CEBU CITY – It was not yet Cebu’s annual religious festival – the world-renowned Sinulog.
Sinulog is held every the third Sunday of January in honor of the Señor Sto. Niño.
But on a cool Sunday morning (Sept. 29), close to 24,000 running enthusiasts transformed the famous Osmeña Boulevard into a “sea of green” as they took part in what was another blockbuster Cebu edition of the 43rd National Milo Marathon.
Minus the replica of Sto. Niño and street dancing, a mini-Sinulog atmosphere pervaded the city.
The race, according to Nestle Philippines Sports Executive Lester Castillo, drew 23,738 runners with the bulk of the participants – 21,186 – competed in the 5-kilometer contest under the One Team, One Nation, Go Philippines theme.
The rest – 1,250 of them signed up for the 3K category, 723 in 10K while the premier 21K attracted 579 battle-tested runners.
While most of the participants battled it out for the prizes and freebies, only few earned the rights to represent the region in the National Finals slated in January next year in Tarlac City.
But some joined the event in response to the call of event’s organizers to practice an active and healthy lifestyle.
“We want to promote active and healthy lifestyle. That’s the essence of the Milo Marathon. It is our belief that it is through having a healthy family that we can have a healthy nation,” said Castillo.
Yes, Milo Marathon is not just about runners blasting from the starting line and breasting the tape at the finish line like the way “The Flash” chases an enemy of the state.
Not only that.
The event gained more prominence for its generosity under its “Help Give Shoes” advocacy where rubber shoes are given to select students.
This time, students from the Cebu City Central School and Camp Lapu-Lapu Elementary School were the recipients of the rubber shoes.
“We have given 80,000 shoes since the project started. We launched this project because we believe that it increases the interest of the children to get into sports,” said Willy de Ocampo, Business Executive Officer and Vice President of Nestle Philippines.
This year’s turnout is the third biggest in the history of the Cebu leg – the 2002 edition lured 27,000 runners, setting a record for the most number of participants in the Visayas and Mindanao legs.
It could have been more but local organizer Ricky Ballesteros opted to limit the entries for the safety of the runners.
CORE MISSION
De Ocampo noted that in the Cebu leg, 85 percent of the participants are students, something that is very essential in accomplishing Milo Marathon’s core mission.
“The role of Milo is to see to it that parents would realize the importance of getting their children into sports. We want their children to become a champion not just in sports but also in life,” said De Ocampo.
The most notable product of Milo Marathon is Mary Joy Tabal, who was a constant figure in Milo races before becoming an Olympian.
“Mary Joy, now a six-time Milo Marathon champion, is one of our products. She was a student when she started joining Milo Marathons and look where she is now?” De Ocampo said.
The Milo Marathon is just one of the few races sanctioned by the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA).
“By tying up with Patafa, we can help sustain the running aspirations of our athletes,” said De Ocampo.
WINNERS
And so when the dust of intense battle in the women’s 21K cleared, a familiar face emerged.
It was that of Ruffa Sorongon, who for the fourth year, humbled almost the same field.
She clocked one hour, 31 minutes and 31 seconds to beat Evamie Villarin and Engie Estillor, who finished second and third in 1:32:02 and 1:41:16, respectively.
Prince Joey Lee reigned supreme in the men’s side in 1:11:59
Ariel Saballa came in second (1:14:29), while Florendo Lapiz wound up third (1:14:40).
More than the prized they garnered, Sorongon and Lee qualified to the Milo Marathon National Finals slated in January next year in Tarlac City.
Emerging victorious in the 10K race were Kenyan Eric Chepsiror and Milessa Dinneen, Johnn Marie Dizon and Asia Abucay Paraase in men’s and women’s 5K while Louis Gabriel Ariola triumphed in 3K race.
Women’s 3K crown went to Laurence Yvony Garcia. (Calvin Cordova)
