About a boy and his shoes

MANILA, Philippines - For this 11-year-old boy, lost in a sea of green and just among the 42,214 runners who joined yesterday’s Milo Marathon Manila leg, it was all for a pair of shoes.

It wasn’t even the nicest ones money can buy – no stripes nor swoosh. Yet, this brand-new pair of running shoes surely made Dancel Agustin’s day.

“Masaya na po ako dito (I’m happy with this),” said the Grade 5 student at the San Diego Elementary School in Quezon City, looking at his feet.

“Minsan ko lang po to gagamitin para tumagal (I won’t use it as often so it will last),” said Dancel after the race that started and ended at the sprawling Mall of Asia grounds, and under cloudy skies.

Dancel is one of 100 lucky students from his school that received the shoes from Milo last week as part of the company’s bid to bring joy to the less-privileged.

Since 2010, Milo of Nestle Philippines, Inc. has given away 24,200 pairs of shoes. This year they expect to raffle off 10,000 more pairs to young students from all over the country.

Dancel gave his shoes a good break-in during yesterday’s 3K side-event where he failed to land in the top 10. His coach, Rudito Cagatin, said it’s because Dancel is a sprinter.

Dancel is set to join the Milo Little Olympics on Aug. 30, and the next Batang Pinoy where he will see action in the 100m, 200m and 400m races.

“He’s my best bet in those events,” said the school coach.

As Dancel spoke to The STAR, the day’s biggest winners – men’s champion Eric Panique and women’s champion Luisa Raterta – were up on stage.

They had bigger things in mind.

Raterta, who bested all female entries in the 42 km race with her time of three hours, 14 minutes, 17.77 seconds, was thinking of their home.

The 32-year-old full-time runner and mother of three said her family still owes Pag-Ibig, the government-mandated housing loan program, P200,000.

With her husband, former runner Leo Raterta, they bought the house in Sta. Rosa, Laguna three years ago for P700,000, and have been paying their dues well.

“I won P50,000 today for topping the race and the money goes straight as payment for the house,” said Raterta in Filipino.

By winning yesterday’s Manila leg over Jennylyn Nobleza (3:23:27.77), Geralden Sealza (3:32:40.76) and Priness Carelene (3:36:24.52), Raterta qualified for the National Finals on Dec. 8.

The stakes are higher in the finals because the champion gets P150,000, runner-up P100,000 and third placer P75,000 plus a ticket to the 2014 Paris Marathon.

If she wins in December, she can settle all the dues for the house they live in.

“But it’s hard to raise the expectations. I will just try my best. Mahirap po magsalita,” said Raterta, whose 11-year-old daughter, Leonylyn, won the girls’ 3K race yesterday in 11 minutes, 12 seconds.

Andrew Neri, Milo sports executive, said yesterday’s record turnout surpassed last year’s field of 38,000 for the Manila leg. A total of 2,530 runners joined the full marathon and the bulk of 30,194 runners the 5K run.

Panique, the men’s champion, was also thinking of his future during the race, that’s why as early as the 7 km mark, he tried to pull away from the rest.

But he seemed to have pulled a muscle doing so, and he slowed down late in the race that it took him 20 minutes to cover the last five kilometers.

Panique, a member of the national team, crossed the finish line in 2:30:20.51, just a shadow ahead of Irineo Raquin (2:30: 20.73).

It was that close in the men’s side.

Panique later told reporters he was surprised to find Raquin right behind him at the finish. Coming in next were Jeson Agravante (2:41:55.78), Rene Desuyo (2:43:37.02) and Alley Quisay (2:45:37.27).

Panique also won P50,000 and a ticket to the National Finals. But he said he might skip it for the Myanmar SEA Games also scheduled in December.

If he wins the gold in Myanmar, he gets P100,000 from the government as cash bonus, which is smaller than the prize the Milo Marathon offers.

“But if I win the gold in the SEA Games, I will move up in the list of priority athletes and will receive a monthly allowance of P40,000. That’s for two years,” he said.

“And besides, it’s for the country. So, I might choose the SEA Games,” said Panique, 30 years old and single.

Panique was thinking long-term.

“It’s the choice of the runners. What’s important is that today, they qualified for the National Finals. It’s really their call,” said Neri.

Panique and Raterta hoisted their glass trophies and grinned before a big crowd. They left the venue richer by P50,000.

Dancel, the little boy, is too young to think about his future, but was just as happy or even happier perhaps.

He was looking after his shoes.