Adults and even kids have found an even better reason to get up early and enjoy their weekend as they join the Rotary Club of Pinamalayan Central (RCPC) and their “Run & Ride 2022” fun run for a cause last Saturday morning, October 15 at the Pinamalayan Municipal Plaza.
In support of Rotary International’s 35th year of the campaign towards the eradication of polio, the Rotary Club of Pinamalayan Central (RCPC) once again organized an annual fun run for a cause event. Unlike the motorcade event usually held in the previous rotary years, this year’s event featured an actual race, with fun prizes for the top finishers in all categories.
Over 100 participants have shown up with RCPC and Run Pinamalayan to support one of Rotary International’s longest-running advocacy, the End Polio campaign. Race categories included 3k, 5k, and 10k courses divided between Male and Female types.
For this year’s event, RCPC also enlisted the support of Run Pinamalayan, the Cycling Club of Pinamalayan, MDRRMO, the local police and firefighters, and Rotarian and Pinamalayan Municipal Mayor Aristeo Baldos Jr.
“Kahanga-hanga ang fun run ng Rotary Club na ginagawa taon- taon,” he said.
In his opening remarks, Mayor Baldos also expressed support for the cause by joining the event and welcoming the participants, including young athletes from Run Pinamalayan and Metamorphosis.
Aside from helping the End Polio advocacy, which is already a good motivation, participants, including Mayor Baldos, joined coach Florendo Mayo for a session of Zumba, consequently promoting a healthy lifestyle.
RCPC President Dr. Maria Imelda Soller also brought the pep rally for the event, announcing that the proceeds of the fun run will benefit the End Polio beneficiaries and other RCPC community service projects.
She said, “Hindi ito isang simpleng fun run dahil yung portion ng proceeds ng fun run ay itutulong natin sa End Polio campaign ng Rotary International, particularly sa mga bansang Afghanistan and Pakistan kung saan hindi pa nai-eradicate ang polio.”
Run Pinamalayan founder Coach Rai Cabanig gave the race brief at exactly 6:00 a.m., announcing the pit stops at Highway Petrol (3km), Petro Gazz (5km), and ZJ Fuel (10km). He also shared that students, running enthusiasts, police officers, and firefighters, among others, are joining the race when it starts at 6:15 a.m. The event was graced by the newly-appointed PNP Chief of Police PLTCOL Juan D. Calaluan, who also joined the 3-km race.
Medals and Php 1000.00 in cash prizes were given to the Top 3 male and female winners in the 3k, 5k, and 10k categories, while Php 1,500.00 and Php 2000.00 in cash prizes were awarded to the Top 2 and male and female champions of the 3k, 5k, and 10k categories. Fun prizes were also given to other participant runners via a raffle draw at the closing ceremony.
The event winners were named as follows: For the 10-km Male category, Dino, with bib number 10008, bagged first place, followed by Roco Gerard and Mark Metes. Elizabeth Singil is the only female participant and winner in the 10-km Female category.
In the 5-km Male category, Kurt (50008) was named champion and brought home Php 2,000.00 in cash; the second placer was Jemuel S. (50013) who received Php 1,500.00, and the third placer was Raizel Marciano (50006) who received a medal and Php 1,000.00. In the Female category the organizers named Christine Tapao (10019) as champion, while Michelle Matining (50024), and runner 50027 placed second and third, respectively.
In the 3-km race, Vincent Angelo Meneses (30022) was named as the Male champion, Zeus Pantoja (30029) as second and Zaic Howard Manalo (30012) as third. The Female category also named the champion as Rain Ambat (30021), while runners in second and third place were identified as Jairsaje Villamin (10032) and Bianca Caquioa (30002), respectively.
After acknowledging the support and presence of this year’s event sponsors, including Istasyong Pinoy, Micro Petrol, Goody Goody banana chips, Sunlife, VT & Sons, Petron Pinamalayan, Four Aces, Carwash Network, Masipag Agri-Supply, Asilo Aesthetic Center, Nana’sNana’s Kitchen, Pinamalayan SBC Trading, Dr. Antonio Ng, Mar Gamez Rice Mill Inc., Dine@Log, RS Medstar Pharmacy, JDM Lechon Manok & Inasal, and Midtown Bazaar, RCPC President Dr. Maria Imelda Soller went on to thank everyone else for their support.
Dr. Soller then expressed her gratitude for the support given by PP Eden Artillaga, PP Dodge & Company, Rtn. Angelito King through PP Sherry Mae King, Mr. Mike Landicho, the emcee for the event, Rotarian teams 1 to 6, Pinamalayan MPS, BFP, and MDRRMO, and everyone else who came to join the event.
At the closing and awarding ceremony, she also extended an invitation for partnerships and support for their upcoming projects as RCPC prepares to launch more community service projects in and around the municipality of Pinamalayan.