I was that intense that night. We got to the registration area at around 10:40pm to have our bibs scanned and we were given the flags. We waited for around 30-40 minutes for wave 34 to run. I finished earlier than Trish although I've seen her a good half kilometer ahead of me a few zombies after gun start.

Here are some of my thoughts after my much-awaited Outbreak BGC run, in no particular order:

• I don't think the organizers anticipated the size of the place and the number of attendees when they went on their ocular. Everyone was cramped in the small registration area beside the football field.
• People who wore new kicks that night were really in for the muddiest shock of their lives.
• Trish and I planned on having our picture taken in one of the photobooths we saw when we arrived. After the race, though, nakauwi na sila.
• I don't think I ran 5k. I finished the course at 30, 45 minutes tops which isn't possible because I just brisk walked the entire time.
• The girl who kept pushing me on the course almost tripped me. Good thing I got away from her grip and she was the one who got knocked off her feet.
• The zombie who took my last flag - yes, I gave them all up - got a feel of my backside.
• The zombie who welcomed me to the second half of the course looks vaguely like the male host of Sports Unlimited. Sounds like him too. Forgot his name though.
• I didn't get to pass by the chimes and garter part of the course which sucked a bit.
• I expected some zombies in the labyrinth but there weren't any.
• The girl running beside me kept screaming "Ayoko na! Ayoko na!". I wanted to tell her "Sana di ka nalang sumali..."
• I think I'm a top finisher for wave 34 because majority of my wave finished 30 minutes after I did.
• I enjoyed the part where there were jeepneys and school buses blocking the way.

Photos from the event:

Trish as a Paulinian, me as a corporate slave in running shoes.

She finished with all three flags intact.

With the nurse and chef zombies. I wasn't aware that he was touching me until I saw this photo. 

Our cheerleaders, Carlo, Peng, Reg and Kuya. Midnight meal at Chicboy, Arnaiz.

All in all, it was a really fun experience. I just wish Trish got a prize for her 3 flags and I knew if I were part of the top 20 runners of our wave.

Outbreak BGC in two days...

...and I still don't know what I will wear to the event which can be a good thing because I've been asking for an event where I can actually doll myself up but now that it's here, I can't decide what to wear. These people from the first Outbreak run went all out that I want to go all out as well...

Photos taken from the Outbreak Manila Facebook page.

I only have one costume in my closet:

and it's not even a real costume. I might end up wearing that...or maybe a party girl costume because those are the only pieces I have in my closet. I'd go hiphop but my army pants don't fit me anymore. Maybe if I find some peg online that includes a pair of denim shorts, it might be an option.

I bet I'll end up wearing a singlet and my running shorts...

Outbreak Manila 2 is almost here and my shoes are all worn out...

With Outbreak Manila 2 exactly a week away, I can't help but look at my running shoes. It's all worn out and I think that Outbreak BGC will be the last run that it can endure so buying a new one is a must by this time.

I browsed through the Zalora catalog sports page to find the perfect pair of running shoes and I fell in love with this the first time I saw it:

I know the Nike Free Run +3 has been launched earlier this year but I personally haven't seen it in this particular color. I've seen it in coral and in blue but never in yellow. It's so nice, right? Me likey!

I tried one on a few weeks back and it feels like I was stepping on the clouds, if I knew how stepping on clouds actually felt like. It has superb cushioning and it has the Nike protection: you feel so secure with whatever you need to do physically because you know that Nike will do its job in protecting and supporting you in your activity.

There are a whole lot of different shoe brands available in Zalora, both local and international brands. You might want to check them out, just go to http://www.zalora.com.ph/sports/ and you'll find a wide range of sports shoes there. Upon checkout, you can use the discount voucher Aletotski0 (Aletotski[zero]) to get a 5% discount on your purchase.

More, more participants for Outbreak BGC!

Due to an overwhelming demand for slots to Outbreak Manila 2 a.k.a. Outbreak BGC, their management will open 2 new waves tomorrow, July 13, 2012.

The 2 new waves will run at 11:40pm which they call Wave Desperate and 11:50pm, dubbed as Wave Last Chance. I love the way they called these 2 new additions to the original wave list. It's appropriate for the people who will be signing up.

Registration, though, will be limited to Toby's Shangri-La and RUNNR Boni High Street unlike the original registration and only 200 slots per store will be opened for these waves. First-come-first-served basis, of course, like the regular registration. Shangri-La opens at 11am, if I am not mistaken while High Street opens at 10. In my opinion, it will be easier to register in RUNNR High Street because you don't have to wait outside the mall and actually run to get to their store but I think that most people know that by now so just be there early, okay?

I hope my cousin takes advantage of this since he's the one who has been gushing about this since Nuvali. His loss if he's not running. I mean, as I've mentioned before, Anne Curtis, Isabelle Daza and Georgina Wilson might run the fun run and now, I learned that Will DeVaughn and the gang will be running after us "mere mortals", too!

Anyway, if my cousin won't, that's one more slot for you! Hihi. Let's do this, come on! Head over to Toby's Shangri-La and RUNNR Boni High Street tomorrow and secure that slot. I can feel that Outbreak BGC will definitely be a night to remember.

It's a go!

Since I have a very responsible sister...

We're registered for Outbreak Manila already! Wooh! I know that this isn't really an official marathon/fun run of sorts but I know that it's fun and everyone will be running. We will be running the 11:30pm wave which means there's enough time for us to hangout before and after Outbreak. Wooh! I am so excited.

What's even more exciting is Isabelle Daza, Anne Curtis and Georgina Wilson will be running, too. I just don't know what wave they are in but the idea of actually (maybe) meeting them in person is adding up to my anticipation of the event. I mean, I'm all googly eyes whenever I see Georgina Wilson anywhere (except in person) and I am an Anne Curtis fan (I am not afraid to say it) so meeting - or just seeing - them in person will definitely be a highlight of my life. Okay, so I've seen Anne Curtis in St. Paul a lot before since Jasmine Curtis used to be batchmates with my sister there but I just want to see her in person again, okay?

Going back, I'd want to dress up as something for Outbreak Manila but I still don't know what because I am not exactly someone who can actually pull off a costume... Hmmm...

Outbreak Manila 2

Since I didn't get to run the first one in Nuvali and I want a follow through to my first ever fun run, I am fully dedicated to run the Outbreak Manila 2 that is going to be held on July 28 at the Bonifacio Global City.


The first time I've heard of the Zombie Run was from my cousin, when he invited me to run it earlier in the year but we didn't get to register for the Nuvali run because we completely forgot about it but now, I am doing the proactive thing of posting about the race here and by actually posting a note on my desktop:

So, what's the difference between Outbreak Manila 2 and the first one? Well, for starters, the first race was held in Nuvali in Laguna and this second race is more accessible for commuting Manilenos because of the Bonifacio Global City venue. The wide open space in BGC will provide as running grounds for the zombies and the runners.

The waves in the Outbreak Manila - Nuvali (ironic, right?) ran so early in the morning while the upcoming zombie run will take place in the evening, giving everyone the perfect zombie apocalypse feel. It's creepier because it will be harder for the runners to know where the zombies will be coming from, making it all the more exciting (I can feel my adrenaline rushing by just typing that line). Race wave schedules are as follows:

The mechanics are basically the same: You're gonna be handed three flags that represent your health. The zombies will be getting these from you while you run so be mindful of them. Of course, hiding them from the zombies is not allowed. There will be marshalls that will be present at the venue and the race track to watch out for runners who don't follow this rule.

The goal is to get out of the race alive and with at least one flag attached to your body to be eligible to get prizes. I am now thinking of ways that will help me with this. I don't think there's a way around the flags-on-the-right-side-of-your-hip rule but as they all say, if there's a will, there's a way.

There will be two courses, the easy one that's longer but with fewer zombies and the horde one with more zombies but is shorter. I, personally, would choose the easy way just because it's my first time but it will depend on what my cousins and I decide upon.

For the first 3 male and first 3 female runners to reach the finish line for both ways will win cash prizes and Apple products. How great is that, huh? Pero asa pako, I probably won't make it to the top 20 even if I wanted to.

Registrations for Outbreak Manila 2 in Bonifacio Global City will open on June 22 and will close on July 22 or until all slots are filled up, whichever comes first and that is the reason why I am registering on June 22 already. Yes, excited ako. Bakit ba? Registration centers are at:

TOBY'S SPORTS
Megamall
Mall of Asia
The Block

RUNNR
Alabang Town Center
Bonifacio High Street

There is a downloadable form available online that you can print out to make things easier for you during the registration. Just pass this form to any of the registration centers named above and pay Php800 for a race kit that includes a Manila Outbreak souvenir shirt, your race bib, the flag belt and some freebies from the sponsors. There's a zombie registration, too, for zombies who want to join the fun

Ano? Tara? Let's run the Outbreak Manila 2 in Bonifacio Global City on July 28, 2012! Practice narin 'to for the real zombie apocalypse that seems to be highly probable now. *praning*