Bicolano Penguin: RUN FOR JOJIE: Altra Auction

July 10, 2019

RUN FOR JOJIE: Altra Auction

Pleasant surprises make us happier.

Surprise is our instant reaction whenever we face something unexpected. It could be as simple as a cat jumping at you or as life-changing as winning the lotto or as inspiring as a favorite running brand offering to donate a pair of running shoes for a good cause.

The latter is what exactly happened when the Bicolano Penguin received this message:

The sender of the message is Cielo and she is connected with Sing Phil Enterprises, a Singapore-based importer/distributor of quality sports brands from the US that supplies the sports retail industry in Southeast Asia. One of these top brands is Altra. Cielo sent the message 5 days before Run For Jojie and she proposed to donate 2 pairs of Altra running shoes for auction. Cash proceeds of the auction will be added to the funds being raised to help veteran runner Jojie Asis battle stage 4 cancer. The message from Cielo was a big surprise for me because I did not recall soliciting from Sing Phil. What I did recall is that I posted in my Bicolano Penguin facebook page about Run for Jojie, encouraging all our running friends in Bicol and beyond to support the event. Perhaps Cielo read it.

My reaction was a big WOW. And after conferring with fellow row5runner Allen who is one of the lead organizers of the Run For Jojie, I immediately responded positively to Cielo's message, thanking her and Altra.

Cielo then requested me to pick up the donated shoes from their local store which is known as Altra in Sparta Philippines. Arriving at the store in Mandaluyong, I was met by the store head, a runner named Ritche and he was very accommodating. He handed over to me the 2 pairs. The first pair is an Altra Provision 2.0 (US Men's size 10.5). The second pair is an Altra Torin 3.5 (US Women's size 8.5). Ritche was generous and he added 2 Altra shirts.

The Bicolano Penguin receiving the 2 pairs of Altra from Ritche.

Altra Provision 2.0

Altra Torin 3.5

Cool Altra shirts.

We have the items for auction. Now, how do we go about the auction?

Needless to say, none among the lead organizers had any experience with the esoteric art of auctioneering. But Ric, the announcer at the Run For Jojie was game for it. Together with Jojie, the 2 enthusiastically proceeded with the auction just before the start of the race. There were offers from the crowd as well as bids via private message in facebook,

Ric with Jojie doing the auction with aplomb.

Eventually, the winning bid had to be picked and after the dust settled, two happy Naga-based runners came out the proud new owners of Altra running shoes: Dr. Jaypee Reazon and Michelle Acedillo.

All smiles in the hand over of ..

...the Altra to the winning bidders.

With the organizers and volunteers.

They promptly paid in cash and took home with them the "embrace the space" and "zero limits " experience of running with an Altra. The cash paid was added to the funds raised that will be used for the hospital treatment of Jojie. Dr. Jaypee, the acting municipal health officer of the town of Tinambac, immediately got to wear the Altra for his training runs. Michelle plans to unveil the might of the Altra in her running of the CRC Run 5K this July.