Markdown Madness Shoe Sale at Tektite Offers up to 70% Discount

One of the biggest annual summer sale events in town, Markdown Madness @ Tektite is happening once again.   Enjoy up to a whopping 70% discount on participating brands: Skechers, Keds, Sperry Top-Sider, Saucony, Pony, Merrell, and No Fear from April 15 to 19, 9AM to 8PM at the Philippine Stock Exchange Exchange (PSE) Auditorium, Tektite Tower in Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

Markdown Madness is now on its 10th year and promises to be another grand sale with great finds on selected items from participating brands.  This is a good time to buy shoes for your summer escapades and vacations, as well as for back-to-school.

Don’t miss this chance to get the best shoe deals in town! Visit MarkdownMadness on Facebook for more information and updates.

Pocari Sweat Run

Tired of the same old routes?  Pocari Sweat is bringing back a race in Ortigas Center with its Pocari Sweat Run:

Makati Route #2

I guess I wasn’t that satisfied with my first Makati-based run so the following night I was again out on the streets and seeking a new route.  This time around it’s a notch longer and ending on a different spot.

For this night’s run I decided to pick a different spot to end my run—different but still familiar like the night before.  This night, I thought I miss Ortigas Center, so I decided to head towards the area, perfect fit as I seek a slightly longer route.  The big question of course was which route to pick among a myriad of options?  In the end here’s the outcome:

Season Finale

As the calendar’s page turn from May to June, a huge chapter of my life closes as well.  It’s one of the most memorable chapters of my life, more than three years in the making, and one that bore witness to my huge transformation—from a regular office folk to a sports and health enthusiast!

Manila Bay as seen from a Penthouse Suite in Ortigas

5-in-1×2

It’s raining races this November as its last two Sundays were filled with five races happening simultaneously within Metro Manila alone!   Is that crazy or what?

A Night at the Fort

Thursday, August12, 2010.  After four consecutive crazy days of overtime at the office this creature needed a break.  Yes, sitting down in front of a computer for hours on end is tiring especially if your brain does all the toiling.  After calling it a day I figured, “it’s a nice night to run.”  Of course I’d also need the approval of one of the stakeholders—the weather.

From the office I headed off to the gym and upon leaving our building, to my surprise the sky was clear.  Upon arriving at the gym I was horrified with what I saw—tons of people!  In fact all the lockers were occupied—the signs cannot be clearer: get out and run!

As part of old Thursday night habit I ran from Ortigas Center (starting in front of San Miguel compound) to Bonifacio Global City—my favorite running spot in the Metro that I haven’t been to in quite a while.  I used to be in BGC at least twice a week: Thursdays for Nike Running Clinic and eventually easy runs from the office, and Sundays for races.  Recently I can be away for months on end!  Each time I do I always see something new, kind of makes me wonder if BGC’s development gets a boost while I’m away!

Typical Thursdays route: Ortigas Center to Bonifacio High Street via EDSA - Kalayaan - 32nd

The Ortigas Center Run

I never thought that this day would come—finally, the first race in Ortigas Center!

The Ortigas Center Association, Inc. (OCAI) has decided to partner with the Rotary Club of Ortigas Center (RCOC) to hold the Run for the benefit of the various humanitarian projects of RCOC.

With Rudy Biscocho as the run’s race director, all the people behind the event are aiming to accomplish the goals of the Rotary Club of Ortigas Center and Balance Lifestyle Fitness, and thus for the first time, this 27th of June, 2010, at 5:00 in the morning, more than four thousand (4,000) runners will run along the streets of Ortigas Center and surrounding areas, for the 3K, 5K, and 10K distances of the first ever OCAI RUN.

You may download the registration form here.

Press Release:

Ortigas Center warms up for first ever road run

Running enthusiasts will be psyched to learn that they will be able to sprint through the wide and hilly avenues of Ortigas Center come June 27, 2010. Thanks to the Ortigas Center Association, Inc. (OCAI), a non-stock, non-profit organization commissioned to uphold the stature of Ortigas Center as one of the nation’s prime business districts, the very first OCAI Run will have its gun start at 5:00am for 10k runners, 5:15am for 5k runners and 5:30am for 3k runners in front of the Philippine Stock Exchange in Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

But this won’t be your usual, pardon the pun, run-of-the-mill race. What makes this different from the myriad fun runs that dominate the country’s fitness calendars these days is the location. “Never before has Ortigas Center hosted a run before,” said race director Rudy Biscocho. “Due to the elevation in and around the Ortigas Center area, there will be uphill stretches guaranteed to test your mettle,” he teased. “But naturally, for every uphill climb there is a reward, and you can improve you time by increasing your pace downhill,” explained Biscocho.

The 10k route will feature a downhill trek on Lanuza Drive in Valle Verde and an uphill stretch on Julia Vargas Avenue. The 3k race will be a more casual breeze within the Ortigas Center.

“This first ever road run in Ortigas Center aims to accomplish the goals of the Rotary Club of Ortigas Center and Balance Lifestyle Fitness,” said Luz N. Cotoco, Chairman of OCAI. “It is also for the benefit of the various humanitarian projects of RCOC,” added Cotoco.

Registration fee is Php 400 for any of the three distances which is inclusive of one race bib, baller band, route map, finisher shirt and loot bag that will be given out right after the run. All proceeds of the OCAI Run will go to the humanitarian projects of the Rotary Club of Ortigas Center. Registration period is from April 30 to June 23, 2010, at all Mizuno outlets and at OCAI Office until June 26. Many raffle prizes including a Technomarine watch and giveaways await lucky participants, while cash prizes will be given to the top 3 finishers of each category.

For inquiries call 890-4230 and 0922-8367990 and look for Ms Ana Salas. Or check out their Facebook page by searching for “OCAI Run”. The OCAI Run is organized by OCAI with RCOC, presented by the Ortigas & Company Limited Partnership and sponsored by HSBC, Meralco, Puregold, The San Miguel Corporation, First Holdings, Flanax, Xenical, The Oriental Assurance Corporation, BusinessWorld, CCI Enterprises, SM Megamall, Robinsons Department Store, Unilever and Ropali.

Humanitarian Projects of the Rotary Club of Ortigas Center:

• Immaculate Conception Cathedral Soup Kitchen
  RCOC supports, with a regular monthly donation of Php 7,500.00, high school scholars of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral (ICC) Soup Kitchen, organized and operated by volunteers of the ICC located at Pasig City. Some members of RCOC also individually provide monthly scholarship support in varying amounts.

  The ICC Soup Kitchen was organized primarily to provide regular feeding, every Wednesday and Saturday of the week, to more than 300 street children of Pasig City. The feeding program is used as a tool, and is supplemented by, religious, anti-dangerous drugs, etc. teachings to the children.

  RCOC also holds an annual gift-giving activity for the beneficiary children and their families.

• San Lorenzo Ruiz Elementary School Special Education (SPED) Students
  RCOC, in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Mandaluyong, earlier donated a braille embosser to the vision-impaired students of the San Lorenzo Ruiz Elementary School in Pasig City. Before the said donation, volunteer-teachers of the school used to manually type books in brail to enable the said students to read them. The very expensive braille embosser, now enables volumes of books to be printed in braille.

  RCOC maintains the said embosser and regularly provides consumables, like paper.

  In coordination with the Asian Eye Institute (AEI), RCOC also provides eye check-ups for the vision-impaired students. Last year, RCOC managed to have one of the students undergo a cataract and lens replacement operation with the help of AEI and the Philippine Ophthalmological Society.

• Adoption of the Rizal Experimental School and Pilot School For Cottage Industries (RESPSCI)RCOC has adopted RESPSCI, a public school located in Pasig City, by providing scholarships to chosen high school students of RESPSCI.

  To promote and improve proficiency in English, Math and Science, RCOC also gives out annual awards (medals and cash) to the Best in Math, Best in English and Best in Science students. RCOC likewise sponsors various projects of RESPSCI. During Rotary Year 2009-2010, RCOC sponsored two educational field trips and financial support to cover expenses of participation of students in out-of-town competitions.

• Interact of RESPSCI
  Interact is Rotary International’s service club for young people ages 12 to 18. Interact clubs are sponsored by individual Rotary clubs, which provide support and guidance.

  RCOC organized, supports and maintains an Interact Club, composed of high school students of RESPSCI. Every year, RCOC inducts the new directors, officers and members of “RESPSCI Interact of RCOC.” This Rotary Year, RCOC also conducted an orientation program and an anti-drug forum designed to lead the youth of Interact and RESPSCI away from dangerous drugs.

• The Sinag Kalinga Foundation
  In early 2009, RCOC was introduced to the Sinag Kalinga Foundation, a non-stock, non-profit association established to provide for the welfare and needs of senior citizens who are incapable of adequately caring for themselves. Sinag Kalinga operates a hospice in Lucban, Quezon for abandoned and destitute elderlies.

  RCOC and Sinag Kalinga thereafter entered into a “Partnership in Eldery Care” project. As initial support, RCOC adopted three (3) elderlies for one (1) year, providing financial support in the amount of Php 7,000.00 per month per adopted elderly. This is the cost of maintaining each elderly, covering food and medicines. RCOC is working on continuing this support, and more, for Sinag Kalinga.

• Calamity Relief Operations
  • Botolan, Zambales Victims. Early in the Rotary Year, or on 23 August 2009, RCOC answered the call of the Rotary Club of Olongapo City to provide assistance to typhoon victims of Botolan, Zambales. Officers and members of RCOC traveled to the said municipality and delivered much needed items, such as food, towels, feeding bottles, etc.
  • Ondoy & Pepeng Victims. RCOC was among the first to mobilize its members and resources to undergo the following relief operations:
    • Brgy. San Miguel and Pinagbuhat, Pasig City. RCOC braved the waist-deep floods to deliver relief packages consisting of rice, ready-to-eat canned products, noodles, soap and pails to more than 300 desperate victims of the calamities.
    • Taytay, Rizal. Joined by its Mayor and members of its Sangguniang Bayan, RCOC also conducted relief operations in three (3) different locations in Taytay, Rizal, benefiting more than 200 victims.
    • ICC families. More than 150 families of the children of the ICC Soup Kitchen also received relief goods from RCOC.
    • Tanay, Rizal. RCOC also answered the call for support from the Rotary Club of Tanay, Rizal and turned-over relief goods to the said Club.
• Tulay Lingap ni Padre Pio
  RCOC has had a continuing support relationship with the Tulay Lingap ni Padre Pio, the social action commission of the Capuchin Order in the Philippines. Tulay Lingap has been helping provide free and socialized medical care to the needy.

  This Rotary Year, RCOC donated Php 25,000.00 to support the construction of Tulay Lingap’s socialized Pharmacy which now stands at the Lourdes School at Shaw Boulevard. RCOC is also working on linkages between the said pharmacy and RCOC’s project beneficiaries like the Sinag Kalinga.

• Uniforms and Awards for Ortigas Center Traffic and Maintenance Personnel
  Every year, as part of RCOC’s continuing cooperation with the Ortigas Center Association, Inc., RCOC provides free uniforms to Ortigas Center maintenance personnel.

  RCOC also gives out semestral awards (recognition certificates and cash) to the Most Outstanding Maintenance Personnel, Most Outstanding Security Guard, and Most Outstanding Traffic Enforcer in Ortigas Center.