Category: Sports

National MILO Marathon race picks up pace 38th

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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).

The King claims another victory in the 38th National MILO Marathon Tarlac race

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 Almost 13,000 runners race to the finish line for the 3rd leg of the 38th National Milo Marathon in Tarlac, City

Reigning MILO Marathon King Eduardo Buenavista and FEU Manila varsity runner Mary Grace Dela Torre bested their rivals in the 21K division run at the 38th National MILO Marathon on Sunday in Tarlac City. Almost 13,000 runners joined this leg and 39 qualified for the National Finals.

Buenavista and Dela Torre were awarded a cash prize of P10,000, a trophy, and a spot in the National Finals on December 7. MILO will be sending this season’s MILO Marathon King and Queen to compete alongside elite runners from across the globe in the 2015 Tokyo Marathon.

Five-time MILO Marathon titlist Buenavista emerged victiorious with a time of 01:10:30, finishing ahead of Ferdinand Corpuz (01:14:36) and Jujet Pacsis De Asis (01:15:34). 21K first timer Dela Torre posted a time of 01:46:38, beating contenders Rowena Valdez (01:48:30) and Shane Acosta (01:49:58).***

 (L-R) FEU Track and Field Women’s varsity, Mary Grace Dela Torre and 2013 MILO Marathon King and SEA Games Gold Medalist, Eduardo Buenavista are this leg’s victors of the 21K race for female and male categories respectively

The two-time Olympian and three-time SEA Games gold medalist Buenavista persevered through the hot and dry weather conditions and pushed on to claim another sweet victory. “The weather today was challenging. I’m used to the cold weather in Baguio, where I train with the national team. Thankfully there are adequate water stations throughout the race to help us cool down,” shared the athlete fondly called Vertek by his friends. The 35-year-old native of South Cotabato is a sergeant of the Philippine Air Force and a member of the Philippine National Team. “I am really focused with my training and my target is to win in the finals. Because of MILO, I was able to experience running in the 2014 Paris Marathon. I would like to defend my crown as MILO Marathon King and run in the Tokyo Marathon next year.”

It might be 18-year-old Dela Torre’s first time to run in the 21K event but she eagerly grabbed her chance to shine. The FEU Manila full-time scholar and varsity runner who regularly joins MILO races felt that it was time to step up to a tougher challenge with a bigger purpose. “A month ago, I told my coach that I wanted to run 21K. She asked me if I could do it, and I requested for her help with my training and preparations for the race. It was difficult, but I had to fight through it so I could win the prize and give back to my aunt who supports us. She is unable to walk anymore,” shared Dela Torre. “Since this is my first time running in this event, I was very scared to lead, so I paced myself along with the other runners. At the last stretch, I felt so exhausted but I refused to give up. I just prayed hard and gave my all so I can win, because I really want to help my aunt. She is my inspiration in running.”

(center) Coach Rio Dela Cruz raises his hands up together with kid racers in Tarlac

10-year-old Matthew Salvador is another inspiring runner who joined today’s race. The 5th grader from Sta. Cruz, Tarlac is afflicted with autism, but the condition does not stop him from pursuing his passion for running. “I told my mom, Ma, can you please buy me 300g of MILO? I want to join the MILO race. I was nervous, but I am happy because I met new friends and I had my picture taken with Coach Rio. I really like running because I’m able to exercise. I think physical fitness is very important,” shared Salvador.

“Each year, runners of all ages and backgrounds join the MILO marathon, and it is truly heartwarming to see how everyone is dedicated in their passion for running,” said MILO Sports Executive Andrew Neri. “We at MILO have been and continue to be inspired by the unwavering support of Filipino runners and their families from across the country. We hope to return the favor by providing everyone with a quality sports event to engage themselves in and inspire others to become champions in their own right.”

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.

Children from different schools in Tarlac gather for the 3K and 5K races

The qualifying race will resume in Angeles on July 20 before heading to Manila (July 27), Naga (August 24), Lucena (August 31), Puerto Princesa (September 7), Lipa (September 14), Iloilo (September 21), 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.

Herrera, Cardona win in 38th National MILO Marathon Dagupan City qualifying leg

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More than 10,000 participants ran for the 38th National MILO Marathon’s 2nd leg in Dagupan City

Elite runners Rene Herrera and Lany Cardona set a swift pace for the 21-K division run at the 38th National MILO Marathon on Sunday in Dagupan City. Each received a cash prize of P10,000, a trophy, and a coveted spot in the National Finals on December 7 for their respective victories.

Out of more than 10,000 runners, 48 qualified for the National Finals in this leg. As an added incentive to the prestige of winning the country’s premier footrace, MILO will be sending this season’s MILO Marathon King and Queen to compete with the world’s finest athletes at the Tokyo Marathon in 2015.

(From left to right) Five-time SEA Games Gold Medalist and member of the Philippine Navy, Mr. Rene Herrera and PATAFA (Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association) National Open Gold Medalist, Ms. Lany Cardona topped the 21K race for Male and Female categories respectively.

35-year-old Herrera led the pack, clocking in a time of 01:12:36. Robino Javier followed close behind, finishing at 01:15:59, and Ronnie Rosete placed third 01:19:37. Herrera, who hails from Guimaras, is a member of the Philippine Navy and a five time SEA Games gold medalist. He also competed in the 2012 London Olympics.

“I have joined the MILO marathon since 1995, and this year, the race is part of my training for my qualification in the Philippine Team for the 2014 Asian Games in South Korea,” expressed Herrera. “Qualifying for the National Finals is an added boost for me and it will certainly help me in my hopes to be part of the national team.”

Herrera has been training in Baguio, the Philippine Team’s base in preparation for the Asian Games in September. His training regime consists of morning and afternoon sessions with extensive runs in the city’s Marcos Highway. Coach Jim Saret, creator of the MILO R2-APEX Running School, has also invited Herrera to be his assistant coach for beginner runners in the Baguio roadshow of the running school in June this year.

MILO Sports Marketing Manager, Mr. Andrew Neri, unites with kid racers in Dagupan City.

In the distaff side, Lany Cardona took advantage of the good weather and placed first, posting a time of 01:30:20. Rivals Cinderella Lorenzo (01:33:27) and Cristina Melchor (01:50:58) placed second and third, respectively. The 23-year-old housewife from Bolinao, Pangasinan is the record holder for winning the most number of gold medals in the PATAFA National Open.

“We are lucky it is sunny today, which is great for running. It has been raining the past days when I’ve been training,” said Cardona. “For the qualifying race, I prepared by running four times a week. I also joined several races. I will continue my training and I hope to be at my best for the National 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.

Children and teens from various schools join the 2nd leg of the marathon.

“MILO’s Help Give Shoes is wonderful program which reaches out to underprivileged children who aspire to run and become future champions. I used to be one of those kids, and the advocacy continues to inspire me,” said Herrera. Cardona echoes the same sentiments. “What MILO does for the children is admirable, and I’m more than willing to contribute and help our aspiring athletes. We all share the same passion for running, and it’s great that the kids will be able to pursue their dreams,” she added.

The qualifying race will resume in Tarlac on July 13 before heading to Angeles (July 20), Manila (July 27), Naga (August 24), Lucena (August 31), Puerto Princesa (September 7), Lipa (September 14), Iloilo (September 21), 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.

Various participants, including couples race their way for this year’s marathon

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).

38th National MILO Marathon kicks off in Baguio

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Elite runners Julius Sermona and Christabel Martes set the pace as they came out top in the 21K events as the 38th National MILO Marathon kicked off in Baguio City on Sunday. More than 6,700 runners joined the race.

Sermona, SEA Games silver medalist and 2006 MILO Marathon King, took category rival Cesar Castañeto down to the wire as they crossed the finish line, clocking in at 01:14:42 and 01:14:47 respectively. Castro Cudli finished third with a time of 01:23:40.

More than 6,700 participants raced for the 1st leg of the 38th National MILO Marathon in Baguio City,

Two-time SEA Games gold medalist Martes bested the female category with an impressive time of 01:26:48 as she finished well ahead of second placer Sandi Menchi Abahan (01:34:23) and third placer Lua Angella Limbo (01:46:41).

The runners were blessed with very good weather but there were other challenges they needed to overcome. ”The uphill and downhill route was quite difficult to navigate. It was a very tight race. I had to sprint in the final kilometer,” said the 34-year-old Sermona, a military soldier who hails from Bacolod. “I am overjoyed that I won. For the national finals, I need to continue training to be able to give my best performance.”

 Julius Sermona (left) and Christabel Martes (right) are the winners for the 38th NMM Baguio leg 21K event, Male and Female categories respectively.

Martes, the 34-year-old from La Trinidad, Benguet plans to take her training up a notch for the national finals. “For the qualifying race, I did not do any intensive training, unlike before when I was still with the national team. I also had difficulty in the uphill parts of the route. I had to exert twice the effort,” expressed Martes. “My training consisted of jogging and recreational running only. I need to step it up and be consistent with my routine to maintain my form for the finals.”

Sermona and Martes both received P10, 000 and a trophy while securing their spots, along with 80 others, to compete in the National Finals on December 7 at the SM Mall of Asia grounds. This season’s MILO Marathon King and Queen will get the chance to represent the country at the esteemed Tokyo Marathon in 2015. The country’s biggest and most prestigious footrace expects 230,000 runners to participate this year.

 National MILO Marathon Race Organizer, Coach Rio dela Cruz unites with kid racers.

Sharing the spotlight with the inspiring elite runners is 60-year-old Senen Garcia from Novaliches. Garcia qualified for the national finals, finishing with a time of 01:57:59. “It’s a far cry from my record time of 01:07 back in the day,” laughs Garcia. “It’s harder to race now that I’m older, but my goal is to qualify for the national finals, and I’m very happy that I did. I’m also happy to contribute to the Help Give Shoes campaign.”

Josh Buenavista, son of two-time Olympian and reigning MILO Marathon King Eduardo “Vertek” Buenavista also joined the Baguio leg. The 12-year-old definitely followed in his father’s winning footsteps as he clinched the top spot in the 3K events, posting a record time of 00:08:34. “My father encouraged me to take up running and join the MILO races,” said Josh, who has been running for four years now. “I really look up to him. He is my inspiration.”

As part of its ongoing commitment to support young Filipino talents through sports, 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 National MILO Marathon strives to offer a challenging athletic experience for Filipino runners, and at the same time reach out to young Filipino athletes with strong potential and bright futures ahead of them,” said Andrew Neri, MILO Sports Marketing Manager. “We are blessed with the unwavering support of all the runners and Filipino families across the country as we continue to build champions not only in sports, but also in life.”

Kids of ages 7-12 race for the 3K category.

The elimination legs will resume in Dagupan on July 6, before heading to Tarlac (July 13), Angeles (July 20), Manila (July 27), Naga (August 24), Lucena (August 31), Puerto Princesa (September 7), Lipa (September 14), Iloilo (September 21), 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.

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).

Flight of the Champions

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As MILO celebrates its 50th year in the Philippines, the country’s leading chocolate malt beverage brand and official media partner TV5 are set to raise the thrill for one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year, the world basketball championships in Spain. Filipino fans of the all-star Gilas Pilipinas basketball team will have the chance to witness the on-court action live in Spain with the MILO Fly to Spain Promo, Watch the Gilas Pilipinas Champions.

After a silver medal finish in the regional finals in 2013, the country’s mythical lineup earned its berth in the world championships and will go head to head with the world’s finest cagers in August of this year. For the first time since 1978, the national basketball team is en route to dominate the international arena.

Team Gilas Pilipinas will join 23 other nations including regional rivals Iran and South Korea in the biggest international basketball competition. The squad will play against Senegal, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Greece, and Croatia in the preliminary round, which will be staged in one of the six host cities –Seville, Spain. 2010 world basketball champions Team USA will be defending the crown in the tourney.

“For over 30 years, MILO has been at the helm of augmenting various disciplines in the local sports community and has bred some of the greatest talents from all regions including several members of Gilas Pilipinas. We would like our loyal MILO drinkers to witness the unrelenting display of dedication and athletic excellence that inspires us to impart the winning energy to Filipinos countrywide,” said MILO Team Lead Ellen Isturis.

Shoppers will get the chance to win a trip for two (2) to the 2014 world basketball championships in Spain and other exciting prizes. Consumers may submit properly labeled entries with two (2) empty MILO R2 24g sachets or one (1) empty pack of MILO R2 390g or one (1) empty pack of MILO 1kg as proof-of-purchase enclosed in a legal-sized envelope to select drop-off points nationwide until June 29.

One (1) grand prize winner and (6) six consolation prize winners will be selected in a grand draw on July 4, 2014. Winners will be notified through the contact details provided upon entry in the contest.

The MILO Fly to Spain Promo, Watch the Gilas Pilipinas Champions is part MILO’s efforts to lead champions beyond the hard court. MILO urges every growing champion to take a glass of the classic and nutritious chocomaltee blend to gain the lasting energy to conquer sports and life.

Get the winning energy and claim a seat at the live hoop battles in Spain. Join MILO’s Fly to Spain, Watch the Gilas Champions promo now!

For more information on the MILO Fly to Spain, Watch the Gilas Champions promo, log on to the MILO Philippines 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).