The Great Lean Run 2016

      It was a vibrant afternoon with high-spirited crowd around U.P. Sunken Garden when the event started yesterday, November 12, 2016. A mixture of people from different ages, professions and institutions were gathered to participate in the 2016 Great Lean Run organized by UP Sandigan para sa Mag-aaral at Sambayanan Alumni (UP SAMASA) and the UP Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs (UP OVCSA).

     I mainly participated to show my gratitude to the institution that has a great share to the making of my thesis. I visit their library whenever my schedule permits and exhaust their resources. Well, of course I like running too and I'd like to know what's the event like.

Winning a friend is more than winning.

I met a law student, Ms. Lina

    Without a clue before buying the ticket for the fun, I thought that the event is a kind of a commemoration or a campaign. Nevertheless, I would like to enjoy the experience and be a part of whatever the organizers fight for.     As a part of the audience, my awareness during Martial Law period heightens. I was impressed with how the institution strongly advocates freedom, peace and humanity. 
Marcos,        Hitler,                  Diktador                  Tuta!
     These words were repeated over and over again!HahaOf course they retained in my long term memory brain storage.      There were speakers who inspired the crowd to fight for what is right. Fight for the children's future and fight for what the old generation started. Filipino heroes before us sacrificed their lives for us. Similarly, this is our moral obligation to the generations before us too. 

      There was a prayer and everyone fervently participated.

      The talks prior the run finished at 5p.m. which was the official start of the run. As the event defined, the obstacles in the fun run reminisces the hardships that the dictatorial leadership brought. There was a course of connected barbed wires that we have to surpass which resembles the excruciating and punishing government under Martial Law. 

 

      The patriotic feeling was very much felt by the crowd. The runners wore happy faces. They seemed to be all cool. The air of unity and love of humanity were present in the event. Wave 1 (my wave) started off as the clock turned five. 

      People enjoyed the warm up.

 

     The runners oath was pronounced first before the run. As we heard the shot, we began running and overcoming the hurdles of the event. I felt the difficulties in each obstacle, or should I say I felt the pain of a dictatorial leadership. I was only thinking to finish all the courses of 3.7 km. I know I've always been a fighter and this challenge was a piece of cake. 

   

         I was the first female survivor in my wave. I am truly proud of that with a big smile on my face.

     There were campus journalists who interviewed me while I was in the event. So I allowed the dark times to haunt me again. I was a kid during Martial Law. My father resigned from the military because according to him, his principle couldn't take the military's cruelty and all. Everything was beyond his principle. He lost his job and the effects on us appeared like dominoes. It was difficult to express in detail - it was painful.      I said I ran for the future generation. If I could finish the run and overcome the obstacles then nothing in life can be said difficult. Nothing about me (my height, gender, etc.) could refrain me from winning goals, not even this political society can stop me from winning a happy life.      The event was very momentous. I love being a part of it. It makes us reflect and it develops our deeper affection with our family and friends. Because in the event, you won't help yourself from remembering your loved ones to inspire you to finish the obstacles. 

      There was this Malacanang replica. Here, there were protesters and they kept on shouting the phrases:     MARCOS, HITLER, DIKTADOR,....TUTA!

      I was surprised to find out that I was the fastest female in my wave. Perhaps that proved I am competitive. I was only a little disappointed not to capture the moment while I was on stage with people I adore for their strong leadership and admirable principles. I was honored with medal by the chairperson of UP SAMASA Alumni Assoc., Susan Villanueva. My phone was dead during the awarding. However, all the moments were cherished and remarkably noted in my memories. 

      I thought of using the prize money to buy a book of history for Ice, to tell him how it was like during Martial Law. After all, I owe him the obligation to teach the history of the country.

It now belongs to my collection.

     It was fun, assuring and historical to be a part of the fun run. After yesterday, I saw hope, I saw victory and I saw freedom. Thank you Great Lean. Thank you U.P.!