Harvey Keh's Blog

MEDIA RELEASE

“The EDSA Run” on Feb 27 harnesses People Power to build classrooms

Simultaneous running events being organized across the country

As the nation celebrates the 25th anniversary of the EDSA Revolution this month, around 5,000 runners are expected to make a People Power display of another sort. They will burn calories over five and ten kilometers on Sunday, February 27, in “The EDSA Run: A People-Powered Run to Build Classrooms”.

In a show of solidarity, ten other cities and provinces across the country will be mounting simultaneous running events on Feb. 27 in pursuit of the same goal.

“We want to raise awareness about the severe classroom shortage in public schools and to help boost the private sector effort to address this problem in collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd),” explained Mr. Jamike Lopa of the iamninoy-iamcory Runners, a group which also supports the 57-75 educational reform agenda of the private sector. “We are inviting the public to join us in this fun run to raise funds for new classrooms. It’s our way of rekindling the spirit of People Power.”

DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro thanked the event organizers for giving ordinary Filipinos the opportunity to do their share in addressing the shortage of public school classrooms, which he estimated at 152,000. “That is the true spirit of People Power,” he said, noting that this would be much more meaningful than seeking the help of the top 100 corporations in the Philippines.

Mr. Jake de Guzman of the iamninoy-iamcory Runners said that, in light of the magnitude of the problem, what they hope to raise through The EDSA Run would just be “a drop in the bucket.” “But we hope that that drop will create a ripple effect that would eventually make a dent on the classroom backlog.” He likened their approach to that of a runner preparing for a 10k race. “At the start, 10k might seem so daunting,” he said. “But you just take it one step at a time. And as you see more runners by your side, you find the energy to carry on and reach your goal.”

According to Eric Imperio, president of eXtribe, the event organizer, The EDSA Run is just the first of many running events that his team hopes to organize as a means of helping address DepEd’s severe classroom shortage.

The EDSA Run will take place from 5:30 am to 8 am on Feb. 27 along a route that passes through White Plains Avenue, EDSA, Ortigas Avenue, Greenmeadows Avenue, E. Rodriguez Avenue (C5) and Temple Drive. Mini-billboards will be installed along the route to recount the events of Feb. 22-25, 1986.

Assembly and registration time is 5am, Feb.27, near the People Power Monument at the corner of EDSA and White Plains Ave. Registration fees are P400 for 5k runners and P550 for 10k runners.

Jumpstarting the fund-raising effort to boost public school classroom construction are Smart Communications, PLDT, Meralco and Metro Pacific Investments, major sponsors of The EDSA Run.

According to Mr. Lopa, those who want to participate in the run can pre-register and even pay via credit card online through www.iamninoyrunners.wordpress.com. They may also pre-register at the Rudy Project stores in Trinoma and Bonifacio High Street; Planet Sports branches in Virra Mall, Power Plant (Rockwell), Glorietta and Alabang Town Center, as well as the iamninoy-iamcory office on the fourth floor of the Jose Cojuangco & Sons building at the corner of Dela Rosa and Castro Streets in Legaspi Village, Makati.

Also pitching in to the classroom-building fund are minor event sponsors, Bench, Ayala Land, Maynilad, Powerade, Mizuno and LaFarge. Among the other corporate supporters of The EDSA Run are: Kenny Rogers Roasters, Air 21, the Electronic Yellow Pages (eyp.ph), Nestle Fitness, Robinson’s Galleria, Gardenia, ROX, Anchor Shape-up, Sustagen Premium, Planet Sports, the ABS-CBN News Center (ANC) and the Philippine Star.

Simultaneous runs in other cities

So far, Feb. 27 running events have been confirmed in Vigan, Ilocos Sur; Clark, Pampanga; Zambales; Legaspi; Albay; Cebu City; Davao City, Sultan Kudarat; Dipolog City; Zamboanga City; and Zamboanga Sibugay. The Vigan, Davao, Dipolog and Zamboanga City events are being organized in partnership with the city governments in these areas.

“We are happy that other cities are celebrating People Power in this fun but meaningful way,” Mr. Lopa said. “After all, People Power is a source of pride for Filipinos across the archipelago.”

For details, prospective run participants may get in touch with:

• Vigan, Ilocos Sur – Councilor Franz Ranches, City Government of Vigan (09069316263 / franz_ranches@yahoo.com)
• Clark, Pampanga – Mr. Manny So (0458882201 / 0458872694 / 0456259725 / 09164969801 / pawbang@comclark.com) or any Orchids Bookstore branch in Angeles City and San Fernando City in Pampanga;
• Zambales – Norma Amata (09993998671 / 09066475240 / normaamata@yahoo.com)
• Albay, Bicol – Dr. Ofel Samar-Sy  and Mr. Jason Offemaria (09209600076 / ofelsy125@yahoo.com);
• Cebu City – Yellow Movement of Cebu & Yellow Army Movement Youth Volunteers in partnership with Run for Sight Foundation (09237188171 / 0322562020 – Lalyn)
• Davao City – Mr. Blogie Robillo, Davao Sunday Runners Club in partnership with the Office of the Mayor of Davao City (09997563615 / robillo@gmail.com)
• Dipolog City – Mr. and Mrs. Lester and Haidee Ong, People Power Volunteer Center, Dipolog, in partnership with the City Government (0652129595 / 09177241614 / haidee_go@yahoo.com)
• Sultan Kudarat – Mary Vi Castillo, Sultan Kudarat Active – Peoples Network, Inc. (09086650047 / maryvi.castillo@yahoo.com)
• Zamboanga City – Mr. Anton Lim, Fuerza Amarillo in partnership with the City Government (0629910226 / 09177102920 / amhl1122@yahoo.com);
• Zamboanga Sibugay – Jun Policarpio, Consortium for the Development of Western Mindanao Communities, Inc. (09178659720 / epu_sibugay@yahoo.com).