250 Baguio folks join funrun for 6 patients

By Ramon Dacawi

BAGUIO CITY -- They were 250 strong, coming from all walks and ages and barangays of the city. They assembled at dawn break last Sunday as if they belonged just to one neighborhood- as Baguio used to be during its formative years.

Most opted to run and jog seven or four kilometers in “Run for Life II”, a fun-run for-a-cause that started and ended infront of the Rizal Elementary School. A few others took the third option – a two-kilometer leisurely walk.

The promised cups of steaming brewed coffee at the finish line weren’t there. It was a sure sign of preparatory glitch by a group unfamiliar with running such event, yet inspired enough to reach out to six people in their grim struggle for the chance to grow old like normal people.  

The participants, however, understood the sense of common behind the collective effort. They were just glad to make do with cold water and, for the early finishers, a munch of pandesal that was not enough to be passed around.

Even the top finishers hardly minded the delay of the arrival of their  medals  which would still be given this week.

What was of import was “Run for Life II” grossed P72,930, of which P8,300 was used for the participants’ numbers, certificates, tarpaulin announcements and other expenses. That means a net of P64,630 to prop up six seriously ill patients in six barangays.

In their  assessment last Thursday, members of the Samahang Barangay Pangkalikasan (SBP), an aggrupation of barangay chiefs in the city that sponsored the run-for-a-cause, agreed to deliver P10,000 each to five of the patients.

The beneficiaries are burn victim Geoffrey AlipioMalag of Upper Dagsian, cancer patient Ma. Elena Rimando of T. Alonzo St., car accident victim Tommy Fabrofo Engineer’s Hill, cancer patient JacklynOnal of Outlook Drive, and Rodrigo Santiago of South Sanitary Camp who is suffering from a complicated medical condition.

The remaining P14,630, will be given to cancer victim Elenita Soriano, a grade IV teacher at the Rizal Elementary School who has been bed-ridden for months now. 

  “This is in recognition, too, of the efforts of the parents, teachers and pupils of the Rizal Elementary School led by principal (Brendalee) Celino who hosted the run,” said Mike Arnaiz, acting SBP chair and village chief of Outlook Drive Barangay.

Run coordinator Michael Lawana, also a director of the Benguet Electric Cooperative and punong barangay of Lower Dagsian, offered to round up Soriano’s fund to P15,000.

Soriano was recently fetched home from her radiation therapy in Dagupan City by operatives of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.      The operatives, together with volunteers of the city’s Emergency Medical Service led by Dr. John Tinoyan, served as medical team of the run.

Shoshin, a foundation led by former world shotokan karate champion Julian Chees, earlier contributed P10,000 to teacher Soriano’s fight while former movie star Connie Angeles, now chair SM Foundation provided her with a wheelchair.

In the race for medals, Albert Seno topped the 7-kilometer men’s Open while Sandy Abahan, led the women’s side. Sixty two-year old Perfecto Fiaching bested the field in the senior’s class in the 4-K, with Jason Seno and Grace Mayos, kagawad of Gibraltar, took the male and female titles.

In a repeat of their performance in the first Run for Life earlier this year, brothers and cousins Yussep,11, McReyvenz, 12, Hussein, 9, and Hassan, 9, all surnamed Lorana, finished first, second, third and fourth in that order in the 4-K for children.

”I’m sure the Lorana brothers were the first to finish,” texted veteran runner and race organizer who urged competitive participants to support the fun-run and paid her registration fee even if she was unable to participate

Aice Trisha Parrocha towed the field in the 4-K for girls, followed by HannahlynGundran, Colleen Sagalen and

Jessa Tabareng.

Among the participants were police officers, city councilor Nick Aliping and his brother, Engr. Lao, barangay officials and tanods.

 The Baguio Conractors Association (formerly United Baguio-Benguet Contractors Association) headed by Brent Quanggey sponsored tickets worth P4,000. Former city councilor Leandro Yangot Jr. and Noants travel agency contributed P2,000 each while an anonymous Samaritan handed over P1,200.

Gallons of drinking water came from Zacky’s Water Delivery, kagawadRodonesCayat of Mines View and Mr.Dagdagan while Dane’s Bakeshop delivered bread.

 “Those we missed to acknowledge will understand that we are also very grateful to them,” Arnaiz said. “We apologize for a lot of lapses and will make up when SBP launches Run for Life III for those in need.”