TUBA, Benguet – Robert Arellano, Fredalyn Orpilla, and Brigilio Balaba led the 30 winners in both open and masters, male and female, categories competed in by 171 runners of the 2nd Philex Community Credit Cooperative (PCCCO)- Philex Mining Corporation (PMC) Fun Run held at Sitio Padcal, in Barangay Camp 3, here, last October 23, 2016.

Arellano, a 41-year-old construction employee based in Baguio City, won in the 10-K, masters category for men. He punched the tape at the 49:08 mark. He was neck-to-neck with Castro Cudli, who had to settle for second in the photo finish. Cudli checked in one second later at the 49:09 mark. Michael Noel Maximo, who clocked 59:01, got the bronze.
Fredalyn Orpilla, the female counterpart of the 10-K masters, bagged the gold. A 46-year-old housewife, also from Baguio, Orpilla crossed the finish line with a time of 1:10:15. Nellie Casildo, 53, trailed Orpilla with her 1:27:37 while Krystal Irish Irorita, a project geologist at Padcal operations, clinched the third place after clocking 1:43:10.
Meanwhile, Balaba stood out in the event peppered with young men and women at the peak of their physical powers. The 71-year-old retired colonel showed no signs of slowing down. Also an experienced triathlete, Balaba has won a number of triathlon events here and abroad.
In the kiddies category, Jayron John Arellano, a resident of Baguio, he registered a time of 14:05 to led the 3K boys category. Raymond Callora, who resides at the Padcal mine camp, clocked 14:50 to bag the silver. Prince Harvy Batoon, also from Baguio, finished third after clocking 14:53.
Claire Dumalag led the distaff side by checking in at the 16:37 mark. Lalaine Basilio grabbed runner-up honors with here 16:59 time and Angelica Gumanao settled for the bronze with her 17:32 time.
PMC held its second fun run with three main categories to continue promoting a holistic lifestyle at its mine camp. Registrants came mostly from the Padcal community, Baguio City and other parts of Benguet. There were participants also from other provinces in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and from nearby Pangasinan and La Union as well.
“[F]un run is one way of establishing a healthy lifestyle that involves physical, mental, and social well-being,” Fe Mejia, manager of the Philex Community Credit Cooperative (PCCCO), said in her welcome remarks before the start of the fun run. “Let’s enjoy the day and run safely.” she said continued.
The event were able to entice a total of 326 registrants who answered the bark of the gun three times, at 7:30AM, 7:40AM and 7:45AM.
“To those who reached the finish line first, congratulations!” Roy Mangali, Padcal assistant resident manager, said in his closing remarks. He was thankful for the success of the event, which saw participants as young as six and as old as 71. “But the true winners are all those who run to get physically fit and sweat it out for their health. Congratulations to everybody.”, he continued.
The winners received cash prizes of between P500 (third placer) and P3,000 (champion). They were automatically entered into raffle draws where some won items such as cell phones, outdoor and travel bags, blankets, hydration bottles, umbrellas, and coffee mugs. Each runner was also entitled to a singlet upon registration, which cost between P200 and P400.
The 3K-Kiddies category was open to runners aged 15 or below, the 5K categories were open to runners aged between 16 and 39 (open), while Masters category was open to 40 years old participants or over.
Some participants also discovered things they weren’t aware during the run and were enticed to join in succeeding stagings of the run. “Wow, how beautiful the Philex community and the Padcal mine site are,” Merry Diaron Franco, a 47-year-old nurse working in a hospital in Baguio City and runs regularly, said.
“I didn’t know there was one whole sustainable community in this part of Benguet. There are churches, a hospital, schools, a grocery store, everything. How lovely it is to run here, with all these breathtaking views. It’s so refreshing around here, with clean air and waterways. I will definitely join the next fun run.”, she continued.
While organizers PCCCO and PMC have yet to decide on when the next fun run will be, they promised to make it bigger than the previous two events. The first fun run was held on January 18, 2015, and, like the just concluded event, followed the designated routes at the mine site of Padcal operations, in the host towns of Tuba and Itogon.
Many other participants were not seriously into running, but were eager to support a good cause. “I feel so relaxed after running the 5-km. stretch,” said Elvis Patacsil, an employee of PCCCO. While he has not considered himself as a marathon enthusiast, he is now thinking of taking running seriously—both to support a good cause and to lead a holistic healthy lifestyle.
Here is complete list of winners, arranged from first to third place, alternating male and female:
Kiddies-3K (male & female): 1st: Jayron John Arellano (14:05), Claire Dumalag (16:37); 2nd: Raymond Callora (14:50), Lalaine Basilio (16:59); 3rd: Prince Harvy Batoon (14:53), Angelica Gumanao (17:32)
Kiddies-5K (male & female): 1st: Melvin Madongit (19:19), Cristine Ann Taruc (26:11); 2nd: Eliezer Pedro (20:35), Lilia Yatar (30:59); 3rd: Kiddy Badongen (24:00), Sephina Bautista (33:32).
5K Masters (male & female): 1st: Marson Tarcelo (21:04), Amelita Bayowan (31:38); 2nd: Jerry Sabado (22:14), Merry Franco (35:20); 3rd: Joel Wakat (27:25); Celeste Coronada (35:21).
10K Open (male & female): 1st: Michael Tolac (44:10), Felipe Gretchen (56:37); 2nd: Mark Christian Garcia (46:36), Cherry Doranilla (1:04:43); 3rd: Jay Lomyog (49:49), Jessica Amos (1:12;35).
10K Masters (male & female): 1st: Roberto Arellano (49:08), Fredalyn Orpilla (1:10:15); 2nd Castro Cudli (49:09), Nellie Casildo (1:27:37); 3rd: Michael Noel Maximo (59:01), Krystal Irish Irorita (1:43:10).