No matter what field we are in, we train for a specific goal. For runners, the sweat, the cramps, the blisters, the dizzy spells, the exhaustion, all of these are endured to reach a personal achievement. To some, it is for good health. To others, it is breaking the wall and proving to oneself that you can go beyond your limits. But imagine running towards an end that is so much greater. Each step towards the finish line is a step towards finishing penury. Each drop of sweat is a drop of goodwill for the unprivileged. Each torn muscle strand is a thread of lifeline for the nation. That is what NTU Foundation’s Heroes Run is all about.

For years now, NTU Foundation has conducted this massive campaign, billed “The Race to End Poverty”, to help fund the projects of ending hunger in the city of Baguio and its surrounding municipalities. The 4^th installment of this annual run has been built around the 4 H’s of heroic running: For Health, for the Hungry, for Humanity, and for Hope. This year, Heroes Run has been a significant factor in supporting Noble Trends Unbound’s Hope Kitchen, a hunger mitigation project, in Happy Hollow Elementary School.

An unfortunate deluge on the initially set date lead to a one week postponement of the run and it would have been understandable for entrants to back out. Despite this, hundreds of runners still turned up in the rescheduled day as a magnificent testament to the authentic effort to help the hungry. It was indeed a display of self sacrifice and true heroism by the runners.

Jerry Sabado (1:34:44.00) and Novena Manacnes (1:58:53.00) claimed gold in the 21 Kilometer male and female categories and are now, in th eyes of the children of Happy Hollow Elementary School, the ultimate superheroes. Jerry was followed by Dangwa Bentrez Jr. (1:37:03.00) and RJ Regala (1:41:20.00) while Novena was followed by Myrna Elinger (2:09:44.00) and Maria Ceclia Kiswa ( 2:13:39.00). Superheroes for 10K were Cudli “the Flash” Castro (42:10.06), John Aiden Chamorro (44:12.31) and Ricky Galut (53:21.51) for the men and Gleda Orpilla (54:58.90), Erica Bulatao (57:22.99) and Challyne Chagyo (01:06.34) for the women. 5K top heroes were Jodel Castaneto (24:29.66), Alden Balangue (26:01.70) and Shinya Kosaka (26:21.61) for men and Sharmene Sumalbag (35:55.40), Majoy Lumiwes (46:24.58) and April Ramirez (48:55.38) for the women. Roald Esguerra (M/19:24) and Eira Faye Bulatao (F/21:36) claimed gold in 3K followed by Denzel Josh Pagaduan (M/21:45), Michael Jay Baleros (M/27:21), Enid Hope Maxigne Pinay-an (F/29:43) and Jecah Luize Mendez (29:44).

21K Heroes were given die-cast hero medals and finishing hero shirts while 10K Heroes were given glass hero medals. All fiunishers received certificates of heroism.

The organizing body wishes to extend its sincerest indebtness to the partners and sponsors: Gawad Kalinga, Patch Cafe, the Diocese of Baguio, Human Nature, Kebs Enterprise, Azalea Hotels and Residences, The Filipino Achievers Organization, SM City Baguio, and Derek “Blindman” Gazal. The organizers would also like to give a heartfelt gratitude to the unsung heroes: the support crews, BCPO personnel, SOLAR Team, NTU Change Agents and other volunteers who made Heroes Run 4 possible.