International RP Marathon launched

The third International Philippine Marathon for the Pasig River fires off on Sunday at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Manila with over 9,000 runners expected to fight it out for the total purse worth P630,000.

National team mainstays Roy Vince and Eduardo "Bertek" Buenavista are expected to add spice as they compete in the annual event aimed at spreading consciousness among Filipinos in cleaning the Pasig River.

"I hope the marathon will create consciousness that there is a Pasig River and that we should help clean it," said former First Lady and chair of the organizing committee Amelita "Ming" Ramos in yesterday’s media launch at the Orchidarium in Manila.

Ramos, who also heads the national badminton association, was accompanied by racehorse owner Hermie Esguerra, track and field secretary-general Ben Silva-Netto, Imelda Sarmiento, Zoilo Andin and former sports commissioner Tisha Abundo.

Samsung, Asics, San Miguel Corp, Shell, Unilever, SM, Pagcor, Du Pont, Zuellig, Fortune General, Ayala Group of Companies, Powerade, LRTA, Mabuhay Vinyl, Asahi Glass, Jollibee, PowerBar and C-Lium Fibre are sponsoring the event.

The race starts in Intramuros, goes through San Juan, Mandaluyong, Makati and Pasig before concluding at the Fort in Taguig. Kenyan Robert Wombagu, who finished 10th last year, will participate again.

Vence, who is turning 38 on Feb. 22, and Buenavista, who will run in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, are the favorites to take home the P100,000 grand purse in the main 42-kilometer event.

The second and third placers will take home P50,000 and P30,000, respectively, in the race topped last year by Armyman Cresenciano Sabal.

The winner on the distaff side, on the other hand, will receive P75,000 and the second and third runners-up P40,000 and P20,000.

Prizes in the other events are pegged at P30,500 in the men and women 10k run, and P14,000 each in 5k and 3k.

Apart from the running events, organizers are also holding a cheer dance competition, a family bazaar and some entertainment numbers at Fort Bonifacio.