Tuesday, August 25, 2009

A Ninoy Runner Then and Now

As I was going through my clutter, I chanced upon this old photo of me taken during one of the ROAR runs in the 80s (that's my excuse for my confused Cure/Flock of Seagulls/Rick Springfield hair).



The ROAR runs were weekly weekend runs which start at the Baclaran church and end at Luneta. This was one of many the protest activities against Marcos and his senseless killing of Ninoy. I was running then because I was pissed off!!! I hated Marcos!!! It was personal as much as it was political.

It really brought back a lot of memories in as much as it made me realize that much of what we fought for then are same struggles that Auntie Cory sacrificed so much for and to this day continue to plague us all.

The problems and issues are overwhelming. I believe they can't be solved during my generation and I fear my children's generation. Where does one begin or do you even bother to start anywhere at all? I used to say to myself forget it! I'll just live my life oblivious to all these problems as long as my family is happy and healthy.

It maybe divine intervention, or my dad and mom (possibly with Uncle Ninoy...GOD rest their souls) banging my head, that led me to be more involved with working with my brother Rapa in iamninoy. The idea of small "heroic" acts or being a hero in your own small way was a big eye-opener. A tiny act of goodness and kindness can impact many many lives in a huge way. And I guess, or I'd like to believe, this may be the same force that led my friends and I to form the iamninoy Runners.



The thought that by the simple act of running together we get to help kids have an education and a better crack at the future. This is why I'm running now. This time it's not political but what I consider as my personal stake at making a difference.

Run with me. Run with us!!!

11 comments:

Mixednuts said...

You're so much cuter now sans the hair. Haha.

Anonymous said...

galing mo jam!! I agree with mixednuts, you're so much cuter now!;) i'd love to (learn)run... but I'll be with you in spirit nalang!:)

Unknown said...

Did you charm Mayi into marrying you with this bad-ass hairdo? :) Hehe.

And can I just say, the person standing right in front of the camera... medyo disturbing ang kanyang nyorts lalo na't nakabalandra in full glory ang kanyang gluteus maximus. Hehe

Caecilia said...

Hmmm I have to say Mayi is good at looking into the future. Who would have thought you would look better as you aged ha ha.

vimz said...

haha! i bet mayi will still be charmed with you 80s hair or not. uyyy! lol!

go, go, go iamninoy runners! it wasn't just the cause that's what makes this movement great. its also the new friendships that came with it.

Anonymous said...

Hello Jam.
Any development on the mechanics for those who are outside the Philippines?

TRY-Athlete said...

Hi guys. Here are my responses:

Mixednuts -- thanks di halata na asawa kita. LOL

Vicky -- thanks. Do you even remember my then? but I agreed, I like my hair better now...what's left of it, at least.

Marga -- Bwahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

Caecilia -- I'm scared to run with you now. I can just hear all the wise cracks about my hair. hahahaha

Vimz -- Agree great new friends indeed!!!

Anonymous -- Mailou, is that you? Anyway, here how you send donations on-line to iamninoy Runners. An online donation facility has been set up at www.ammado.com for iamninoy runners and 5775.
Just go to this site (Ammado) and click the donate button on the lower left side then search for iamninoy runners under the beneficiaries.Hope this helps. Thanks thanks

Michael L. Sy said...

Hello Jam.

I made a donation via ammado. So, how do I get the shirt?

Miya

TRY-Athlete said...

Hi Miya,
Thanks for your donation to iamninoy runners. Can you provide me an email address so I can communicate with you directly?
Thanks

Michael L. Sy said...

Hello Jam.

My email address is msy1@worldbank.org. If you have a pdf of a flyer on iamninoy, I would be happy to forward it to the Filipino Association at the World Bank. There are also other venues at the Bank that can be explored to heighten awareness on your project.

I would like to help since this will benefit children.

Thanks.

All the best,

Miya

Anonymous said...

whose legs are those? they look hawwwt he he he