Franc Ramon

Stand Out with Oakley and their Customized Eyewear

Posted on 14. November 2016 by Franc

It’s a bit crazy but that’s how far you can go with customized Oakleys

When you’re wearing Oakley, you’ll definitely stand out with their fashion-friendly eyewear and top-of-the-line safety and comfort technology. Oakley gives you more reasons to stand out with their customized eyewear that gives you full control on the design.

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Customized Oakley

When you wear an Oakley, you’ll feel the difference on why its on the top of the line when it comes to sports and lifestyle eyewear. There’s that unrivaled impact protection that can be a lifesaver. There’s the 100% UV protection and High Definition Optics that remains the same at different lighting conditions. There’s the comfort with their rounded stem and improved fit on the nose area. I guess that’s not enough to entice its legions of Oakley followers. They are giving you a customized option where you can choose which colors scheme matches your preference. You’ll definitely stand out with Oakley.

When it comes to sunglasses, There are so many options yet sometimes the existing designs can be different from the exact one we are looking for. Oakley allows you to create the perfect pair of sunglasses personalized just for you. Just visit the different Oakley stores for a fully customized experience. They have a special customization wall that allows you to choose the color of the frames, the lenses and even the signature Oakley “O” on either side. There are over 15 frames to choose from with infinite amount of color combination. The best part is the wait (or lack thereof)! They have all the resources to create your custom sunglasses right in the store. The whole process takes only fifteen minutes, and you walk out with a brand new pair created just for you.

Oakley provides unrivalled performance and technical brilliance. And this philosophy has resulted in some of the best-engineered sunglasses on the planet. With over 600 patents Oakley is where physics meets art. ‘Mad scientist’ Jim Jannard started Oakley in 1975 for elite athletes who see the limits of possibility as another challenge.

Standout from the crowd and design your own Oakley Custom Sunglasses today!

Customized Latch and Jawbreaker

You can customize almost any Oakley Eyewear and the Latch and the Jawbreaker is the latest addition on the growing sunglasses you can mix and match.

Latch

A creative collaboration from the world of skateboarding, this design inspired by influential athletes is shaped with a classic keyhole bridge and the curves of rounded lens orbitals, and we engineered it with the convenience of an interior kick-up feature that lets you clip it to your shirt.

FEATURES

Built-in feature that lets you latch it to your shirt
Three-Point Fit holds lenses in precise optical alignment while eliminating pressure points
Plutonite® Lenses offer top UV Protection filtering 100% of all UVA, UVB, UVC and harmful blue light up to 400nm

O Matter™ stress-resistant frame material is both lightweight and durable for all-day comfort and protection.

Jawbreaker

Jawbreaker™ is the ultimate sport design – answering the demands of world-class athletes with a 40 year heritage of uncompromising excellence. Oakley innovation has reached the pinnacle of performance by offering everything from surge ports for cooling airflow to Unobtainium® components for a comfortably secure fit, and with the hassle-free lens changing of Switchlock™ technology for vision optimization in any setting.

FEATURES

Oakley HDPolarized lenses filter out 99% of reflected glare without the haze and optical distortion that can come with traditional polarized lenses.
Extended field of view in the upper peripheral region to optimize for cycling
Unobtanium® earsocks and nosepads keep glasses in place, increasing grip despite perspiration
Switchlock™ interchangeable lens technology makes lens changing lenses fast and secure

Patented High Definition Optics® (HDO®) provides superior optical clarity and razor-sharp vision at every angle.

Categories: My Thoughts | Tags: Customized, Jawbreaker, Latch, Oakley | 8 Comments

Art and Athletes Combine in Base Camp at Maximus

Posted on 14. November 2016 by Franc

Life is like an art work. You have to get the pieces available and make meaning out of it. Maximus Athletes Shop Cafe and Tin-aw Art Gallery officially opened the Base Camp Art Exhibit last November 10, 2016. It’s an exploration of the world of Athletes though Art and it will be open at Maximus until December 12, 2016.

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Base Camp

AM/PM by Lee Paje / Oil on canvas / 24 x 12 inches

Maximus Athletes Shop Cafe always stood out since it first opened. It’s among the few specialty coffee shop in Metro Manila and it boast of a cycling themed ambiance. It’s one of the coolest and classiest place to hang out. It gets even better this November 10 to December 12, 2016 as Maximus is the home of Base Camp Art Gallery, which is in partnership of Tin-Aw Art Gallery. Tin-Aw is a collaboration of both emerging and established artist who evince strong interest and engagement with history and experience.

Field Notes by Henrielle Pagkaliwangan / Pen and ink and watercolour on paper / Image size: 9 x 33 inches; Framed: 12 x 36 inches

A merging of art and athleticism, “Base Camp” brings together twenty-two (22) young artists to express their views on the life of the athlete, the physical body and movement using their medium of choice. The artists include : Ambie Abaño, Moreen Austria, Renato Barja Jr., Mars Bugaoan, Lennard Buhay, Ian Cadiong, Francis Commeyne, Cian Dayrit, Anton Del Castillo, Gale Encarnacion, Carzen Esprela, Gab Ferrer, Lui Gonzales, Lofranco, Henrielle Pagkaliwangan, Lee Paje, Julio San Jose, Jun-jun Sta. Ana, Nicole Tee, Clairelynn Uy, Eunice Vergara, Jemime Yabes.

Healing by Ambie Abaño / Woodcut on textile mounted on stretched canvas with stitching / 20 x 30 x 3 inches

“Base Camp” is the first of what is hoped to be a series of exhibitions between Maximus and Tin-aw, as the two see a vibrant world that can be expressed both through sport and art. What’s exciting about Base Camp is that how art merges naturally within the athletes world. There are a lot of similarities with the two world’s. Like the Artwork above called healing. This one is displayed just above the treadmill. It says a lot how we should take care of our cardiovascular health and the numerous healing athletes go through in pursuit of their passions.

Turn Left by Eunice Vergara /Mixed media /(Post, cement, ACP, Vinyl sticker) /84 x 24 x 12 inches

“More than finishing times or medals, sport allows a person to express his physicality, his grit, his soul in the competitive arena. Yet art is just another way of expressing this aspect of living. With ‘Base Camp’, we want to be known as more than just a café or sports shop. We are about the passion for living, which you can experience on a bicycle, on the trail, and through this show that Tin-aw has curated for us.” says Maximus’ director, Andy Leuterio.

Passing Through by Nicole Tee / Mixed Media on canvas (Photo transfer, thread) /10.5 x 61 inches

For Dawn Atienza, Director of Tin-aw Art Gallery, “Art is every where. And as such an art gallery is not just within the white walls of its exhibit space, but in the world around.” Sport and the Active Lifestyle merges well with Art because it deals with people, their physical bodies as well as the environment we all live in. We are very happy with Maximus X Tin-aw and “Base Camp” is just the first of a series of exhibits in Maximus.”

Caballo 3: Touristic Shit & The Filipino Aesthetic (Part II) by Francis Commeyne /Acrylic, wooden toy Jeepney & plastic magnet on wooden ironing board / Standing: 39 x 29.7 x 14 inches; Folded: 39.4 x 5.1 x 14.2 inches

There so much interaction between the arts and the life of an athlete and there’s no better venue for this collaboration than Maximus Athlete Shop Cafe located at the Sparta Complex, 126 Pioneer Street , Mandaluyong City. There’s a lot of symmetry between Art and the passion of athletes and you get to see them in front of you at Base Camp. Base Camp will be available at Maximus until December 12, 2016. For more information about “Base Camp” please contact Tin-aw Art Gallery at info@tin-aw.com or Maximus Athlete’s Shop Café at maximus3cafe@yahoo.com

Categories: My Thoughts | Tags: Art, Art Exhibit, athletes, Base Camp, Cafe, Maximus, Shop, Tin-Aw | 22 Comments

#TaleOfTheTrail Mount Manalmon (San Miguel, Bulacan)

Posted on 7. November 2016 by Franc

Mount Manalmon Summit

Mount Manalmon was an all-in-one adventure destination. You have a feel good climb, a cave exploration, river crossings, swimming and even a crazy monkey bridge crossing.

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Tale Of The Trail

Madlum Cave

I’ve been on off season mode for over a month now to allow my body to heal after all the rigorous running for the past 6 years. Day hikes like Mount Manalmon is an exception because it goes at a more relaxed pace and still gives that extra challenge with the climb. The tour was organized by Wanderbee Travel and Tours so all I had to worry about was making sure I get to the meet up point on time and bring just a bit of supplies. This is a short and sweet climb with the max elevation just 196 MASL. It’s really nice to do the easier climbs and just enjoy the views and the climb.

Map and Elevation

Map and Elevation Powered by Suunto Ambit 3 Sports

The route starts at the jump off point at Biak-na-Bato Park at Madlum River. It’s a rolling course heading to Madlum River on the first kilometer before the trail gradually ascends to the top of Mount Manalmon at around 2.5 kilometers. It goes back to Madlum Cave for a more extensive caving and then goes back to the jump off point.

Trekking Mount Manalmon

From our meet up point at 5:30 am in Eton Centris, it took us more than 2 hours to get to the jump off point. It was overcast along the way so I expected a really cool climb but upon arriving at Biak na Bato National Park, it was really hot. So be it, hot trails it is. At least, the views would be more prominent. After crossing the bridge at Madlum River, we got a briefing from our guide at the Jump off point. Madlum Cave was just a few steps away from the jump off point.

Madlum Cave has a lot of heritage attached to its walls. This was also the site where they found a golden statue of Saint Michael (San Miguel, which is now the name of the town). The statue was said to be hidden in the cave during the Spanish Era. The cave also had a share of battles in the wars that followed. It was a short stop at the cave, but we’ll take the longer tour of the cave when we get back.

Madlum River

The cave had technical rocky surfaces and you also had to watch your head from hitting the rock formations at the top. The exit of the cave led to the Madlum River which was a beautiful site as the river came with a lot of rock formation surrounding it. We took some time enjoying all the photo opportunities here. It was starting to get hot so we had to continue.

River Crossing

Up next was crossing the Madlum River to go to the other side of the trail. Madlum River came with strong currents and uneven stone surfaces. You just have to watch your step and try to use the bigger stones for leverage. It was fun getting wet on the river.

Run the trails

The trails shifted to fields and forest trails. It had a gradual ascent over the next 500 meters. Bulk of the trail was a bit shaded though there were some open areas where you’d definitely the sun’s heat. I was at the lead pack and I set a consistent pace. We would rest on the views and the shaded part.

To Mount Manalmon

Once you get to see this sign, it means the climbs gets a bit tougher. It’s a short stretch though since the max elevation is less than 200 MASL. The climb goes a bit technical a bit with single track trails with big uneven steps. It was one push after another then we saw one big boulder above.

All alone in the middle of the rock.

Upon seeing the rock, the guide told me to go there first so he can take my picture. I then asked the guide if I should go back down after my shot. The guide laughed and told me that no need since the rest of the group would follow me to the rock. It was a steep climb and I may have climbed this stretch a bit fast as I ended up huffing and puffing when I reached the rock. I then positioned myself at the edge of the rock for that photo.

The view of the river and the nearby mountains.

This is still around 30-40 meters before the summit but it had a beautiful view as you can see the river and the large track of greenery surrounding the place. We took some time here to rest and enjoy the scenery.

Wanderbee

We then proceeded to the summit. It was just about 200-300 meters away from the big rock. It was just a short climb and there were areas where people would rest and eat after their visit at the summit.

Off to the summit.

The summit was another big rock with a lower end with a view of the river and the higher end with a view of both sides of the river. It was another impressive view. We also got a story that there are some enchanted spirits in the river below. There were stories of a taong-itim (black man) and a taong bwaya (crocodile man). I guess, the place has just a rich heritage from the historical to the supernatural.

The Summit

The rock at the summit was a lot smaller than the rock we visited before this but it had a higher perspective. It’s just a visual delight when you see all the greens surrounding you. After our visit to the summit, we had our lunch at the area beside the summit before heading back.

It was really hot. Thanks a lot to lightwater.

It was a quicker descent on the way back. We went at a consistent pace heading down to the river, which was about a kilometer away. We then rested in the river and I did get my feet wet again in the river.

This is the only way I know on how to wash my shoes. That’s the Brooks Mazama, which is the latest and among the lightest trail shoes available now.

The water in the river was really clear and clean. The Brooks Mazama allows water to just flow in and out of the shoes, which makes it less uncomfortable even when you resume on dry grounds. It’s also quick dry with its mesh type upper. I also had ahon socks, which is tailor-made for trail running with seamless finish to avoid discomfort even when your socks get wet.

Enjoying the Madlum River

After the Madlum River, it was time to revisit the Madlum Cave. Aside from the rich history of Madlum Cave, the cave had a lot of rock formation. There were the different rock formation, which was formed over millions of year with the interaction of natural forces. There were the some stones that glistens in the dark with the crystallized formations around it. There was a replica of the statue of San Miguel. It’s just exciting going over narrow passages, which includes one where you had to crawl out of the cave.

Crawling out of the cave.

After crawling out of the cave, it was a short walk back to the jump-off point. We also got to try the monkey bridge, which is free for the brave souls to try. It was scary especially that the wires get to be extra shaky when you move but if you’ve seen the view around it, it’s worth a try. You get the rocky formation surrounding the Madlum River as your backdrop.

Call me crazy but this was fun.

One thing that gave me confidence to try this one was that I tried the aerial walk in Camp N in Nuvali so this should similar to that. It’s about the same experience except that the wires get extra shaky as you pull your harness as you move along the bridge. The first 3 steps is the toughest and becomes routine once you get the hang of it. One crazy adventure added to the bucket list. We also had a swim around the Madlum river before calling it a day.

Categories: My Travels | Tags: Bulacan, Mount Manalmon, San Miguel, Tale of the Trail | 58 Comments

Under Armour Heads Woman Empowerment Campaign

Posted on 3. November 2016 by Franc

It’s Women Power as Under Armour together with Celebrity Fitness trainer Kat Geronimo and Jessy Mendiola led the UA Women: Empowering Other Women Campaign last October 29, 2019 at Edsa Shangri-La to boost the awareness of breast cancer.

Women Power

Jessy with Mama Kat.

Breast Cancer has been a silent killer especially among women. Just a few years ago, my mom also fell victim to breast cancer. It was a costly battle but I’m just glad that she’s on recovery mode now. Awareness is really important about breast cancer from having the proper education, healthy lifestyle early detection and cure. Under Armour held an event last October 29 at Edsa Shangri-La in Mandaluyong City aptly titled UA Women: Empowering other Women Campaign.

Women Power – Photo by Art Mendoza

There were some beauty talks and yoga but the highlight of the event was an intense health fitness symposium, which was conducted by Under Armour-affiliate trainer Kat Geronimo. Geronimo is fondly referred to as “Mama Kat” is a renowned celebrity fitness mentor in the country as she coaches notable film and television actress such as Marian Rivera, Danica Sotto-Pingris, Melissa Ricks, Megan Young, Bettina Carlos, Anne Curtis and Jessy Mendiola.

Hello Jessy!!! – Photo by Art Mendoza

Jessy assisted Mama Kat during the workouts. She demonstrated each of the exercises, joined the workout and also went around to ensure everybody was doing the exercises correctly. She is also very supportive of Under Armour’s UA Women: Empowering Women Campaign. Jessy has been a favorite cover girl for numerous magazines and was recently hailed as the “Sexiest Woman in the Philippines” for 2016 for FHM. I’ve been looking forward to seeing Jessy up close and it’s nice to know that she’s very pleasant in person. The 23-year old is known for having an active lifestyle, engaging in exciting workouts from mixed martial arts to calisthenic exercises.

Hello Ms. World!!!

The country’s very first Miss World Megan Young also joined the workouts. I’ve met Meganeven before her Miss World days and she’s just one of the smartest celebrities out there. It’s just admirable the way she remains humble even as a world class beauty queen. Of course, she also has an active and fit lifestyle to maintain her physique.

The event also featured the highly regarded Armour Corssback Bra, which is tailor made for females with dynamic everyday routine. The Armour Crossback Bra has the super-smooth, double-layer HeatGear fabric that delivers superior next to skin feel as well as the Signature Moisture Transport System that wicks sweat to keep the user dry and light.

Princess Legaspi was the host of the event.

Princess Legaspi was the host of the event. She was a great host and was also able to interact with the participants as they went through 3 sets of 7 minutes cross-fit workouts. ABS-CBN, the largest broadcasting company of the Philippines, is the official media partner of Under Armour’s women campaign event.

Beast house Pole and Aerial Dance Studio Ladies showed their core strength in a pole dancing exhibition.

Beast house ladies had a pole dancing exhibition to cap of the event. Women are now playing a bigger role in the society and you can be a part of spreading the female empowerment campaign on social media by using the #FindingStrengthInSupport hashtag. Also do follow them at @underarmourph on instagram and twitter and www.facebook.com/underarmoursea.

Categories: My Thoughts | Tags: Breast Cancer, Empowering Women, Jessy Mendiola, Under Armour | 12 Comments

Suunto Unleashes The Spartan In You

Posted on 28. October 2016 by Franc

Suunto is #TeamProgressBeyondLogic and the Suunto Spartan Ultra goes beyond logic with its top of the line features that will definitely unleash the Spartan in You. Any fitness and adventure journey starts when you go out of your comfort zone and explore and conquer new territories. Suunto Spartan Ultra is the Ultimate Adventure Watch, which can cater to about 80 different sports.

Team Progress Beyond Logic

I’m an adventure-holic

We’re a different kind of crazy. We spend our weekends chasing summits, distance and personal bests. We spend our week days preparing for races, climbs and longer training blocks. That’s normal in our books and yes, we do have a regular day job with demands and stresses that each corporate employee or owner feels. We have the same 24 hours a day that we have to divide with work, family, rest and work-outs. Sometimes, it’s beyond logic how to squeeze in an hour or two of our busy day just to keep up with the fitness lifestyle. It’s not an easy task as there will always be priorities but if you know what you want and you know what your passionate about, it’s an easier choice on where to spend your time, energy and resource. Pursue you passions even if it’s not the easiest path because it’s what would make you feel complete and fully alive.

You don’t adopt the passion for adventure, sports and fitness overnight. It takes time but it always start by stepping the unknown. I started my own journey over 6 years ago by braving a 3-kilometer run. I was able to climb my first mountain by huffing and puffing my way to Mount Batulao a few years ago. I was able to join duathlons by starting to ride a bike and eventually cross my first duathlon finish line. Since then I’ve been to finish two marathons, climb several mountain peaks and trail runs including Mount Fuji and Mount Kinabalu and even have a short time doing duathlons. I had Suunto to guide me on all those journeys as I was conquering new territories for myself. Suunto Watches not only helps you measure results on your different sports activities, it gives you a mental edge. It gives you a chance to pace yourself and see how you progress over time, distance and altitude.

Suunto Spartan Ultra

I’ve have a Suunto Ambit 2 Sports, which I still use since my bike’s cadence sensor is using Ant+. I also have an Suunto Ambit 3 Sports, which I use more often because of the easier-to-manage bluetooth interface and longer battery life. Suunto Spartan Ultra is a major level up from Suunto’s previous GPS watches. It allows you to train harder, faster and smarter than ever. It’s what makes ordinary weekend warriors to have the hunger for excellence and the passion for continuous progress that drives the modern day Spartan in us. Whether it be in the pursuit of running, cycling, triathlon, powerlifting, or plain and simple badassery, the Spartan athlete is about pushing the boundaries of human potential. It goes beyond logic to work harder than to rest, to keep going when others would already quit and to be the last one standing until you got the job down. It’s a tough-as-nail wrist-top computers that is made specifically for an unbreakable athlete like you.

It’s an adventure proof watch that features a durable sapphire crystal lens, space grade titanium bezel, high contrast color touchscreen display, and a multitude of features in its quiver, the Spartan Ultra is all the modern day warrior needs and more. It’s tough-as-nail yet it has the elegance to go with your regular day-to-day watch or even one you can bring to special formal occasions. It’s a really good investment since it’s your all-day, all-occasion and all-adventure watch.

Key Highlights of Suunto Spartan Ultra

Out on a trip to a new locale, Running Heat Maps gives you a downloadable map you can use on your training set.

Titanium bezel and proven SUUNTO durability make it light and incredibly tough enough to take the knocks and drops of everyday training without skipping a beat.
Outdoor Grade Color Screen. High contrast display is easily visible under any light condition. Intuitive menu lets the wearer easily tailor Spartan Ultra to his immediate needs.
Preset Sport modes. Designed for the multisport athlete, preset modes include Cycling, Outdoor/Indoor running, Swimming, Weight Training, and more. These can be further customized in the Movescount site.
Multi-Info Display. Spartan Ultra can display anywhere from 3 to 8 lines of information depending on the mode, reducing the need to scroll between display modes and distract from the workout.
20-200H battery life. High powered battery and efficient Bluetooth and GPS technology minimize energy consumption; a must for Ironman athletes, ultramarathoners and multi-day trekkers.
Bluetooth connectivity. Spartan Ultra can be paired with SUUNTO cadence/HR pods, third party devices such as power meters, and can also sync to a mobile phone for email alerts.
Smart Training Insights. Everytime you sync your Spartan Ultra to the SUUNTO Movescount site, you get access to invaluable training metrics such as time in Training Zones, Training Effect, Exercise Post Oxygen Consumption (EPOC), and your training log.
Community Powered Progress. Connect Spartan Ultra to the Movescount community and you can reach out to coaches, discover new routes with cycling/running heat maps, and even plan out your next ride/run by downloading the route to Spartan Ultra.
Personal Best and Peer Group Training Insights. Spartan Ultra informs you when you’ve hit a new Personal Best in your workout, as well as lets you compare how you stack up with your peers.

Ride like a local by following your watch.

SUUNTO Spartan is distributed by Time Depot and retails at the following prices:

Spartan Ultra All Black Titanium P45,000
Spartan Ultra Stealth Titanium 40,000
Spartan Ultra Black 40,000
Spartan Ultra White 40,000

Available at the following stores nationwide:

Metro Manila

Time Depot Rockwell, Shangri-La, Festival Mall, SM the Block, SM Mall of Asia, Robinsons’ Manila,
Maximus Athlete’s Café Shop

North Luzon

Time Depot Harborpoint Subic

Visayas/Mindanao

Time Depot SM Cebu, SM Davao, Centrio Cagayan de Oro

Categories: My Thoughts | Tags: GPS, Spartan Ultra, Suunto, Watches | 18 Comments

Captivating Catanduanes

Posted on 24. October 2016 by Franc

Captivating Catanduanes

Catanduanes was captivating. I got to appreciate the simpler, fresher and cleaner provincial life. I also got to be awed by its wonderful scenery. Though I was only able to visit a few attraction, they do have it all from waterfalls, large greenery along the coast lines, fine white sand beaches and a whole lot more.

Catanduanes

I rarely do travel blogs now because a lot of my travels now are linked to my fitness activities. I spent the full weekend supporting a friend’s event for the very first Isla Catanduanes Ultra Marathon. I was impressed by what Catanduanes has to offer. I got to appreciate the simpler provincial life that feels so refreshing and energizing. Thanks to the organizers of the event for letting me witness the awesomeness of the mighty and the proud ultramarathoners, who joined the 65 and 110 kilometers category of the race. The course was hot, humid and had a lot of climbs. Hats off to you guys.

The Simpler Life

Mike joined the 65K distance while Jham was among the organizer of the event.

I arrived together with Mike via Cebu Pacific flight last Wednesday. Surprisingly, everything was on time. Red Cross was kind enough to give us a lift to Jojo Lodge, which would be our residence for the next two days. It was a bit overcast weather because of the upcoming typhoon Lawin. I missed the simplicity of the provincial life. For most of the day, we’d just walk our way heading from one destination to another. When we had breakfast, we were surprised with the cost of our breakfast. 3 eggs, 2 hotdogs, 2 servings of adobo, coffee and unlimited rice, all for P140. We spent the rest of the day resting because we came from an early morning flight. We were able to hang out out at Virac Town Center since there was Wi-Fi and yes, that’s among the drawbacks of the place. Weak signal but it’s good to get disconnected sometimes. We did manage to go near Virac Port to appreciate the coast line.

We went home early since it was Game 6 of the PBA and YES!!!! Ginebra is finally champion again after 8 long years.

Maribina Falls

Maribina Falls

The next day, we had breakfast at Jollibee and had lunch at Sea Breeze Restaurant, which had a really nice coastal view. We then went to the nearby Maribina Falls, which is just around 3 kilometers around Virac Town proper. Maribina Falls was about 3 layers of water falls. Maribina Falls was perfect for a cold dip and the view was really amazing with a large basin catching the strong falling water above.

Captivating!

I was able to go to the top most of the falls and see the water source leading to the falls. I am just awed by Waterfalls as it’s an amazing testament of nature’s raw beauty. To think, this is just one of the waterfalls in Catanduanes. After a short time at Maribina, we headed to the provincial tourism office to pay a courtesy visit.

With Carmel Bonifacio of Provincial Tourism Office of Catanduanes

We were able to meet some participants of the race during dinner before getting ready for the next day.

Touring Lictin

At Sitio Mamangal

The next day, I joined race organizer Lao Ogerio and Emon of Red Cross in touring the Lictin part of the course. This would be around 43 kilometers of the 110 kilometer distance from Virac. The place had a lot of scenic views like the Twin Rock and several fine white sand beaches. It also excited the trail runner in me that there were some dirt roads that’s included in the course. I guess that’s one of the characteristics of an ultra race, you gotta get what the road structure gives you. There was also a beach part as the road above had landslides. That was Sitio Mamangal. The sand were really fine, soft though run-able. We went on to see the other side of the shore and our car got stuck. We had to get creative to be able to pull the car back to the road. The rest was our scenic journey back to Virac. The runners would have a visual treat on race day. The briefing was held in the afternoon and the race started at 10 pm for the 110 km distance and 4 am the next day for the 65 km.

Binurong Point

Binurong Point felt like Batanew with its vast green-lands along the coast.

I went on to do support chores in the morning of the race though I was planning to squeeze in some tourism. I got my chance in the afternoon with a trip to Binurong Point with Jham’s cousin taking me there. It’s about 45 minutes by motor going to the area. It was a first for me riding a motor that long so the ride was an experience on its own especially with unlimited climbs heading to Baras. There was a short trail heading to Binurong Point. That was a big bonus for me as I love the trails. It was a short climb on forest trails for about 10-15 minutes. After we got out of the trails, I was impressed by the vast green lands in front of me. It felt like Batanes and was really a scenic masterpiece. I was so excited that I was running from one point to another.

I’m just a dot in this splendid view.

I was just a small dot in the wonderful view. I had to go from one area to another just to watch the waves clash with the rocky limestone at the bottom of the cliff. I’m glad even if I had a little time to tour in Catanduanes, I was able to see this area.

Amazing!

We spent some time here going around the vast area before heading back to the trail. It was faster descending the trail as we were already familiar with the area.

A lake with fishes in the middle of Binurong Point.

Balacay Point

Balacay Point

Balacay Point was just about 15-20 minutes away from Binorong Point. It provides a higher perspective though Binorong Point is bigger. Balacay Point had a nice vantage point from above seeing the Pacific Ocean, Pururan Beach and the islets nearby. It was also nice to see some water buffalo call this area their home.

Water Buffalo

It was about sunset when we hit this point so it was a bit darker already. After a few snapshots, we were on the way back with about an hour traveling on motorcycle. We also saw runners on their way back to Viray on the way of finishing their distance. Once we’re back in Virac Plaza, we went on to watch the closing ceremonies as well as runners beating the buzzer en route to finishing their race.

I know I was just able to visit a few land marks of Catanduanes but I’m impressed and captivated. I would definitely come back for more.

Categories: My Travels | Tags: Balacay Point, Binurong Point, Catanduanes, ICUM, Maribina Falls, Ultramarathon | 45 Comments

Get Healthier with Javita

Posted on 13. October 2016 by Franc

You don’t need to overhaul your routine to start a healthy life. At times, you just have to develop the right habits and have the right nutrients in your system. Javita has products variant from coffee, tea, active fruit blends and chocolate that can convert your regular drink into a healthy supplement that can help you in your fitness, weight-loss and even disease management goals.

Javita Coffee

I’m quite picky when it comes to coffee. It’s because gourmet coffees are a lot healthier and also richer in taste than regular lattes and cold blends. Either way, a good cup of coffee tends to be pricey at around P100++ for just a cup of coffee. 3 in 1 coffees can be a lot cheaper but it has also more fat and calories packed in every sachet. Then comes Javita, where each box has 24 sachet and each sachet can make 2 full cups of coffee, which translates to just P30 per cup.

Change your coffee, change your life. Indeed a cup of Javita can change your life. There’s zero fat content and low on the calories and the sugar. With that mix comes a coffee that can help you burn fats while getting your regular dose of caffeine fix. I’ve been trying it for about a month now and the most evident effect is that I don’t feel bloated even after meals. I have a better metabolism and I was able to shed some pounds. I was also able to save on my coffee cost as I can now shy away from coffee shops because the Javita is a gourmet coffee and it also taste just as good or even better. It’s like having a freshly roasted coffee with the convenience of having a sachet. Javita has both variants for burn and control for weight watchers and another blend for those people on the go who need energy and sharpness of mind in the work place. It also goes well in both hot and cold variant.

Javita Tea

The first variant of Javita that I was able to try was their tea. It’s even a faster weight-loss product as it really helps improve the digestive system. It goes so well whether you love your tea hot or cold. The best part about having tea regularly was the feeling light due to its no-fat and burn component. To me, that’s a big additive to losing weight since you are more mobile and have a better metabolism. It has the same price point as the coffee and would also be a good habit to keep especially if you prefer tea over coffee.

Javita Active Blendz

Active Blendz is Javita with a fruity twist. It has the lightly sweet fruity flavor packed in their drinks. Where the tea and coffee are part of your daily routine, active blends is the one that helps power your workouts. Rush can be a great pre workout drink to give you the energy for the routine. Flex helps strengthen your joints for added mobility. Fiber helps improve your digestive tract. Defend is for improved immune system. Control is for that added fat burning component to make you fit and sexy. It’s a win-win. You get a really tasty drink and you get all the benefits to your body and to your overall health.

Javita Focus Fusion Cocoa

Of course, there’s that part of our taste buds that’s craving for that luscious chocolatey taste. Javita has their Focus Fusion Cocoa that brings you the same healthy benefits in the rich chocolatey goodness. Chocolate has also been known to be good for our body in manageable quantities. That’s one good things of Javita, they have all the healthy products that caters to different taste buds. Cocoa can be good on its own or you can pair it with Javita Coffee.

How To Order Javita

You can order Javita online. I ordered mine online and after filling out the form, I had my order delivered to me after two days. I actually took it one step further by getting the STAR Gold Pack, which also comes with a dedicated website for me.

People can order and also join Javita through my site: http://myjavita.com/franxcafe .

At least, that ticks off one of my bucket list of having my own coffee shop, even if it’s just online. The good part about Javita is not only their product, you also get the chance to earn by getting people to order or join Javita. There’s a big room for growth when it comes to Javita and you can be part of the growth too. In a nutshell, Javita can help you in so many ways. It can help you in your weight-loss goal. It can help you be fit and healthy and it can also help you source additional income.

You can also help change lives, one cup at a time.

Categories: My Thoughts | Tags: Chocolate, Coffee, fitness, Health, Javita, Tea | 41 Comments

Running Wild With Brooks Mazama

Posted on 10. October 2016 by Franc

Running the Maysawa Trails with Brooks Mazama

Brooks Mazama is designed to blitz the trail with its lightweight built and boot like fit. It gives you a better feel of the surface allowing you a faster reaction time on changing trail conditions. That’s among the things I like with the Brooks Mazama and let me run it down further with a #TaleOfTheTrail peek at Brooks latest speed demon.

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Testing out the Pure Grit 4

Brooks Mazama

First of let’s try to deconstruct the shoes.

Light and fast cushioning – weight is 9.3 oz.
Grippy Traction with its sticky rubber outsole with directional lugs for uphill and downhill traction
More power with its protective propulsion plate – the plate provides stable landing platform and gives added protection from hazards
Durable Bootie-like fit. – gives you a better feel of the surface for a faster reaction to the changing trail conditions.

Those are the key elements from the teaser of the Brooks Mazama shoes. I always read the features of the shoe so I’ll know what to expect. Technically, it’s a speed trail shoes and when it comes to speed shoes, I always check out how they make up for the cushioning. I’ve went on to try out the Pinoy Trails Sierra Trail Adventure Race 2016 Route last weekend to see how it feels on the trails.

It’s a Speed Shoes

Tanay Maysawa trail was a perfect test for speed for the Brooks Mazama as it has a long downhill stretch where you can run with varying surface from dirt roads, rocky and stony areas and even deep mud. It’s definitely a speed shoes as the lightweight feel made each stride a lot easier. While it’s not as cushioned as other trail running shoes, its protective plate added stability in each foot landing therefore minimizing the impact on the legs and the knee. Another key driver of the speed was the snug-fit feel that’s common in the Brooks technology. It gave me a better feel of the varying surface as I navigated from dirt roads, muddy trails, stones, rocks and grassy surfaces.

It has Good Traction

Where us the Pure Grit 4 uses 3D hex lugs, Mazama uses multi-direction lugs. That means the grip would be coming from all directions, which helps a lot on the uphills and the downhills as gravity can be a factor in your climbs. It’s effective on routine climbs though It could be a challenge on more technical surface. In terms of muddy terrain, it accumulates mud like any other trail running shoes and reduce its traction. What sets it apart is that it sheds of mud faster with its rubber soles. The mud immediately washes of the mud with ease.

It did help me past the steep climb

It’s Not Afraid of Waters

You’ll definitely brave the mud and waters with Brooks Mazama partnered with DryMax Trail Socks

It’s a muddy stretch on the lower part of Mysawa Trails. I went fearless on this part after all, I’m testing out how the Mazama would fare under all conditions. For the mud, I got soaked several times in the mud and my worry was how to maintain the squeaky clean neon green look. While it looks flashy on trails, I initially thought that it would be a mess after hitting the mud. I was surprised after hitting of the stream that the mud covering the shoes got immediately washed off. It’s not waterproof but I like that water flows out easily in and out of the shoes so didn’t feel uncomfortable all the time. I was so comfortable with the water that aside from crossing streams, muds and rivers, I even washed it off on one of the water source and that’s thanks to the breathable mesh materials its made off.

Goodbye mud in an instant.

It has a good fit.

This is a pro and con in my book. It’s a pro for those who prefer more to have a better feel of the trail. It’s a con for those who prefer wider toe area. The soft mesh materials does not add stress to the feet since it adopts to the contours of your feet. I usually prefer wider toe area shoes because of the tendency of the feet to expand on longer course so what I did was I took went a half size bigger for more room at the toe area. Since the mesh is stretchable, it does reduce the strain on the foot thereby negating the compact look. It also has a shoelace pocket to reduce the risk of untied shoelaces.

Run Happy

It’s a Value For Money Shoes

Valued within the P5000-P6000 price region, it’s around mid-tier in terms of the pricing. A lower tier brand would be below the P5,000 region and other brands priced at around the P8,000 region. It would be a great investment for beginners and even experienced runners as it can take you to a lot of trail surfaces and once you get used to it, you can even brave the tougher surfaces. It brings in the flashy look and speed at the trails.

Brooks Mazama

Brooks Mazama is perfect for those who wish to go light on the trail. It feels fast and has the added support for each foot strike to reduce impact on your legs. It will definitely add speed to your trails. Of course, Brooks also has a line for those who prefer more cushioned shoes like Cascadia. The multi-directional lugs gives you sufficient traction on several trail surfaces and the fit would give a better feel and appreciation of the surfaces. It’s made of quick dry and quick wash materials that reduces the water or mud accumulation on muddy trails or river crossings. You’ll definitely run fast with the Mazama but more importantly, you’ll run happy.

Categories: My Thoughts | Tags: Brooks, Mazama, Run Happy, Running Shoes | 42 Comments

Miyamit Falls Trail Marathon

Posted on 4. October 2016 by Franc

Survived 26K of Miyamit Falls climbs

Date: October 2,2016
Venue: Sandbox, Porac, Pampanga
Distance: 26K

When you lack physical preparation, train your mind to be tough enough not to quit. That’s my mindset as I was running with some injury. It was not an easy course with more than 1,000 meters of elevation gain with both the sun and the rain coming into play in the race. Miyamit Falls was just beautiful and the race was just EPIC.

Miyamit Falls

The scenic Miyamit Falls

Miyamit Falls Trail Marathon showcases the beauty of Miyamit Falls and the trails of Porac, Pampanga. I entered the 26 kilometers category since I would want to get a feel of the trail and eventually try the full distance next year. I was able to invest some mileage in July and August but September was just erratic. I had some bouts with Ankle Sprains and Plantar Fasciitis so I switched to a lighter training schedule. I did have some attitude toughening climbs leading to the race. I promised that after finishing the race that I’ll take a short break to let my injuries heal before I build up for 2017 season races.

Race Route and Elevation Profile

Race Maps and Elevation Profile powered by Suunto Ambit 3 Sports

The race starts at the back end of Alviera Sand box and proceeds to Sapang Uwak, where the climb begins starting at kilometer 2. There’s about 8 kilometers worth of climbs covering about 750 meters of elevation gain on mix of paved and muddy roads. The race descends to the Falls on the next 3K kilometers with a steep descent of 150 meters worth of elevation followed by a steep climb back to the aid station and finally descend back to the start area.

The Race

What could go wrong? That’s how things went before the start of the race. While my ankle was ok the whole week, I had a minor sprain and Plantar Fasciitis the day before the race. I even had to beg off the exercises at the Under Armour Run Crew last Saturday to reduce the strain in my feet. I was seriously contemplating if I should run or not. With the slight pain on my foot, I decided to tape it to minimize the movement in the ankle during the race. So that was it, last 26K before I really give my body a chance to recover. Going into the race, I was trying to divide the race in segments.

10 kilometers ascent
3 kilometers steep descent
3 kilometers steep ascent
10 kilometers descent

I had to divide the race into segments and telling my mind that I shouldn’t quit and the goal was just to finish the race even if it would mean that I would be the last runner. With an 8:30 cut-off, I programmed my mind to make sure to keep each kilometers below 20 minutes per kilometer in order to meet the cut-off.

What Could Go Wrong

Gun start was 5:30 am, which was the same for both 26K and 42K runners. At gun start, I just went with the rest of the group who started fast. It was ok at the start since it was on soft lahar grounds for the first 500 meters. After entering the bridge at SCTEX, the terrain shifted to a short descent and the surface shifted to a mix of lahar and rocks. I hit one of the rocks and felt the pain on my ankle and that was the point I realize that I need to be more cautious on my ankle. It was time to shift to plan B. I started slowing down on the rest of the descent and was also more mindful of the uneven surfaces.

The Long Climb Ahead

After two kilometers on rolling terrain, it was time to climb. That’s about 8 kilometers of climbing to go. Since I can’t really speed up, I wanted to be consistent on the climbs. The first 3 kilometers of the climb were the steepest part. It did help that this portion was on paved roads so there was less drag. I went at a consistent pace on the climb. It was scary to look up as you’ll see an endless road to the top. So I just focused my view to about 10-20 meters away. I would climb until I reached the short flat portion after each long climb and recover a bit before going to the next climb. My trekking pole helped a lot on the climb.

Muddy Trails

The paved road led to the muddy trails and it was a different ballgame from there on. There was a drag on the muddy surface as the mud made each step a heavy one. It was mostly uphills with a several flat areas and short descent in between the climbs. I slowed down a bit at this stretch as I was more cautious on each step and also had to figure out which was the less slippery part of the trail. This was the pattern for the next 5 kilometers. I took it one heavy step at a time and just focused on consistent with my pace. The heat of the sun also started to come in to play towards the middle part of the climb.

Descending the Falls

Despite the challenge of the climb, I was in awe at the beautiful backdrop being surrounded by the different mountain ranges. After 10 kilometers, the trails starts to descend moderately in the next 1.5 kilometer heading to the aid station. It was a hot morning so it was a bit more energy draining heading to the aid station. I was also making mental notes on which would be the challenging part of the trail coming back. After the aid station, it was a steep ascent heading to the falls with some portion designated as no-run zones because it was slippery. Despite the descent, I had a slow time heading to the falls because of the technical nature of the trail and the hot weather. I just went on at a consistent pace and finally, I was able to reach the falls.

Miyamit Falls

Miyamit Falls was just beautiful.

The past 13 kilometers was a difficult one with the endless climbs, the muddy trail and the hot weather. It was worth it just seeing how magnificent Miyamit Falls was. I never get tired of the trails even times like this when I struggle and I’m not a 100%. Moments like this are just priceless and even if time is of the essence because of the cut-off. I took my time to appreciate the falls. I event went on the shallow part and played like a kid. It was also nice to see Majo there as one of the marshals.

Time to Climb Again

It was nice seeing you Majo!

Halfway into the race and done with about 70-80% of the climb. The trail from Miyamit Falls to the aid station was the toughest part of the race because of the steepness. I took it with several big efforts on the climb with about 100-150 steps before taking a 10-15 seconds breather. It did help that there were portions that were similar to stairs and it helped a lot in the climb. Kilometer 14 and 15 would be my longest kilometer because of the difficulty of the climb. It was also extra hot at this time so it was really both physically and mentally draining. The drill was climb, rest and never quit. I’ve finally reached the aid station after like climbing forever. I knew that the difficult part of the trail was over.

The Road Back

10 kilometers to go. I took the next two kilometers at a relaxed pace as I was still recovering from the steep climb. While the road back were mostly downhill, there were short climbs in between. By kilometer 19, it started to rain. The rain was refreshing though it also gave me a lot more urgency to speed up as I would want to reached the paved part before the trail transform into a total mudfest. I went through puddles of muddy, slippery trails and the climbs at a faster pace. It was good that I was using Ahon gaiters so I didn’t have to worry about debris entering my shoes. I was able to reach the paved part faster than I anticipated.

Last 5 kilometers

To the Finish Line – Photo by Don Santillan for Active Pinas

The next 3 kilometers were on paved grounds. I immediately noticed that I was now on a harder surface and also going on a steeper descent. Funny, how I was moving faster in the muddy trails than the paved roads. The steepness of the paved part was a challenge on the knees and the calves. I had to stop a few times to stretch a bit just so I won’t have cramps. The goal was just to keep going. The last two kilometers had us back on mixed of lahar surface with rocks and puddles of water. It also rained harder. It was really fun to be doing trails under the rain. I went on at a good pace, slowed down a bit on the climb and went on to the finish at 6:51.

Mission Accomplished

I survived! Photo by Don Santillan

I was surprised at how I did in the race. I totally just went at a consistent pace and finish more than an hour away from the cut-off. It was an A-Race effort using Plan B. There were points that my body felt like giving up but my heart never did. This was an epic race because of the difficulty, the scenic view and the never-give-up attitude. As promised, it’s time to rest all those sore muscles for a month before preparing for 2017 season. Congrats on a great event Race Yaya!!!

Categories: My Runs | Tags: 2016, 26K, Miyamit Falls, October 2, Porac, Running, Sandbox, Trail, Trail Marathon | 44 Comments

#TaleOfTheTrail Mount Paliparan (Tanay, Rizal)

Posted on 26. September 2016 by Franc

Top of Mount Paliparan

Mount Paliparan was not an easy climb. There were steep ascents that came with the really warm morning. We also had to maneuver our way to sharp rocky cliffs. The muddy surfaces also came into play. It was hard but as all things in life, there is always a way to overcome them. At the end of the day, we end up stronger and more appreciative of the beauty that surrounds us.

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Tale Of The Trail

Got surprised by the technical difficulty of Mount Paliparan

Tanay has been our constant playground for weeks. While we’ve been doing most of our recons in Maysawa and Laiban, we decided to try something new. We wanted to check out Mount Paliparan looking for a feel-good climb. It turned out more than we expected. We got different inputs on the distance to Mount Paliparan, which left us more puzzled on the degree of difficulty of the climb was. It turned out to be a difficult climb but once we descended. we found a route that is gonna make you love trail running even more.

Map and Elevation

We started out at the Marilaque Highway heading down towards Barangay Cuyambay for the first 2.5 kilometers. The next two kilometers of the route is a slightly ascending forest trail. It then goes on a steep and technical climb to the summit for the next 1.5 kilometers before descending to the river for the next two kilometers. The route goes on a rolling terrain for the next 6-7 kilometers back to Barangay Cuyambay.

Trekking Mount Paliparan

Weekly dose of Vitamin #SeaOfClouds

We started with an early meet up at QC and started by 6 am at Pico De Pino in Tanay, Rizal. The first 2.5 kilometer was a sweet descent on paved roads going to Barangay Cuyambay with a view of the early morning sea of clouds in Tanay. We had our breakfast at Barangay Cuyambay and registered at the Barangay Hall. Climb fee is P30 per person while guide fee is P500. Once we have registered and then we were off to the trek.

Passing to rice filed and we enter the forest trails.

We started with some irrigation passageway and some fields with an overlooking view of the Mount Paliparan. We then shifted to forest trails, which was a bit slippery coming from the rain the previous day. The trail had some stony surface that were a bit difficult to navigate so we took it slow on this part. It then shifted to muddy single track trails with a slow ascent. The area is covered by trees and plants, which makes it a lot cooler to explore. The cover also meant that it will take a lot more time for the surface to dry up.

Forest trails

I was hoping that we’d be in the forest trails forever while the trail slowly ascents to the summit. It was refreshing seeing the green surrounding and the forest cover protected us from the sun’s rays. The forest trails lasted 2 kilometers. We were out of the shade and we were welcomed by the warmer temperature, a view of the top parts of the mountain and a challenging climb ahead.

The Sun is Out.

The sun is out and we were going on steep ascents on single track trails with cogon grass. One of the rare times I don’t wear arm sleeves and calf sleeves and I end up on a grassy trail. I got a lot of small cuts and irritation from the cogon grass. It was energy draining as the climb goes steep and the heat can be overwhelming. We had to stop at some point to recover. We only had short resting breaks because it was too hot to stay fixed at one area.

Look at the mud all over my feet.

The view was worth it though. One end you had to see the seemingly insurmountable climb and the other end was a birds eye view of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range and you could even see the windfarm from this vantage point. It was exhausting up to the point that I was starting to doubt if I can still go on but on the other hand, there were just no bail out options.

Taking a break at one of the rock structures.

When we reached one peak of the mountain, we had to traverse to the other side of the mountain with the higher peak. It was a descent on covered trails with some slippery stretches. While we thought that the worst is over. We were wrong. We then had to climb several rock surfaces that was technically challenging to navigate and a bit dangerous too as one wrong step could mean falling off cliffs and ravines.

When the going gets tough.

The degree of difficulty immediately leveled up. It was time to be strategic. You had to see every edge you can hang on as you pull yourself over the rocky structures. We came to climb a mountain, we ended up rock climbing. The thing is when the going gets tough, you just find a way to get past it. Even on a slow mode, we endured on the climb, adjusted on the terrain and made our way past the long rocky climb.

One last climb.

After the tough part, we then saw the destination so near. We took a short downward trek to go to the other side of the access point, which also was the way down. We then made the final climb over the slanted grounds and over rocky surfaces on the way to the summit. We had to rappel heading to the summit.

The things I do to have a selfie at the summit.

The rappel part was a tough one as you had to look for areas which you can step on as you slowly pull yourself to the top. It has been a challenging journey, might as well do this part.

The Summit

The view of the summit was worth all the effort. It was just around 3-4 K from Barangay Cuyambay but it took us hours reaching the summit. You can see the very rich Sierra Madre Mountain range and it was all the effort going to the top.

Stone Marker at the Summit

We then our made our way down. While it was not as hard as the climb, it did take us a lot of time descending the mountain. The trails were steep and slippery. I think I feel 3 times on the descent. We made our slow descent from the top over forest trails. The muddy part took away some of the traction from our shoes making it a lot slippery. After another eternity in descending, we finally hit the river and it was the perfect place to cool down.

The river was refreshing.

We waited for the rest at the river and took time to clean ourselves and get refreshed by the waters. We did hang out a long time at the river before we went on the journey. We then headed back to Cuyambay and at the start of the climb, my phones and my watch were all fully drained so I wasn’t able to measure the distance or document the trails.

Mount Paliparan on my background.

On the way back was a long rolling trail, with a variety of surface from wide dirt tracks to knee high muddy surfaces. I did enjoy this part because of the variety when it comes to views and surfaces. I also enjoyed the part where it rained and it was instant refreshment after having to deal with the heat most of the time. It was a long way back but it’s definitely a trail worth exploring. It was a tougher trail than we expected and it was a nice mental test for the future trail adventures.

Categories: My Travels | Tags: Mount Paliparan, Mountains, Rizal, Tale of the Trail, Tanay | 57 Comments