by Kenneth K. Ong
Much like aAbox of chocolates, every year is dotted with many different adventures with many different characters that are more colorful than the roles in any Shakespearean play. And to cap of the year, I was fortunate enough as to be invited to Columbia Sportswear Company’s City Race Challenge.
Joining the wacky city-wide race were other lifestyle and business writers in the metro. I was fortunate enough to be paired with photographer extraordinary and travel writer Jojie Alcantara for the race that involved some brain games, lots of running about the different malls of Davao, durian eating (take note, I don’t eat durian), and of course strategic planning.
It was actually the first time for everyone to join a city race competition and that is why Columbia decided to hold such a race in lieu of the usual Christmas party which I believe is a masterstroke. Not only were the teams able to experience the city in a different perspective, but we were also able to experience something we just usually just see on television.
After around two and a half hours of hectic running and hailing taxis in the middle of traffic while wearing bright lime colored shirts, me and Jojie finally finished the race and viola! We came up second even after all the deductions, although the runaway winners composed of the team of Rhonson Ng and Arthur Yap were much further ahead.
But much like every year, given the many twists, turns and challenges, what is important is how we face the challenges with a smile on our faces.
