Earth Day Celebrations Kick Off with PRO Earth Run 2014

 

When in Manila, be a part of the solution to champion environmental causes! Aside from the onset of summer and its sweltering heat, April is also the month wherein we celebrate Earth Day.

With the advocacy to to encourage people to “Protect, Respect, and Oversee the sensible and sustainable care for Mother Earth”, Earth Day Network Philippines organized and staged its first fun run event, PRO-EARTH RUN 2014, on April 12, 2014 at Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

Earth Day Network Philippines is the local counterpart of the global Earth Day Network International. It is a network organization that campaigns for environmental citizenship, spearheading the annual April 22nd Earth Day Celebration by partnering with government agencies, non-government organizations, private corporations, academic institutions, religious groups, and environmental advocates.

 

Earth Day: Saving Mother Nature One Step at a Time 

PRO Earth Run 2014 had a great turn-out of individual runners, groups, and those running on behalf of partner organizations and beneficiaries. The event grounds were already flocked with a dozen runners and organizers even before the sun came out.

I attended the run with my good friend, Wincel Ong, both of us being part of the “it’s-been-a-while-since-I-last-worked-out” category, which dashed along the 3k route in under 28 minutes. The other race categories were 10k, 5k, and a 1.5k Doraemon track.

Short warm-up routines before each race category were conducted by trainers from Gold’s Gym. Before setting off on their track, the runners for the 3k and 1.5k categories were treated to an endearing number from the characters of the anime show, Doraemon.

The top 3 placers for Men and Women of each category were awarded Finisher’s Medals and prize loot from generous sponsors.

Several organizations and sponsors present also helped make the event a rioting success with goodwill freebies being given away and prizes, which were raffled off to lucky winners.

 

Earth Day Isn’t Celebrated For Just One Day

The PRO Earth Run 2014 is an advocacy run, which aims to heighten awareness on environmental issues and campaigns. Natural calamities and disasters lashed our country and brought us to our knees. But our resilient nation scrambles to get back up and push for action in these trying (and frying) times. Read about the strength of Filipino spirit in this article: Super Typhoon Yolanda isn’t Strong Enough to Break Our Spirit

So, citizens of this nation terribly victimized by nature’s vindictive fury and members of the human race hoping to save the only home we have in the known universe, I implore you to take action. Celebrate Earth Day by taking concrete action; regardless of how big or small your efforts are, they will create ripples of awareness because the greatest enemy we face and the worst hindrance we have in accomplishing our environmental advocacies is apathy.

Get on the green bandwagon! Read about the Quiz Bee on the Environment, which was organized by the UP Green League. In another similarly-themed story, super typhoon Yolanda survivors and the individuals who took immediate rehabilitative action are showcased front-and-center through Facial Care Center and Headshot Clinic’s Earth Faces campaign.

When in Manila, and wherever you may be, be part of the green initiative. It’s your home, too.

 

 

Earth Day Celebrations Kick Off with PRO Earth Run 2014