From a group of people wanting to promote healthy living through running, Takbo Kabitenyo has grown into an organization that gives the Philippines recognition and honor internationally.
Takbo Kabitenyo was founded by Lani Tan, Atty. Jun Tan, Atty. Jojo Bihasa, and their circle of friends in 2012, with the objective of gathering people with a shared passion for running and a healthier lifestyle.
Little did they know that more than a decade later, it would become a 200-member-strong group that not only runs for health reasons, but also competes in marathons around the country and beyond.
On June 30, the Cavite running organization was one of the beneficiaries of the 2024 Green Run held at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus City.
This event was a big help to the group, which also trains young aspiring athletes to reach a higher level, such as the national team, in the future.
Pawssion Project and Haribon Foundation were the other beneficiaries of the third edition of the annual Green Run.
For Takbo Kabitenyo president Noel Diaz, a member since 2013, seeing the group elevate from a hobby to a competitive organization is surreal.
“Actually, hindi namin expected na aabot sa ganito eh. Tinutulungan din kami ng teammate namin na si Coach Ichigo Hwoarang. Bale siya ang nagga-guide sa amin sa training at lagi namin siyang kasama,” said Diaz, who was appointed to his position last year.
“Sa amin po, usually sa health, kasi nga karamihan po sa members namin may mga may edad na rin. Saka yung iba rin sa amin, sinusuportahan yung mga batang atleta kahit noon pa po,” continued the 49-year-old president on the initial goal of the group when it was established.
“Masaya po kami dahil nage-enjoy naman po sila (youth), pati po kaming mga nagtuturo nage-enjoy naman din po kasi nga mas health-conscious na kami ngayon kasi medyo nagkaka-edad na,” he added, as they train kids to become good runners at a young age.
During the Green Run, four members of Takbo Kabitenyo reached the podium in different categories, with Hazel Zamora and Shaira Mae Pantelaga going 1-2 in the 5K Women’s race.
On the other hand, James Lawrence Sabal bagged first place in the 3K Men’s category, while Jeffrey Galicio took second place in the 10K Men’s race.
However, if there is one member who has been raising the flag of Takbo Kabitenyo in various marathons, it has to be Maricar Camacho.
She recently won the 42K event in the Laguna Phuket Marathon in Thailand, clocking a time of 3:16:51.
With the great heights that the organization has been reaching over the years, Diaz expressed his gratitude for the support of the Vermosa Sports Hub, which has been their official training ground since their resumption after the pandemic.
Diaz and his colleagues have been training twice a week at Vermosa, every Wednesday at the oval and every Saturday in the vicinity for a long run.
“Sobrang supportive po ng Vermosa, lalo na si Ma’am Lani Tan. Siya po talaga ang sumusuporta sa amin mula sa oval, sa athletes’ house, at dito sa area,” said Diaz, crediting Tan, who is now the general manager of the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub.
Other members of the group also served as pacers during the 10K and 21K categories of the Green Run.
Aside from a wide area for running, the Sports Hub also has a football field, an Olympic-sized pool, a warm-up pool, a track oval, an athletes’ lounge, and a fitness lab.
