Philhealth slates 2013 run for ailing children

By Ramon Dacawi 

BAGUIO CITY -- Philhealth, the government’s health insurance system, is thinking out of the box.  It launched last week “Philhealth Run 2013”,  a  four-category footrace to fire off simultaneously in 18 major cities next Feb. 17- to raise funds for ailing children.

   

The running event marking Philhealth’s 18^thanniversary  somehow captures the spirit of  “Children of Heaven”, that multi-awarded 1997 Iranian drama film. It’s about a boy trying to win third place in a long-distance race so he could replace his younger sister’s pink shoes he lost after fetching it from the cobbler.

Philhealth is trying to draw 90,000 runners nationwide , with 3,000 targeted to sign up for the Baguio leg, according to Dr. Dominga Gadgad, chair of the regional Philhealth sponsorship  committee for the event.

 

Instead of ending up third place, the prize of which was a pair of shoes,  Ali, the boy in the film, is, however, bitterly disappointed as he accidentally finishes first.

                

Win or lose, the runners in next February’s races will help ailing kids in the country in their personal struggles for the chance to grow up - like normal kids.

                

The run, which features 3-kilometer, 5k, 10k and 18k distance categories, will simultaneously fire off in Baguio, Dagupan, Tuguegarao, Clark, Malolos, Manila, Laguna, Batangas, Legazpi, Iloilo, Tacloban, Cebu, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Koronadal, Marawi and Butuan.

                

Half of the over-all proceeds from Philhealth’s 18-venue races will go to the Philippine Children’s Medical Center in Quezon City as the national beneficiary.

 

Half of what every city/regional leg raises will be given to a beneficiary of the regional organizers’ choice.

                

Philhealth-Cordillera has chosen Helping Hands, Healing Hearts Ministries based at Camp 7 here as the local beneficiary. A refuge and home for kids from all over while undergoing therapy in the Baguio-Benguetarea, 4H operates another branch in Olongapo City.

 Philhealth said the support funds  under the “Nationwide Run for Mother  and Child Protection” will be raised through sponsorships and registration fees pegged at P250 (3K), P300 (5K), P350 (10K) and P450 (18K).

                

Early registrants, from Nov. 17 to Dec. 31, will be given P50 discount on the registration fees. Likewise, a promo discount will be given to groups of 18 or more runners signing up from Jan. 1 to Feb. 11 next year. Senior citizens may likewise apply for a 20 percent discount on the fee.    

                

Cash prizes at stake for first-to-third place finishers, both for male and female categories, are pegged at P3,000-P2,000-P1,000 in both the student and adult categories of the 3K, aside from a P10,000 group prize; P5,000-P3,000-P2,000 in the 5K; P8,000-P4,000-P3,000 in the 10K; and P10,000-P6,000-P4,000 in the 18K.

           

Registration will begin on Nov. 17, either on-line (https://run2013.philhealth.gov.ph) or through the form that will be issued starting that date by the Philhealth regional office at the 4^th floor of the SSS Building along Harrison Rd., Baguio City.