A total of 152 runners from Negros Oriental and Cebu completed the 111-km. Silliman Relay on Aug. 10 and 11, a project presented to the public by the Silliman Alumni Association Inc.-Dumaguete Chapter to help mark the 111th founders day of Silliman University.
The activity was conceptualized and organized by the Dumaguete Amateur Runners & Striders (DARS) and the MetroDumaguete Roadrunners Club (MDRC).
The 111-km relay took the runners by teams from the Silliman Amphitheater north to town of Amlan, back to Silliman, then up to the mountain town of Valencia, down to the southern town of Bacong, then, Dauin then Zamboanguita, then back to Dauin, and the final stretch back to Silliman.
The gunstarts were fired at 6pm amid a fiesta-like atmosphere by Dumaguete City Mayor Chiquiting Sagarbarria and Prof. Tabitha Tinagan, chairperson of the Founders Day Committee. Representing SU President Ben S. Malayang who had launched the relay run on July 15 at Lee Plaza was Vice President for Finance & Administration Cleonico Y. Fontelo.
The relay was to be a 15-hour run from the evening of Aug. 10 until 9am of Aug. 11.
Race Director Paultom Paras, also provincial coordinator of the Negros Oriental Sports Development Program (NOSDEP), announced that as early as 2:54 am of Aug. 11, Team Tiger was back at the finish line, after running the 111-km stretch for only 8 hours 54 minutes.
Team Tiger, sponsored by balikbayan Mercedes Tatel, was composed of Kenyan student Isaac Simat, Christian Calumba, Nelfa Bayonado, 72-year-old Tatel, Juliet Reasol, Katrina Acar, Felix Lopez, and Arcel Bohol.
Second to finish was Team RUSI that came in after running 9 hours 19 minutes. The group is composed of Wilbert Laurecio, Arnel Florentino, Revodem Aranas, Melchor Ferrero, Don Ray Rubioruperto, Ralph Jan Jayoma, Roland Partosa, and Eunel Matula.
Third to finally return to the Silliman Amphitheater was Team MDRC after 9 hours 24 minutes. The group is composed of Relix Bayonado, Teofilo Zamora, Lijeaven Noay, Enrique Villareal, Atty. Oscar Bokingkito, Marjun Divinagracia, Iresh Belleza, and Bernabe Bustillo.
“It united various sectors in the community with enthusiasm. The 111-km. running relay ushered us towards the celebration of Silliman University’s 111th Founders Day,” said Rudy Juan, president of the Silliman alumni Dumaguete Chapter.
“It’s interesting to note that no cash awards were given to the top 3 teams. Instead, all runners were awarded a finisher’s medal. It was a friendly competition that focused on doing your personal best, much like the way Silliman nurtures its faculty, staff and especially the students to always do their best,” said Leo Mamicpic of the Dumaguete Chapter, who also sponsored Team SAAI-Dumaguete. His team was composed of Eniceto Pionela, Arnelo Jocson of SU Buildings & Grounds, Ryhar Canchela, Percival Genove of SU Information Management System, Engr. Johnson Diputado of the College of Engineering & Design, 62-year-old Julieta General, Arsuel Jocson, and Erlincito Pionela.
Another participating group was Team for Hope & Change, sponsored by Cong. Josy Limkaichong. “I’m glad I supported this Silliman Relay Run as it can better promote a healthy lifestyle here in our Province,” said Congressman Limkaichong.
“It was a fitting project of the Dumaguete Chapter where many of the Silliman alumni were involved either as presentors, sponsors, organizers, or runners themselves,” said Ruben Bokingo, SAAI national director for East Visayas. “We were initially attracted to the project because running encourages people to live a healthy lifestyle. We also realized that the participation would be more broad-based as runners were coming in from as far as Sta. Catalina or Bais City; and this was going to be a longer distance of 111 kilometers,” Bokingo added.
According to Event Manager Irma Faith Pal, major sponsors of the 111-Km. Silliman Relay were Lee Plaza, Adidas, Globe, and Gatorage. Other partners were the SU Athletics Department headed by Prof. Meriam Ramacho, ONe Rescue EMS headed by Dr. Kenneth Coo and Dr. Rosalind Flores-Yu, SUMC Foundation Inc. headed by President Roberto Montebon, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Mark Macias; the Philippine National Police through Gov. Roel Degamo, Dumaguete Mayor Sagarbarria, Sibulan Mayor Marcela Bartoces, San Jose Mayor Carmelo Emmanuel Remollo, Amlan Mayor Bentham dela Cruz, Valencia Mayor Ricky Gonzalez, Bacong Mayor Lenin Alviola, Dauin Mayor Neil Credo, Zamboanguita Mayor Kit Marc Adanza; the SU Student Government Committee on Student Organizations, Silka, Cong. Josy Limkaichong, Growee, Pasta King, DSS Fireworks, PHCCI, employees of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and Scoobys.
