REALIZATION

After Todo Responde Run, RESPECT, is what I have for all the race organizers in the country.
Indeed there’s more than meets the eye when organizing a race. Passion, guts, wit, heart, courage, patience, faith and I can go on and on. Maybe Todo Responde has been very overwhelming for me as I don’t possess much of the traits that I’ve mentioned. And so to all race organizers in the country especially to those who never did compromise our runners’ safety, I extend my best regards and RESPECT…

Imagine, this is how I now view how races are being organized even though Todo Responde Run was a unified effort. What more for independent races? I don’t think I can ever again criticize a race. This may be the biggest realization for me this 2012 with regards to our running community. So to my fellow runners, if you had a good run, may it be a big event or small, try not to just leave the event, try to find your way to personally thank the organizers as it could mean big to them. Sorry to say this, but surely, your money ain’t worth to what they’ve gone thru just to provide you a good running experience, especially to organizers who believe that runners deserve the best. You will never know, even your best 21k or 42k experience could mean a large financial loss or debt to an organizer. For what? Yes, running is an industry, but we can never take away the fact that it is also and will always be FOR THE LOVE OF RUNNING. And to those who have a lot to say to a race or to a run event that never did experience organizing such, I’m telling you, there’s a 99% chance that you don’t know what you’re saying.

My realizations are, race organizers are not run gods, just like us, they make mistakes, just like us, they just make do of what they have and just like us, they do and give their very best.

One of the miracles of Todo Responde Run was we didn’t incur any loss or debt yet we were still able to provide a great running experience to runners and most of all we were able to provide proceeds to the beneficiaries. Maybe not as big as what we have wanted but not that small to be disregarded. And as promised, it was provided on race day. The only debt incurred in Todo Responde is respect for each other’s “TY” efforts and resources, just to provide excellent running experience, raise funds for a common cause and of course, for UNITY.

(Iman of PROACTIVE, Me, Raffy Santos of runnersrunner.com, Tia De Guzman of Pepsquad Events, Baby Rafael’s Father, Jay Em of PROACTIVE & Ian Alacar of Without Limits)

(Ian, Me, Raffy, Tia, Red Cross for Sendong Victims, Jay Em & Iman)

UNITY

The magnitude of power of the unity among race organizers and running personalities was again OVERWHELMING. The timing of the race could have been automated if only the opportunity came before we printed the race bibs. Three ambulances packed with medical team and an emergency doctor onsite. Three Soleus race timers for the three categories, complete presentable road signs, barricades, cones, stage, sound system, arch, adequate reliable two way radios, presentable activity center, the overflowing Pocari and water (of course it’s cold ). I’m sure you noticed our high spirited road marshals & hydration volunteers who were all smiles to greet you, cheer for you and most of all ensure everyone’s safety. Raffle prizes and giveaways from My Phone, Soleus, Suriya Spa, Sun Life, Mulisport Magazine, OTRI, Mary Kay Cosmetics & Cortal. When was the last time you saw our idol Michelle Estuar do the pre-race warm up? At Todo Responde, she did. The venue, BGC is 100% free and the kind mayor of Taguig topped it up by issuing the permits for free. DJ Chloe and Boy Ramos(Running Host) rocked the stage and Mike Chan’s Band even made it sweeter. All these in two weeks, all these, by UNITY.

Would you believe that we had a shot in acquiring energy drinks for 15,000 runners?

Amazed, shocked and stunned you’ll be, in my shoes.

(Michelle Estuar warming up the 5K runners)

(Greeneyes Val Caro taking run pictures)

(Running Host Boy Ramos & DJ Chloe of Mellow 94.7)

(Pocari Sweat Hydration Team)

(Kamote family manning one of the hydration stations with KB chico primera)

(Awesome marshals, sweeping and cheering for the last finisher. Congratulations Elpi!)

BREAKTHROUGH

We all know that runners have been uniting for the longest time. This time, Race Organizers have united. Again, this time, RACE ORGANIZERS HAVE UNITED. I strongly believe that it’s us who need to thank the Sendong victims and Baby Rafael as they made a very BIG mark in the history of our running community. Thru them, the noble power of our race giants was unlocked. Thru them, the final and hardest ingredient to absolute unity has emerged.

Most of us missed it, but don’t worry, it happened. Such breakthrough can only mean one thing, it could happen again.

I bid every race organizers, running businesses, personalities, bloggers, teams and runners GOODLUCK! May the 2012 bring us more PEACE, SUCCESS, WEALTH and POWER so that come TODO RESPONDE 2, we will have more resources to grace FOR THE LOVE OF RUNNING AND FOR GOD’S GREATER GLORY!

Thank you to Arvin Quiloy, Greeneyes Val Caro, Maro Callo and Raffy Santos! From day 1 to race day, you guys were around to accomplish more than what you can. Thank you so much, you guys made talk cheaper. Hats off!

Thank you to Jay Em & Iman of PROACTIVE Events!

Thank you to Tia De Guzman of Pepsquad Events!

Thank you to Michelle Estuar & Renan Morales!

Thank you Coach Ben Alacar and Ian Alacar of Without Limits!

Thank you to Coach Rio Dela Cruz and Jun Cruz of RUNRIO!

Thank you to Jaymie Pizarro (The Bull Runner)!

Thank you to Rovic Canono of Greentenial!

Thank you to Valerie Ignacio & Engr. Getty Granada of  Bonifacio Global City!

Thank you to DJ Chloe, DJ Chris, DJ Marco & Indi of Mellow 94.7!

Thank you to Running Host Boy Ramos!

Thank You to Soleus!

Thank you to Pocari Sweat!

Thank you to MultiSport Magazine!

Thank you to MyPhone!

Thank you to Sun Life Financial!

Thank you to St. Lukes Medical Center!

Thank you to Mary Kay Cosmetics!

Thank you to OBI’s Trading Room!

Thank you Polylite Industrial!

Thank you to Edwin Soriano & Raffy Santos of RunnersRunner.com!

Thank you to PinoyFitness.com!

Thank you to Takbo.ph!

Thank you to RUNNR!

Thank you to A Runner’s Circle!

Thank you to R.O.X.!

Thank you to Noelle De Guzman (Kikay Runner)!

Thank you to Cheryl Golangco (Little Running Teacher)!

Thank you to Ivica Rae Say (RuNurse)!

Thank you to Amanda Michelle Manait (The Sweet Life Runner)!

Thank you to Bee Soberano (Kamote Runner)!

Thank you to Daves Espia (Barefoot Daves)!

Thank you to Mike Logico (Barefoot Colonel)!

Thank you to Blas Ople Tiangco (Titanium Runner)!

Thank you to Vimz Mendoza (KulitRunner)!

Thank you to CJ Lampad (Run Adobe King)!

Thank you to Monica Torres (3>1)!

Thank you to Joel Baluyot (I am Joey Boy)!

Thank you to Team Kamote Runners!

Thank you to Ultra Snail Brotherhood!

Thank you to Team Tireless!

Thank you to Team Reebok!

Thank you to Team Soleus!

Thank you to Team Ok-Ok!

Thank you to Team Alpha 1!

Thank you to Team Wag-Wag!

Thank you to Lestsky Photography!

Thank you Team USB Photography!

Thank you to PEX Running Club Photos!

THANK YOU TO ALL THE RUNNERS WHO RESPONDED!

Last but definitely not the least, Thank You to my ever supportive lady Dr.Pamela Basilio!