MILO helps give shoes and hope to kids of Tacloban, Ormoc and Eastern Samar

As part of its commitment to help the children affected by Typhoon Yolanda rebuild their spirits through play and sports, MILO has recently donated 16,000 pairs of new running shoes to selected recipients in Tacloban, Ormoc and Samar last January 26 to 28.

Along with the shoes, foot cutouts bearing Messages of Hope were also passed on to the children. The inspiring messages came from those who answered MILO’s call to help the kids take the next steps and show them that the Filipino community is cheering them on. During the 38th National MILO Marathon season, avid MILO drinkers wrote on foot cutouts at the Help Give Shoes booth at the qualifying races and National Finals, while netizens posted nuggets of encouragement via the MILO Philippines Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram social media accounts. Celebrities and notable personalities also helped give hope to the recipients, including Jim Paredes who said, “A step at a time will get you there!” Christine Bersola Babao rallied the children on with her message, “Huwag kang mawawalan ng pag-asa. Kaya mo yan. Unti-unting humakbang muli! One step at a time until you reach your destination… your dream!”

Launched in 2010, MILO’s Help Give Shoes advocacy is an ongoing campaign which enables every participant of the National MILO Marathon to donate a part of their registration fee to support the cause. MILO matches the total amount collected to provide shoes to deserving public school students. Last year, on its 50th year anniversary in the Philippines, MILO has turned over a total of 50,000 pairs of shoes for the schoolchildren.

With the invaluable support of the Department of Education and the National MILO Marathon runners, MILO delivered the pairs of shoes to students of Calibaan Elementary School, Don Vicente Quintero Memorial School, Sto. Niño SPED School, City Central School, San Fernando Central School and V&G Dela Cruz Memorial School, Dr. A. P. Banez Memorial Elementary School, Tigbao Diit Elementary School, Sta. Elena Elementary School, San Jose Central School, Scandinavian Elementary School, Bagacay Elementary School, Fisherman Village Elementary School in Tacloban City, Liberty Elementary School, Cabintaan Elementary School, Licoma Elementary School, Mahayahay Elementary School, Catmon Elementary School, Dona Feliza Mejia Elementary School, Green Valley Elementary School, Lao Elementary School, Villacencio Elementary School, San Juan Elementary School, Lake Danao elementary School, Alta Vista Elementary School, Can – Untog Elementary School, Ormoc City Speed Center School, Naglahug Elementary School in Ormoc, and Cagdara-o Elementary School, Mayana Elementary School, Timala Elementary School, Bitaog Lawaan Elementary School, Paco Elementary School, San Vicente Elementary School, Salug Elementary School, and Lupok Elementary School in Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

With delight, the recipients performed presentations in their classrooms, as a gesture of gratitude to those who have contributed to the advocacy. “Seeing the big smiles on their faces after this encounter with the children truly makes us happy, knowing that somehow, we were able to uplift their spirits,” said MILO Sports Marketing Manager Andrew Neri. “We at MILO would like to thank the Filipino community for participating in this advocacy. Through our efforts, we hope to inspire them to continue to overcome the roadblocks the typhoon brought in, and strive for their dreams.”

Tabal defends crown; Poliquit claims first title

Over 19,200 runners joined the 38th National MILO Marathon National Finals in Manila, bringing the season’s record-breaking total headcount to 228,000 runners across all 18 legs

Reigning MILO Marathon Queen Mary Joy Tabal revelled in the spotlight as she defended her National MILO Marathon crown at the National Finals of the 38th National MILO Marathon held on December 7 at the SM Mall of Asia grounds. Not to be overlooked, Rafael Poliquit was named the 2014 National MILO Marathon King as he won his first National MILO Marathon championship title in the prestigious footrace. Today’s race saw 19,242 registered runners, bringing the total headcount of the season to 228,000 which shattered last year’s record.

Air Force member Rafael Poliquit, Jr. trumped his fiercest competitors and clinched the MILO Marathon King title for the first time

Tabal received P250,000 and a trophy for her outstanding victory in the 42K Open category, while Poliquit received P150,000 and a trophy for his win in the 42K Local category. Both will have the chance to run in an international marathon in 2015, with all-expense paid trips sponsored by MILO.

In the 42K Open category, only Rose Nyangacha finished ahead of Tabal, posting a time of 02:47:33. Despite the blisters and blood on her feet, the 25-year-old Cebuana put up a brave fight as she trailed closely behind Nyangacha, finishing with a time of 02:51:55. Immaculate Chemutai (02:52:49) finished in third place. It was a tough competition amongst former MILO Marathon Queens in the 42K Local category. Christabel Martes led the pack and posted a time of 03:03:49, while Mary Grace Delos Santos (03:05:34) and Jhoan Banayag (03:07:59) came in second and third place, respectively.

Renowned runner Mary Joy Tabal still reigns as the MILO Marathon Queen of the 38th National MILO Marathon Finals

“There was a lot of pressure on me since I was expected by many to retain the title. I needed to overcome that immense amount of pressure and nervousness. I motivated myself to push harder and to enjoy the race. It was also good because I challenged myself to become better,” shared Tabal. “I am happy that I had another chance to show what I can do and what I am capable of. I hope to inspire more Filipino runners, especially the kids, to continue running and striving to achieve their dreams.”

Kenyans dominated the male 42K Open category, with 2011 MILO Marathon champion James Tallam recording an impressive time of 02:21:08, Josphat Kiptanui (02:21:31) following in second and Joel Kiplimo Kemboi (02:21:31) in third.

Running buddies Sammy and Yet enjoy the race under the beautiful weather during the 38th National MILO Marathon Finals

First-time champion Rafael Poliquit set a swift pace against his local rivals with a time of 02:32:29, relegating five-time MILO Marathon King Eduardo Buenavista (02:33:56) to second place and Ireneo Raquin (02:35:50) to third place.

“I trained everyday with 20km runs, and a race every Sunday. I am my own coach. I did not expect to win because it is quite tough to balance work and training, but my victory today proved that despite difficulties, I am still able to compete with the nation’s elite runners,” expressed Poliquit.

2014 MILO Marathon Queen Mary Joy Tabal and 2014 MILO Marathon King Rafael Poliquit, Jr. proudly carry their trophies at the awarding ceremonies of the 38th National MILO Marathon National Finals

It was also his first time to face five-time MILO Marathon King Eduardo Buenavista in the 42K event. Both are members of the Air Force of the Philippines, and Buenavista happens to be Poliquit’s senior officer. “I could not believe I was able to beat Sir Eduardo. He is already an established veteran and one of the country’s running greats. He is my running idol. I admire him so much and he will continue to inspire me in my career.”

Kids, students, parents and families joined in on the fun as the running community gathered in the nation’s biggest footrace. Celebrity triathlete Kuya Kim Atienza ran in the 21K race, while fellow fitness buff, actress Anne Curtis, ran in the 10K race.

“We would like to congratulate everyone who joined us in the 38th season of the National MILO Marathon. We would also like to thank all who made this success possible,” said Andrew Neri, MILO Sports Marketing Manager. “We look forward to another great running season in 2015. See you again in the 39th National MILO Marathon!”

Actress and fitness buff Anne Curtis was among the hundreds who ran in the 10K category during the grand finale of the 38th National MILO Marathon Finals

With the support of the Department of Education and the National MILO Marathon runners, MILO’s Help Gives Shoes advocacy will provide 16,000 underprivileged youth with brand new running shoes and reach the 50,000 mark this year. As MILO celebrates its 50th year, Help Give Shoes aims to make the donation to students in Yolanda-hit cities, particularly Tacloban, Ormoc, and Eastern Samar.

The 38th National MILO Marathon is made possible by Timex, the Bayview Park Hotel Manila, ASICS, Lenovo, Manila Bulletin and Gatorade, along with endorsements from the Department of Education, Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Jaro sisters, Macaladlad shine in 38th National MILO Marathon Lipa Qualifying Race

 About 8,000 spirited runners charged under the rain during the Lipa leg of the 38th National MILO Marathon

Elite runners Joseph Macaladlad and Criselyn Jaro bagged the top purse in the 21K centrepiece events at the Lipa leg of the 38th National MILO Marathon on Sunday. Each pocketed a prize of P10,000 in cash, a trophy and a coveted slot to the National Finals on December 7, for a chance to be crowned as the MILO Marathon King and Queen. MILO will send this year’s King and Queen to Japan on an all-expense paid trip to the 2015 Tokyo Marathon. Over 8,000 runners joined today’s race.

Not even the rainy skies and slippery wet roads could stop the racers from running to their heart’s content. In the 21K male category, 24-year-old Lyceum of the Philippines Batangas Criminology student Joseph Macaladlad beat his fiercest rivals, posting a time of 01:17:14, relegating Greg Vincent Osorio (01:19:25) and Jay Laya (01:19:43) to second and third place, respectively.

21K category winners Joseph Macaladlad and Criselyn Jaro outsprinted competitors during the Lipa Leg of the 38th National MILO Marathon

Macaladlad, originally from Mindoro but residing in Batangas, has been running for six years and has been joining the MILO Marathon for three years now. He makes the most out of his passion for running by joining races to help him with his schooling. “I really love running. I’m grateful that I am able to use my winnings for my college tuition and expenses,” said Macaladlad. “I’m very happy that I won. Even if it was very rainy, which proved to be a big challenge, the cool weather was nice and I had a lot of fun in the race.”

On the distaff side, 22-year-old Brokenshire College of Davao alumna Criselyn Jaro came out on top with a time of 01:29:16, followed by fellow contenders Mirasol Abad (01:33:47) in second place and Cellie Rose Jaro (01:34:36) in third place.

Davao native Criselyn Jaro ran ahead against contenders to be the 21K female race winner of the 38th National MILO Marathon in Lipa City

The Jaro sisters are no strangers to the running scene. Running definitely runs in their family, with their names consistently appearing at the top of running results in the different race categories of the MILO Marathon, amongst various races. “My sisters and I are all runners. We grew up into a poor family, and we had to go to school which was about 11 kilometers away from our house. We would run to school to avoid being late, and that was the start of our foray into running,” shared Jaro. “Our family is our inspiration, and our eldest sister Cynthia is our biggest influence. She was the one who first started running competitively, and we all followed in her footsteps. Through running, we are able to help our family enjoy a better life.”

Each year, thousands of families join the National MILO Marathon and conquer the races together. ”We at MILO are delighted to see children, whether kids or adults, run with their parents and their siblings at the MILO Marathon. It is heartwarming to see families become really engaged in running, such as the Jaro sisters,” said Andrew Neri, MILO Sports Marketing Manager. “The National MILO Marathon is a communal gathering where numerous Filipino families channel their athletic spirits and enjoy family bonding through running together. We encourage more families to join our national family affair that is truly fun for all ages.”

10K top finisher Jomad Angus crosses the finish line in the 38th National MILO Marathon in Lipa City

With the support of the Department of Education and the National MILO Marathon runners, MILO’s Help Gives Shoes advocacy will provide 16,000 underprivileged youth with brand new running shoes and reach the 50,000 mark this year. As MILO celebrates its 50th year, Help Give Shoes aims to make the donation to students in Yolanda-hit cities, particularly Tacloban, Ormoc, and Eastern Samar.

The qualifying race will pick up in Iloilo on September 21, then proceed to Bacolod (September 28), Tagbilaran (October 5), Cebu (October 12), Butuan (October 19), Cagayan De Oro (November 9), General Santos (November 16), and Davao (November 23). The National Finals will be held on December 7 at the SM Mall of Asia grounds in Pasay City.

The 38th National MILO Marathon is made possible by Timex, the Bayview Park Hotel Manila, ASICS, Lenovo, Manila Bulletin and Gatorade, along with endorsements from the Department of Education, Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Jaro sisters, Macaladlad shine in 38th National MILO Marathon Lipa Qualifying Race

 About 8,000 spirited runners charged under the rain during the Lipa leg of the 38th National MILO Marathon

Elite runners Joseph Macaladlad and Criselyn Jaro bagged the top purse in the 21K centrepiece events at the Lipa leg of the 38th National MILO Marathon on Sunday. Each pocketed a prize of P10,000 in cash, a trophy and a coveted slot to the National Finals on December 7, for a chance to be crowned as the MILO Marathon King and Queen. MILO will send this year’s King and Queen to Japan on an all-expense paid trip to the 2015 Tokyo Marathon. Over 8,000 runners joined today’s race.

Not even the rainy skies and slippery wet roads could stop the racers from running to their heart’s content. In the 21K male category, 24-year-old Lyceum of the Philippines Batangas Criminology student Joseph Macaladlad beat his fiercest rivals, posting a time of 01:17:14, relegating Greg Vincent Osorio (01:19:25) and Jay Laya (01:19:43) to second and third place, respectively.

21K category winners Joseph Macaladlad and Criselyn Jaro outsprinted competitors during the Lipa Leg of the 38th National MILO Marathon

Macaladlad, originally from Mindoro but residing in Batangas, has been running for six years and has been joining the MILO Marathon for three years now. He makes the most out of his passion for running by joining races to help him with his schooling. “I really love running. I’m grateful that I am able to use my winnings for my college tuition and expenses,” said Macaladlad. “I’m very happy that I won. Even if it was very rainy, which proved to be a big challenge, the cool weather was nice and I had a lot of fun in the race.”

On the distaff side, 22-year-old Brokenshire College of Davao alumna Criselyn Jaro came out on top with a time of 01:29:16, followed by fellow contenders Mirasol Abad (01:33:47) in second place and Cellie Rose Jaro (01:34:36) in third place.

Davao native Criselyn Jaro ran ahead against contenders to be the 21K female race winner of the 38th National MILO Marathon in Lipa City

The Jaro sisters are no strangers to the running scene. Running definitely runs in their family, with their names consistently appearing at the top of running results in the different race categories of the MILO Marathon, amongst various races. “My sisters and I are all runners. We grew up into a poor family, and we had to go to school which was about 11 kilometers away from our house. We would run to school to avoid being late, and that was the start of our foray into running,” shared Jaro. “Our family is our inspiration, and our eldest sister Cynthia is our biggest influence. She was the one who first started running competitively, and we all followed in her footsteps. Through running, we are able to help our family enjoy a better life.”

Each year, thousands of families join the National MILO Marathon and conquer the races together. ”We at MILO are delighted to see children, whether kids or adults, run with their parents and their siblings at the MILO Marathon. It is heartwarming to see families become really engaged in running, such as the Jaro sisters,” said Andrew Neri, MILO Sports Marketing Manager. “The National MILO Marathon is a communal gathering where numerous Filipino families channel their athletic spirits and enjoy family bonding through running together. We encourage more families to join our national family affair that is truly fun for all ages.”

10K top finisher Jomad Angus crosses the finish line in the 38th National MILO Marathon in Lipa City

With the support of the Department of Education and the National MILO Marathon runners, MILO’s Help Gives Shoes advocacy will provide 16,000 underprivileged youth with brand new running shoes and reach the 50,000 mark this year. As MILO celebrates its 50th year, Help Give Shoes aims to make the donation to students in Yolanda-hit cities, particularly Tacloban, Ormoc, and Eastern Samar.

The qualifying race will pick up in Iloilo on September 21, then proceed to Bacolod (September 28), Tagbilaran (October 5), Cebu (October 12), Butuan (October 19), Cagayan De Oro (November 9), General Santos (November 16), and Davao (November 23). The National Finals will be held on December 7 at the SM Mall of Asia grounds in Pasay City.

The 38th National MILO Marathon is made possible by Timex, the Bayview Park Hotel Manila, ASICS, Lenovo, Manila Bulletin and Gatorade, along with endorsements from the Department of Education, Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.

National MILO Marathon race picks up pace 38th

38th National MILO Marathon Manila Race Route Map

The country’s biggest and most prestigious footrace will once again welcome children, students, aspiring runners and professional athletes to its running routes as the 38th National MILO Marathon takes its act to Manila for its fifth qualifying leg on July 27 at the SM Mall of Asia grounds, Pasay City. With more than 40,000 participants expected to run on Sunday, another historic record of the most number of runners in a single race is anticipated to be achieved.

The winners of the 42K division race will be awarded a cash prize of Php 50,000 and a trophy, while the victors of the 21K division will receive a cash prize of Php 10,000 and a trophy. Runners who finish within the specified age-bracket and cut-off time per division will also receive a coveted slot in the National Finals on December 7.

Elite runners including former National MILO Marathon Queens Jho-an Banayag, Mary Grace Delos Santos and Aileen Tolentino, and Philippine National Games champion Rafael Poliquit, are raring to go head-to-head in the esteemed international race event for a chance to be crowned the National MILO Marathon King and Queen. In line with MILO’s steadfast commitment in enhancing the holistic development of Filipino athletes, the 38th NMM MILO King and Queen will be sent by MILO to Japan to showcase the Filipinos’ resilience, strength and excellence as they compete in the Tokyo Marathon in 2015. The Tokyo Marathon is one of the six grand prix races in the world, joining Berlin, Boston, Chicago, New York, and London in the illustrious list of major international marathons.

Young racers will also join in the fun in the 3K and 5K divisions. Celebrity running enthusiasts are also expected to participate in the running events, including MILO R2 APEX Running School founder and The Biggest Loser Philippines coach Jim Saret, his wife and fellow coach Toni Saret, and 2014 The Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition: Doubles contestants Ralph David Du, Yves Christian Du, Patricia Castillo, Bryan Castillo, Francis Asis, Mark Andrew Mavrides, Jepoy Arcilla, Tristan Nueva, Carl Lazaro, Cayen Lazaro, Patricia Martinez and Ma. Victoria Joy Nebreja.

To further the support for young Filipino talents, MILO will provide 16,000 underprivileged youth with brand new running shoes this year to reach the 50,000 mark through the Help Give Shoes advocacy. Help Give Shoes aims make the donation to students in Yolanda-hit cities, particularly Tacloban, Ormoc, and Eastern Samar.

“We are very pleased that the selected recipients of the Help Give Shoes advocacy for this year are our aspiring runners from the Yolanda-hit areas. With the contributions of the National MILO Marathon runners, we will be able to give these children a ray of hope and pave the way for them to continue cultivating their passion for sports,” said Andrew Neri, MILO Sports Marketing Manager. “We aim to help these kids slowly heal from the devastation that the typhoon brought in, raise their spirits, and inspire them to carry on striving for their dreams.”

The gun start for participants of the 42K run is at 3:00AM, the 21K run at 4:30AM, 10K run at 5:00AM, 5K run at 5:35AM and the 3K run at 5:30AM. The starting line will be adjacent to the finish line at the Seaside Boulevard of SM MOA.

The 38th National MILO Marathon is made possible by Timex, the Bayview Park Hotel Manila, ASICS, Lenovo, Manila Bulletin and Gatorade, along with endorsements from the Department of Education, Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.

For more information on MILO Philippines, log on to the official website (http://www.milo.com.ph) or the MILO Philippines Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/milo.ph). Follow MILO on Twitter (@MiloPH) and Instagram (@MiloPhilippines).