De Asis, Barcena rule Takbo Para sa Kalikasan

MANILA, Philippines - Jujet de Asis and Nhea-An Barcena dominated the field in DZMM’s Takbo Para sa Kalikasan which drew 5,000 runners in support of an advocacy run to save the environment yesterday at the Quirino Grandstand.

De Asis clocked 32 minutes, 29 seconds to top the men’s category while Barcena did it in 39:59 in the women’s side to win the centerpiece 10K run.

The participants, led by Vice President Noli de Castro, Sen. Pia Cayetano, ABS-CBN Manila radio division and sports head Peter Musngi, ABS-CBN Foundation managing director Gina Lopez, and DZMM station manager Marah Faner Capuyan, ran in 3K, 5K, and 10K categories for the benefit of the rehabilitation project of ABS-CBN’s Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig.

The second and third placers were Crifrankeadel Indapan (32:32) and Ben Alejandrino (32:46) in the men’s division and Genevieve dela Pena (46:13) and Nanette Agura (46:42) in the women’s side.

Roger Denolo topped the 5K race Roger Denolo in 16 :20 seconds, humbling Southeast Asian Games trackster Julius Sermona (16:32) and Carlito Fantilaga (16:42). The top woman in 5K was Serenata Saluan (19:31), who beat Mary Ann Dela Cruz (19:56) and Mirasol Abad (21:20).

Young runners in the 3K race also turned in impressive times while former Takbo champions Allen Quisay (32:12) and Maricel Maquilan (39:10) ruled the Hall of Fame race.

Given special awards were the Philippine National Police (biggest government contingent), San Miguel Corp. (biggest NGO contingent), STI (biggest school contingent), the Robles Family (biggest family contingent) and ABS-CBN’s asset management warehouse division (largest Kapamilya contingent).

Felix Belarmino, 84, also took home a prize as oldest male finisher while Eufemia Fabillar, 86 years old, was the oldest female finisher.

Also joining the huge crowd of runners were DZMM anchors Ahwel Paz, Ariel Ureta, Cory Quirino, Nina Castro, Jasmine Romero, Leila Chikadora, Onse, and Vic De Leon-Lima with ABS-CBN stars Enchong Dee, Maricar Reyes, Jake Cuenca, and Piolo Pascual.

Cuenca ran the 5K race while Pascual finished the 10k race.