Young Manobo runners vying in Tagum Palaro

MANILA, Philippines—Young runners from Talaingod, Davao del Norte, home of the indigenous Ata-Manobo tribe, will compete in the 2015 Palarong Pambansa on May 3 to 9.

The Talaingod DavNor runners will share the stage with the country’s top elementary and high school student-athletes in the Tagum, Davao del Norte meet.

“It started with a vision to maximize the inherent physical prowess of lumad children who had been traversing the high altitude terrain to and from school,” DavNor Gov. Rodolfo Del Rosario said.

The Talaingod DavNor runners, backed by Talaingod mayor Basilio Libayao, got off the ground on April 28, 2014.

The program is composed of six girls and four boys who were selected from 200 Ata-Manobo children. They undergo a special daily training program under national coach Renato Unso. June Navarro