Sleepless in Jaro

Every time I head for Iloilo City, I’m doubly excited as I’ll be visiting Jaro, my green, green grass of home. Yes, the grass here is still greener as pollution and monstrous traffic jams have not yet totally taken over. I’m here for my annual pilgrimage to the Nuestra Señora De Candelaria (Our Lady of Candles) and the Fiesta of Jaro, perhaps the biggest celebration in the country. I was baptized in the Jaro Cathedral where Senator Grace Poe was abandoned many years ago. Jaro is also the birthplace of national hero Graciano Lopez Jaena of La Solidaridad fame. Upon arrival in the city and right after the mass, we were guests to the house of the Guaderamas, owners of Biscocho Haus, for breakfast. While we were devouring the Ilonggo delicacies, the cockfight was still raging in the nearby Iloilo Cockpit. I remember this “bulang”or  “sabong”, lasted for days. Of course Iloilo was just coming from the heels of the Dinagyang Festival, thanks God the corona virus did’nt disrupt the celebrations as what it did to the flower festival of Baguio, the “Panabenga”. Sporting events included the Paraw Regatta and the Dinagyang Ultramarathon

Iloilo Sports

It’s been quite some time since I hanged my running shoes while putting on my blue suede shoes, but I’m glad I left Iloilo running in good hands. My protégé Boyet Rentoy has kept the flame burning by taking over as race organizer of the ultramarathons and the 10k races. In fact, before the end of the month, a 50k ultramarathons will be staged in Bucari, Leon dubbed as the Little Baguio of Iloilo. Then in March,Boyet invited me to grace the Iloilo-Roxas City (Capiz) Ultramarathon. Of course, Iloilo is home to the best marathon runners in the country including Vertek Buenavista, Herman Suizo, Jimmy De la Torre and one-legged triathlete Rudy Fernandez.

Did you know?

Giannis Antetokounmpo sold trinkets on the streets of Athens so he could pay the family bills. Giannis’ family, father Charles, mother Veronica and his brothers Thanasis, Andreas, Kostas and Alexandros lived in poverty and sometimes did’nt even have food in the table but that’s a different story now. Giannis is one of the highest paid players in the NBA

Dirk Nowitzki has played with Tim Hardaway and his son Tim Hardway Jr. Dirk said “ I hope I don’t get to play with Tim Sr” grandson.