No Filipino runners, residents hurt in blasts

NO Filipinos  were hurt in the twin explosions that marred the Boston Marathon in Massachusetts on Monday afternoon (early Tuesday in Manila), said the Philippine Consulate in New York.

Philippine Consul-General Mario de Leon, in a statement posted on the embassy’s website, said  10 Filipino-American runners were not hurt in the blasts and there were no known Filipino casualties following checks with hospitals in the area and initial reports from the Filipino-American community as of 8:30 p.m. Monday night.

The blast occurred on Boylston Street as runners approached the finish line.

At least three fatalities were confirmed by US authorities while more than 100 were injured.

Filipino runners safe

Consul-General De Leon said Filipino runner Arland Macasieb reported that eight Filipino runners finished the Boston race two hours before the explosion while two had yet to cross the finish line when the blasts occurred.

“…[H]e was with six other Filipino runners who were able to finish the race at least two hours before the explosion. He approximates that two other Filipinos were not far behind and would have completed the race more than an hour before the explosions while the last Filipino runner was unable to officially finish because runners were no longer allowed to cross the finish line after the blasts,” said the consulate.

The Boston Athletics Association website lists ten Filipinos in the 117th Boston Marathon including champion triathlete and Ironman Arland Macasieb and Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Leica Carpo and her sister Amanda.

The other Filipino runners include Arnie Aguila, Noel Colina, Richelle Embree, Ricardo Mansueto, Rolando Ocampo, Jose Martin Paiso, Angielyn San Juan. Inquirer reports said all Filipino runners at the Boston Marathon were safe. / Inquirer and Haidee Acuña