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So I got there around 5PM. I went ahead of my usual Monday running mate, Linux Geekette, just hoping to be there early and not rushing to finish up when she finishes running at the track oval.

I went straight to the track oval/swimming pool ticket booth. The track oval is priced at P29; the swimming pool is priced at P43 in case you want to ask.

I asked the ticket man before I purchased my ticket:

Was the pool exclusive to the group swimming there today?

TM: Yes, it’s exclusive. It’s for the swim team.

Me: Oh, Ok…

TM: And the pools is up to 4:30PM only. And it’s closed on Mondays.

Me: I see. What time is it open to the public?

TM: 8-11AM and 1-4:30PM.

I then let a few ticket purchasers to buy their ticket and then asked again.

Me: How ’bout weekends?

TM: The schedule is posted over there. (Points to some general direction) Near the guard’s table.

Me: Ok, thanks anyway.

Then I proceed to check the so-called schedule he was saying.

The conversation actually transpired in the local dialect. And TM (that’s ticket man) responded in a very rude voice and with a frown on his face. Seemingly hating me more and more for every question I asked. I would have given him the right to be rude if the schedule was actually posted in plain view at the ticket booth. But no, it was way over there, near the gates before you step in the pool area. For any newbies, you wouldn’t even think of going there to check. So I assume that I could ask. Alas, questioning is so not welcome for that man.

I actually googled about swimming at Ultra before but I was unlucky to stumble upon a blog detailing it. So for those who are also curious to know. Here’s the Philsports pool schedule:

Mondays and Holidays: CLOSED

Tuesdays to Sundays: 8-11AM and 1-4:30PM

Although, I’m not sure of other exclusive pool schedules such as swimming team, summer swimming class, or the underwater hockey team trainings.

As for me, maybe I’ll try swimming there again this coming Saturday. Maybe not. I’m hoping I can get guest passes to one of those exclusive clubhouses around the OBD (that’s Ortigas Business District) instead. Papa-dear said that he will ask a friend if he could help me get in one.

Or if you have suggestions on a lap pool that is clean and budget-friendly that I could try. Or maybe you could get me in as guest to some member’s only pool. Hey, do drop me a message. It’ll be greatly appreciated.

Addendum: After poking my nose around forums. I realized I haven’t researched enough. Haha The schedule of the pool at Ultra is out there. I could’ve saved myself from that unnecessary trip today or of the encounter with that ticket man. And there’s another public, well-kept pool to consider Makati Aquatic Sports Arena or MASA at Makati with a more worker-friendly hours than Ultra. Their pool is open from 8AM-8PM, fee is P150 for non-Makati residents; P50 for Makati dwellers. Oh, just to beat the summer heat!

I just had to run Tuesday night. The weather promised a no-rain evening, I was not bitten by the lazy-ass-bug that day, and I was feeling a bit sluggish after weeks of nil exercise. So I asked a couple of my office buddies to run with me yet again at the Ultra oval. I said, they needed to see the newly installed fence there.

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I promised myself that I’ll resume on Wednesday night. Come Wednesday night, last night, no internet. I had a feeling that the modem itself was faulty. I still proceeded to go through the basic troubleshooting of PLDT’s ZyXel P600 modem a number of times. When I was able to connect to the internet after a number of tries, I swallowed my pride and called 171 and allowed the tech support to guide me through what I was been doing on my own. When we were unable to retrieve a valid IP, she promised that someone will attend to my problem within 24 hours and she even apologizes for the hassle this caused me.

This morning, papa FYI’d me that the PLDT technician came to replace the modem and that internet is up and running again! Yey! Kudos to the speedy resolution to this problem, PLDT. I was actually expecting I’ll have to make a call again tonight regarding this.