First race of the season gathers around 12,000 pacesetters
In true festive fashion, the city of Urdaneta showed its overwhelming enthusiasm in the first race of the 41st National MILO Marathon. Around 12,000 runners hit the streets to race the finish line. Running veterans Julius Sermona and Christabel Martes took the spotlight and placed first in the 21K male and female categories, respectively. They each took home the top purse of P10,000 in cash and a trophy, and booked their slots to the National Finals in Cebu on December 3 to try and claim the MILO Marathon King and Queen titles.
In the male category, Julius Sermona clocked in with the time of 1:15:31, followed by Hernani Sore in the second place (1:17:21), and Romulo Ballnas Jr. in the third place (1:20:45). In the female category, Christabel Martes posted a time of 1:23:45, while Rowena Valdez finished second place (1:47:12), and Quipsie Isabel Milagros in third (1:54:10).
Despite the lack of training, former national athlete and running veteran Julius Sermona was able to hit his personal target. Having had a hectic spell of activities as an air force member, Sermona made up for the shortage and pushed through the competition with resilience and will. “The first few kilometers have not been easy for me,” he said. “It was difficult to pass through the lead, but I just kept my head in the game which eventually helped me sprint faster in the last eight kilometers.”
Sermona believes that joining marathons not only stimulates one athlete’s passion for running, it also provides physical fitness. “Running, for me, is all about health,” he said. “Physical fitness is integral to a runner’s development, especially to the kids and I am very proud to be a part of a community that promotes these values.”
In the distaff side, former SEA Games athlete Martes easily raced her way to the finish line. Augmented by the spacious roads and smooth terrain, the Baguio native revealed that the features enabled her to comfortably outpace her closest competitors, “I just stayed at my own pace,” she said. “I am very pleased with the route and it helped me stayed in the lead from start to finish.”
With a new feather on her cap, Martes shared that humility remains to be her most important value. “Whenever I win, I always remind myself to be humble,” she said. “I am happy and thankful to be called as an inspiration to many, and I hope that I continue to do so while keeping my feet on the ground.”
More than a staunch advocate of Philippine sports and Filipino athletes, the National MILO Marathon is also a platform that empowers children nationwide. For the past 7 years, the National MILO Marathon’s Help Give Shoes advocacy, in partnership with Department of Education, has inspired 70,000 aspiring athletes to fulfill their dreams by donating brand new pairs of running shoes. This year, the Help Give Shoes advocacy will be donating 5,000 pairs to underprivileged school children.
The National MILO Marathon will continue in Laoag (July 23), Metro Manila (July 30), Angeles (August 6), Tarlac (August 13), Naga (August 27), Lucena (September 03), Lipa (September 10), Tagbilaran (September 24), Roxas (October 1), Iloilo (October 8), General Santos (October 15), Davao (October 22), Butuan (November 12), and Cagayan De Oro (November 19). The National Finals in Cebu City will be on December 3.
The 41st National MILO Marathon is endorsed by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Department of Education, the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association, and the International Association of Athletics Federations – Association of International Marathons and Distance Races. The National MILO Marathon is in partnership with Salonpas, and supported by Garmin, Hisense, Manila Bulletin, Maynilad and Asics.
For more information on MILO Philippines, log on to the official website (http://www.milo.com.ph) or the MILO Philippines Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/milo.ph).
Follow MILO on Twitter (@MiloPH) and Instagram (@MiloPhilippines).
About MILO
The MILO brand is the world’s leading chocolate malt beverage that can be prepared with hot or cold milk or water. Given its popularity it is a “must have” product for food service operators particularly in Asia, Africa and Oceania.
MILO also promotes participation in sports through its Summer Sports Clinics, MILO-B.E.S.T. Center Training Program, MILO Marathon, and MILO Little Olympics. The leading beverage brand believes that these contribute to the holistic development of Filipino champions in sports and in life. 2014 marks MILO’s 50th year in the country.
About Nestle Philippines
Over a hundred years after it first started operations in the country, Nestle Philippines, Inc. (NPI) today is a robust and stable organization, proud of its role in bringing the best food and beverage throughout the stages of the Filipino consumers’ lives. The Company employs more than 3,200 men and women nationwide, and is now among the country’s Top 10 Corporations.
Driven by its mission to nurture generations of Filipino families, Nestle today produces and markets products under some of the country’s well-known brands such as NESCAFE, NIDO, MILO, NESTEA, MAGGI, BEAR BRAND, NESTLE and PURINA, among others. Its product range has expanded to include coffee, milk, beverages, non-dairy creamer, food, infant nutrition, ice cream and chilled dairy, breakfast cereals, confectionery and pet care.
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