Runners hit the zigzags of Mariveles, Bataan in last year’s edition.
THE FILIPINO running community will once again retrace the route of the infamous Bataan Death March of 1942 with the staging of the 30th edition of the Araw ng Kagitingin Ultra-Marathon from April 8 to 9, 2015. The annual run carries no entry fee and is a patriotic salute to the heroism of the thousands of Filipino and American soldiers who perished or survived the horrific 114-kilometer trek.
Organized by the Safer Runners of San Fernando headed by veteran sportswriter Ed Paez, the runners will first converge in Mariveles, Bataan where a “Walk With The Heroes” will be staged prior to the actual run itself. Mayor Jesse I. Concepcion and several World War II veterans will then send off the group as they carry the symbolic torch through Limay, Orion, Pilar, Balanga City, Abucay, Samal, Orani, Hermosa and Dinalupihan before ending at Lubao, Pampanga.
The runners will then spend the night at the Lubao Gymnasium through the graciousness of Governor Lilia G. Pineda and her children Vice Governor Dennis G. Pineda and Lubao Mayor Mylyn P. Cayabyab. The following day, the group will proceed with the final push to the City of San Fernando but will have a stopover at the San Guillermo Parish Church in Bacolor through the invitation of Mayor Jose Maria O. Hizon.
Upon reaching the 102-kilometer mark at the Santo Nino Train Station, the runners will be welcomed by Rep. Oscar S. Rodriguez, Mayor Edwin D. Santiago, Vice Mayor Jimmy Lazatin and other veterans. After the brief program, they will then board their support vehicles bound for Santo Domingo Train Station in Capas, Tarlac where they will tackle the final 12-kilometer towards Camp O’Donnell.
This year’s Araw ng Kagitingin Ultra-Marathon carries greater significance since 2015 marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and the liberation of the Philippines from the Japanese invaders. This event is made possible with the help of MILO, Unilab, Mayo Productions, FM Ringor Engineering, AdEvents, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), Wescor Transformer, Excellent Noodles, Alice Bakery, Isport BOTAK, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Speed Detergent, Pampanga’s Best, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and Rotary International District 3810.
For more information and to register, contact Paez at +632 448-5229, +63915 471-1443 and +63949 949-9004. Send an email to edmundompaez@yahoo.com.ph.
TRD TeamRunDirection will join this event in commemoration of our veterans Martsa ng Kamatayan from Saisaih Pt. and Mariveles to Camp O'Donnell Capas Tarlac