Unabia, Ambasa triumph in Gen. Santos City MILO elims

GENERAL SANTOS City, Philippines (16 November 2014) – MILO Marathon veterans Arnold Unabia and Liza Ambasa won the 21K centrepiece events at the General Santos leg of the 38th National MILO Marathon held on Sunday.

Over 9,300 runners joined the prestigious race, establishing the record of the biggest race in General Santos City to date.

Unabia and Ambasa took home the top purse of P10,000 in cash and a trophy.

They both  booked spots to the National Finals in Manila on December 7, where they will meet the nation’s elite runners for the MILO Marathon King and Queen titles.

Winners in the National Finals will be sent by MILO to Japan on all-expense paid trips, for a chance to run in the 2015 Tokyo Marathon.

Unabia, a 36-year-old from Tangub, Misamis Oriental who has been joining the MILO Marathon since 1997, lost time in her own training because she put her efforts in mentoring runners from Tangub City Central School and Tangub City National High School.

Running coaches Arnold Unabia and
Liza Ambasa step into the limelight
as the 21K winners of the 38th
National MILO Marathon in
General Santos City.

“I usually join the Cagayan De Oro race but this year, I was too busy coaching my students who won first place in the 5K and 10K events. My daughter also joined the race and she won third place in the 3K event,” shared Unabia.

“I wasn’t able to train as much as I wanted to because I focused on my students. I am thankful to the Lord that I still won. For the National Finals, I need an intensive, focused training program. This is essential in preparing for the finals.”

In the distaff side, Liza Ambasa finished with a time of 01:31:36,  impressively beating fellow runners Gelyn Ninofranco (01:53:07) who came in second, and Rosilie Lim (01:53:18) who followed in third place.*

Ambasa, a 31-year-old native of Tiruray, South Cotabato and currently based in in Davao, has also been joining the MILO Marathon for many years now, and has been consistently winning her qualifying races.

She is most proud of claiming the third place title twice in the National Finals. “I am very pleased with my win. The route was good. I set my pace with the male runners during the entire race,” shared Ambasa.

"I train with my fellow members of my running club, Titan Davao, and I will continue with my training program to prepare for the National Finals. I hope I can finish impressively again.”

With the support of the Department of Education and the National MILO Marathon runners, MILO’s Help Gives Shoes advocacy will provide 16,000 underprivileged youth with brand new running shoes and reach the 50,000 mark this year. As MILO celebrates its 50th year, Help Give Shoes aims to make the donation to students in Yolanda-hit cities, particularly Tacloban, Ormoc, and Eastern Samar.

The last qualifying race will be held in Davao on November 23. The National Finals will be held on December 7 at the SM Mall of Asia grounds in Pasay City.

Using the good weather to his advantage, Arnold Unabia emerged first, posting a time of 01:15:12. Rivals Dante Baay (01:15:30) and Joselito Dugos (01:16:30) followed in second and third place, respectively.

Young folks cross the finish line at the National MILO Marathon in General Santos City.