A group of gamer-runners spearheaded a fun run-for-a-cause commemorating the heroism and sacrifice of one of Marawi siege's fallen heroes, Philippine Marine 1st Lt. Frederick Savellano, who died in the line of duty on June 9, 2017.
1st Lt. Frederick Savellano
Members of the Gamer's Run Club, composed of video games enthusiasts who are also into running, organized the event aimed at raising funds for the creation of a cast iron memorial in memory of Savellano and his comrades.
According to Phiby Padilla, member of Gamer's Run Club and one of the fun run's organizers, Savellano and his men recovered close to P80 million of cash and checks and a firearm from the militants at the height of the Marawi battle.
Padilla said Savellano was a close friend of his, and was also known to be an avid player of online games such as DOTA and Counter Strike years before he joined the Philippine Marines.
Savellano's family said Jeff finished his primary and secondary education at the Marist School Marikina in 2005. He graduated from Far Eastern University College of Nursing in 2009 and subsequently became a registered nurse.
He later took the Naval Officer Candidate Course in 2010 and finished the U.S. Marine Officer Basic Course in Quantico, Virginia in 2015, in pursuit of his long-time dream of becoming a soldier.
In Padilla's Facebook post, the fun run, dubbed as the Bayani ng Antipolo Takbong Sundalo (BATS), has a registration fee of P650 and P850 for the 3km and 5km distances, respectively.
The fun run will be held on August 25, a day before National Heroes' Day, at the Katarungan Village Covered Court.
The registration for the event started on July 1 and will last until July 15. Participants will be receiving a singlet, race bib, loot bag, dog tag, freebees, and prizes for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd placers.
Savellano, who was the platoon commander of the 37th Marine Company of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-7, and his men, were part of the national government's offensive against the Maute, ISIS, Abu Sayyaf Salafi jihadist groups who seized Marawi on May 23, 2017.
The five-month-long conflict claimed the lives of 168 government troops, 87 civilians, and 978 militants.
More than 1,400 individuals were wounded during the conflict.