
Passion met purpose on Sunday, July 7, as thousands of runners participated in a fun run dedicated to educate the Filipinos about the importance of the country’s position in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
The Manila-leg of the “Takbo Para sa West Philippine Sea: Ang Yaman Nito Ay Para Sa Pilipino” attracted over 7,300 participants, according to Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for WPS Commo. Jay Tarriela.
The first of the three-leg activity took place along Seaside Boulevard in Pasay City. The two other legs will be held in Cebu and Cagayan de Oro on Aug. 11 and Sept. 8, respectively.
On X, Tarriela thanked the participants who joined the activity which “aims to raise awareness and support for the nation's sovereignty in the contested region.”
“Maraming salamat sa mahigit sa pitong libong Pilipino [na] sumagot sa ating tawag na tindigan natin ang ating laban sa West Philippine Sea! (Thank you to the more than 7,000 Filipinos who responded to our call to stand up for our fight in the West Philippine Sea!),” he said.
The event was organized by Runrio Incorporated, an organization which conceptualizes premier races incorporated with notable advocacies, in partnership with the PCG, National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), and the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).
According to the organizers of the event, there were various activities that were integrated in the course to further engage and educate the participants including interactive booths showcasing historical facts and current geopolitical issues, installations depicting the beauty and significance of the WPS, and educational sessions.
“This campaign not only promotes physical fitness and camaraderie but also fosters a deeper understanding of the importance of safeguarding our nation's territorial integrity,” Runrio said.
All the proceeds of the event will go to an education campaign which aims to better explain the WPS situation to the public, including the publishing of comic book and leaflets that will be distributed in schools nationwide, according to Runrio.