A Serene San Juanico Bridge Run: “I Shall Return!”

Tacloban City, Leyte is fast becoming one of the highly urbanized cities in the Philippine Islands. I call this city a ‘Gateway City’.

San Juanico, Bridge

The first team of Spaniards led by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 came to Rajah Kolambu in Limasawa Island, Southern Leyte. The start of the 377 years of colonization of the Philippines.

The San Juanico Bridge is very significant because it connected these two islands, Samar and Leyte, the first to be named, Las Islas Filipinas (after King Philip II of Spain) by Ruy Lopez de Villalobos in 1543. The name would later be given to the entire archipelago.

And of course, the fulfillment of the promise made by General Douglas McArthur during the World War II, “I shall return!” happened here.
 
In preparation for the Grand opening of the Robinsons mall in the city (June 11, 2009), Mayor Alfred Romualdez and his wife Kristina had a dinner, a night before the opening, with the Gokongweis' (one of the five brothers and his wife, Lance, Frederick, Robina and company) plus the Former mayor Bejo Romualdez, his dad.  Alfred thought of inviting me as well since I was in town. It was an interesting dinner.

Early the next morning, one the mayor’s drivers accompanied me up to the foot of the famous San Juanico Bridge. From there, I run in a cool, wet, a bit drizzling, overlooking the sea, the islands, a lone fisherman on a boat. While running, I greeted the man on the bangka, and he waved back. The bridge is about 2.16 kilometers. So I crossed it four times.

This run was the most serene run I had ever experience. Amazingly beautiful.

I have nothing to say but “I Shall Return!”

June 11, 2009, 5:55AM
Time                   59’39”
Pace         6:29 min/km     
Distance           9.19km

Comments

[jamboy]

[this is good] nice photo! are you the one running on the bridge? :-)

[Russ DG]

This is an awesome view. I could imagine the amazement while you're doing your rounds.

[Ferdie Cabiling]

i know. by just looking at the picture above, you could tell how i enjoyed the run...:)

[Ferdie Cabiling]

yes junn. can you not see me? i was the one hidden behind the trusses...1.9km away from the shot..lol.