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As all eyes turn to the Senate, to watch the impeachment trial unfold, an understanding of the procedure and the intent of the Constitution would help everyone understand this process better.

Role of the Senate:

Article XI, section 6 of the Constitution states:

The Senate shall have the sole power to try and decide all cases of impeachment. When sitting for that purpose the Senators shall be under oath or affirmation.

Following the above mandate, last December 14, 2011, we took our oath as judges of the impeachment court. A perusal of the Senate’s Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials (“Senate Rules on Impeachment,” for brevity), reveals that indeed we sit as a trial court with the “power to compel the attendance of witnesses … punish in a summary way contempts of, and disobedience to, its authority, orders …” and others. The same rules further state that witnesses shall be examined and then cross-examined (Sec. V and XV).

Because we sit as a trial court, we are not there to use our personal relations nor our political affiliations. What is required is that we go through the trial, calling witnesses, listening to their testimonies and the cross-examinations. We are even allowed to ask questions (Senate Rules on Impeachement, Sec. XVII). Then as trial judges we are required to weigh the evidence presented and make a decision.

If the intention of the framers of the Constitution were to make this a purely political process, then why go through an impeachment trial? The Constitution could have then just allowed the President or provided for some other means to remove the defendant-official subject of the impeachment.

How then are we suppose to judge the case?

Our jurisprudence states that

[A]ll suitors are entitled to nothing short of the cold neutrality of an independent, wholly free, disinterested and impartial tribunal (Luque v Kayanana, 29 SCRA 178 [1963]).

Impartial judgments are described as decisions “on the basis of facts and in accordance with the law, without any restrictions, improper influences, inducements, pressures, threats or interferences, direct or indirect, from any quarter or for any reason” (The impartiality of the judiciary and the effectiveness of the justice systems, quoting Principle 2 of the Seven key principles on the independence of the Judiciary. Wilfried de Wever. Effectius)

Because of the dearth of materials on the impeachment process, I looked at books authored by American legal luminaries. Our Constitution is patterned after the US Constitution and our provisions on impeachment are similar. In “Impeachment, A Handbook,” author Charles Black, Jr., Sterling Professor Emeritus at Yale Law School and adjunct professor of law at Columbia Law School opines that the fact that the senators take a separate oath emphasizes that the Senate “whether for this occasion you call it a ‘judicial’ body or not- is taking on quite a different role from its normal legislative one.”

He further states “The fact that the Senate is to ‘try’ all impeachments, not simply vote on them, implies that it takes on the nature of a judicial trial, because the word to ‘try’ is a word used almost invariably in regard to judicial trials.”

Thus, the all-important question of the impartiality of the judges arise. As noted by Black, and as I am sure, many are also aware, “senators find themselves either definitely friendly or definitely inimical to the [accused]. In an ordinary judicial trial, person in such a position would of course be disqualified to act, whether as judges or as jurors.”

And thus Black, further states:

“It cannot have been the intention of the Framers that this rule apply in impeachments, for its application would be absurd; a great many senators would inevitably be disqualified by it, and it might easily happen that trial would be by a quite small remnant of the Senate. The remedy has to be in the conscience of each senator, who ought to realize the danger and try as far as possible to divest himself of all prejudice (emphasis provided).”

Thus, there is no doubt that when the Senators sit as judges we do so separate from our function as law makers. We sit as judges in the impeachment trial and we are required to act with the cold neutrality of a judge, devoid of bias and partialities.

The Role of Every Filipino Citizen

The Constitution provides for various ways in which the citizens can participate in our democratic process, one of them is the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression. Filipinos have been very vocal about their support or disdain for anything from public personalities to political decisions made by incumbent officials. Clearly, we want to have a role in the impeachment process.

It has been said that “[O]ne of the demands of a democratic society is that the public should know what goes on in the courts by being informed by the press what is happening there, to the end that the public may judge whether our system of administration of justice is fair and right (Trial by Publicity, Arsenio Solidum. Philippine Law Journal, September 1959).

What then can our citizens do?

Support the process set out by the Constitution.
Patient but vigilant observation.
Critical but fair analysis.

In the formation of one’s opinions, Charles Black states:

“we ought to try to take the same stance of principled political neutrality that we hope to see taken by the House and the Senate as they go about their work (emphasis supplied)

Given the above, what is expected from a senator-judge? That he or she listens to every single opinion offered by friends, strangers or media? Or that we stay true to our oath and base our decisions on the evidence presented? I humbly submit, that despite the interesting theories and conclusions that will surely come out of this trial, we are required to pass judgement based on the evidence presented in the impeachment court.

On making comments and statements about the impeachment:

Senators:

Like a judge in a judicial court, Section XVIII of the Senate Rules on Impeachment requires that the Members of the Senate “refrain from making any comments and disclosures in public pertaining to the merits of a pending impeachment trial.”

The same rule applies “to the prosecutors, to the person impeached, and to their respective counsel and witnesses.”

And to the public and those in media. yes, we each have own opinions. In fact, the press have their Constitutional guarantees on freedom of the press. Does that mean we can all say anything we want about the impeachment trial?

As a judge, I need to shed myself of all impartialities and take on the neutrality of a disinterested person. In addition I am barred from making any comments on the merits of the trial.

For every other citizen, the Constitution and our rules are silent. But if you expect fairness from your judges, then perhaps the same principle of political neutrality will go along way in helping each other understand the issues without being swayed by personal or political leanings. This will then elevate the discussion and would go a long way to help the Senators focus on the evidence on hand and not on public perception.

Conclusion:

If we accept that we are a democratic society governed by our Constitution and our laws, then we must submit ourselves to the systems that have been put into place. And be vigilant about observing it properly and guarding against abuses.

We all have a role to perform. If we do it well, we can reach a different level of political maturity and democracy. And in the process, strengthen our institutions which will make for a stronger nation.

Last year, baby Lucas joined our family. This year, I have a new baby. Not a human baby, but a product of my creative and entrepreneurial mind and spirit.

I can’t say there was a single moment that gave birth to Slice. In many ways SLICE is the product of my imagination, dreams, travels, food cravings and a desire to share my ideas on healthy eating with occasional indulgences.

I consider this a journal on the conception, incubation and birth of slice.

As early as about six years old, my interest in baking was born. My maternal grandmother Alvenia was a baker. She lived in the United States and every few years would come to visit us here.  She stayed for at least three months and during those days our home was filled with the aroma of freshly baked bread, cookies, muffins and pies.

It was from her that I learned whole wheat bread was a healthier kind of bread. In those days, the ’70s you couldn’t buy whole wheat except in a few hotels and they were very expensive.

When my grandma was here I only ate her homemade whole wheat bread. Absolutely no white bread. She taught me how to bake her bread from sifting and measuring the flour, to kneading the dough, watching it rise, beating it down again and eventually in its most plump size, putting it in the oven. Before she went back home,  she would freeze dozens of loaves for us to eat so we would still have her homemade bread despite her absence.

When my grandma was around,  I always came home to a slice of pie, a slice of cake, a slice of a different kind of bread.  She taught me how to bake them all. But my favorite was always bread and bread making. She came to live with us here in the Philippines when she was 87 and even when she turned 90 she was still actively baking, teaching me a thing or two about yeast and kneading. That’s me and my grandma when she turned 90.

My grandma is gone now. She sadly passed away just a little over a year ago. But she passed on her love of baking not just to me but also to my daughter Nadine. My other daughter Max says she only inherited my love of eating! Nadine has her own collection of cookbooks, baking trays and favorite recipes. She specializes in beautifully decorated cupcakes and chocolate chip cookies.

That’s Nadine’s Independence Day cupcakes. Her friends came over to bake with her but they couldn’t have a bite until each and every cupcake was decorated with a letter that would spell out “HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY.”

Maybe it is in my grandma’s memory that I am inspired to put up Slice. Maybe the opportunity just presented itself. Maybe I just miss being an entrepreneur or want my children to start learning about life and managing a business. Whatever the reason, I , along with a few others, am now a proud incubator of a café concept and continually experimenting on the perfect slice.

At present it is a little teeny-weeny café-cart in front of our still vacant space in Bonifacio High Central. We serve muffins, coffee and Panini.

That’s my baby boy Lucas with our Slice banner.

I am not new to the retail business. But owning a café is new to me. It won’t be easy. I have a demanding job that presents enough challenges as it is, I’m a mother of a teen, a tween and a toddler, and I’m  a passionate triathlete. But work is in my blood. Im always up to a challenge and I miss creating a new concept and being an entrepreneur.
So hold on tight, cause we’re in for a gastronomical adventure. While we are putting up our official blog/website, you can visit us on facebook.com/SliceHighSt and follow us on twitter.com/SliceHighSt

Welcome to the Birthing Pains of Slice.

Christmas 2012

When I was a child, I spent almost every Christmas break, summer break and semestral break in Baguio. I simply got in the car or the bus, fell asleep on my mom’s shoulder and woke up when we stopped-over in Tarlac where I happily devoured Pampanga’s best tocino, sinangag and fried egg.

These days, I still head to Baguio, minus the stop for tocino. And I am no longer the child, but the mom. In fact, last week, between Christmas and New Year’s, we packed our bags, our bikes, my son’s car seat, and all seven kids – three mine, the other four like mine because I have known them since they were tiny little things.

First stop was San Juan, La Union for a few hours of surfing with Luke Ladrigan at the Kahuna resort. A few hours didn’t make experts out of any of us, but we enjoyed the waves and were able to get up on our boards enough to satisfy our need to find balance amidst the waves and the wind.

We got to Baguio before sunset, just enough time for my toddler Lucas to give his chubby little legs a work-out running up and down the hills in Camp John Hay where we were staying. He gave his lungs a good work-out too because he kept running to the boundary of the golf course and wanting to run on the grass, every time I pulled him away, he cried.

We did a variety of things, dictated mostly by the age and interest of the kids. We started out with seven kids ages 1 to 16. Later another tween and a teen joined our merry group making it even more fun for everyone.

The toddler slept early and woke up early. By mid-day he had already explored most of John Hay by foot and had given his adult companions a good work-out.

The teens and the tweens were in a different time zone, enjoying late night card games at home, a bonfire and marshmallow roast at night.

Given that teens and tweens are genetically inclined to crave more sleep, it was not surprising that the mornings were spent in bed ‘til the sun had risen high above us. Even Lucas’ gleeful shrieks could not get the sleepy teens out of bed. The tweens did manage to get up a bit earlier one day and squeezed in horse back riding and tried their hand at paint ball.

Meanwhile, I, hit the trails by day, biking and running through the rolling hills, sucking in the cold air and getting lost in the scent of the pine trees. We crossed a hanging bridge in much need of repair. I hope to be able to help out through my Priority Development Assistance Fund.

In between, I sipped delicious native hot chocolate at “Choco-late sa Batirol” the local chocolate café serving the yummiest native hot chocolate in the North, plus suman laced with coconut and mascovado and crispy turon. After a tiring bike ride or run, on top of all that, I also had palabok, minus the chicharon served with an extra order of hard-boiled egg.

After one particular ride outside of Baguio, I found myself in front of BenCab’s famous museum. I was rushing but I couldn’t resist the opportunity to give myself a feast for the eyes and the soul. I was not disappointed. I loved the art work!

Another wonderful stop in Baguio is the Mt Cloud bookshop. It’s a quaint little place filled with books from ceiling to floor. They have a wide selection of Filipino and Asian book and the coziest chairs you never want to get out off.

After a long day, we all gathered around our bon fire, minus the toddler who was fast asleep. outside.

A little after midnight, I said good night, climbed up the winding stairs to the attic where we were all sleeping, and dug into a good book.

Driving from the airport to the Cagayan de Oro City does not instantly reveal the damages brought about by Sendong.

The usual traffic is ever-present, the hustle and bustle of city life goes on.  But then you come to the Rotonda Bridge and wonder why there are cars parked along the side of the road and people taking pictures, as if it was a tourist site.

But it’s not a tourist site, it’s a disaster zone. We are standing on the bridge that stands some 10 meters above the Cagayan river.  The river is far below.  But early Saturday morning, on December 17, 2011, the water rose with such fury that in a matter of minutes, it had passed the height of many one-storey homes and soon after rose higher than the bridge itself.

Today it is calm.

But it has left behind families that are broken, lives that are forever affected.  As of this writing, it is reported that 1,018 died, of which 666 are from CDO, 283 from Iligan, the rest from CARAGA and ARMM, 51 missing, 641,098 persons affected.  Sendong is the deadliest typhoon to hit Philippines in the last 12 years. (UPDATE: As of December 27, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported the death toll at 1,453 already.)

The Western Central School I visited, is almost identical to the many schools that have now been turned into evacuation centers. When I went there, it was home to around 1,300 families.  The teachers, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), local government officials and volunteers do what they can.  But the close living conditions and lack of sanitary standards are a time bomb waiting to explode into a health epidemic.  We know this story all too well.  Disaster strikes, rescue mission are set in place, people are relocated to temporary evacuation centers.  Then people start getting sick.

Despite the good intentions of kababayans from all over the country and the world, there is still much that can be done to improve our disaster preparedness. One area, that has long been neglected is our water supply and sewage system.  Water is a scarce resource all over the world. Many countries have already invested in developing a reliable water supply, read Singapore’s Water for all story.

We should also seriously start looking at alternatives to our toilets that consume so much water. CDO is paralyzed without fresh water supplies. I made a call to buy CDO and Iligan products to support their rehabilitation, but I learned that many small and medium enterprises (SME’s) don’t have access to clean water and thus, can’t make their products.  I’ve seen waterless toilets that work in the Fisherman’s Village in San Fernando, La Union.  I am working on a bill to create a national policy on shifting to these kinds of toilets or some equally eco-friendly toilet  in all public schools and other public facilities.

Another issue close to my heart is nutrition. It starts with breast feeding. Every effort should be extended to promote breast feeding during disasters. Mother’s milk is the most nutritious and when her breast milk supply is affected, you cut off her baby’s lifeline. There are many health risks associated with the use of unclean water that goes into the preparation of formula milk and other canned milk products. Thus, breast feeding should be encouraged at all cost.

Meanwhile, it’s Christmas. The basic rights of a child, include the right to play and a childhood. I wanted them to have a semblance of Christmas. While visiting at both Western Central and later at the Women’s Center, I read “The Christmas Lantern Trip” story to the children.  It’s a story my mom wrote about our search for the perfect “parol.”   After we read the story, I encouraged the moms who were there and the older kids to read to the younger kids. I left them a small library of books and had them promise to read every day. I also left them with an assortment of board games, balls and toys that they could play with both indoors and outdoors.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to visit Iligan but my staff Faw Maridul is from there and will be going around to various evacuation sites and communities especially those that have not been well served by relief assistance yet.  I have already requested for the release of P2.2 Million of my Priority Assistance Funds from DSWD for CDO, Iligan and other towns affected by Sendong. My brother Alan has also allocated the same amount for the affected areas.

Hope lives on through the many people who do not forget CDO and Iligan, and through the volunteers who work day and night to maintain the evacuation centers – the teachers, DSWD officials, local officials.   It is my fervent wish and prayer that we all learn from this unfortunate tragedy and together, work towards better disaster prevention and preparedness if we can’t altogether prevent it by being more conscientious of the human activities that contribute to these kinds of natural calamity.

As I write this, our country is still reeling from the devastating aftermath of Typhoon Sendong (international name Washi) in Mindanao. My heart and prayers go out to all the families, especially the women and children, who have been displaced, lost their home and even their  loved ones.  I have requested for the release of my Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) for these areas.  In the meantime, I have tried to bring their cause to the consciousness of the people around me, including the runners I run with “virtually” everyday for over a week now.  On Sunday, the 7^th day of Takbong Gabi, we dedicated our run to  the people affected by Sendong.

And that’s the beauty of Takbong Gabi.  Being a Twitter-based advocacy run, we get to run for a different cause each day.   Participants run anytime,  anywhere for 12 days from December 12 to December 24.  We’ve been getting more followers daily which simply means more people are running and/or spreading the advocacies.

For those who have missed a day or two, don’t fret.  You’ve got until the end of the Yuletide season to make up for it.  Just make sure to complete 12 days of inspired Christmas running.

Keep on running…for yourself, for loved ones and for our planet!

Amidst the Christmas rush and defending my senate bills on the floor, including the Reproductive Health bill, I launched 12 days of Takbong Gabi, a Twitter based advocacy run where participants  run for a different cause each day wherever they are and whatever time they can.

So, that’s me lacing up for Takbong Gabi on Monday morning, before going to the Senate.

On day 1, we ran for Hepatitis B and liver cancer in memory of my dad, the late Senator “Compaňero” Rene Cayetano.

Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by the Hepa B virus and can cause cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver failure and death. It is endemic in the Philippines and affects around 16% of Filipinos. Around 13 million Filipinos have been and will be discriminated from gainful work and employment due to Hepa B.  Liver cancer, on the other hand, is the 4^th cancer site for both sexes in the country in 2005.

Hepa B is not air-borne. Transmission is only through mother-to-child, child-to-child, unsafe injections and transfusion, and sexual contact. The best protection against Hepa B is to get vaccinated now.

On day 2, we ran to fight violence against women and children (VAWC),  an advocacy close to my heart. According to a World Bank study, rape and domestic violence among women rated higher than cancer, motor vehicle accidents, war and malaria. At least 1 out of 3 women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime.

In the Philippines, 1 in 5 women ages 15-49 have experienced violence since age 15. Girl victims of abuse outnumber boys, 2 to 1. Among girls, the majority of victims belong to the age groups 10 to below 14 and 14 to below.

For the coming days, I’ll share more about the causes we are running for everyday. Since Takbong Gabi started, we asked participants to post twitpics of their daily workouts. Here’s a collage of the different photos from our runners.

For those who want to join in on the fun, it’s not too late. Just lace up, head out the door and start running. Count 12 days of Christmas running starting today.

For inspired running, follow @irunforchoco on Twitter. Happy Christmas running!

It’s the season of giving, and also a time of merriment and lots of eating. This is also the time when diets and fitness plans are broken. My training partners and I deal with this every year. Instead of fighting it, we embrace the season and ensure that we squeeze in our runs and bike rides and sometimes even a triathlon. Then we celebrate with puto bumbong, bibingka and of course, native hot chocolate.

Every year, I celebrate  Christmas with the Daang Hari Barefoot running kids, a group of underprivileged kids who run regularly.

I also celebrate with a Christmas gift-giving ride just a few days before Christmas. Then throughout the holidays, I enjoy evening runs under the  brightly lit parols, the Christmas lights  and the stars.

This year, I thought it might be a good idea to encourage more people to stay fit throughout the most tempting season. But also to  remember that there are many people who may not be having a good Christmas and by sharing our blessings there is much we can do to make life better for those in need.  Thus, we came up with Takbong Gabi.  Below are the mechanics:

Mechanics of Takbong Gabi

1.Commit to 12 runs of running.  We start December 12 to December 24. Thats actually 13 days which mean you get 1 rest day. NOTE: SINCE I POSTED MECHANICS QUITE LATE, YOU CAN ACTUALLY START ANY TIME YOU READ THIS. MORE IMPORTANT IS THAT YOU COMMIT TO 12 DAYS OF RUNNING THIS CHRISTMAS.

2. Run anywhere anytime it is convenient. Treadmill is allowed.  If you need to cross-train, go ahead.

3. Each daily run must be no less than 30 minutes, slow or fast, it does not matter. You can even have  as many walk breaks as you need.

4. If you have a twitter account, tweet about your run everyday, ideally just before you start and after. If you can post a twitpic, better.  Tweet where and how long you ran and any other interesting details. Keep it short. Use the hashtag #TakbongGabi when you can.

5. Honesty system please. There are no marshals. God is your witness.

6. @irunforchocolate is a twitter account we created to guide you throughout the 12 day #TakbongGabi.

7. We will run for a different cause each day. The night before, @irunforchoco will tweet the cause of each run. Throughout the day we will tweet statistics and information to raise awareness on that particular issue.  We encourage you to retweet the same to spread the advocacy.

8. Re-tweet this invite to your friends and get them to join us. Let’s all run together virtually for a cause and for fitness.

Final reminder. Be sure you are in good health and have been running. If you are just going to start running now, go slow. No one is in a hurry. This is not a race, don’t overdo it.

Are you ready?

My team and I will follow and encourage all  runners through our newly created twitter account @irunforchoco.

We encourage every participant to follow others #TakbongGabi participants and encourage them throughout the 12 days.

First day is tomorrow, December 12. This is actually my dad, the late Senator Rene Companero Cayetano’s birthday. In his memory, lets run for hepatitis and liver cancer awareness. The hepatitis virus is prevalent in Asia and in the Philippines. Some 8-10 million Filipinos are carriers. Many are discriminated against and are denied jobs, even though the hepatitis B virus is not air-borne and is not transmissible by the usual contact. More details on  this tomorrow.

Our Little Barrio Tri- That’s how race director Eric Imperio described the Extri race- a sort of off-road adventure race he founded eight years ago.

One Saturday afternoon, I found myself in Laiya, Batangas, indulging in my favorite pastime- doing triathlons, and lately off-road triathlons.

I had heard of Extri from my brother Lino who did it some years ago. It turns out, he was at the inaugural race in 2003.

Over the years, lots of my friends joined this race. Finally, after embracing the trail about a year ago, I was going to do it.

There were actually two races. One was for the RAW and the other for more seasoned triathletes like me and my friends.

RAW stands for Recreational And Weekend triathletes. Eric decided to have a very friendly race to get more RAW participants into triathlons. The RAW race is a beginner’s friendly shorter distance event composed of a 500 meter swim, 10 kilometer bike and 2.5 kilometer run.

We cheered for them as they started their swim and shouted words of encouragement as they each ran to the transition area to mount their bikes.

Then it was our turn. We were a small group. Many of us knew each other. As Eric said, this is the end of the season race. It’s all for fun. Smile and enjoy.

I had done exactly one swim since the Xterra World Champs in late October and so I crammed in a couple of short but moderately intense swim sessions the week of the race just to be sure my arms and legs would be coordinated and propel me forward and not drag me down into the deep blue sea.

The three loop swim course was fun, not counting the elbows and knees of other participants that unintentionally battered me at the mass swim start (hazard of the sport you just have to get used to) and despite the strong waves that made you feel like you were on a boat while swimming parallel to shore.

The bike course was very easy, a big portion on cemented roads. Since I was on a mountain bike and had recently fallen inlove with trail riding, it was a bit  frustrating because I expected more trail.

The run trail was the best. It was tough and diverse, and very much an off- road/adventure run. It started with a long stair climb followed by a steep cemented climb, then a short downhill then another steep uphill climb where you could barely run. After more ups and downs and winding roads, I ended up on the beach where your feet hit the loose sand which sucks them down, making every step feel like you were lifting extra ten pounds. The run on the beach is then followed by a run across rocks and boulders which is best managed if you imagine yourself to be as light as tinkerbell gliding from one rock to another or as a nimble as a frog leaping forward without fear.

Finally, you are on the home stretch yet the finish line which is so close seems so far away because the sand keeps pulling your feet under. And even when you reach the last 10 meters and are running on the red carpet, your legs feel like a dead weight and your sprint finish is really just a little more than putting one foot in front of the other.

I finished 2nd after my good friend Mariella Powell, a strong triathlete and working mother of two lovely girls. Behind me finishing 3rd was my equally strong training partner Belle Grandenetti, working mom and owner/ chef of the best Italian resto in town, Mona Lisa.

(Top to bottom, left to right) I, Mariella and Belle; I at the finish line; Mariella with one of her daughters; Belle at the finish line; and I and Belle playing around with my coach/ training partner Noel

What a wonderful way to spend my Saturday, among friends who value fitness and by joining this race, gave back to the community through our entry fees, part of which would be used to buy school supplies.

In my own little way, I pledge to put up a little library for the kids. This is part of my Pinay In Action “Let’s Read” program. I will also offer to build a classroom or daycare, depending on their needs, using my Senate Priority Development Assistance Fund.

Congratulations to all especially the RAW guys!

I was in New York City the weekend of the New York Marathon for work. I was visiting one-of-a-kind schools that I wanted to learn more about and, if possible, replicate in the Philippines. One was the Quest to Learn and the other was the High School of Art and Design. I also attended the PhilDev forum on Science and Technology Innovations in Education.

So it was totally by chance that I found myself in the City that does not sleep on the ever so exciting weekend of the New York Marathon.

Being a runner and two- time veteran New York Marathon finisher, I couldn’t wait to run in Central
Park.

I can’t describe the feeling, but running through the park is like getting a shot of mega-vitamins straight through your veins that causes your body to tingle, to feel light and strong at the same time.

It gives me a sense of inner peace, it rejuvenates me, and always brings back a torrent of happy memories of my younger days when my dad was still alive, my brothers were little and I left to live in New York  City. Years after, when I was a law student in the University of the Philippines, I was back spending summers in New York, earning my keep as a paralegal in a big New York law office in Madison Avenue.

So how did it feel being in New York on the weekend of the New York Marathon and not running it? It felt FANTASTIC. Everyone, I met assumed I was joining and when I said no, they all thought  I must be so envious.
But I wasn’t. I was  delighted to be in one of my favorite cities and to absorb the energy of the forty thousand plus runners who were all here to participate. Imagine a city filled with all this energy and positive vibes. And I was here amongst this rare group of determined and dedicated athletes, each with their own goal and stories to tell.

I ran in Central Park, the day before the race. This was a rare opportunity as I have never been able to run part of any race course I joined the day before the race.

So there I was running through a medley of autumn colors, under the calming blue sky and amongst the rainbow sprinkles of runners donning the brightest and most vibrantly colored running gear.

Then I found myself along the very last mile leading to the finish line.

I closed my eyes and relived my 2006 first New York Marathon finish. I remember the exhilaration of knowing you are on your last mile, that you are about to finish the marathon of your dream. My legs were weary but my spirit was soaring. The New York spectators cheer you all the way but in the Park on your last few minutes on your feet, the cheering, the energy, your own excitement, they all roll into one source of strength that pushes you to the very end.

In 2006, I crossed the New York finish line with good friends, Fernando Zobel and Paul Casiño. Today, I was alone running for just an hour in Central Park. But  I relived it all without the months of grueling training required to finish a marathon decently.  All you really need is to tap into your memory bank, pull out those wonderful memories and be in the right place to recreate the event. You can’t beat that.

The day of the marathon, I watched the men’s and women’s winners race to the finish on the TV. Later that evening, some eight hours after the race started, I was walking along Columbus Avenue on my way to dinner with a friend and fellow environmentalist Blacksmith Institute founder Richard Fuller who does toxic waste clean-ups all over the world. The roads were still blocked and the sidewalks were filled with finishers wrapped in the trademark  insulated blanket that shields you from the cold. What a sight! Again, I felt enveloped in much positive energy, almost as if I had run the marathon myself.

Much later, around 8 pm, walking back from my dinner, I saw a few more runners. But they didn’t have the insulated wrap around them. They were not finished yet. They were still in the race after 10 hours on their feet. They were determined to cross that finish line.

What an inspiration. These people give meaning to the words “never give up.”

 To all the Pinoy finishers, good job guys! I hope your New York Marathon experience is everything you had hoped for.

Like every night before our 12-hour multi-sport event in memory of my son Gabriel, I get very little sleep.  And soon as my eyes close,  my alarm starts ringing. It is still dark, I dress quickly and by the time I get to the Alabang Country Club, the night has turned into a pale blue shadow. Participants of our first event of the day are already at the pool. Then before you could take a deep breath, an orange streak cuts across the sky signaling the kind of hope a new day brings.

And that is what my son Gabriel left behind. He only lived nine short months, but years after he died, hope reigns in the hearts of the many children whose lives are now better because of the many people who support our foundation in memory of Gabriel.

Once a year, at daybreak, we celebrate the life of my son Gabriel. This year started with a swim-a-thon, then a run-a-thon, then a bike ride.  Some did all three, to complete a triathlon.

This year also marked our fifth year of doing a kid’s triathlon. It’s amazing to see kids who started out with us five years ago- how they’ve grown up and how much faster they are now!  Every year there are more kids participating.

The Daang Hari Barefoot Running Kids and the girls from Marillac Hills, a home for abused girls, are kids who our foundation have been supporting. They were there to join in on the fun. We had an adventure race for them then a self-defense class. After that, they had a surprise activity with the arrival of my friends Sylvia and Tonji Ramos who treated them to a bird watching session.

Me and my daughters Max and Nadine, with the Daang Hari Barefoot Running kids and their new shoes

We also launched our first shoe drive with swimbikerun.ph founder Carlos De Guzman.

The last activity for the day was our 1.6km buddy run, a fun run for any two friends, – a mother and child, friend and friend, or even, human and dog, as long as they run together. We had all kinds!

Lino and I lined up with the rest of the participants hoping to just do an easy paced jog which would just add on to our running mileage for the day.

But as it turned out, we were not the only brother-sister pair there. Ella and Donny Pangilinan took the lead from the start.

Lino noticed the two and started to  pick up the pace and told me we had to give them a run for their money. I said:

“Are you crazy? They are teen triathletes! Like Ninja triathletes, you know? You and I will be like hippos trying to race with gazelles.”

So there we were, two pairs of brothers and sisters on the run – Lino and I pushing, sweating and trying to go faster, the Pangilinan’s just gliding and widening their lead. We never got close enough, but we ran with conviction. After we crossed the finish line, I joked that as official organizer of the race, I would change the distance of the buddy run next year- maybe a 21 km, because that would be the minimum distance where  Lino and I would have an iota of a chance of beating the fast twitch Pangilinans.

Maiqui Dayrit came by to do a long run. He has done an ironman distance triathlon- a 3.8 km swim, 180 km bike, 42 km run- at our event every single year for the past six years and is by far our largest donor. He is doing an ironman again, but this time in Kona, at the Ironman World Champs which he qualified for at the Ironman 70.3 Philippines in Cam Sur. We will watch him and the rest of the Filipinos who qualified with pride.

And at 6pm, Hans Kristian Juan‘s arrival, after doing an all day bike, his fifth year of doing so, signaled the end of this beautiful day.

Me, Hans and Maiqui