23 Koreans join SSC Stag Run Sunday

MANILA, Philippines -  A lean but mean 23-man delegation from Korea will join as guest runners as the Stags Run 3 dubbed “Takbo Para Sa Bokasyon” unfurls Sunday at the ASEANA City near the Mall of Asia and Macapagal Blvd.

San Sebastian president and organizing committee head Fr. Christopher Maspara, OAR, said 21 of the Korean nationals plunging into action in the one-day meet this weekend are exchange students from Chonbuk National University in South Korea while two of them are professors.

“They are here in San Sebastian for the academic cultural exchange program and they’re joining our race,” said Maspara, who heads the annual event,  now on its third straight year.

Aside from the Koreans, the Stags Run has also drawn participation from former President Joseph Estrada himself, his staff and some alumni celebrities and basketball stars like JC Tiuseco, Calvin Abueva, Ian Sangalang and Rommel Adducul.

The event, which fires off at 4 a.m., is being supported by the Kabataan Jeep ni Erap, an organization headed by Dr. Angel Espiritu who will also participate, Azia direct fashion for less, Life Oil, the pure power of mother nature, Alfonso Ronco, Atty. Joel Chua, Marlon Ortiz and Pharex.

Maspara also encourages students, school employees, teachers and even alumni to join the event and support the school’s vigorous and determined efforts to fund their apostolates in Sierra Leone in West Africa and some remote barangays in Palawan.

“We’re expecting a bigger, more exciting race this year,” said Maspara.

“We’re not just funding our apostolates here and abroad but we’re also promoting a healty lifestyle to students, officials and even alumni,” he added.

The race is open only to SSC students, staffs, alumni and their relatives.

The first two years, the race generated funds for the OAR mission in Sierra Leone in West Africa as well as in the Casian Island in Palawan where the Mendiola-based school has zeroed in on their education apostolates.

Competitions will be divided into three categories, 3k, 5k and 10k, starting at 6 a.m. with the entrance fee pegged at P500 per participant.

Staged at the MoA grounds, the first edition was won by Justin Tabunda in the men’s side and Mercedita Manipol-Fetalvero in the women’s side of the 5k division while Mervin Guarte and Jho-Anne Banayag topped the 10k race.

Guarte, now a Southeast Asian Games medalist and San Sebastian’s star runner, returned the followign year to dominate the event.