Mayon trail run tackles global warming

Continued...Winners

Ballester said most of the runners were used to road races on smooth and flat pavements, making the MTR really different.

The winners, who came from different running teams, were—Male: 1st, Elmer Sabal (1:09:30); 2nd, Allan Ballester (1:10:08); 3rd, Cresenciano Sabal (1:10:35). Female: 1st, Leszl Gitarueles (1:32:26); 2nd, Merlita Arias (1:45:07); 3rd. Ellen Tolentino (1:49:08).

The oldest runner was 71-year-old Vicente Caurez of Los Baños, Laguna, who was well-applauded when he finished the race standing strong.

Trail running as an adventure sport is more popular in Europe, according to Ballester. He said Albay’s trail run opened doors for the promotion of this endurance sport.

Provincial tourism officer Joe Briones said the trail run could be held annually and could draw more tourists.

These days, many tourists are looking for new sites for ecotourism and adventure sports. Briones said it would be good to have them both.

Yves Eli Yu, MTR project chair and vice president of JCI-Legazpi, said the trail run also sought to promote awareness of climate change.

Global warming

He said runners in the event and the spectators were made to realize the effects of global warming by making them experience nature.

“Taking part in this trail run is like touching Mayon’s soul. Your run toward its lava front reminds you of the lahar that killed and displaced over a thousand people at the height of Supertyphoon ‘Reming,’” Ballester said.

With the damage and floods caused by Reming on Nov. 30, 2006, Albay officials linked the disaster to the changing climate.

A2C2 campaign

After the tragedy, the provincial government launched the “Albay in Action for Climate Change” (A2C2) campaign, a pioneering local climate change adaptation in the Asia Pacific.

Yu said the JCI-Legazpi was jubilant that the MTR took place a day after 10 lawmakers from Asia, Europe, Africa and South America signed the Manila Declaration on Climate Change, which calls on rich nations to create a global fund to help reduce disaster risks brought by rising sea temperatures.

The five-page document, titled “The Manila Call for Action of Parliamentarians on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation,” was issued at the close of a two-day consultative meeting at Makati Shangri-La Hotel.

Yves said that for developing countries like the Philippines, it would be a big help to start small through awareness campaigns like the MTR. End.

"The climate has really changed. In fact, as I write, it's hot here and this is very unlikely since it should be cold months. Campaign on global warming should really be intensified.Many people are still naive of this issue.In our own simple way, we can start helping ease this global problem.Like taking care of our trees and planting more."