TIME TO GIVE BACK
For years, Mary Joy Tabal has been receiving one award after another for her mastery in the sport of running.
Yesterday, it was time for her to give back.
Together with her partner and trainer coach John Philip Dueñas and fun run organizers Ella and Louie Villacin of Flame It Burgers and Sausages, Tabal led the distribution of packs of school supplies to the children of barangay Guba Elementary School.
This charitable event is part of Dueñas and Tabal’s grassroots development program for running that started last summer in partnership with the Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC) and the Villacins of Flame It Burgers.
The proceeds of Flame It Burger Run held last May 17 was used to fund this activity for the kids of this mountain barangay of Cebu City.
The Villacins prepared 120 school supply kits that were given to the children who took part of the grassroots development program. Tabal and Dueñas helped in the distribution of the supplies.
“We are very happy that we were able to put smiles on their faces,” said Ella Villacin.
Aside from the school supplies, Villacin also helped the kids from Guba by giving them slots in the Burger Run last May.
“It’s really our advocacy in the running event to give slots to the kids. We promised the kids that we will give them free slots in the coming years,” Ella added.
Those kids who were part of Tabal and Dueñas’ running program were able to test what they’ve learned when they joined their first footrace with Villacin’s help.
And the outcome was positive as some kids showed potential.
“[The footrace] created a lot of interest from the children and (we) also discovered talents that we can develop,” said the school’s running coach Wilson Herrera.
The school’s principal Ronnie B. Gonzales also believed that the school and the kids will benefit from this program.
“It somehow gave recognition to the school because our kids have already shown their talents in the sport. We hope that this program will grow and produce another Mary Joy Tabal in the future,” he said.
One of the most promising kids who is a product of the grassroots development program is Jeremie Solon, who already joined three short distance fun runs in Cebu since joining the Burger Run. In all of those three, he managed podium finishes.
“I am very thankful for Kuya Philip and Ate Joy’s efforts. I want to follow the footsteps of Ate Joy when I grow up,” said the 12-year old Solon.
Tabal, a marathon silver medalist in the recent Southeast Asian Games, grew up and finished elementary and high school in Guba before heading to Southwestern University (SWU) for her college years.
The CCSC also helped the school by building its own mini track oval inside its campus. The 140-meter oval will serve as the training ground for their runners.