CORY WAS alive in the estimated three hundred forty runners wearing yellow ribbons on their arms in a fun run organized by Kaya Natin, a movement for ethical leadership and governance, on August 2.
Kaya Natin celebrated its first anniversary through the run, themed “Kaya Natin: Takbo Para sa Pagbabago: A Fun Run for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership.”
Kaya Natin, a non-partisan group, envisions a country with less apathy by encouraging the voters, especially the youth to participate in the upcoming elections.
Tie a yellow ribbon
Project heads Arnel Casanova and Quintin Pastrana said they wanted to grab the opportunity of honoring former president Aquino in the fun run, as she embodied the values and principles of Kaya Natin.
Aside from participants sporting yellow ribbons on their arms, yellow markers were used to indicate pit stops for the runners.
Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio, one of the Kaya Natin champions, started the event with a prayer for the former president.
“We thank you for [Cory’s] life, personality, presidency and her service for the country.”In her opening remarks, San Isidro Mayor Sonia Lorenzo said, “[Cory] has been a good role model as a mother, [as] a wife and most of all, as a genuine leader.”
Targeted for the youth
Pastrana said the race also focused on the youth as they comprised 60 percent of the voting population. “We’re hoping that by organizing these races for Kaya Natin and for the overall movement of good governance of which we are a part of, we can really mobilize the youth and everybody else.”
Casanova and Pastrana thought that a fun run is the best way to persuade the youth to come and be part of the goal.
Senior Timothy Ocampo-Tan said the fun run was a good way to make a change in the government. “As a youth…we wanted a definite action for our country.”
Santa Fe Mayor Florante Gerdan said people must be involved to achieve positive results and make things happen.
“You wanted to see change, you have to look at the arrangement, you have to look at the leaders you are going to elect. It is very important that we invest on this,” he added.
“Running is the most democratic sport. You only need a running shoe, not even a good pair of running shoe[s] to participate,” said Pastrana.
“[It] is a way to get people healthy and involved, aware and hopefully supportive,” he added.
Bridging gaps and differences
The event also aimed to be “one of the first runs in our country that will bridge the social divide and bring Filipinos from all walks of life.”
Kaya Natin champions such as Panlilio, Lorenzo, Gerdan, former Bukidnon Congressman Neric Acosta, Quezon City Councilor Bolet Banal and Former Nueva Cabiao Mayor Baby Congco spearheaded the said activity.
Senior Charles Chong said, “Our Theo teacher, Harvey Keh, gave us some sort of bonus… but other than that, we wanted to participate so that we can interact with other people.”
Organizations such as Airspeed: Run for a Cause, and Quezon City Ladies Foundation, Inc. also volunteered as facilitators.
Just the first stop
The leaders of Kaya Natin are planning to do more activities similar to this in different schools and places around the country.
Jeff Lorenzo, one of the emerging leaders of Kaya Natin, proposed to do the same activity in San Isidro, Nueva Ecija.
