Buenavista defends DZMM Takbo Para sa Karunungan title

Defending champions for the 21km men’s and 10km foreign categories ruled this year’s “3rd Takbo para sa Karunungan,” organized by ABS-CBN’s AM station DZMM, reclaiming their titles Saturday  (Mar 23) at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila, organizers said in a press release.

Two-time Olympian and now two-time “DZMM Takbo Para sa Karungungan” champion Eduardo Buenavista reached the finish line in 1 hour, 13 minutes and 21 seconds (01:13:21) to rule the 21K men's event.

Kenyan Willy Rotich, who topped the 5km race way back in 2011, once again clinched the top spot in the 10km foreign male category with the time of 32 minutes and 57 seconds.

Luisa Raterta, meanwhile, annexed the 21km female category crown, finishing with a clocking of 1:33:09. Raterta won third last year in the 10km women’s race category.


Richard Salano (33:20), on the other hand, secured the top spot in the 10km men’s race, with Rene Herrera (34:26) and Orson Quisay (35:52) coming in second and third respectively.

Jenysmyl Mabunga (41:37) dominated the 10km female race followed by Michelle De Vera (45:00) on second and Jenelyn Jurdilla (46:41) on third.

Other top finishers include Rafael Poliquit (16:07) and Dalya Camen (23:07) for the 5 km race; and Roy Lumauag (13:23) and Nancy Lumauag (21:11) for the 6-9 year old age bracket, and Alessandro Luciano (11:42) and Leonalyn Raterta (11:49) for the 10-12 year old age bracket of the young runners’ 3km sprint.

For the special awards, 87-year old Felix Belarmino was awarded as the oldest participant of the fun run. The Biggest Government Contingent award was given to National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), while the Biggest NGO contingent was CFC ANCOP Tekton Foundation, Inc.

DZMM ambassadors Kim Atienza and Karylle with actor Matteo Guidecilli, ABS-CBN Manila Radio Division Head Peter Musngi, and DZMM anchors Ariel Ureta, Ahwel Paz, Winnie Cordero, Marisciel Yao, Claire Castro, and Carl Balita were among the television and radio personalities who took part in this year’s fun run participated by 3,000 runners.

This is the 14th year of the DZMM’s annual fun run. It was first launched in 1999 as “DZMM Takbo Para sa Kalikasan” that supported several campaigns for the environment.  It then later
evolved to “Takbo para sa Karunungan” to support the station’s thrust in promoting education.

Funds raised from this campaign will be used to continue thescholarship of 75 student-beneficiaries from Cagayan de Oro and Metro Manila who were affected by the typhoon Sendong, Ondoy and the Habagat.