Runners fought back against dengue

Winners in the 5k side of the Tempra 2012 Run Against Dengue in Mary Ann Dela Cruz (champion, fourth from left), Michelle De Vera (runner-up, fifth from left) and Jocelyn Dulay (second runner-up, sixth from left) are shown during the awards rites with (from left) Invida-Tempra Sales and Marketing Manager Eric Pablo Ma. Lejano, DZRH's Cheska San Diego, Manila Health Department's Dr. Jerry Yson, Tempra Senior Brand Cleo Nodado, Manila Sports Council Chairman Paul Edward Almario and basketball legend Samboy Lim.

SOME 2,635 “dengue busters” answered the starting gun in the Tempra 2012 Run Against Dengue at the Roxas Blvd. in Manila Sunday and joined in the fight against the deadly disease, organizers said on Monday through a press release distributed to different media outlets.

 
Taisho Pharmaceuticals Phils. President Toru Tatezono and Invida-Tempra Sales and Marketing Manager Eric Pablo Ma. Lejano fired the starting gun in the premier 10k race, before Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim sent off 5k and 3k runners of this advocacy run presented by Tempra and organized by Subterranean Ideas, in cooperation with the Manila Sports Council.

“This is our own humble way of helping in the battle against dengue. The good thing is that we are doing our modest best of making people aware how to combat the disease and that, to us, is priceless,” said Lejano, who after firing the starting gun, himself joined the 10k race, along with officials of Invida, Taisho Pharmaceutical and Zuellig.

The advocacy run was also backed by The Generics Pharmacy, Guard Insect Repellent, Lipovitan, Ascorbic Acid Ceetrus, Goldlife, Maynilad, French Baker, Philippine Sports Commission, Tune Hotels, Resorts World Manila, Jansport, NGO partner Happy Homes, registration partner Toby’s and media partners TalkTV, Business Mirror, Health and Fitness Magazine, Takbo.ph, siguecorrer.com, DZRH's MBC Sports Center, Sports Radio and sportsmanila.net.

Basketball icon Samboy Lim, Pinoy Big Brother housemate Luz McClinton and Petron players Paolo Hubalde and Axel Doruelo handed out the medals and cash prizes to the winners and the awards to the biggest delegation for schools (Philippine School of Business Administration) and for corporate groups (ShipServ).

Topping the 5k run were Christopher Olpoc (1st, 12:15:01), Reggie Rumawak (2nd, 12:25:16) and Esmiraldo Ondoy (13:08:10) in the male division; and Mary Ann dela Cruz (1st, 15:01:25), Michelle De Vera (15:12:15) and Jocelyn Dulay (16:01:02) in the female division, while ruling the 3k side were Jayson Arena (7:41:28), Michael Lim (7:57:01), Renan Lumawag (8:15:17), Rey delos Reyes (8:26:38) and Troy Sison (8:34:03).

Part of net proceeds from the 2012 Run Against Dengue will be use to purchase various anti-dengue modalities, including Long-lasting Insecticidal Nets recommended by the World Health Organization in fighting vector-borne diseases like dengue.