Lighted To Shine; Day165/03; SM-Colon via Ayala Fuente

For You cause my lamp to be lighted and to shine; the Lord my God illuminates my darkness.  Psa 18:28 

MIT (Most Important Task)
1. Cebu to Leyte Trip
2.
3.

SM-Colon via Ayala Fuente
I did not know that there were still things that I have not done in Cebu. I did not really grow up here but I spent a few years in Cebu during my college days and during my 2-year work at General Milling Corporation [GMC] in Lapu-lapu before I moved to the US. I know the places/corners/shortcuts/danger zone etc. really well but things had really changed so much in 10 years – so in short, I considered myself a stranger to this place because during the first few days here, I was still looking/taking pictures to places a normal residence will not do.  Day03 started with a simple 2-mile run/walk to Pardo and back before sunrise.  I had to do it because I was already at “zero cardio” for quite a few days now since I left Texas and I still have a big event in Merida for swimming and some hills to conquer by foot.  Cebu is not really a place for my swim/bike/run program –I won’t be able to train here due to no place availability. The place is just too dangerous [I had 2 major bike accidents here in 1989].  I will have to go to a resort to be able to do those things that I love to do on a daily basis.  That is why during my retirement in the near future, I will probably be staying in Merida making it as my base camp for some projects I had in mind.  Back to my story … So at around 10am, we [me and my sisters – Liliven and Hyades were at Pier4 to purchase Cruise tickets  for Ormoc. [I called it a ‘Cruise’ just to impress Brittney and Brent, honestly in my humble opinion– it feels like you are in a Disney Cruise minus the buffet]. To the residence here, it is just a boat ride from one island to another costing PHP299.00 per person [$7.oo in the US].  Next stop was another trip to S&R for some final shopping then to SM to meet Britta and the kids for lunch and to buy Brent some clothing/shoes for a friends wedding.  After lunch, there was some team confusion of where Rigel will be.  TeamSisters were planning to do some serious time at SM and TeamBritta was planning to go back to Mandaue to met some friends and rather spends time with them than me [I sensed].  I did a quick analysis of the situation and decided that I will not be in either of the group because I will just become a burden to their own agenda for the day.  I felt like I was not needed in both groups so I decided to go on my own.  It took me an hour to make up my mind on what to do – “Walk from SM to Colon via Ayala Fuente”. 

On foot, the view of the street in Cebu is different from the passenger seat of a car or from a live TV coverage.  I’ve seen things along the route that melts my heart and almost made me cry.  It took me 1hour and 37minutes [close to 6 Miles at 3.5 mph pace]to reach Gaisano Metro in Colon. The things that I’ve witnessed/learned during the 97-minute walk were priceless.  I came out a different person after the journey.  Maybe one day when you think that your life is filled with problems and failures and you feel like giving up – a 6mile walk in the streets of Cebu is probably your greatest medication.

At the end of the day, I was glad that I took the journey, it was not just a cardio workout – it was mental and spiritual exercise as well.

After Action Review:
A. What went well?
1. I turned a boring/simple day into a life changing event [saw many things I’ve never seen before].
2. I did it! Walked from SM to Colon via Ayala and Fuente [never done this before]
3. Visited Colon Street [this is the New York Time Square version in Cebu, I think]
4. I crossed the pedestrian lane at Colon St/Jones Ave going to Gaisano Metro to remember how it feels when Britta held my left arm for the first time during our first date in 1986. To my wife Britta, I still remembers the electric shock in my whole body when you held my hand that day and even remembered the clothes, hairstyle, 1.5” heel red shoes and your smile. Not being so corny – my feelings were the same today. Wish you were there with me. Yes, yes, I am an emotional person also.
5. I rode a jeepney [a subway train version of mass transportation but in a car, just google “jeepney” if you are curious] from Colon St to Pardo after the long walk.  I was thinking of walking home also but I’ll save that for my next vacation.
6. Saw the changes of Cebu in a different perspective and captured it in digital pictures.

B. What did not go so well?
None

C. What would I do differently?
None