A 'happy' run for a cause

Running in a marathon on a regular basis can help build a strong body, but did you know that it can also help build dreams?

That is if you’re running in the right marathon like The Happy Run, a charity run that aims to build more classrooms for the students of Bagong Tanyag Elementary School Annex in Taguig. In partnership with Bianca Gonzalez’s Help The Kids Learn Project (learn more about the project by visiting www.helpthekidslearnproject.multiply.com) and Rep. Lani Cayetano, the noble project hopes to help these kids get the education they deserve.

So start stretching your legs because hundreds of marathoners are expected to converge for the annual Happy Run on Jan. 25 at the Fort Bonifacio Global City to help build more classrooms for the 800 students of Bagong Tanyag Elementary School.

 “These students fit themselves in two small classrooms,” Unang Hirit and Balikbayan host Drew Arellano shared. “Just imagine how difficult that is. I want to make these kids happier by building more classrooms that will make studying much more comfortable for them. Help me make them become responsible citizens of the country than violent, uneducated villains of the society.”

Team Super, the organizers of The Happy Run, chose these students as the beneficiaries of the charity event after seeing their sad plight. Team Super is a motley mix of individuals who excel in their own fields, but share a passion for multisport and triathlon. Drew, Paolo Abrera and Suzi Entrata are some of the members of the forward-looking group.

With 3K, 5K and 15K races, The Happy Run is a charity event designed not just for the hardcore runners who live to run but also for the weekend athlete getting his weekly dose of fitness and to the family spending quality time together by staying fit.

As the name of the event implies, it will indeed paint smiles not just on the runners’ but also for the 800 kids in Taguig who will eventually get that much-needed comfort and joy while studying in a conducive environment.

With hundreds of people coming together to share this same goal, running has indeed become a powerful venue to make a statement. Drew knows this well enough that he thought of making the marathon a venue to help others reach their dreams.

Join the Happy Run by registering at R.O.X. located at the Bonifacio High Street. Registration fee is P250 while onsite registration is at P500.

A new sensation

There is a new young Filipina sensation that is making the rounds on television and in concert venues in Europe. Her name — Lica de Guzman. Lica was born in Geneva, Switzerland to Filipino parents who are OFWs. I have seen one of Lica’s TV guestings on YouTube and the 11-year-old girl packs a wallop. She speaks fluent French. Lica is also one of the scholars of Phil Collins’ Little Dreams Foundation.

Lica started singing at four years old. In 2004, she had her first big break when she was invited to perform at the famous annual Caribana Festival in Crans-Céligny as one of the Caribana Kids. She was then seven. Lica took voice lessons under the supervision of Miss Christel Pechin.

Her biggest break came in Christmas 2005 when she was invited by Television Suisse Romande (TSR), the biggest television network in Switzerland, as one of the guest child singers in the Christmas Special presentation of Les Coups de Couer d’Alain Morisod which was shown last Dec. 17, 2005.

In May 2007, she was once again invited to the Les Coups de Couer d’Alain Morisod where she sang Prendre Un Enfant Par La Main before the Swiss President Micheleline Calmy-Rey.

Lica also sang before various UN gatherings, including the annual United Nations Womens Guilds bazaar, and several Filipino community events and Church events.

Last year, Lica started recording sessions in Dinemec Studios for a forthcoming album which will be released by Dinemec Records. The single for the album is titled Brand New Day, with lyrics written by Stephen Sondheim. A tagalog version of the single was also recorded, with lyrics penned by Noel Cabangon. The album, which includes two songs written by Lica herself, will be released worldwide in April.