Legend Stories: Bataan Death March 102KM Experience

The Bataan Death March Ultramarathon is known as one of the toughest road ultramarathons in the Philippines. Imagine running a 102km (63 miles) race without aid stations (leapfrog support car allowed) and finishing it within 18 hours, with an intermediate cut-off of 9 hours at the 50km mark.

Famous BDM mohon and medal

Running from 10:00 p.m. through the night until 4:00 p.m. the next day is no ordinary feat. Whether running in the rain or under the scorching sun, …

Philippines Delegate to Paralympics 2024

Let us get to know the Philippines Paralympics delegate to the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris, France. The event will be from 28 August to 8 September 2024. The country qualified six athletes in four sports.

2024 Summer Paralympics

Philippines Paralympics Athlete

Personal Life
Name: Ernie Gawilan
Birth date: May 5, 1991
From: Davao City
Sport: para-swimming
Event: men’s 400m freestyle S7, men’s 200m individual medley SM7
Coaches: Tony Ong and Ral Rosario

Ernie Gawilan - para swimmer - Philippines

Awards:
2022 Asian Para Games …

People from My Neighborhood | Book Review

Author: Hiromi Kawakami
Translated by: Ted Goossen
Pages: 121 – Paperback
Geemiz Rating: 2.8/5

People from My Neighborhood | Book Review

I thought this would be another charming Japanese translation read, but it isn’t—though that doesn’t mean I don’t want to continue reading the book. Since I have two hours to spare on my boat ride from Bohol to Cebu, I might as well continue what I started.

This is my first time reading Hiromi Kawakami, so I didn’t know what to …

Bataan Death March Run: Grandfather of Philippines Ultramarathon (102KM)

Bataan Death March Run, or BDM Ultramarathon, is known as the grandfather of the Philippines Ultramarathon and even listed as one of the most prestigious ultramarathons in the Philippines due to the significant historical background that it had.

Bataan death March Run Ultramarathon Philippines

History of Bataan Death March Run Philippines
BDM 102KM and BDM 160KM are created, organized, and directed by retired Major General Jovenal “Jovie” Narcise famously known in the running community as the Bald Runner. Recently the …

Weasels in the Attic | Book Review

Author: Hiroko Oyamada
Translated by: David Boyd
Setting: Japan | Rural Japan
Pages: 71 – Paperback
Geemiz Rating: 2/5

Weasels in the Attic | Book Review

The storytelling feels like I am watching a Japanese movie with a sepia tone, and when it ended, I just said, “ Oh! So that’s it?” But, don’t get me wrong, my emotions were stirred at the last part during the interaction between the old lady and the husband because I can relate to the couple.…

Half of the Year 2024 Running Wrap-Up

Last year, I joined Cebu Fun Run 2023 left and right and decided to take it slow and easy this year. I participated in the Cebu Fun Run 2024 once a month or at most twice when a new event comes up and I like the route or medal because we all know how we runners love our hard-earned reward, plus trying a new Cebu running route is just as rewarding.

Cebu Running

Here is the list …

The Kamogawa Food Detectives | Book Review

Author: Hisashi Kashiwai
Translated by: Jesse Kirkwood
Setting: Tokyo, Japan
Pages: 149 – Paperback
Geemiz Rating: 4/5

The Kamogawa Food Detectives Book Review

It took me a while to read the book because I initially thought it was another typical investigative story. While the investigative genre is my cup of tea, I’m currently trying to diversify my reading. You might ask why I didn’t read the plot summary first—well, I accept your criticism and agree with you on that, hahaha. By …

Crescencia Food and Coffee | Café in Bohol | Baclayon

Café in Bohol Crescencia Food and Coffee

One of your Bohol itineraries, often your second stop after the Blood Compact site, is in Baclayon, Bohol, Philippines. Here, you can find the second oldest stone church in the Philippines – the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, famously known as the Baclayon Church.

Before you continue your day of touring around Bohol, take a short walk from Baclayon Church to Crescencia Food and Coffee. Here, you can get your locally sourced …

Book Vs Movie | Before The Coffee Gets Cold | Café Funiculi Funicula

Is there a movie adaptation of the book Before The Coffee Gets Cold? The answer is YES. There is a movie adaptation of the book Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi. The movie is called Café Funiculi Funicula which is the name of the café in the book and the movie is directed by Ayuko Tsukahara.

before the coffee gets cold vs cafe funiculi funicula

The movie Café Funiculi Funicula has the same mysterious yet warm café vibes as the book. …

More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop | Book Review

Author: Satoshi Yagisawa
Translated by: Eric Ozawa
Setting: Jimbocho, Tokyo, Japan
Pages: 176 – Paperback
Geemiz Rating: 5/5

Book Review More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa

I’m at a loss for words because More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is such a great narrative. Maybe I should just tell anyone to read this to go get their copy of the book and read it. And a note to Satoshi Yagisawa: Thank you for writing this story, sir, and I look forward to more …