FREEDOM DAY RUN 2020: Malakas. Masipag. Marangal.

Strong.  Hardworking.  Honorable.

These admirable attributes came to mind as  the Bicolano Penguin read the  post at the Pinoy Runners Global (PRG) facebook page last June 9 inviting the running community to the Freedom Day Run 2020 (FDR2020).    

Strong. The FDR2020 is a  solid manifestation of the strong nationalism that our Pinoy Runners all over the world have in their hearts.  It is a runner's special way of commemorating our 122nd Philippine Independence Day.  Given current realities, the diaspora of the Filipino people is a truism that faces us. But even if we are geographically apart from one another, there is always that yearning among us runners of the 3 Stars and a Sun  flag to reconnect with  fellow Pinoys.  And this FDR2020, albeit being virtual,   taps into that strong patriotic fervor. 

Hardworking.  Organizing an event, more so a running event, requires hardworking and dedicated people to make it happen.  The FDR2020 seems to have an abundance of these type of leaders.  Likewise, joining a running event is not for the lazy.  It takes a singular kind of diligence to wake up early in the morning, lace up them Altra, Asics, Atreyu, Hoka, or  Saucony   and trudge those kilometers come rain, snow, sleet or hail. 

Honorable.  The FDR2020 is a virtual race and virtual races usually require digital gadgets or GPS apps.  But the organizers of the FDR saw it fit to trust in the sense of honor (palabra de honor)  imbued in our patriotic hearts.  Not to do so would be to disenfranchise a good number of Pinoy Runners who may not have them fancy Garmins and Stravas of the world. Certainly, in our collective experience, the  leading lights of Pinoy Runners Global and Pinoy Runners PH are  for inclusivity, not exclusivity.

Malakas, Masipag, Marangal. Evidently, these three attributes appeal positively to many. More than a thousand Pinoy Runners have joined this  event on this glorious Independence Day of the Republic of the Philippines.   In the facebook post of  one of the PRG moderators, a day before June 12,  there were already 1,517 runners who registered for the FDR2020.  That is more than half of the 2,913 (latest figure as of June 11, 2020)  members of PRG.   

Inquired  as to whether they are happy with the number, Rona Janowitz has this to say : "As part of the organizers/moderator of PRG/PR-PH event #FDR2020, I'm beyond happy with the numbers and that made me loved more of what I'm doing as "Mother-rator" (moderator).  1,517 runners across the world is a good number for a virtual run. We think there is enthusiasm from the PRG Runners for the Freedom Day Run because not only it's the Celebration of our country but the idea of all Filipino Runners united in this running event make the whole dugong bughaw as one to always remember and being a part of it. Actually, recalling  PRG's first global event last June 3 was surprisingly a successful one  that we did not come to think of the numbers would reached to 518 participants signing up through NYRR event. And that's a lot! PRG are still on high!"

In organizing the  FDR2020, the PRG/PR-PH leadership touched base with a couple of local running clubs to cooperate in having the event take place with a lot more local participation.  These are P.I.G.S. and the Zamboanga Running Club (ZRC).

On the part of P.I.G.S., its officer,   Roy Simon elaborated on his team's role:  "Team PIGS was of the 3 pioneer barangasy of Pinoy Runners Philippines and I was designated as the Metro Manila coordinator for PRPH.  So when PRPH was assigned to host the PH Independence Day virtual run, the Team was quickly consulted and they gave their support of the virtual race. This may be the first running event though in virtual format hosted by a running group and this will be held after the recent lifting of the ECQ/MECQ in Metro Manila.  This will give the Team  also the opportunity to go back to regular running with no costs (free registration)."     

For the ZRC, the Bicolano Penguin had a chance to communicate with team captain of Barangay Zamboanga to PRG and PR-PH Richard Buco. Having been a race director for ZRC in the past, he shared his thoughts on his club's collaborative participation in the FDR2020:  "Zamboanga Runners Club is a non profit organized club. We support all advocacy for good, like charities and outreach program. ZRC's support for the Freedom day Run is to encourage runners as one to celebrate Philippine Independence Day.  Most members of the club are also active in virtual run(s). To celebrate our Kalayaan, we run as one any time anywhere but we also observe social distancing."

Any time anywhere.  That is the sense  on the wide distribution of runners participating (the FDR2020 will run June 12 up to June 14).  Rather than simply write about it, perhaps it is best to show a sampling of running photos with some  captions to go with it. So here we have the early photos coming in:

Carina of Caceres Runners Club was out running her FDR2020 quite early in the morning in Ragay, Cam Sur.  She chanced upon a squad of troopers putting small flags on the posts at the town poblacion.  

Still in my home province of Cam Sur, this time in Buhi, Myla of Team Sinarapan shows bravado in the shadow of our National Hero.   

Team PIGS Roy ran at the Greenfield District in Mandaluyong.  The skyline along EDSA is getting busier.  

In Eastern Visayas, Glenda had her 6kms in her hometown of Abuyog. 

Cool in motion, PRG's Judz had her 12kms early in the town of Oslob, Cebu.    

Showing the flag in the land of sugar and smiles.  Ging of Nakatungdang Negros.  

ZRC's Richard proudly shows Muruk Haven which is the playground of all runners and bikers in Zamboanga City. Elevation is 500 meters above sea level.  

Like duck to water, young kids naturally love running.  With an impressive mile pace during their FDR2020 , their facebook name of "The Stone Kids are beast" sounds just about right.   

The smile says it all.  Jen enjoying the clean air in Campion Trail Park in Irving, deep in the heart of Texas. 

With the concrete jungle of Upper East Side Manhattan in the background,  Mother-rator Rona showing the shaka, proving that PRG are still on high.    

Happy to see Ruvill have his Freedom Day Run in Iriga City. Together with the rest of our  grade school classmates, we would recite Panatang Makabayan in front of these flagpoles back in the 70s. 

PRG's Maner, in Las Vegas,  blazing thru his 12kms for the FDR2020.

Bella bandiera. Forte fede.  Coach Leopoldo of Barangay Milan showing the flag in front of the magnificent Duomo di Milano.  

The virtual FDR2020 was actually up to June 14 and row5runnin's Brando had some home cooking of a 12km run in Baao-Iriga.  

As for the Bicolano Penguin, I was excited to have my taste of the FDR2020 where I registered for 12kms.  The night before Independence Day, it was as if I was a bewigged  gentleman  from the Commonwealth of Virginia by the name of Patrick Henry who delivered the mother of all famous lines way back in 1775 - "Give me liberty or give me death!" . Only this time, it was for me more like - "Give me Freedom or give me sleep!" 

And so I did get a taste of FDR2020 which started for me at 4:30am June 12. It was still dark but the paucity  of light is no excuse  not to run. Start my run I did but the skies  started opening up its tears only after a couple of kilometers. The tears soon turned into a veritable torrent so the Bicolano Penguin had to scamper back to home base for a change in functional apparel. Freedom will persevere regardless of weather condition. Garbed in a yellow windbreaker, my Freedom Day Run resumed and proceeded to accumulate kilometers in a steady penguin pace.  With two kilometers left of the dozen thousand meters, it was feeling a bit warm  so out with the windbreaker and in with blue  running shirt.  

Just like the postman, running for me will continue as "neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night" will stop it.  Ok, I exaggerate. We have no snow here.       

12 kms (5.54 miles) in 1:43:36 for my Freedom Day Run 2020. Penguin pace.

Quite fitting to end my 12km Freedom Day Run in a shirt shouting out  PILIPINAS.  Pride in the independence of our Republic is a precious thing we have in our family. And no doubt, countless Filipino families from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and all 7 continents of the  globe have the patriotic virus endemic in their DNA.   

Taking a knee for our Philippine flag. In front of our office in Paranaque.  

Thank you for the Certificate of Completion.

A patriotic virus deserves a patriotic oath which brings me to the now-again-relevant Panatang Makabayan.  The  3 Tagalog words in the title of this article actually come from our cherished PM.   Malakas. Masipag. Marangal. These are all positive attributes that our patriotic oath sought to inspire in all the  citizens of the Republic of the Philippines.  Starting at an early age, in our formative years in the elementary school, we are all required to recite this pledge. Now, most of us, if not all of us, are grown up already. Regardless of where we are, let us all make sure not to forget the oath we made in front of our flag. Let us make sure to keep alive the virtues and attributes that the Panatang Makabayan hoped to inspire in all of us citizens of the Philippines.   

Good thing for us runners, our beloved sports requires and instills in all of us these attributes of Malakas, Masipag at Marangal. Thankfully, the Freedom Day Run of  2020 is  a manifestation of such. 

In ending this article, I took the liberty (after all, this is a day that celebrates our freedom)  of quoting the great words of our dearest of  oaths:                             

Iniibig ko ang  Pilipinas, aking Lupang Sinilangan

Tahanan ng aking lahi, kinukupkop ako at tinutulungan
Upang maging malakas, masipag, at marangal.
Dahil mahal ko ang Pilipinas,
Diringgin ko ang payo ng aking mga magulang.
Susundin ko ang tuntunin ng paaralan,
Tutuparin ko ang tungkulin ng mamamayang makabayan;
Naglilingkod, nag-aaral, at nagdarasal ng buong katapatan.
Iaalay ko ang aking buhay, pangarap at pagsisikap sa bansang Pilipinas.














Photo Credits:  JP Cruz, Jacqueline Donor, Myla Barretto, Carina Viola, Richard Buco, Judz Abs, Glenda Napoles,  The Stone Kids are beast , Jen Evangelista, Ging Gimper, Rona Janowitz, Roy Simon, Maner Puyawan, Leopoldo Domanico, Brando Bueno.