BayaniRun2017: Unity in Diversity

Makati City, October 22 – Six-hundred runners of different age, nationality, ethnicity, affiliations, profession, background, and more ran united in iVolunteer’s BayaniRun held at Globe Circuit Grounds. In support of unique advocacies, each had lived up to one goal of making every Filipino, everyone, a hero.

(Missed this one? We’ve got another BayaniRun coming up on December 2018!)

THE RUNNERS

Runners came from all over the Metro; some even from the province to support their causes. Teachers, students, professionals, health runners, volunteers, Filipinos and foreign nationals ran side by side. Representatives of nonprofit and corporate groups finished the 3K, 5K, and 10K marathons together.

Ryan Mendoza of Decathlon placed first in the 3K run followed by Jayson Rivera and John Mark Gallardo, both 13. The two are grade six pupils at Kalikasan and Bliss Elementary Schools (Palayan City and San Jose City, Nueva Ecija). With their co-pupils and teachers, they joined BayaniRun to support Edicute, Inc.

5K first placer was Richell Joy Santos, an advocate for children. She is after the welfare of children deprived of education and suffering malnutrition because of poverty. BayaniRun is also a proof of her growth as an athlete as she was able to beat her personal best from 23 to 17.33 minutes.

Marc Hillman and Jakob Larsen were second and third places for the 5K run.

Foreign national, Matthew Wolf, won first place for the 10K category. He ran for his company Devex and said that he supports education. 10K second and third placers were Patrick Aquino and Jirome De Castro.

THE ADVOCACIES

Poverty Alleviation, Environment and Education were among the top advocacies chosen by runners. Children and Youth, Health, Animals, Sports and Recreation, Hunger, Elderly, Disaster and Preparedness, Human Rights, and Volunteerism were other causes supported in the run.

THE PARTNERS

ATD Fourth World – Envisioning a world without poverty, they work to cultivate learning and creativity. They accomplish this through regular tutorial sessions, street libraries, forums, and workshops. With these, they empower people to fight poverty. ATD’s BayaniRun Team is composed of 36 runners.

Citizen Disaster Response Center (CDRC) – Helping people help themselves, CDRC with various groups, promote community-based disaster management nationwide.

Edicute, Inc. – Edicute partners with people groups in providing more accessible and effective learning systems. They also had programs addressing the nutrition, health and sanitation of the indigents. Indigenous people get closer to education with 60 runners behind them. Three in Edicute’s team were named placers. Jayson and John Mark from Nueva Ecija, and Jirome from Team Wanna Tri.

Fairplay for All – Fairplay is a group of people who believe that when we provide opportunities to the poorest among us, they will flourish, excel, and innovate. They believe that everyone is entitled better opportunities and future, regardless of where they were born.

Karinderia ni Mang Urot (KMU) – KMU has only one goal: to feed the hungry, regardless of status. The karinderia is fully provided for by Benjie. Donations are not solicited but are welcome and accepted. They have regular feeding programs every Friday to Sunday at Quezon City.
“We do not promote the organization, we promote the action.” This is Benjie Abad’s message as he urged volunteers to be more involved not only in KMU but in any organization as he believes that they all work towards the same goal.

Project PEARLS – Project Pearls is also an advocate of poverty alleviation, especially among children. Investing in their health and nutrition, education, social, emotional and spiritual well-being. Their outreach programs upholds Peace, Education, Aspiration, Respect, Love and Smiles (PEARLS).

Tulong sa Kapwa Kapatid (2KK) – 2KK does storytelling to children every Saturday in Sampaloc and Payatas. They also have 53 high school and college scholars under their Yaman ang Pag-aralin ang Kabataan (YAPAK) scholarship program.

2KK volunteers boomed the gym reciting the Five Kap (Kapatid) Loves during recognition. Mahalin ang kapwa. Magdasal palagi. Sundin ang magulang. Mag-aral nang mabuti. Mahalin ang bayan. These values are the foundation of their teachings.

U Happy Events – Sharing time, talent and treasure is vital to the community. U Happy is a platform to reach marginalized children. They partner with individuals and organizations to conduct creative and meaningful activities.

A Journey of Hope – A Journey of Hope is founded by Titser Fe Matullano Lustañas working both at the Kabayani Training Program and Education Under the Bridge. These programs focus on education and values formation among children. The aim is for all children in this nation to have the opportunity to attain excellent education.

The Storytelling Project (TSP) – The Storytelling Project wants to bring its own brand of happy learning to children. They develop the young minds’ creativity through story writing, book creation, and interaction. Ray Buffi and Grace Soriano entertained the audience with their storytelling version of Ang Madyik Silya ni Titoy. The story of an imaginative boy who stays positive and enjoys life even with his disability.

Angkas Traveling Bookstore – Angkas Traveling Bookstore promotes Filipino talent by bringing their works closer to communities. This is also spearheaded by TSP’s Kuya Ray.

BEHIND IT ALL

BayaniRun was organized by iVolunteer Philippines with the aim to raise awareness and funds to support meaningful causes. The event was 100% powered by volunteers and done in partnership with: Circuit Makati, Make it Makati, Taste Company, Wishing Well Heritage Foundation, Inc, HOO Dermatology, Lifeline, The Good Store, Decathlon, Quaker, Stellina’s, Pineapple Lab, BayaniBrew, Atmos Fit, Milcu, Nature Spring, Aguila Energy Drink, and When in Manila.

Apart from running for a good cause, the day was filled with fun activities. Paolo Lalas of Decathlon led the aerobic dance for the warm up and cool down. Some participants also went home with cool prizes from the raffle.

JB Tan, founder and executive director of iVolunteer closed the event by thanking all the attendees. He extended appreciation for everyone’s participation despite other concurrent running events. He was proud to announce that the bayanihan raised around P218,000 for partner organizations.

Gie Maningas, iVolunteer Philippines

P.S. Want to join another iVolunteer fun run for a cause this December 2018? More details and signup here.