Takbo Maharlika launch (From the eyes of a nephew)

Nephew of Runner and Priest Fr. Carmelo Diola

 CEBU, Philippines - Before dawn - more specifically, 3am - in a city on the northern part of Luzon called Laoag. The rest of the country was under the caring arms of sleep. In an un-Godly hour like this, the ordinary man would shudder at the thought of waking up, hoping to sleep soundly till later in the day, to dwell peacefully in his dreams.  Those who are awake are compelled by their livelihood to be so. Fishermen, farmers, and the like are the only ones who answer to the rhythm of Nature and tend to their needs. The rest of the Philippines are asleep – except for a handful of young (and not so young) men and women. Washing Sandman’s spell from their eyes, a small group of eight men and three women got up and primed themselves for an early morning run.

Heading this cluster of individuals are General Samson Tucay and Father Carmelo Diola. Ordinary men heading a by-no-means ordinary run.

This, my friends, was the beginning of Takbo Maharlika.

By 3:40, everyone finished changing and ready to embark on their first steps toward a wonderful journey. Father Carmelo led the Morning Prayer, and by 4am they set off towards where the first run would take place.

Let’s pause at this scene for a while and contemplate. What is Takbo Maharlika? Translating it to English, it means, “Run O’ Noble One”. Also, the run is on Asian Highway 26, known as the Maharlika Highway. Simply put, my uncle, Fr. Carmelo and his good friend Gen. Sam will run from one side of this 2,888 kilometer stretch up to the other end. From the top of the Philippines to the bottom running along the eastern edges of the country, ending southwest. 

It is an estimated eight-month-long journey with an almost daily 22km run (Wednesdays and Sundays are the exception) – 11km in the morning and another 11km in the afternoon. To allow for those who wish to participate and are still beginning or are struggling to cope up, 3 kilometers consists of walking. This is a run for God, country, penance, and self-discovery. This run is more than a simple exercise; it is a promotion of unity and transformation – “Coming together to change oneself and the Philippines One Step at a Time.” This run is a prayer between two old friends. A representative of the church, and a worker for the state. In an oddly ironic way, it is a metaphoric reunion of church and state. Not sitting down and bickering over differences; instead, getting up and running for two things they care for the most God and country.

Back to our small group. It was 4:35am and they had arrived. They were greeted by an assembly of more than 300 men and women, police officers and civilians who came together to escort the two runners on their first 10 kilometers. This was General Sam’s dream. With his own two eyes, he was seeing what he sought to fulfill for more than a year come to fruition — and he was in the middle of it all. Any normal human would be overwhelmed seeing his dream come true; most of us would not be able to handle such joy. But not Gen. Sam. He knew, maybe long before he spoke of it about a year ago, that he was meant for this – that this was what he had been called for. And like coming from a long wait, all he could really think of was “Finally”.

Three men approached the runners — Police Senior Supt. Chan, a short portly man with a welcoming smile as wide as his girth; Former Chief of the Philippine National Police Director General Jesus A. Versoza, who, unlike the Senior Supt., is tall and lean for his size, he also had a rough look which seemed to fit his former role; and the City’s Chief of Police, Supt. Sterling Blanco, a mixture of the two – tall and lanky, with a smile as honest as the day. They greeted each other like long-time friends.

Laoag, Kilometer stone 480. Destination? Zamboanga. The two looked to their left. They looked to their right. And even behind them were people eager to be part of this momentous occasion.

5:00 AM

They must begin very soon lest the merciless sun would beat on them with its unbearable heat. Prepped and eager to go, Fr. Melo and Gen. Sam paced themselves, and limbered up some more. Versoza then stepped up, looked at his friends and his Filipino brethren with pride; “Take it from me,” he chuckled to all who were present, “when General Tucay was finally able to convince me to run, it helped me a lot to become a better Chief of the Philippine National Police.”

Fr. Carmelo smiled to himself – Takbo Maharlika, with that one small statement, had begun. The two friends then looked at each other. They look ahead. Before them, a road about 2,888 kilometers long, and a journey as long as eight months. There was nowhere else to go but forward. 

They had taken their first step. (FREEMAN)