Life Of Toma

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20/07/2026

Capping off my 10-day Iloilo trip with a 25-kilometer long run with MCRC. metalcorefitnessjaro

I’m very fortunate to have ended my trip running with such a great community, filled with amazing people. They took me through the streets of Iloilo City, from the bike lanes of Diversion Road to Sunset Boulevard, the Esplanade, and even my favorite merienda spot, Roberto’s Siopao. It ended up being one of my favorite long runs of 2026.

When I came to Iloilo, I knew I was going to have a good time, but I never expected it to be as great as it was. I’ll make a separate video talking more about the trip, but through this final run, I just want to say thank you to the people of Iloilo. Thank you to the runners. Thank you to everyone I met along the way.

A huge shoutout to Arvin Villanueva Antolino for helping us throughout the entire trip!

I know I sound like a broken record at this point, but Iloilo has beautiful roads for running, great food, clean streets, rich history, and, above all, incredible people.

This definitely won’t be my last visit. I’m hoping to be back for the Heritage Run in January if the schedule lines up.

Brev, what a trip.

19/07/2026

I spent a night in Bacolod to visit more ancestral homes in Silay and a few other tourist attractions. But of course, a big reason was to try the famous chicken inasal, and all I can say is it did not disappoint.

As always, I couldn’t leave a new place without going for a run. Based on your recommendations, I headed to Upper East by Megaworld. Overall, it was a great route. The roads were wide, clean, and very runner-friendly. There were plenty of walkers and runners out that morning, which made the atmosphere even better.

Beyond the running, this trip around Iloilo City and Bacolod City gave me a much greater appreciation for Philippine history. Learning about the cities themselves, their heritage, and the families who helped shape them made the experience so much more meaningful.

I know I’m primarily a running content creator, not a travel creator, but if there’s one thing I’d encourage everyone to do, it’s to travel more locally. Enjoy the food, take the photos, and relax, but also take some time to learn the history of the places you visit. It gives you a deeper appreciation for where we came from and helps you better understand the country we live in today.

18/07/2026

Before going to Bacolod, I did an early morning run at the Iloilo Esplanade. This is another great option to run, walk, or simply enjoy a stroll along the river.

At one of the entrances to the Esplanade, you’ll be greeted by a huge 3D mural of the Dinagyang warriors, so you can’t miss it. The route itself is around three kilometers one way, and as usual, it’s very clean.

This is actually something I want to highlight. I’ve talked a lot about the food, the history, and the people of Iloilo, but I also have to talk about its cleanliness. The city is incredibly clean. You hardly see any trash on the main roads or even in the residential areas.

At first, I thought maybe it was just Iloilo City that was this clean. But after doing a tour of the southern part of the province, I realized that the surrounding areas are just as well maintained. It’s such a beautiful sight to see.

So if you’re going for a run that’s less than an hour, I’d definitely recommend the Esplanade. If you’re planning a longer run, then Sunset Boulevard is still the better option.

17/07/2026

Heading to Bacolod today from Iloilo. We took the OceanJet boat, so here’s a quick rundown of the experience.

Overall, it was a great ride. The sea was very calm, and as someone who’s very prone to motion sickness, I had a very comfortable trip. We opted for the business class seats, which were spacious, reclined pretty far, and came with air conditioning. In fact, it was quite chilly inside the cabin.

It cost us ₱900 each one way, and the ride took about an hour to an hour and a half. I honestly don’t remember exactly because I took a nap. 😅 Smooth experience overall.

While I’m in Bacolod, my main objective is to eat really good chicken inasal, explore the city, and maybe visit some ancestral homes in Silay. Then we’re heading back to Iloilo tomorrow afternoon, but before that, we’ll be doing an easy run around the streets of Bacolod.

If anyone has recommendations for a good place to run, let me know in the comments!

16/07/2026

Yesterday, I ran a speed session at the Iloilo Sports Complex.

I had a great time running here. The sports complex is very complete, with a multi-lane track, football field, swimming pool, volleyball court, and basketball court. I believe some renovations are also being made to further improve the facilities.

Once again, one of the most memorable parts of the experience was the people. The person manning the area was very nice and courteous. He greeted us good morning, and when we were about to leave, he even brought us chairs outside the track while we waited for our Grab.

The people on the track were also very friendly, with several runners greeting us good morning. I also had a short chat with one of the runners who was in the trenches with me, doing his own set of intervals.

Overall, I think looking for local tracks whenever I’m traveling so I can still get my speed workouts in will definitely continue to be part of my itinerary.

15/07/2026

Yesterday, I did an easy run at Sunset Boulevard here in Iloilo.

It’s such a beautiful, long stretch to run in. Since I prefer running in the morning, I ended up catching the sunrise instead of the sunset, but the views were still incredible. It’s a nice change of scenery compared to running through the city surrounded by buildings.

The whole area is very runner and walker friendly, with wide, clean, and safe sidewalks. This was actually the dark stretch during the Puma Half Marathon, so I knew I had to come back during the day because I had a feeling it would look even better. I wasn’t wrong.

From Friday to Saturday morning, I’ll be in Bacolod, where I’ll probably squeeze in another easy run before heading back to Iloilo on Saturday afternoon. Then on Sunday, I’ll do my long run before flying back home to Manila.

If you’re looking for a good place to run in Iloilo, Sunset Boulevard is definitely worth checking out. One tip though, if you’re a morning runner like me, try to start early. By around 7 a.m., the roads going back toward the Atria area start getting busy because of the nearby schools.

14/07/2026

Road racing tips from someone who doesn’t race often (but will start racing more on the near future)

13/07/2026

Here’s my review of the Puma Half Marathon in Iloilo.

I really enjoyed the experience from start to finish. It was a very well-organized event. The roads were wide, clean, and made for a great course.

My only feedback is that the stretch along Sunset Boulevard was quite dark. Some additional lighting would have been appreciated there. Nevertheless, there was still enough light to keep the roads visible and the runners safe. It was a long, enjoyable stretch, and I’m sure if I ran there during the day, the view of the river beside it would be beautiful.

The people here were also incredibly friendly. A handful of runners said hi to me both on the course and around the race village, which made the experience even better. I also got to meet the race director while picking up my race kit and again before the start. Super nice guy, very friendly, and genuinely accommodating to all the runners.

The hydration stations were placed perfectly, around every 1.5 to 2 kilometers, so I never felt like I was waiting too long for the next one.

The medal was also really nice, and so were the race singlet and finisher shirt. Everything was great quality.

Overall, I had a fantastic experience. This event will always have a special place in my heart since it’s where I set my current half marathon personal best. If you’re looking for a fast course and a great atmosphere for a PR attempt, I’d definitely recommend coming to Iloilo.

This race also reignited my enjoyment of organized events. I’ve done a lot of time trials on my own or with a few friends, but nothing quite matches the energy of lining up with hundreds of other runners. That atmosphere gives you an extra boost that you just can’t replicate.

So for my next 10K PR attempt, I’ll definitely be doing it in an organized race.

Just finished the Puma Half Marathon here in Iloilo.I had such a great time running on such beautiful, clean, and wide r...
11/07/2026

Just finished the Puma Half Marathon here in Iloilo.

I had such a great time running on such beautiful, clean, and wide roads. It was a very flat course and definitely a great option for anyone looking to go for a PR.

So I decided to just send it.

I didn’t have any half marathon-specific training as I was primarily focused on the 5K, but to my surprise, I was still able to pull this one off.

Coming off a 5K PR just a few days ago, and a very heavy leg day the following day, I’m honestly surprised my legs still had the strength to hold the pace and even finish faster over the second half of the race.

Something I’m not able to document as much is the work I do in the gym, but with the help and guidance of Coach Migs Mendoza and South Strength Lab I’ve been able to build much more durable legs. This is definitely the strongest I’ve felt in a very long time.

I’ve got eight more days here in Iloilo, plus a couple of days in Bacolod. Looking forward to exploring both cities and hopefully getting to run with some local run clubs.

Next stop: a 10K PR attempt this August.

11/07/2026

Lots I want to share over the next few days

For now we will enjoy the next few days here in Iloilo before we go to Bacolod at the end of the week

I will also be running the Puma Half Marathon tomorrow. I look forward to running around Iloilo city, I heard it’s a great place to run in and I can’t wait to experience it myself.

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