Iloilo City and the rest of Western Visayas have produced probably the best runners in the country. Who doesn’t know three-time Milo Marathon and three-time Alay ng Pangulo champion Jimmy dela Torre? Of course you remember former national marathon record holder and Barcelona Olympian Herman Suizo and Sea Games gold medalists, Rene Herrera, John Lozada, Ernie Candelario and Sean Guevara? Don’t forget one legged triathlete Rudy Fernandez. With all these big names, you would think Iloilo is buzzing with running events, since more competitions produce more untapped talents. Well, sad to say, running in Iloilo City and Bacolod is almost extinct. As I mentioned in a previous column there is only one race in the city, the Milo Marathon 21K Elimination. When I was still conducting running events in Iloilo, we have about four or five. We even spilled over to Guimaras where running is a delight, sans the pollutions. Iloilo used to host the Dinagyang Half Marathon, Adlaw Sang Iloilo, Halloween Run, Bombo Radyo Marathon, Dengue Run and the Nike Pharmaton circuit. My protégée Boyet Rentoy of Prosports also stopped organizing races after being discouraged by the low turn out. Iloilo provincial administrator Boy Mejorada and Mayor Jerry Treñas has tasked me to bring back the running fever to Iloilo.
Starting Over
Iloilo runners were happy to see me and jokingly heralded my arrival as the return of the king (shades of Lord of the Rings). I shot back that I’m no longer king of the road, but of rock and roll. But kidding aside, we have to work double time to install Iloilo once more as a running power. Well, to start with, the Philippine Association of Rehab Medicine (PARM) is staging the MOVE 10K run on July 18. I was in Iloilo last week to start talks with Dr. Jose Soriano of Iloilo Doctors Hospital. Then in October, we will revive the Masskara Race in Bacolod, while a big Dinagyang run is also being considered.
Rotary Run 2
Registration to the Cebu Rotary 15K Run on February 21 is now in full swing at the PSC Office at the Cebu City Sports Center, Toby’s at SM City and at Casa Ilongga Robinsons Place. The champions, male and female in the 15K run will each receive P 7,000.00. There will also be a 7K distance for fun runners and a 3K run for Rotarians. A kiddie dash will also be held at the parking lot.
Quota 12k Classic
Registration to the Quota 12K Classic is also ongoing in the PSC Office at the Cebu City Sports Center, the Runnr at Ayala Center Cebu and at Casa Ilongga at Robinsons Place. Race organizers June Chiongbian and Dr. Mitty Igaña said part of the proceeds of the race will go to deaf and blind organizations. The run will also feature a 6K category. With Cebu having races weekly, CCSC manager Ricky Ballesteros suggested I preach the “gospel” of running in areas where running is facing extinction. Yes, Ric, I’m going into that direction. (FREEMAN NEWS)