Foot race as buoyant as Filipino fiesta

The usually asleep Mall of Asia grounds at the break of dawn came alive on Oct. 10, 2010 (10-10-10).

The chosen date was a lucky one for organizers of the Run for the Pasig River fund-raiser. There was no hint of rain and large groups of fit, fat, nimble or old runners came to pitch in for the hurting river that cuts through the entire 

Metro Manila area.

The Guinness world record of 110,000 runners for an environment-driven run was already threatened as early as 3 a.m. Traffic began to swell as buses, jeeps and cars got slightly snarled up at the MOA pathways.
School delegations, complete with flags that served as convergence markers, came in huge droves. The military contingents appeared, as well as the El Shaddai, office running clubs and barangays.

It was a Sunday and the run would replace the usual jogs of the running faithful. For others, a walk would be good for the heart as well and the soul. A proud lola, her back hampered by age and probably by osteoporosis, crossed the finished line with a smile.  She was proud to have done her share.

The participants’ enthusiasm augurs well for the plan to rehabilitate the Pasig through fund-raising and viable programs.

“It’s not impossible to do something for the Pasig River,” explained Abby Favis, an environment science professor who was part of an Ateneo contingent of 150 students and employees, “It’s been done in other countries like Belgium and the Netherlands.”

Favis couldn’t immediately recall a Third World river being rehabilitated, though. Reviving the Pasig could be a pioneering move for developing countries.

Favis feels that projects like the Pasig Run create awareness for caring for the river. “All our water systems (not the drinking water) are connected to the Pasig,” added Favis, reemphasizing that sustainable solutions are indeed urgently needed.
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The crusade to save the Pasig is just one noble cause that sports can help.  With running enjoying a revival, companies and organizations can whip up a race quickly and should lure a reasonably high number of participants.

As long as the cause is good, runners and even walkers will wake up to lend a leg, so to speak. Golf is another fun way to support advocacies, while basketball can quickly get players who get a good sweat while giving as well.

By the way, the free rides for race bib holders on the Edsa MRT were honored. Anytime you get a free train ride, you’re bound to smile—a little like when your stored value card is down to its last few pesos and you still get a full ride. Those runners who availed of the free train rides also did an additional bit for the Metro environment by leaving their cars at home.

There’s no reason why another edition of the project shouldn’t be attempted.

Despite the minor irritants like some confusion at the finish line and misunderstandings on how to line up for the actual Guinness count, the event was a buoyant Filipino fiesta with families and friends enjoying a day away from their usual routines.

The early rise, the search for parking and the small kinks of the race couldn’t dampen the spirit of wanting to do something for a river that means so much.