Seasoned runner Alquin Bolivar joined fast-rising Jean Palencia in topping yesterday’s Lakad Laban sa Pekeng Gamot held at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
Senate Health Committee chairman and triathlete Pia Cayetano led the list of prominent individuals who joined health buffs in the event organized by Triathlon Association of the Philippines to create awareness on the proliferation of counterfeit medicines being sold in the country today.
A thousand runners-supporters showed up in the race supervised by TRAP vice president and race director Red Dumuk with Bolivar and Palencia proving to be the fastest and best conditioned runners in the 10k event as they dominated the race from start to finish.
Bolivar, 23, a criminology graduate from La Salle Dasmariñas, negotiated the race in 34 minutes and one second while 18-year old first year BPE student from UST Palencia clocked in 43:43.
Bolivar and Palencia took home P5,000 each in the event owned by Samahan Laban sa Pekeng Gamot composed of public and private entities – the Department of Health, Philippine Medical Association, Drugstores Association of the Philippines, Mercury Drug, Watsons, Pfizer, Janssen, Zuellig Phama, Pharmacists Association of the Philippines, GMA Network and Philippine Daily Inquirer.