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I am a Bicolano by birth and choice. By any standards, I am a slow runner but I like it that way. I look at running as a healthy and exciting way to make a difference. Together with my fellow runners from our family, school, office, and the community, we use running to give back.

RUNNING TO VISIT DEMOCRACY ICONS


The 6th Day (December 27) of the  streak saw BP  running inside the Manila Memorial Park.  

It can be argued that this cemetery is the best park in Paranaque to run, but the purpose of my run here was more to visit the tombs of our beloved country’s democracy icons -- Ninoy and Cory. It was my first time to do so and I probably would not have been able to find it without the guidance from fellow blogger – WJ.

This big temple of a mausoleum is not where Cory and Ninoy are buried.
An outsider might think that given the huge national importance of these couple, plus the fact that they are parents of our current president, their burial place would be some huge imposing mausoleum in the center of the nation’s capital or even in the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani. But no. Ninoy and Cory are the embodiment of integrity and simplicity and even their final resting place bears testament to these virtues.

Honor...

... and Pride!

The run from my house to the Manila Memorial Park  and inside it was about 8 kms. But getting to visit and pay my respects to our democracy icons felt a long distance more as it kind of transported me back in time to those fateful years of the 1980s. It was a time when "makibaka" meant much more. It was a time of raised fists and laban signs. Despite no social media yet, our country showed the world the power of the people over a tyrant. The world applauded the Philippines and countries like Czechoslovakia, Romania, South Africa, and even China benefited from People Power.  

Maraming salamat, Ninoy at Cory.


P.S.
Thank you to the Wandering Jouster for the lovely photos.

 

         

2 comments:

wj said...

welcome, vicboy. glad that my hazy sense of direction was not on or else you would surely get lost.hahaha

BP said...

An exciting adventure looking for gems