Sowing seeds of goodness after reaping Milo success

CEBU, Philippines – For nearly four decades, ‘Building champions in life’ is the very foundation upon which the admirable sports development program of Milo across the archipelago has been laid down.

That is exactly the kind of path that Mary Joy Tabal, the country’s reigning marathon queen, is now taking.

Since winning the National Milo Marathon in record-breaking fashion two years ago, Tabal yearns to return the favor given by God by harnessing the skills of the young aspiring runners from Guba, a far-flung barangay in the city of Cebu, where she proudly comes from.

With hopes in her heart and dreams in her mind of molding champion runners someday, everything just falls into the right place for Tabal as her long-time coach John Philip Dueñas had been in talks with Cebu City Sports Commission chairman Ed Hayco about putting up a grassroots program for athletics in mountain barangays.

The timing was really perfect.

In just a four-month span, Tabal and Dueñas were able to pool over a hundred youngsters in Guba for athletics, some in short and the other in long distance running.

The other thing of beauty is that Tabal’s efforts were noticed that she got help from no less than the Milo Philippines through its Sports Executive Andrew Neri.

On the eve of the 39th National Milo Marathon-Cebu leg last Sunday, close to 40 kids under the training pool of Guba received brand new rubber shoes as part of Milo’s show advocacy that aims to encourage kids to go into running and dream big through it. Neri also promised Tabal some singlets that the kids can use for their training.

Aside from her shining achievements, the kind of support Tabal poured into them has brought forth so much inspiration to the kids.

“It is such heart-warming that parents and school children come up to me and say that I am their idol and that the kids themselves  will say that they want to be like me,” said Tabal, whose stirring exploits in Milo has led her to a breakthrough stints in the prestigious Paris and Los Angeles Marathon.

Tabal is now slowly reaping the fruits of her efforts

During the Cebu leg of the Milo Marathon, 37 selected members of the training pool joined the race for the first time and they made sure it’s going to be memorable one.

Though she opted not to run for the Cebu race to take care of all the kids’ needs, Tabal felt every inch a winner after seeing three of CCSC’s bets landed at the top 10 in the 3K division that was participated in by 1,102 kids and adults alike.

Nine-year-old Jessel Ochia led the cast, who outpaced  the more experienced entries and finished the race in 12 minutes. Two other kids from Guba in Carl John Beboso and Juvan Yongco, both 10 years old, wound up third and fifth, respectively. Beboso was only eight seconds behind top finisher Joseph Antiola.

While Taba continue to train for higher aspirations like making it to the Boston Marathon and the Olympics, she assures that the kids they started to mold into becoming champions someday will not be left behind.

“We have a training program for them, which their Physical Education teachers will implement on our behalf. We then go back there for monthly evaluation.

Aside from that, Tabal also takes times to sit down with the kids, reminding them to study hard and endure all the sacrifice they freely make while pursuing excellence in the sporting field.

“They must always bear in mind the importance of education. Through running, they can be a winner but if they finish school, they can have better lives,” said the SEA Games silver medallist.

Seeing herself in them when she was still in her struggling days as a runner, these kids are indeed in the right direction and leaning heading towards a bright future with Tabal as their beacon of hope and fountain of inspiration. (FREEMAN)