CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) — Seeking to foster a sense of national pride and responsibility among Filipinos in defending their maritime rights, the Mindanao leg of the “Takbo Para sa West Philippine Sea” advocacy run with over 1,500 runners kicked off in Cagayan de Oro City on September 8, starting at 4:30 a.m.
The event featured successive runs in 16K, 10K, 5K, 3K, and 2K categories, each starting 30 minutes apart. A Zumba session energized participants before the start of each race.
Organized by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the event aimed to raise awareness and support for the Philippines’ claims over the West Philippine Sea.
“Lagi nating tandaan ang panawagan ng ating mahal na Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.: Hindi natin isusuko kahit gaano kaliit na lugar diyan sa West Philippine Sea. Naniniwala tayo na kailangan nating magkakaisa para ipagtanggol at pangangalagaan natin ang ating soberenya saang bahagi man ng Pilipinas. Kaya mga kasama, mga kaibigan, mga kababayan, atin ‘to ang West Philippine Sea at ang yaman nito ay para sa Pilipino,” Torres said.
(Let us always remember the call of our beloved President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.: We will not surrender even the smallest part of the West Philippine Sea. We believe that we must unite to defend and protect our sovereignty in every part of the Philippines. Fellow countrymen, the West Philippine Sea is ours, and its wealth belongs to the Filipino people.)
On behalf of the Presidential Communications Office and the Philippine Information Agency, he expressed his gratitude to everyone who supported the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea during the event.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesperson for the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, echoed the message of National Security Adviser Gen. Eduardo Año, highlighting the significance of the West Philippine Sea issue to the administration of President Bongbong Marcos. He emphasized that the struggle over the West Philippine Sea is not just a concern for those in Luzon or Palawan but is a collective responsibility of all Filipinos.
“Ang ating pagtindig at pagtakbo sa West Philippine Sea dito sa Cagayan de Oro ay isa lamang evidence na ang bawat Pilipino ay nagkakaisa para tindigan ang ating laban sa West Philippine Sea dahil ang laban ng West Philippine Sea ay laban ng bawat Pilipino,” Tarriela said.
(Our stand and participation in the run for the West Philippine Sea here in Cagayan de Oro is proof that every Filipino is united in defending our fight for the West Philippine Sea because the fight for the West Philippine Sea is the fight of every Filipino.)
Among the runners was Ronan Limbag, who described his experience as both exciting and nerve-wracking, but ultimately fulfilling.
“Exciting and first and foremost, nakulbaan pero kanang ma-overcome gyapon nimo ang imohang goal nga ma-finish ang imohang end, like from starting to finish, then ang akong makasulti is happy ko kay naa pud ni siya si WPS, maka-exercise dili lang pud ang mga empleyado apil na pud ang kabatan-onan,” Limbag shared.
He emphasized the importance of not surrendering what belongs to the nation, stating, “Dili nato i-surrender gyud kung unsa ang naa sa atong yutang natawhan (We should never surrender what belongs to our homeland).”
The event will also take place in Baguio on October 13 and in Dapitan on November 10, reflecting a proactive effort by all involved in supporting the cause of the West Philippine Sea. (RTP/PIA-10)
