BONTOC, Mountain Province – The 18th Lang-ay Festival inaugural Trail Walk for a Cause raised approximately 500,000 pesos in order to provide financial assistance to cancer and dialysis patients across the province
One-thousand pesos were collected from each of the 455 pre-registered participants, with additional funds coming from walk-in registrants. The event featured three categories: 3-kilometer trail, 6-kilometer trail and 12-kilometer trail, wherein the chosen route of the event highlights the Bontoc sunrise and its sea of clouds. Participants received exclusive T-shirts upon registration.
Ezra Samson Gomez, Chairperson of the Trail Walk Committee, also recognizes constituents from Singapore who donated 33,000 pesos for the patients. “Ket ammu tayu met nu agsakit tayu ti kastoy ket mahirap po, nangina i-maintain. So the main purpose of this is for the government to help in this cause,” said Gomez.
Ten patients, one from each of the ten municipalities of Mountain Province, will benefit from the remaining net proceeds collected in the event. These beneficiaries will be selected and validated by both the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Municipal Social Welfare Development (MSWD) offices.
Roland Wangwang, one of the race officials of the event, added that many patients seek assistance from the DSWD, prompting officials to address this by establishing the Trail Walk for a Cause. “[We’re doing this] to promote healthy lifestyle then makatulong ka pay for dagijay beneficiaries tayu nga cancer patients ta adu ngay ti makita da nga cancer patients nga ag al-ala ti tulong ditoy DSWD tayu, isunga maysa nga [solusyon] da daytuy [event] to give back kadagitoy patients. At least naka-walk ka, tapos nakatulong ka pay,” he stated.
Although the event promoted exercise and an active lifestyle, several participants joined for the sole purpose of contributing to the said cause. One of the participants said, “Ti gapu na gamin nga for a cause, isunga nagregister [kami] ti kakastoy nga events.”
This reflects Gomez’ sentiments that despite challenges, people from the province are still able to help those in need. ““First and foremost, thank you for all the participation of all the LGU’s and dytoy ti pang-ipakitaan tayu ti panagmaymaysa iti montanyosa. Well, we have to accept that there are problems arising but with this Lang-ay, isu ti pangikitaan tayu ti maymaysa iti taga-Mountain Province,”
One-hundred eighty-six individuals pushed through with their participation in the event. Thirty-six individuals joined the 3-kilometer walk, 23 in the 6-kilometer walk and 118 in the 12-kilometer walk. Winners who placed first to third were announced in each category in both the male and female divisions. Special recognition was also given to the oldest joiner, 64-year-old Abraham Dogui-is, and youngest participant, Raiden Tian Wangwang.
The Lang-ay Trail Walk for a Cause was deemed a success. Organizers are hopeful that it will continue to support more people in the coming years and potentially become a regular event of the annual festival. By Aiyra Marzan
