Hey Hollie!

We keep crossing paths with Billy Crawford and Nikki Gil recently that I think it's time to risk being called jologs (tama ba lingo?) and write a bit about them.

Billy Crawford's Groove CD has pretty good tracks. Lots of cover songs and revivals with pretty darn good high-tempo arrangements of 80's hits like Human Nature, Rock With You, and Let's Groove. Amine bought a copy when we coincidentally visited the ATC while Billy was having a free show there. And, what the heck, she decided it was alright to take on the photo op and signing privelege that came with the purchase. But she keeps referring to him as Billy Joe still like he was still the child actor/singer of long ago. Ang dami na ngang tato, Billy Joe pa rin. 

Just another pretty pic of Boni High. Image credit: I forgot but it's some real estate website.

My daughter Meg who's turning 7 on August 30 idolizes Nikki Gil, I think. For starters, Nikki graduated from the same school where Meg studies. I believe Meg was still in pre-school when Nikki graduated so she knows her a bit personally. She - Meg, knows her - Nikki. Anyway, Meg also loves to sing Nikki's song Glowing Inside. It's one of my little girl's favorite pieces to sing. Shy by nature, we were pleasantly surprised when Meg agreed to sing it in front of a big crowd during my wife's Lolo Tacio's wake. That was really special.

So, crossed paths with them first at Billy's ATC show where we saw Nikki, too. Next two occasions were at the Bonifacio High Street's Stock Market Restaurant and at the Hobbes and Landes store. Seemed like real nice people so next time maybe I'll chat them up and persuade them to give a short video interview for Speed Bagal.

P.S.

Hollie likes Billy.

Yan ang hirap pag wala ka. Ikaw ang topic. Hehe.

Pet Friendly

Bonifacio High Street is quite noticeably the venue of choice for dog owners to take their loved pets for a stroll. A pet-friendly place it is. Over at Hobbes and Landes, where they sell pet stuff as well as kid stuff, dogs are even allowed inside the store. We sighted Billy Crawford and Nikki Gil there with their little toy dog. Must be a chihuahua or some little sort for it was very small as I recall, but then I'm not real familiar with dogs. Then, Atan and his amazingly beautiful Siberian Huskies also visited the store.

Photo: Me with Atan's Siberian Huskies -- Charlie, Rainbow, Firefox, and Luna. That's their owner, Atan Caseda, seated on the concrete border, and that's Meg, my little girl, peeking from behind me. Charlie, the dad Husky, is also seated on the border while Rainbow the mom Husky was contentedly watching passersby while seated on the ground at her owner's foot. [ Click on pic to enlarge. Then click on the "back" button of your browser to come back here. ]

Atan's Siberian Huskies are really pretty canines. I could tell that they're well-groomed and cared for by their looks and their scents. It's as if they'd just been pampered at a pet salon. These doggies found real caring owners in Atan and his girlfriend. Atan's place also saw a "re-organizing" to give room for his pets to move about freely on the ground floor. Lucky dogs.

Before the photo was taken, Meg was standing beside me at first but jumped up the bench to hide when the 5-month old puppies Firefox and Luna and their dad Charlie all decided they want to get a closer look (and a friendly sniff :) ). Atan tells me this breed really are people-friendly and a 100% guaranteed no-biters. Though they might jump at little toy dogs thinking they are rabbits, kicking into their hunter mode instincts. Watch out Billy and Nikki, hehe. Lagot yang toy dog n'yo. But of course, Atan keeps the brood leashed. He says once you let them off the leash here, it will take a lot of chasing to get them back.
[ To read my blog entry on Billy and Nikki click here. ]

Firefox and Luna, being younger and smaller than their parents, were really adorable. Meg even kept saying she wanted Luna for a pet. Problem is, we have no significant experience raising dogs, or any pet for that matter. But not for lack of trying. We had a couple of hamsters about two years ago but they got stinky and lasted for only two weeks, I think.

The four lovebirds lasted longer. Maybe two months or so. One escaped, or we think it escaped. It's possible that unofficial house pets (like big rodents, every house has a few right?) may have had something to do with the "escape". The other three died mysteriously in their cage, like a fight erupted between the three "lovebirds". Maybe the two fought over the one and ended up killing one another, I don't know. Like I said, mysterious.

There was a dog before the hamsters and the lovebirds though. It was a cross-breed, but not a complete askal. It had white fur and had the looks of a Japanese Spitz crossed with a neighbor's pesky dog. Or a pesky neighbor's dog. Cute puppy, but too feisty for Derick [ my son, now 16 y.o. and who's finishing high school in the States ] and Meg to play with and Mom Amine is sort of afraid of dogs. As for me, I didn't want to take all of the responsibility raising the little monster. Good thing the neighbor adopted Elmo, as we called him.

Anyhow, back to the brood we saw at Boni High this Thursday's edition of our running dates. Atan and his girlfriend (I wasn't able to meet her, unfortunately) were taking the "kids" out for a romp at the wide and long open spaces of Bonifacio High Street with a bit of a side trip to Serendra for a cool sip of water at the water features there. For the dogs, that is. Atan mentioned the dogs are really energetic and needed to expend their energies if they, the human owners, wanted to get some peace and quiet when they get home. Hope to see the whole gang again next week. :)

Thursday Run No. 4 -- July 30, 2009

Sheila, Camille, Backy, and Amine before the run. Taken at the gravel parking lot behind Building B:6, again at the Bonifacio High Street complex.



[ Click on the pics to enlarge. Then click on the "Back" button on your browser to come back here. ]




Second shot is clearer. Notice Amine's new iPod arm strap. Pero chopsuey pa rin!












Conti's at Serendra. This place has never failed me so far in terms of waiting for a table. It's so popular among the dining crowd that we have had to wait each time we've gone here to be seated. And two of those occasions our group had to be split into two separate tables not adjacent to each other, including this particular occasion. But, the food is always good and the staff are always courteous.





The gang of girls. The Speed Bagal Angels? How about the Chopsuey Runners. Speed Bagal and the Chopsuey Runners! Parang pangalan ng jologs na banda haha.

Top row: Camille, Backy, and Sheila.
Bottom row: Meg and Mom Amine.







The view opposite Conti's. Lots of people out dining tonight. Celebrity sightings: Heart Evangelista with her Mom (according to Meg's Ate Eden) here in this area, plus Billy Crawford and Nikki Gil with their little companion toy dog later on inside the Hobbes and Landes store on Boni High. This is the 2nd occasion that we have come across these two and next time I'll be sure to take a snapshot of the gang with them. Pakapalan na.





Inside Conti's. Sheila's sister Tintin joined us here. Good thing we had an extra seat courtesy of the group split into two 4-seater tables (I took this photo from the other table). Tin was late but her food was served first! She ordered a slice of cake and a salad dish, which probably explains the quicker service.







King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. These little figurines are amazingly detailed for their size of about 4 inches (?).











This one's Cleopatra's court.

These sets are sold at the Hobbes and Landes store there at Bonifacio High Street. There are other equally detailed sets such as a Chinese Wedding Procession. Unfortunately, I was told that taking photos of the display is not allowed in the store. I'm posting these pics to make up for my violation. It might generate some sales for the store, who knows.

More on Elysees / Elysium

[ This entry is an extension of the Champs-Elysees and the Elysium topic mentioned in another blog entry. Just click here to view that. ]

Elysium / The Elysian Fields. From Greek Mythology. "The Place of the Blessed Dead."
Avenue des Champs-Elysees, Paris, France. Roughly in English, The Avenue of the Place of the Blessed Dead.

[ Click here to read Wikipedia's entry on the Champs-Elysees. ]

General Maximus addressing the Roman Cavalry

Image credit: AmericanRhetoric.com

In one of my favorite films, "Gladiator", Russell Crowe's character mentioned this after-life place to his horsemen, the Roman Cavalry, before a battle. Here's part of what General Maximus said,

"If you find yourself alone, riding in green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled, for you are in Elysium, and you're already dead!"

I remember the word Elysium clearly because I couldn't understand that particular word. I had to turn subtitles on and replay the scene to get it so I could Google it.

It was one of the most powerful scenes in that film. The way Maximus said it, and the way the cavalry reacted showed how endeared the general was to his men. I guess you could say it was an inspiring moment, right before riding their horses toward battle where they could very possibly die. Excellent film. We have it on original DVD in our collection.

One last note. I'm not so sure, but isn't there a Cafe Elysees at Rustan's? Wait, no. It's at SM malls! Well. Bon appetit. :)

'09 Tour De France Final Stage To Paris

I've just finished watching live coverage of the '09 Tour De France's last and final stage race to Paris. Every year this grand tour concludes at the Avenue des Champs-Elysees, a grand and important strip of roadway in Paris marked at one end by the Arc de Triomphe.

The Arc de Triomphe at night. Image credit: Fromparis.com

But don't be fooled by my seemingly cultured writing about Paris because I've only been there by watching this race on cable TV.

The Champs-Elysees, somehow taking its roots from Greek Mythology, roughly translates to "the place of the blessed dead." Interesting isn't it? Well, there is one residential subdivision here within this mega-subdivision BF Paranaque where I live that is called, "The Elysium", also taking its inspiration from the same source. Even more interesting, who would want to live in "the place of the blessed dead"? I might want or could live there but much much later on, if you get what I mean. [ For more on this click here. ]

Anyhow, the TDF for this year is over. The grand tour winner: Alberto Contador of Team Astana. He won the '07 TDF as well but couldn't defend it in '08 as his team wasn't invited to the tour. Contador hails from Spain while Team Astana is owned by the Kazhakstan country/state.

Second place finisher of the tour is Andy Schleck from Luxembourg of Team Saxo Bank. Bjarne Riis is the team's DS.

Third place finisher is Lance Armstrong, the legend who has already won the Tour 7 consecutive times from 1999-2005. Also belonging to Team Astana under the direction of Johan Bruyneel, Lance has come back from after 3 years in retirement to promote his Livestrong Foundation's fight against cancer (and, of course, try to win it for the 8th time). He's big on this front as he is a cancer survivor even before his reign in the Tour De France. I suspect there might be a few more reasons for his comeback such as writing another book, win more endorsement contracts, and just generally make lots more money. Who could blame him. Johan also happens to be Lance's DS during his 7-year reign of the tour.

The North Sidewalk of the Champs-Elysees. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

Biggest losers of the tour are Carlos Sastre and Cadel Evans. Carlos was the '08 winner with Cadel as 2nd place finisher in a race that didn't include Lance and Alberto. This year, they did not even figure in the top 10. They're big losers, imho, not just because of their poor performances but more because of their attitudes. Grumbling and taking out their bitterness on the media. Too bad for you guys.

To end with a positive note, the Cav, the Manx Missile from the Isle of Man, Mark Cavendish wins this elite sprinters' stage at the Champs-Elysees and takes 6 stage wins throughout the '09 TDF!

Thursday Run No. 3 -- July 23, 2009

View from behind the B:6 Building where we parked

Camille, Amine, and Bambi before the run


Sheila, Camille, Backy, Amine, and Bambi at Stock Market
[Obviously, I'll need steadier hands when I take photos.]


Copyright 2009 speedbagal.blogspot.com

Chopsuey Runners

Chopsuey Runners made an appearance at the Bonifacio High Street running grounds this evening, running among the clueless casual runners of the Thursday group. They were there tonight, clearly wearing what one cousin would describe as chopsuey.

Inspired by cousin Nino when he advised wife Sheila and sister Camille against wearing chopsuey running apparel, "O, baka naman 'chopsuey' ang isuot n'yo d'on!", it was decided by Speed Bagal to attempt to explain it here.

Well, what did Nino mean to tell Sheila and Camille?

It's quite simple. If you like to eat vegetable dishes and you're Filipino you already know Chopsuey, a local food delicacy commonly prepared at home. It's a Chinese dish made by combining several vegetables and cooking the assortment in some sort of sauce. Here's the Chopsuey formula.

Gulay A + Gulay B + Gulay C + ... + Gulay Z + Sauce = CHOPSUEY

Clearly, my knowledge in food preparation is questionable, but my Math skills appear to be of some value. Ano naman koneksyon n'on?

Anyway, take the Chopsuey formula above and apply it to a runner's brand selection in running apparel and accessories, and... voila! The Chopsuey Runner is born.

So, who are the select few, the chosen ones, the creme de la creme of "Chopsuey Runners" at the Thursday group run tonight, July 23 '09?

• Amine. Equipe top, Old Navy shorts, Adidas shoes. Check. Chopsuey Runner #1.
• Bong. Accel top, Oakley shorts, Adidas shoes. Check. Chopsuey Runner #2.
• Camille. ?
• Backy. ?
• Sheila. ?
• Bambi. Please see below.

The last member of tonight's group is a 1st time guest. We're not yet sure if she will come back next Thursday (please do ^-^) but she deserves special mention here because she came in a COMPLETE bright red outfit by Nike! Wow!

• Red Nike dry fit shirt. Check.
• Red Nike shorts. Check.
• Offwhite Nike running shoes with red swoosh. Check.
• Price tags still on shirt, shorts, and shoes. Check, check, check!
• With matching iPod arm strap. Wow!

Congrats, Bambi! You're not a Chopsuey Runner tonight but better luck next time. Galing mo talaga mag-English bro. :)

2009 Tour De France

Are you into cycling? I am. Just more of a spectator and follower of the Tour De France now though. It's held every month of July, a three-week race consisting of some twenty consecutive day races they call stages broken up by just two separate rest days. It's intense racing for sure especially during the mountain stages where the men are separated from the boys.

Image credit: Cyclingfans.com

You'll find the most elite in professional cycling here. The likes of Lance Armstrong, George Hincapie, Christian Vande Velde, Alberto Contador, Jens Voigt, Mark Cavendish, and Thor Hushovd to name a few that stand out in the 2009 Tour De France. This race is ongoing at the time of this writing over there in... wherelse, France. Some stages cross the borders into other countries like Spain, Italy, and Switzerland. This year the TDF started in Monaco -- is that a country? I'm not so sure. I follow this year's event on [www.velonews.com].

The best of the best professional team managers, or as they are known in the cycling world, the Directeurs Sportifs (or just plain DS) give yet another face and personality to the sport with the interviews they give the media. The likes of Johan Bruyneel and Bjarne Riis who have been professional cyclists themselves before entering team management play a big part in the professional cycling scene.

I discovered the Tour De France when I lived in the States. My brother Ted was sort of following it because it was the Lance era back then and I got hooked. Been following it for some years now.

As for me riding a bike, I do it occasionally. Maybe if there was a group I could join I might take it up.

P.S.
Can't write about this sport without mention of the voices of the Tour De France -- Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen. This awesome broadcasting pair on the Versus.com staff covering the race from year to year gives the best audio narrative and commentary on the planet. It's just not the same experience without these two providing the live coverage and witty commentary that they are famous for. They're on [www.versus.com/tdf].

About The Photos

Surfing the net allows me to stumble upon beautiful and interesting photos taken by others. In appreciation for their work, I'm putting them on show here in Speed Bagal. Of course, with proper credit given to the source like the one here below.

Image credit: Wikimedia.org

Some of the photos relate to running in general while some are specific to the blog entry they appear in. Some photos are posted because they are interesting.

But most of the photos you'll find "on show" here are posted for the basic reason that they are just plain beautiful sceneries. And I have a yen for beautiful sceneries.

Not too many will agree with the format, but that's one thing about blogging that I like -- I'm my own editor-in-chief. :-)

Back To The Starting Line

At the 2009 Globe Run For Home race, an entertaining instance happened as we watched the stream of 10K runners getting out of the starting chute. Toward the tail end of the group, as the last maybe 50 runners were leaving the chute, the emcees were alerting the 5K and 3K runners to get ready to file into the road section marked for the starting area fenced in with sturdy steel barriers.

Image credit: img.wallpaperstock.net

As this was announced, I spotted a small group of friends among the 10K runners making their jolly way out of the starting gate. I don't know, maybe four or five of them who were wearing race bibs with the same color theme as mine -- yellow numbers on red background which was designated for the 5K category! Yet they started with the 10K group. They were obviously unaware of their predicament as they were chattering excitedly with each other.

But upon hearing the announcement they slowly realized they had started with the wrong run group and, with a collective confused look on their faces, they looked at each other, causing a minor traffic jam among the 10K runners behind them while they slowed down to a stop right in front of us. Their faces have turned red with embarassment just before I heard them utter these words,

UY, TEKA!! DI BA SA 5K TAYO ?!? BALIK! BALIK!