DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – An estimated 3,000 participants or more are expected in the 4th Dumaguete Adventure Marathon (DAM) today (Sunday), some of them coming from other parts of the country for the 42k and 21k distances.
The marathon, which is one of the highlights of Dumaguete’s Fiesta and Charter Day celebration this November, is spearheaded by the Foundation University (FU), said Amy Villanueva, FU advancement officer, in a news release.
Described as FU’s gift to the gentle people of Dumaguete, the marathon will start and finish at the Dumaguete Business Park beside Robinsons Place shopping mall.
In a related development, the national government, through the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), will also use this year’s DAM to launch the National Year of Rice 2013.
President Benigno Aquino III, via Proclamation 494, declared 2013 as the National Year of Rice, saying that this will be time when the Philippines is expected to achieve rice sufficiency, said Villanueva.
A short program prior to the marathon will be held at 4:30 a.m. Sunday, with messages from local officials while Dr. Eufemio Rasco, executive director of PhilRice, will deliver the keynote message to launch the NYR 2013.
The race will start at 5:00 a.m. and for the first time for a marathon in the country, it will be set off with a blast from a Howitzer, courtesy of the Philippine Army’s 302nd Brigade. (FREEMAN)