My 5th Full Marathon (42.2KM) Solo Joiner; Clark Animo Marathon 2025

Filipino Marathon Slow Runner Solo Joiner 09-Mar-2025 Sunday in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines

My 4th Full Marathon (42.2KM) Solo Joiner; 7-Eleven Marathon 2025

This Fun Run served as my fifth FULL-MARATHON 42.2KM as a Solo Joiner, following the 7-Eleven Run last Feb. 2025, which started my running enthusiasm last Apr. 2024. My main objective is just to finish the race (beating my previous PR is optional), I want to enjoy the run at my own pace.

TCS Clark Animo International Marathon (TCS-CAIM) is an annual non-profit running event held in Clark Pampanga, Philippines since 2009 (started as Clark Animo Fun Run). It features a PR-friendly WORLD ATHLETICS® certified (formerly IAAF-AIMS) 42.195km full marathon traversing through the heart of the freeport zone. The accredited TCS-CAIM marathon means your recorded time will be recognized by other prestigious WORLD ATHLETICS (WA) marathon around the globe having passed the rigorous process of accurate course measurement undertaken by WORLD ATHLETICS (i.e. TCS-NYC marathon, TCS-LONDON marathon, BERLIN marathon and others).

My 5th Full Marathon (42.2KM) Solo Joiner; Clark Animo Marathon 2025

Race Name:	TCS CLARK ANIMO INT'L MARATHON 2025			Distance:	FULL MARATHON (42.2KM)
Registration:	₱2,700	Inclusion:	Race Bib, Event Shirt, Finisher Shirt/Medal, Towel, Loot Bag, Admin/Shipping fee
Location:	CLARK FREEPORT ZONE ROUTE (2 loops)			Cut-off Time:	09-Mar-2025 Sun (7 hours)
Requirements:	NONE, registration fee only			Shoes I used:	NB FuelCell SuperComp Elite 4
Finished:	YES	Time:	05:50:11	Altitude Gain:	211m
New PR:	YES	Pace:	08:18	Rank:	81.02% (363rd of 448)
My Rating:	5 of 10 stars	well-organized, boring repeated loop with high elevation gain, 0230am start not good start time

Route difficulty: Full Marathon route with two loos and high total elevation gain of 241m (obviously a not PR-friendly route). Started/Finished in Clark Global City passing through Roxas Highway, Creek's Road, 

Remarks (My rating: 5 of 10 stars): (1) Full Marathon route with two loops and high total elevation gain of 211m. (2) Somehow organized, started on time. Lots of refreshments in the water stops. (3) 42km Event/Finisher shirt design is somehow good. Medal design is awesome. (4) 2:30am was a bad start time as the last hours dropped to scorching sun exposure (5) 7 hours cut-off time is short with 2-loops high elevation gain route.

If given the chance, do I like to join this race again? No (repeated loop with high elevation gain)

My 1st Ultramarathon (50KM) Solo Joiner; Pampanga to Bulacan 2025

Filipino Ultra Road Run Solo Joiner January 25 to 26, 2025 in Bulacan, Philippines

Ultramarathon Trail (50KM DNF) Solo Joiner; VJ100UTC Baguio 2024

This Fun Run served as my Second ULTRAMARATHON (50KM) as a Solo Joiner following the VJ100 Ultra Trail Run DNF (50KM). My main objective is just to finish the race (beating my previous PR is optional), I want to enjoy the run at my own pace.

Pampanga to Bulacan Ultramarathon 2025 (50 KM) is in its third year of ultra road running distance from Guagua, Pampanga passing through San Fernando, Mexico, San Luis, Candaba then ends in Baliuag, Bulacan happening every first quarter of the year. Not much was provided by the Race Director / Organizer. It's my first time joining a road ultramarathon and my pre-birthday marathon adventure.

 

I've been a Fun Run Solo Joiner since 2007 but not as a runner (walker actually as most of the time I was walking), just for the sake of Race Singlet and being a joiner. My longest distance was even 10km (about 2x only), and usual for 5km. I stopped joining because I was lazy and lost interest. More than 10 years later until April 13, 2024, my first official run training for Fun-Run, I was so bored I had nothing to do and no regular hobby (so somehow it was a spontaneous decision). My main triggering factor was the FINISHER SHIRT (bragging entitlement shirt) and TikTok / FB Reels of running tips randomly (not that motivated, just for a push on my interest). From 10km to a Half-Marathon, I suddenly decided again to elevate the distance to a full marathon (42.2km) as my running interest is getting addicted out of boredom and depression. 

My 1st Ultramarathon (50KM) Solo Joiner; Pampanga to Bulacan 2025

Race Name:	PAMPANGA TO BULACAN ULTRA 2025			Distance:	ULTRAMARATHON (50KM)
Registration:	₱3,360	Inclusion:	Race Bib, Singlet, Finisher Shirt/Medal, Trophy, Loot Bag, Post Race Meal
Location:	GUAGUA TO BALIWAG ROUTE			Cut-off Time:	25-Jan-2025 Sat (10 hours)
Requirements:	NONE, registration fee only			Shoes I used:	Asics Novablast 4
Finished:	YES	Time:	09:29:01	Altitude Gain:	60m
New PR:	YES	Pace:	11:04	Rank:	96.99% (129th of 133)
ITRA:	N/A	UTMB:	N/A	My Rating:	8 of 10 stars

Route difficulty: Point to point route is one of the best running route for an ultramarathon race with seven aid stations along. Starting from Guagua, Pampanga passing through San Fernando, Mexico, San Luis, Candaba then ends in Baliuag, Bulacan. Total distance of almost 52 kilometers with a relatively flat route (60m total altitude gain) which is awesome for new PR aim.

Remarks (My rating: 8 of 10 stars): (1) Beginner-friendly route, the route has minimal elevation gain (60m) (2) Well-organized, started on time. Minimal water stops. (3) Singlet design is ok / Finisher Shirt/Medal design is good. (4) Registration fee is reasonable enough (5) My opinion/observation during the run, biased toward those group runners (felt some support vehicle finishers, lol!).

If given the chance, would I like to join this race again? No (enough for the experience)

2021 San Fernando, Pampanga Giant Lantern Festival

December 21, 2021 Tuesday in San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines

2011 San Fernando, Pampanga Giant Lantern Festival

Filipinos place much significance on the symbolism of Parol (derives from the Spanish farol, meaning lantern or light), the star regarded as a fount of light and a sign of hope in the predominantly Christian country in Asia. Such a creation however, did not come without the untiring efforts, ingenuity and innovation of the Fernandinos. The Giant Lantern Festival (Kapampangan: Ligligan Parul) is an annual festival held in mid-December in the City of San Fernando in the Philippines. The festival features a competition of giant lanterns. Because of the popularity of the festival, the city has been nicknamed the “Christmas Capital of the Philippines”.

How and When to Go to Pampanga Giant Lantern Festival;

The event is always held yearly every around December 16 up to Christmas Day and sometimes Exhibition extended until after New Year. From Cubao, just take any North Luzon-bound bus (NLEX) and ask the conductor to drop-off in Robinsons Starmills (San Fernando, Pampanga). Fare is PHP150 for around 2 hours travel. ENTRANCE IS FREE but booked ticket is required via this link. 

2021 Pampanga Giant Lantern Festival

2016 Lubao Hot-Air Balloon Festival with La Salle (Look) Beach Sidetrip

16-April-2016 Saturday in Lubao, Pampanga and Morong, Bataan, Philippines
biggest Hot-air Balloon Festival in Philippines and Southeast Asia

This was the 3rd Lubao International Hot-Air Balloon Festival held in Pradera Verde, Lubao, Pampanga. An almost the same showcase with Clark Balloon Festival also in Pampanga and my 3rd Hot-air Balloon event following the Cappadocia's Morning glow in Turkey. The festival is the biggest annual hot air balloon festival in Southeast Asia Aside from balloon flights, the festival will provide entertainment, fun activities, and amusement all in one venue. After witnessing the over 41 colorful designed balloons in the morning, we decided to visit and chill to a not famous yet beach side trip on nearby province.

La Salle Beach (named after the school nearby this beach), also called as Look Beach, is a public beach located in Morong, Bataan and a 10-min drive from Vista Venice Resort. Since we don't know exactly where is the location of the La Salle Beach, we took the service of Vista Venice Resort.

LUBAO BALLOON FESTIVAL WITH LA SALLE BEACH DAY TOUR ITINERARY:

April 16, 2016 Saturday 
0200H ETD Victory Liner Cubao 150 (Olangapo-bound bus dropped to Pradera Verde, Lubao)
0430H ETA Pradera Verde, Lubao, Pampanga. Entrance fee day pass 280. Breakfast 100
0600H Morning Balloon Flight (good weather condition)
0730H ETD Lubao. bus bound to Balanga, Bataan 50
0800H ETA Balanga bus terminal. bus bound to Vista Venice Resort, Morong 75
1000H ETA Vista Venice Resort (with free pick-up and drop-off to La Salle Beach)
Entrance 100 / head. Cottage 700 / 5 = 140. Tapsilog paluto with drinks 180
1430H ETD La Salle Beach. drop-off to Bagac jeep terminal
1445H ETD Bagac jeep terminal bound to Balanga bus terminal 35
1530H ETA Balanga bus terminal. bound to Pradera Verde, Lubao 40
1700H ETA Pradera Verde, Lubao
Afternoon Balloon Flight and Hot-air Balloon Night Glow (on weather condition)
drizzle occurred and windy area, no balloon show at night :(
Concert (Bamboo, Mitoy of The Voice). Dinner 100
2000H ETD Lubao, Pampanga 150

TOTAL BUDGET COST: PhP1,400

2016 Lubao Balloon Festival with La Salle (Look) Beach Sidetrip

2011 Pampanga Giant Lantern Festival (1st part)

feel the tradition despite the drizzle

december 17, 2011 saturday

The Giant Lantern Festival is an annual festival held in December in the San Fernando city. Because of the popularity of the festival, the city has been nicknamed the "Christmas Capital of the Philippines". The competition will showcase revised rules such as the size of giant lanterns was increased from 18 feet to 20 feet in diameter and new materials like fiberglass and handmade paper are also used. Large steel barrels called rotors also substituted the hand-controlled switches to manipulate and  illuminate about 3,500 to 5,000 light bulbs.

brgy telaspatagan, 1st participant 2011 san fernando lantern festival

2011 Clark Airfield Hot-Air Balloon Night Glow

Banchetto - Bataan - Pampanga day journey last part

February 12, 2011 Saturday

objective: to visit the best tourist spot that fits to my budget at limited amount of time.
additional tasks: to conquer the itinerary on day-tour only

banchetto to mt. samat to dunsulan falls morning escapade

PART THREE: 16TH CLARK HOT-AIR BALLOON NIGHT GLOW

finally, aroung 1400H, we have decided to leave bataan and fullfilled the highlight activity for this day, the 16th hot-air balloon festival in clark airfield, pampanga. I am shamefully announce that this was my 1st time to play and fly a kite successfully because of awesome windy weather.

around 1830H, the hot-air balloon night-glow specials started. with propane bruners ignited periodically, another man-made wonders for excellent snapshot interest. around 12-14 counts of huge balloons with darth vader as the main star of the night.

2011 clark airfield hot air balloon night glow