26-05-2025
Fun run for West PH Sea set for July 27 at Quirino Grandstand
National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya (center) and Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela (second from right) pose during the event announcing the fun run, on Monday, May 26, 2025. Joviland Rita/GMA Integrated News
A fun run that will benefit an awareness campaign about the West Philippine Sea will be held at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on July 27, 2025, its organizer Runrio Inc. said on Monday.
'We believe that running is a powerful platform to encourage and promote community spirit and national unity. Our aim really is to encourage public support and create awareness about the importance of safeguarding our maritime rights and resources,' Runrio general manager Andrew Neri said in a press conference.
'This is also in parallel to or in support of the national government's transparency strategy to combat misinformation, disinformation, and of course, information manipulation,' he added.
Last year, the first fun run for the WPS attracted around 7,000 participants.
'The proceeds of this race will be used for the educational campaign, particularly for us to produce more of the comic books which is entitled Mga Kwento ni Teacher Jun that tackles key issues of the West Philippine Sea,' Neri said.
Neri said there will be three categories for the fun run: 10, five, and three kilometers. For the early bird registrants, the prices will be up to P1,900 only until June 16.
Among the partner agencies for the fun run are the National Task Force for West Philippine Sea (NTF WPS), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), and the National Youth Commission.
Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.
Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country's claim.
The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis."
China has refused to recognize the decision. — BM, GMA Integrated News
