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Philippine Marathon for the . FEBRUARY 25 Run, river, run 2007

Other marathons are used as vehicles to push corporate interests, the PMPR is organized to call for the continued rehabilitation of the Pasig River so that it will again be able to host marine life

By Che Velasco-Alberto me to get involved. The race is both interests, the PMPR is organized to took the chance to notify the an environmental event and the call for the continued rehabilitation communities and districts along the country’s only international of the Pasig River so that it will route of the main race three This race was conceived to nurture marathon. It has been on the AIMS again be able to host marine life. Sundays later. This reminds them awareness of the sad plight of the Calendar since 2005. that their support is needed once Pasig River, the ’ most My interest was pricked. I joined again. historic and beloved inland In the year 2000, the Clean & the PMPR Advocacy Run on 28 waterway, and to advocate for its Green Foundation launched the January. This is a novel pre- event Even this early I could already feel continued rehabilitation. Worthy, of Pasig River Heritage Marathon. activity with manifold objectives. the enthusiasm of the people and course, although I had my doubts With international accreditation it First was to familiarise the marshals their communities. It was not so about a marathon being organized was renamed the Philippine and the lead car with the race surprising, because the Clean & by an environmental organisation. Marathon for the Pasig River route. Second was to familiarise Green Foundation had been What do they know about road (PMPR). While other local runners and their different running conducting running clinics with races? But it makes sense. The marathons are staged by clubs with it. Third was to make dialogues on water conservation Pasig River is biologically dead, and professional event organizers, the final measurements to ensure that and solid waste management year- the country has long been PMPR is run by environmental the route is exactly 42.195km, in round in these communities for clamouring for its rehabilitation. activists. While other marathons are conformity with international rules. more than a decade, which also All the more reason for runners like used as vehicles to push corporate Finally, the race organisers also serve the purpose of building

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MEN: 1 Eduardo BUENAVISTA PHI 2:23:08 2Cresciano SABAL PHI 2:27.54 3 Rolando PIAMONTE PHI 2:34:58 4 Robert WANGBUGU 2:36.27 5Reynaldo DE LOS REYES PHI 2:37:43 6 Rogelio SARMIENTO PHI 2:37:55

RESULT 7 Mamerto CORPUZ PHI 2:40:16 8 Rodolfo TACADINO PHI 2:41:11 9 Modesto MADALANG PHI 2:41:18 10 Tacelo MARSON PHI 2:41:56 WOMEN 1Joan BANAYAG PHI 3:05:42 2Flordeliza CARREON PHI 3:12:12 3 Ailene TOLENTINO PHI 3:17:57 4 Mila PAJE PHI 3:37:56 5 Cinderella AGANA PHI 3:39:26 6 Geraldin SEALZA PHI 3:42:43 7 Genevieve DE LA PENA PHI 3:50:00 8 Jenny KINSELLA 3:50:29 9 Daisy CASTILLON PHI 3:58:51 10 Fiona OTTIGER 3:59.08 10KM MEN: 1 Rene HERRERA PHI 31:53 2 Julius SERMONA PHI 32:14 3Reynaldo PASCUA PHI 32:51 WOMEN: 1 Mercedita MANIPOL PHI 37:27 2 Marecil MAQUILAN PHI 39:18 3 Liza YAMBAO PHI 40:12

Migratory birds were sweeping low while river boats left behind demure ripples on the glassy water surface. Water hyacinths dotted the scene with their beautiful purple flowers. But I also saw how dark the river looked. I saw garbage being dragged along by the Pasig’s sluggish current. How wonderful it would be to run not for the momentum for Marathon Day. bank, altogether nine times, by way out-and-back, like many other road rehabilitation of the river but to These communities are the main of the bridges that span the Pasig. races in the country. It goes from celebrate its rebirth as a clean and supporters of the marathon, and the one place to another. I had to pay living waterway. Marathon is only the culmination There are dozens of universities attention to make sure I took the of a 12-month education, along the PMPR route. Some of right turns on the maze-like streets After more than three hours I information and advocacy program them are among the oldest in Asia. of my city, as we were instructed finally reached the finish line at the for the rehabilitation of the River. There are churches built during during the Advocacy Run three ultra-modern Global City near the Spanish colonial times, testifying to Sundays before. I also had to pay Pasig River’s main tributary, the So there I was on race day. Unlike ’s undisputed and long-held attention to the motor traffic that de Bai. The finish line is as marathons in most other countries, role as the Asian outpost of was already stirring at that time. To historic as the starting point. The the start was at 04.30. Running a Christianity. There are grand my relief, the jeepneys and private Marathon is not just a race. It is a marathon in a tropical country like government buildings and vehicles gave us runners all the journey from the old to the new; the Philippines, while the sun is museums. The route also includes space we needed to navigate the from the historic past to the future; high, is simply not good for one’s the country’s biggest public park, a roads with relative ease. from old ways to new health and performance. Nearly site where many heroic martyrs environmentally-responsive ways. 1000 runners gathered inside the gave up their lives to achieve After leaving the old city of Manila And from a dead river to a river old capital city of in independence from their colonial the towering skyscrapers of the reborn. Manila. Intramuros is itself one of masters. financial district loomed the most historical spots of the ahead just as the sun was peeking I will do better next time. I will country, with its colonial churches, What gave me an extra kick was out. And because it was getting have a deeper appreciation of why buildings, houses and parks. Its how the local people woke up so light already, I noticed exactly why the Marathon is run. I will run to significance as the marathon’s start early to set up water stations. They this race is run. In the diffuse light better my time. I will try to win. line was not lost on me. Intramuros loudly cheered us on, as if we were of the early morning, I saw the But I will also run for a clean and is well known for its location at the heroes in our own right. Young and beauty of the Pasig River. living Pasig River. mouth of the Pasig River. old alike manned kilometre markers and turn points, making sure that From here we traversed roads along no runner could get lost. I felt what RACE CONTACT DETAILS the river banks. All along the route, millions of other runners must feel PHILIPPINES MARATHON – PASIG RIVER, FEBRUARY we ran by heritage buildings, when participating in other in-city Imelda P. Sarmiento, The Orchidarium/Butterfly Pavillion, houses, institutions and marathons. This is our very own Teodoro Valencia Circle, Park, Manila communities whose history is version of the New York, Boston, Tel: 632 527 6376 Fax:632 527 6379 closely intertwined with the River. or Berlin marathon. Email: [email protected] Inet: wwww.heritagemarathon.com Without the River, they would not have been built where they now The race’s unique route posed an Full race contact listings start on page 70 stand. We crossed from bank to equally unique challenge. It is not

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