Strangers pool P17,400 for 2 siblings on dialysis / Baguio runners P226,615.50

REACHING OUT

Although most opt to remain nameless so they won’t be swamped by requests for help, there are still  Samaritans out there,  in this world of cynics looking for heroes to hang their hopes and values on .

Cliff Catalino, a31-year old farmer from Poblacion, La Trinidad, Benguet was privileged to have met four of them while nurses at the renal room of the Baguio General Hospital were approached by two others before the end of September.

Last Sept. 22, a male nurse was approached while on duty by a stranger who asked him to turn over P5,000 to Catalino’s wife, Nilda, who was due to have her twice-a-week hemodialysis the next day.

Nilda, 30, halved the amount with her eldest brother Delfin who had been supporting her dialysis treatment since doctors diagnosed her for end-stage kidney failure last December.

Last April, Delfin, a vegetable farmer with five kids to raise, could no longer help his sister. He, too, was diagnosed for renal failure and began his own twice-a-week dialysis treatment scheduled at 11 a.m. on Monday and 6 a.m. on Thursday at the Benguet General Hospital in La Trinidad.

Last Sept. 23, a woman whose name – Lorna – was written on a receipt attached to her donation of P4,400, appeared at the BGHMC renal center to course her support to Nilda through  a male nurse.

Last September 29, a woman who declined to introduce herself, handed Cliff P3,000 at Km. 6, La Trinidad. Later that day, another woman called to hand him P2,000 more. Last Sept. 27, Annele and Elvin Cachero met Cliff with a P3,000 support.

These meetings were reported by Nilda’s younger sister Elverita Calayon who asked that the same be published so the family could publicly thank  these strangers with a heart.

Other Samaritans out there may ring Nilda’s cellphone number – 09073497789.

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“Straight Into Baguio’s Heart”, the Baguio charter anniversary run last Sept. 28, netted P226,615.50, as per the financial summary prepared by the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center Dialysis Patients and Partners Association (BGHMCDPPA) which had asked the city, to mount the humanitarian event for the establishment of a support fund for patients suffering from renal failure.

Pangasinense campaigner Raymond Torio and Sandi Abahan, Baguio’s entry to the Mt. Kinabalu Climathon this October, topped the 10-kilometer  events to lead veteran runners in dominating “Straight Into Baguio’s Heart”, Baguio’s charter anniversary sports finale last Sunday at the Burnham Park.

Torio, third-placer in the 5-K bracket of the first Pangasinan SK Run in 2011,clocked 38 minutes and two seconds  for a  three-second lead over  Milo 9th placer  Cesar Castaneda  who bagged the silver in 38 minutes and five seconds.

Abahan tagged the finish with hardly any opposition in 45 minutes and 24 seconds, over five minutes ahead of 15-year old Cherry Doronilla of the Baguio City National High School (BCBHS) who came in second in  50- minutes and 12 seconds.

Palarong Pambansa double-gold medalist Erwin Generalao pocketed the men’s side bronze in 41 minutes and 54 seconds while Lua Limbo landed third in the distaff side of the main attraction of the three-bracket run designed to establish a support fund for kidney patients undergoing life-time hemodialysis in renal centers here and in Benguet.

Baguio 10-K  leg winner Arnold Galap of the  2012 Milo Marathon opted for a shorter course to rule the 5-K bracket in 17 minutes and 29 seconds, beating Renante  Torio (17:47)  of Pangasinan and Reymark Quezada (17:52) of the BCNHS.

Divina Kitongan, gold medalist in the 1,500 meters in the Philippine National Games last May. Shrugged off a down-the-wire challenge from BCNHS’ Sisa Mae Caronongan to top the women’s side in 23 minutes and five seconds.Jolina Jose of the University of Baguio settled for the bronze in 24 minutes and 38 seconds.

Ike Castro topped the men’s  3-K event in 18 minutes and 13 seconds, towing runners-up Kerry Koziej (18:31)  and John Espada (19:36), while Nicole Oaing took the women’s title in 28 minutes and 59 seconds, followed by Rosemary Peralta (29:16) and Fiona Salacyao (29:17).

Some 1,300 answered the starting guns fired off by Rep. NicasioAliping Jr., secretary to the city mayor RaffyTallocoy and city sports officer Gaudendio Gonzales at dawn at the Lake Drive of the Burnham Park.

The race was ordered by city mayor Mauricio Domogan to give a humanitarian element to the city’s 105th charter anniversary celebration, with the proceeds going to a fund support for hemodialysis patients, as per request of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center Dialysis Patients and Partners Association headed by Fr. Richard Justo.

The first to respond to the call for community support was veteran race director Rosario Velasco-Alberto who readily accepted to by the race organizer and managed the race with her group of volunteers.

The community spirit was bolstered  by inmates of the city jail with their own 3-K run around the prison courtyard  last Sept. 18 under the guidance of wardens Elvis Danglose and Mary Ann Tresmanio.

At the end of their “Straight Into Baguio’s Heart –Inside Version”, the prisoners turned over P15,000 that former world karate champion Julian Chees handed for their registration. To keep the amount intact for the purpose, the prisoners declined the race T.shirt and number and walked, jogged and ran in their yellow uniform.

The actual run ending at the Burnham Park was supported by volunteers from the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, the Baguio City Emergency Medical Services, the Baguio-Benguet Public Information Civic Action Group, Spectrum, Philippine Army reservists under the 106 CDC ARESCOM, Solar Communications Philipine Guardians Brotherhood, Federatiuon of Barangay Tanods and the Baguio Council of the Boy Scouts.

Officers from the Baguio police director traffic along the routes while the Baguio Water Refillers Association headed by lawyer Zosimo Abratique and businessman Albert Ong of the Filipino-Chinese Community provide water along the course.

“It’s been truly a community effort,” noted Fr. Justo as he also cited the contributions of individual and group sponsors who built the fund.

The latest donations came from  Philex Mines which delivered P10,000 and cockfighting aficionados under the United Baguio-Benguet Breeders Association led by Engr. Tony Boy Tabora which contributed P5,000.

The financial report on the humanitarian project will be published next week. – Ramon Dacawi