Pasig run aims to break Guinness record on 10.10.10

MANILA, Philippines - ABS-CBN’s Foundation’s Kapit Bisig Para Sa Ilog Pasig (KBPIP) hopes to draw over 120,000 runners for its “Run for the Pasig River” slated Oct. 10 and make it to the Guinness book list.

“We always want to grow bigger. So on 10.10.10, we did not only decide to put on a marathon but we have also decided to break the Guinness Book of Records by going for 120,000 registered participants,” said Gina Lopez, ABS-CBN Foundation managing director and spearhead of the Pasig River cleanup movement.

The KBPIP is no stranger in staging big-time marathon as it also organized the Philippine International Marathon that drew 23,000 entries last year. It hopes to eclipse the world record of 110,000 held by the 1988 “Bay to Breakers” race in San Francisco, California in the United States.

The STAR’s Rose Ann Belmonte was also present in the event launch held at the fifth floor of the ABS-CBN Foundation Building on Mother Ignacia, Quezon City.

So far, organizers had already drawn over 90,000 confirmed entries from universities, religious groups, the Armed Forces, the police, private corporations, government agencies as well as running enthusiasts.

Race organizer Eric Imperio said reaching the 120,000-mark is a big challenge but achievable.

“It would definitely be a challenge and we would need to make a collaborative effort as Filipinos to be part of not just history in terms of breaking the world record but also to be part of an advocacy and movement to have clean rivers and waters in our country,” he said.

Imperio, in charge of the 21-km race, will join forces with competitors Rio dela Cruz and Thumby Remigio in organizing the one-day event aimed at raising funds for the rehabilitation of the Pasig River.

Instead of a finisher’s shirt, participants will get a bracelet made from recycled materials by the same people relocated from the shanties surrounding Pasig River to a KBPIP site in Zambales.

For details, log on to www.101010runforpasigriver.com.

“At the end of the day, Pasig River is not just my river, its everyone’s river, its everyone’s responsibility,” said Lopez. “And if everyone feels the same way and takes it on and has a keen sentiment, then there is no way, now way that the river will not be clean.”