PhilHealth Run Manila: Race Recap

I ran the PhilHealth 18k run last Sunday to get my usual week-end long run fix as i wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this race. It was going to be one of those long, relaxed runs to gear up for my upcoming Run United 21k next month.

However, i knew this was going to be one of those mega runs where you get to jostle with thousands who have registered for this race, many of them joggers and week-end runners who would crowd on the narrow east lane of Roxas Boulevard.

As expected, the route became very crowded, specially when the 3k, 5k and 10k runners were sent off one after the other. The scene was like of ants coming from the north and south bound lanes and bumping into each other during the turn-around points!

I had to stop and walk several times to find a way how i could pass through without encroaching into the opposite lane! Despite the mayhem, the race went on without any major hitch as marshals courageously directed traffic as they urged runners to move, move, move! (Imagine groups of 3k runners stopping at the 3k turn-around sign-board just to take pictures!) The crowd would later thin out once you get pass through these turn-around choke points.

These odds were all stacked against the organizers but surprisingly, the event was well-run, very organized with very well placed hydration stations that you would never worry about getting a drink on your next stop as the tables were well-stocked! Oh, they were even passing out bananas at around the 6th and 8th km marks and these was a boon to us running the longer distances.

The only real kink to this race was that the route got too tiresome as the 18k runners, starting from Km Zero had to turn around at the foot of the EDSA flyover on the way back to Luneta only to turn-around again upon reaching Pedro Gil so we were en route back to Edsa to make the second and final turn-around before heading straight back to the Quirino grandstand at Luneta for the finish line.

I wish they would have extended the run towards MOA then to Macapagal Avenue, get the extra distance there then turn back towards the finish line.

With PhilHealth as the main proponents of this race with the Philippine Children’s Medical Center and the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital as beneficiaries, this run was held in 18 other major sites throughout the country so major support was given to assure the success of this run.

Over-all, the energy put into this race was tops and kudos to race Director Edward Kho for directing such an extra ordinary event. Our heartfelt thanks to to Ms. Claire Papa of RiteMed-Unilab, major sponsors of the race who provided us media and bloggers breakfast and refreshments after the race.

There’s not much pictures in here, just mementos before and after the race.

With running buddy Jun moments before the start

A medal at the finish line

With Claire of Unilab, Jun, Pedz and Ped’z friend at the Manila Hotel

I probably lost 2 lbs after our 18k run but gained it back (and more) a few minutes later after this hearty breakfast! 😦

Philhealth Run Manila: February 17, 2013

On February 17, 2013, roads in 18 sites across the nation will be taken over as the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, better known as PhilHealth, stages the first simultaneous nationwide running event dubbed as PhilHealth Run 2013.

Drawing inspiration from the two highly successful running events organized by its regional centers in Mindanao, the PhilHealth Run 2013: Nationwide Run for Mother and Child Protection promises to be a memorable sporting event as it aims to engage near 100,000 professional and amateur runners from different parts of the country – all running simultaneously with one aim in mind: Universal Health Care in the Philippines.

Runners will converge in 18 major cities that include: Manila, Baguio, Dagupan, Tuguegarao, Clark, Malolos, Sta. Rosa, Batangas, Legazpi, Iloilo, Cebu, Tacloban, Zamboanga, Iligan, Davao, Koronadal, Butuan, and Marawi.

Through this momentous event, PhilHealth aims to rally the entire nation as it helps stage a push towards bringing universal health care a reality. With universal coverage, every Filipino, regardless of status, is given the financial access and support to quality health care and services.

Philhealth Nationwide Run 2013 – Manila
Date :  February 17, 2013
Venue:  Quirino Grandstand Manila
Race Distances:  3K/5K/10K/18K

Registration Fees:
3K – Php 350
Inclusive of Race Singlet, Race Bib, Finisher’s Certificate, Raffle Stub
5K – Php 550
Inclusive of Race Singlet, Race Bib, Finisher’s Certificate, Timing Chip, Raffle Stub
10K – Php 650
Inclusive of Race Singlet, Race Bib, Finisher’s Certificate, Timing Chip, Raffle Stub
18K – Php 750
Inclusive of Race Singlet, Race Bib, Finisher’s Certificate, Finisher’s Medal, Timing Chip, Raffle Stub

Registration Venues:
– Check on selected PhilHealth Field Offices:

• Quezon Ave., Quezon City
• Remcor Bldg, Rizal Ave. Ext., Caloocan Bldg.
• Mark 1 Bldg, 1971 Taft Ave. Manila
• Liberty Boni Bldg., 94 Boni Ave., cor. P. Cruz, Mandaluyong City
• Editha Bldg., Alabang, Zapote Road, Las Pinas City
• ITC Bldg., Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City
• DAP Bldg., San Miguel Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City

– Robinsons Galleria Sports Loop 3rd Level (One-stop Registration site where you can register, pay and claim race kit all at once).

Special in-store registration will open on January 30 to February 3
– Tobys SM Manila
– Tobys EDSA Shangrila
– Tobys SM Faiview
– Runnr Trinoma
– Runnr EDSA Shangri-La
– Runnr High Street, BGC and Alabang Town Center

On-line Registration:
https://run2013.philhealth.gov.ph/manila

Claiming of Race Kits:
Race Kits may be claimed from February 2 to 11 at the Sports Loop of Robinsons Galleria, 3rd Level.

Race participants can likewise register and claim their race kits in a one-stop race registration facility at the Sports Loop throughout the same period.

All registered race participants should bring their claim stub and official receipt of race registration fee.

Race Route, Manila Leg

18 SITES, 18 YEARS, 1 NATION

The nationwide run on February 17, 2013 marks PhilHealth’s 18years of service to the Filipino people, having been established in 1995 with the enactment of Republic Act 7875.

The event’s simultaneous staging across 18 sites in the country emphasizes the point of unity and oneness in aim and spirit. As PhilHealth’s 18th year anniversary celebration for February, dubbed National Health Insurance Month through Presidential Proclamation No. 1400 in 2007, it will surely stand different from the rest as one of historic and great proportions.

In support of the country’s efforts towards achieving the Millenium Development Goals of reducing child mortality and improving maternal health, proceeds from the event will be used to support national and regional institutions promoting the protection of mothers and children in the country.

The national beneficiary of the PhilHealth Run 2013 is the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, and local beneficiaries vary per region. More than just a running event, it endeavors to uphold the importance of our mother’sand children’s health in the challenge of nation-building.

At the grand launching

With Philhealth Ambassador Ms.Gwen Zamora

PhilHealth Run Manila Press Release

Race registration for the PhilHealth Nationwide Run is in full swing. With exactly a month to go, PhilHealth NCR is setting its target at 18,000 runners to represent the nation’s capitol in commemorating the 18^th founding anniversary of the national health insurance corporation.

According to Dr. Gigi Domingo, VP for PhilHealth NCR & Rizal, alongside its target number of race participants PhilHealth Run Manila aims to give 85% of the proceeds from the race registration fees to its two beneficiary institutions – the Philippine Children’s Medical Center and Cottolengo Filipino orphanage.

“PhilHealth Run underscores the agency’s mandate which is universal coverage focusing on mother and chld as the most vulnerable group. With the nationwide run, we aim to synergize all efforts – both of government and private sector – to realize our ultimate goal to make every Filipino entitled to medical benefits by the time of need,” Domingo further said.

PhilHealth Run Manila is scheduled to fire off on February 17 at the Qurino Grandstand, simultaneous with 17 other sites across the country. The huge field of race participants will be plying the long stretch of Roxas Boulevard starting at Km 0 to finish at the Quirino Grandstand. The Manila race will have four distance categories – 18K, 10K, 5K, and 3K. All finishers of the 18K category will receive a finisher’s medal upon crossing the finish line.

On-line registration have started as early as October 2012 via https://run2013.philhealth.gov.ph/manila/. Manual registration are also on-going at all local PhilHealth field offices. Special in-store registration will open on January 30 to February 3 in cooperation with Toby’s and Runnr at the following outlets: Toby’s (SM Manila, SM Southmall, SM Faiview); Runnr (Trinoma, EDSA Shangri-La, BGC).

All registered race participants, with their claim stub and official receipt, may claim their race packets from February 2 to 11 at the Sports Loop, 3^rd level of Robinson’s Galleria. Race participants get to receive a PhilHealth Run race singlet, timing chip (except for 3K), race bib and a raffle stub.

PhilHealth Run Manila recently held its press conference to mark its 30-day countdown to the staging of the NCR leg. Joining the PhilHealth officers in the press event were Philippine Volcanoes Rugby Team standout Chris Everingham and GMA 7’s prime talent Gwen Zamora to highlight the event’s advocacy campaign and beneficiary institutions.

Everingham and Zamora were handpickewd by PhilHealth to be its official event ambassadors for their positive image and  sterling achievements in their respective fields.

For more information on PhilHealth Run Manila and its advocacy, visit the PhilHealth Run website.