MORE than a hundred participants took part in yesterday’s nationwide 7-kilometer Takbo Maharlika race of the Dilaab Movement and the Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Office VII which started at the Asia Town IT Park in Lahug and finished at the Mandaue Sports Complex.
The running event started at 5 a.m.
Headed by Fr. Carmelo Diola and Ret. Police Chief Supt. Samson Tucay, the running event’s main objective is “to spread the awareness of unity in the country and was meant to highlight the nobility of character and ideals of the Filipino and to symbolize the singularity of the country.”
After the 7k run, Fr. Diola and Tucay also held a short forum regarding their vision, mission and goals of the Takbo Maharlika. With them were military personnel, trainees, policemen and running buffs.
Diola and Tucay extended Takbo Maharlika’s milestone by adding 7-kilometers more to the 2,888k distance that the run has accumulated. The running series was earlier held in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte and Zamboanga city.
The Takbo Maharlika in Luzon have passed the windmills of Ilocos Norte, the mountains of Nueva Viscaya, the fields of Nueva Ecija and the busy streets of Metro Manila. It also passed by Quezon Province, Mayon Volcano and Mount Bulusan of Bicol.
The Takbo Maharlika of the Dilaab movement headed by administrator Teresa Tejero and her team is now in the Visayas, and has conducted races in Samar and Leyte the past week. /Correspondent Dale G. Rosal