Thousands run to support DAtE on Earth Day 2010
Wednesday, 21 April 2010
It was still dark, with the sun barely making a peep from the horizon, and already athletes, health buffs, young professionals, students, celebrities and models were all fired up and waiting at the Mall of Asia grounds on April 18 to start their run for the fight against climate change. Moments later, the more than 4,000 runners sped off on their respective 3K, 5K and 10K races.
Dubbed the Earth Day 2010 Run, the event was organized mainly by the National Geographic Channel (NGC), with a fitting theme of “Inspiring People to Care about the Planet.”
The participants also “ran against the elements,” in keeping with the vision of Design against the Elements (DAtE), as proceeds of the run will be used to fund the documentary NGC is preparing about the DAtE global architectural design competition. NGC is documenting the DAtE project from start to finish, up to the construction of the climate change-resilient, disaster-proof and sustainable community in Taguig, which will be based on the winning architect’s design.
The NGC has gladly signed on as documentation and media partner of DAtE as it recognized DAtE as a significant step in addressing the effects of climate change by designing and building disaster-resistant communities instead of just rebuilding damaged ones, as FOX International Channels Territory director Jude Turcuato put it.
Social entrepreneur and DAtE initiator Illac Diaz called the event and DAtE’s partnership with NGC a success. “It was an effort of an NGO looking for solutions and one of the most respected service channels in the world,” Diaz, also the executive director of MyShelter Foundation, Inc., which focuses on sustainable design, said in enthusiasm.
Through the run, more and more people are becoming aware of DAtE and its role in helping the Philippines adapt to climate change threats through design and building solutions, Diaz noted.
The Earth Day 2010 runners gamely participated in raising awareness for DAtE and enthusiastically had photos of themselves taken while they held in aplomb brightly colored cardboard messages part of DAtE’s campaign. The messages were mainly about standing up and fighting climate change. DAtE’s cardboard campaign was organized in part by the Climate Change Commission. (Note: Photos of the cardboards can be found in the Resources section.)
Among the noteworthy winners of the fun run was former University of Santo Tomas long-distance runner Irineo Raquin for the men’s division of the 10K run, and single-minded Michelle de Vera, all of twelve years old, who dominated the women’s division of the 5K run. Actress-singer Karylle Tatlonghari showed that celebrities also win in speed and stamina by placing second in the 3K run for women.
Meanwhile, just a few cities away, thousands of bikers flooded the roads in carbon-free traffic as they rode from Pasig City to Quezon City, Marikina, Cainta, Taguig, Makati, and Mandaluyong, areas damaged by Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana).
Around 300 bikers carried banners and flags in support of the DAtE campaign throughout the 40-kilometer ride. Many of the bikers were members of the University of the Philippines Mountaineers, an organization geared not only towards mountain climbing but also the protection of the environment.
Diaz expressed excitement with the participation in both Earth Day events. “This is a large public movement showing that thousands of Filipinos are standing up to climate change,” he said.
