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January 2, 2014

RUNNING THRU THE PARKS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE ICONS

EmoticonFor the second straight day, the BP was running inside a memorial park. 


This time, on that morning of December 28, I was in Naga City along the Basilica Road (or Balatas Road) on a 5-km jaunt near the Sampaguita Tourist Inn Magsaysay Avenue Branch where we were billeted. This is the 7th day of my running streak.

In front of the Basilica at the start of the run
Map of route
Naga-based 83nean classmates Ric Lozano and Allen Tolledo recommended this 5-km route as a prelude to our 14-km reunion run a day later. It passed thru the Penafrancia Basilica Minore, crossed the Matiway Bridge, reached the San Felipe barrio, turned left for the Our Lady of Penafrancia Shrine, crossing the bridge near the Avenue Plaza  and then back to Magsaysay Avenue.    

A privilege for me is that the route passed thru two memorial parks. The first one is the Sto. Nino Memorial Park where  Sen. Raul Roco lay buried. He championed women’s rights and good governance when it was not yet in vogue in this country.  Straightforward and a visionary, he is considered by many as the Greatest President the Philippines never had. Roco ran for the presidency twice and lost  both bids. A Roco victory would have signaled a tectonic shift in the nature of Philippine politics. 

In front of Sto. Nino Memorial Park

The second one is the Eternal Gardens where the tomb  of Sec. Jesse Robredo is located. He catapulted to national fame when he was accorded the prestigious Ramon  Magsaysay Award as the long-time mayor of Naga City. He was the Local Government Secretary  of the PNoy Cabinet when he died in a plane crash.  It was in death that the people got to know more of his simple yet effective "tsinelas" leadership. Robredo’s inspiring example of good governance is sorely missed in this time of pork barrel scandals.   

Inside Eternal Gardens

It was a meaningful experience for me to pay my respect to these two icons of good governance. For joining  me in this run, a   big thanks to Ric, Allen and three more Lake Bato Ultra alumni:  Joji Asis, Gary Castillo and Kevin Moral. Double thanks from Bob, Ed and me for the treat by our Naga-based running buddies of the tasty kinalas in Dayandang after the run.Emoticon

Kinalas at Dayangdang



       

1 comment:

shilam said...

Sec.Jessie and Senator Raul will always in our hearts bicolanos....BP rain or shine we will run w/ you kahit puyat man at may hangover...pordalab!