2007 MCP Holy Week City Run

This year, we planned the city run to be more than just a drive around the city. We not only wanted to enjoy the traffic-free streets, and the sights, but we also wanted to stop by some churches along the way.

Our final and actual route took us through UP, the Quezon City Circle, Quezon Blvd, SANTO DOMINGO Church, Espana Blvd, UST CHAPEL, SAN SEBASTIAN CHURCH, BINONDO CHURCH, STA CRUZ CHURCH, MANILA CATHEDRAL, and SHRINE OF JESUS (MALL OF ASIA) CATHEDRAL. (that's 7 churches)

Assembly was at 2:30pm at GONUTS DONUTS at the FORT where we were treated to a free DONUT and COFFEE. BUTCH DE OCAMPO, owner of GONUTS, was in Bacolod, but he made sure we were taken care of by his very polite staff. We took off at about 3:25pm after that nice treat.

Along the way, CHET DE GUIA's clutch gave way as we entered the UP campus. ROLLY and JOEYP stayed with Chet until the tow truck was confirmed to be on its way. The rest of us parked and waited about a kilometer ahead. (By the time we got the news we were already way ahead.)

We skipped Quiapo Church and Quiapo Blvd, as many reminded me that it was where we got stuck last year. Without the police escorts, it would be a traffic nightmare along Quiapo Blvd.

Traffic turned out to be quite light and not bad at all, but the parking at the churches were a bit heavy. So we were quite lucky to have been able to park and enter the churches of UST and BINONDO.

We were also able to stop at JONES BRIDGE, and at the MANILA POST OFFICE building to take pictures. Something we could never have done if it were not a holiday, and if we were not a big VIP-looking group.
We skipped the QUIRINO GRANDSTAND this year, but we were able to stop by the RIZAL MONUMENT for some rare shots.

Our last stop was at 6:15pm at the MALL OF ASIA open space fronting the SPLANADE, to take sunset pictures before proceeding to the Shrine of Jesus (MOA) cathedral.

Our city fun run officially ended around 7:00pm with a fun drive all the way to the end of the MACAPAGAL HIWAY and back. After that cool drive, many bid goodbye to each other, while the rest of us decided to stop at the YELLOW CAB PIZZA to have our drinks and pizza.

Paricipants were:
1. Jomari Cortes
2. Jones Kingsu and his girlfriend
3. Keith Sundiang
4. Chet de Guia and his wife
5. Alfie Rufino
6. Santy Lomotan
7. Ramon Villacorta
8. Edrich Santos and a friend
9. Jeric Mariano
10. Joji Mariano
11. Lito Ignacio (in his Caprice)
12. Joey Pery
13. Eddie Salonga and his wife
14. Chito Frondoso
15. JR Tanpinco
16. Rolly Lim and a friend
17. Lino Zamora
18. Ezra Bocobo
19. Norman Castillo

I hope all the participants thought it was a great run. This is the first time that we stopped by the churches, and also at the landmarks of BINONDO PLAZA, JONES BRIDGE, and the MANILA POST OFFICE. Thanks to BUTCH DE OCAMPO for the GONUTS DONUTS, to JOEY P for an excellent job as SWEEPER.... to KEITH and JERIC for taking a lot of pictures. Thanks also to JOEY PERY and ROLLY LIM for keeping CHET company while he was arranging for the tow truck. By the way, I had a little bit of difficulty leading the convoy, as only a few had brought their radios. I hope more will have radios for the next fun run. Makes it a lot easier for all.

Chito Frondoso

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