PMA class holds first run for a cause

AN AILING mistah and helping save the environment will be one of the top priorities for the 2013 Takbo! Sagipin ang Kalikasan on January 20 covering four race distances.

The run for a cause, organized by the Philippine Military Academy class of 2003, will have the 3,5,10 and the half marathon 21-kilometer race distances that starts at the Lake Drive in Burnham Park.

Celebrating its 10th year in the military service, PMA’s Mandarangan Class first run for a cause in the Sumemr Capital aims to fulfil three pronged causes, to plant trees, return a favor to their alma mater and provide assistance to an ailing mistah.

“It might look like a fad to lose the weight we gained after indulging in feasts during the Christmas and New Year but we want to inspire our runners that we are doing this not for just one cause,” said Lieutenant Reynante Ma-o, one of the event organizers.

Proceeds of the run will fund the some 100 coffee seedlings to be planted inside the premiere military school as part of its advocacy to promote a lush environment and, at the same time, provide livelihood for individuals assigned by the Academy to take care of the coffee trees.

The run was also conceptualized to help Lieutenant Frederick Emil Tapawan, who has been battling tonsillar cancer for more than two years.

Tapawan, who is fondly called as "Tappy" by his mistahs, has been a valiant officer of the Philippine Navy before he was diagnosed with cancer.

He has been knocking onto generous hearts of individuals to sustain his treatment as he researches on ways to conquer the illness to prove that Tapawan can win this fight.

Another chunk of the proceeds will be donated to the PMA cadets in the form of sports equipment as their show of gratitude to the academy for training them in becoming military officers.

Registration for the run is now ongoing at the Laperal Bldg., Duyan Restaurant, and Outdoor Kinetics with entry fees at P250 (3k), P300 (5k), P350 (10k) and P600 (21k), respectively.

Singlets and race kits will also be given away for all the registrants in all the running distances, while the finishers in the 21-kilometer will be entitled to Mandarangan Run 21k Commemorative Dri-Fit finishers shirt.

For more information, interested runners may contact the Che Alberto, race director at (0917)-745-0378, Mike Cruz at (0906)-228-8513, Jebs Jebulan at (0908)882-7073 and Ma-o at (0922)-842-2003. (Roderick Osis)