Zobel, Cayetano lead Pinoy runners in NY Marathon

NEW YORK – Tycoon Fernando Zobel de Ayala and Sen. Pia Cayetano were among the more than a dozen Filipinos who flew in from Manila to compete in the world’s largest marathon last Sunday involving more than 38,000 runners from 100 countries.

As if running Ayala Corp. is not tough enough, Zobel de Ayala finished the grueling race in 14,805th place with a time of four hours, eight minutes and 51 seconds (4:08:51). Zobel de Ayala, 46, is president and chief operating officer of one of the largest diversified conglomerates in the Philippines.

Senator Cayetano placed 14,080th overall and 2,772nd among the female runners with a time of four hours, six minutes and 28 seconds (4:06:28). She joined the Venice marathon last Oct. 22 where she clocked four hours 14 minutes.

The 26.2-mile marathon started at the Verazzano Bridge and ended at Central Park. It cut through the city’s five boroughs -– Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan -– and was watched by more than two million New Yorkers lining the streets to support the runners, making it "a race like no other," organizers said.

Zobel de Ayala was cheered on by his wife Kit and two daughters as he crossed the finish line despite freezing eight-degree temperatures that weakened many runners, some of whom failed to complete the race. He ran at a pace of 9.29 minutes per mile.

He ranked 11,807th among the male finishers of the race. His team mates included siblings Amanda and Francesca Carpo, Jonjon Rufino and Ayala executive Nona Torres.

Scores of other Filipinos and Filipino-Americans living in New York also joined the race, including Marie Clare Katigbak-Sillick, daughter of STAR bureau chief in Washington Jose Katigbak.

Sillick, 31, chief copywriter at Bobbi Brown Cosmetics and author of a book due out in February, turned in a time of 4:18.52 and came in 17,894th place. It was her first marathon.

But more important for Zobel de Ayala than being successful in his first New York marathon run — which earned him a nondescript medal given to all finishers – was raising funds for Habitat for Humanity and the GILAS computer education program.

His participation in the marathon earned P1 million for Habitat, a program for low-cost shelter for the poor, and P250,000 for GILAS. He said he felt proud carrying the Philippine tri-color on his chest.

"I feel great! I really enjoyed this very unique experience at the marathon," Zobel de Ayala said. The STAR had an exclusive interview with him over dinner as he celebrated with family and friends five hours later at the Cenderillon, an Asian restaurant in the Soho district. The bar is owned by Filipino couple Amy Besa and Romy Donotan.

Zobel de Ayala said his knees felt sore but the experience warmed his heart. "I enjoyed the (New York marathon) people. They are really nice, warm and friendly," he told The STAR.

His entry in the marathon was engineered by Diosdado Banatao, a Filipino IT genius in Silicon Valley who is now a business partner of the Ayala Group of Companies. Banatao is the managing partner of Tallwood Venture Capital and Narra Venture Capital.

"It was Dado who really put me up to this," Zobel de Ayala pointed out. Banatao, who was seated beside him at the dinner table, confirmed this. "He (Zobel de Ayala) beat me by more than a mile," Banatao said.

Banatao said he invited Zobel de Ayala through Art Tan, president and CEO of Integrated Micro Electronic Inc., which recently joined the Ayala Group.

He said Tan himself was supposed to join the marathon but injured his legs. He suggested that Banatao invite Zobel de Ayala to take his place. It was Banatao’s first time to join the race.

Many of the competitors ran for a number of reasons – to raise money for worthy causes, to honor a loved one, to test the limits of their endurance, or simply just for the fun of it.

The near perfect weather on Sunday made it a perfect day to run one of the world’s most famous races.

The Filipinos from Manila were among a group of 22 who applied for slots in the marathon. Four of the applicants were rejected and six backed out at the last minute.

The other Filipinos who finished the race were Norma Torres, 36, of Muntinlupa City (4:03:06); Juan Vincent Rufino, 32, of Makati City (3:45:31); Joel Ferrer, 52, of Makati City (4:02:59); Franchesca Carpo, 30 of Makati City (4:25:24); Kristina Mijares, 33 of Muntinlupa City (4:26:57); Sabino Padilla, 46, of Makati City (4:48:02); and Jean Marie Tan, 49, of Makati City (6:46:03).

Organizers said a record 93,000 people applied to run in this year’s New York marathon. About half were accepted and more than 38,000 crossed the finish line, including seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong who clocked in at just under three hours.

Winner of the men’s race was M. Gomes dos Santos of Brazil with a time of 2:09.58.

The women’s race was won by Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia in 2:25.05. It was a back-to-back win for Prokopcuka who also won last year’s marathon in 2:24:41. –with Christina Mendez