Beam-Zest-O’s run to support Pila museum

Organizers of the Beam-Zest-O Patakbong Pinoy will go the extra mile as a portion of the inaugural leg’s proceeds will be donated for the upkeep of the Pila Museum when the 5-kilometer race opens the event’s 2004 season on Jan. 31, in Pila, Laguna.

The Pila Museum is one of the attractions of the old town as it houses Chinese pottery and other archeological finds that date back to several centuries ago. Aside from that, Pila is home to several ancestral houses and a Spanish town planning also got the nod as a National Historical Landmark from the National Historical Institute.

The Media Runners and Sports Promotions officials will hand out the donation to the Pila Historical Society Foundation on the race, which is also known as the Pila Heritage Run, a yearly event designed to disseminate information on the town’s value as a heritage site.

"It is truly an honor to contribute, even in our own little way to the preservation of culture in Pila, which remains one of the best-kept secrets of Laguna," said Nelson Macaraig of Jonel Promotions, marketing arm of Beam Toothpaste.

All of the town’s high schools have thrown their support by fielding entries for the meet, which offers prizes for the top 10 winners of the boys and girls divisions aside from the cash prizes for the top three biggest delegations.

The principals of Liceo de Pila, San Antonio de Padua College, Masico National High School, Colegio Monterei de Pila and Linga National High School will battle it out for the biggest delegation prize of P3,000 while the next two biggest groups will have to settle for P2,000 and P1,000, respectively.

The topnotchers in both the boys and girls divisions will earn P1,500 each while the second and third placers will take home P1,000 and P500, respectively, aside from the medals. Fourth to 10th placers will receive P200 each.

The first 100 finishers will also take home t-shirts while Beam-Zest-O gift packs are to be raffled off to participants who submitted proof of purchases of Beam Toothpaste and Zest-O.