BAGUIO CITY – Runners from all over the Cordillera and neighboring towns gathered for the Tagtag Kordi run held at the Burnham Lake Drive on Sunday, October 20.
Spearheaded by the Cordillera Young Leaders Club (CYLC), an organization dedicated to building a more productive and healthy society, Tagtag Kordi is a fundraising initiative for the dental-psychological mission in a town in Mountain Province that the health office determined desperately needed such assistance. Likewise, the project serves as a platform to promote the blending of cultures in the Cordillera Administrative Region in honor of Indigenous People’s Month. Furthermore, Tagtag is a kankana-ey term for “run”.
The marathon featured three distances, respectively 3 KM, 7 KM, and 16 KM. For the 3 KM runners, the route was Burnham Park – Kisad Road – BGH Rotonda – Kubong Sawali – BGH Rotonda – Kisad Road – Burnham Park; for the 7 KM, Burnham Park – Kisad Road – BGH Rotonda – Military Cut Off – Camp John Hay Rotonda – Camp John Hay Gate 1- Camp John Hay Rotonda – Military Cut Off – BGH Rotonda – Kisad Road – Burnham Park; and for the 16 KM, Burnham Park – Kisad Road – BGH Rotonda – Military Cut Off – Camp John Hay Rotonda – Camp John Hay – Scout Barrio – EPZA Loakan – Scout Barrio – Camp John Hay – Camp John Hay Rotonda – Military Cut Off – Kisad Road – Burnham Park.
The first place for the 3 KM Male Category was bagged by Aaron Ramos who finished the race in just 00:12:29.378, followed by second placer Dustin Dame Eslay and third placer Carlos Aquino. On the other hand, Athena Gumaya placed first for the 3 KM Female Category with a finish time of 00:15:50.196, followed by Jovie Calisog placing second and Athena Masado placing third.
Grabbing first place for the 7 KM Male Category is Collins Prago with a duration of 00:27:55.338, followed by Inaki Lorbes who finished second, and Godfrey Farnican who finished third. Meanwhile, Pauline Taasan finished the race in just 00:34:37.051, ultimately winning first place for the 7 KM Female Category, with Fiona Dangadang as second placer and Erica Maive Bulatao as third placer.
Sonny Wagdos championed the 16 KM Male Category with an astounding finish time of 00:55:06.115. Coming in second was Maynard Pecson and third was John Paul Carreon. On the other hand, Angel Mae Saysay wrapped the race up with 01:10:15.214, winning first place for the 16 KM Female Category. Akyzxa Izakiela Tangalin came in second and Mecca Lorana came in third.
“Masaya po sobra. Kasi noong last week naki-ano rin ako sa isang race, parang comeback ano ko tong ngayon, kaya sabi ko babawi ako. Parang mali yung pacing ko, ngayon inayos ko,” Female 7 KM Champion Pauline Taasan expressed.
First-place winners for the 16 KM run received 6,000 Philippine pesos, while the second-place winners received 3,000 Philippine pesos. 7 KM first placers received 4,000 Philippine pesos and the second placers received 2,000 Philippine pesos. All winners from first to third place in all categories received certificates of recognition and different gift packs from the sponsoring brands and companies.
“We came up with the idea na magkaroon ng fun run, specially sa Baguio, it is the most in demand, and ang dami talagang runners dito and we can see the support na mangyayari when we have this fun run. How can we make this fun run different? So since we are an organization promoting culture, sakto October is IP month, so let’s make a fun run that is for public health and at the same time promoting culture and all, everything is in line with the mission of this organization,” shared Jessica Bilat, an organizer of Tagtag Kordi and CYLC President.
To wrap up the program, indigenous community dances were performed, with participants and organizers alike joining in. By Heleina Taeza