COEXIST: Help Rebuild Libraries and Communities Fun Run 2017

The COEXIST: Help Rebuild Libraries and Communities Fun Run was decided to be an annual event for the I Love My Library (ILML) month held every February. Through the event, the advocacy is expected to be promoted not only to library students and professionals but also to the community as well.

Objective:

The COEXIST: Help Rebuild Libraries and Communities Fun Run 2017 aims to promote the ILML campaign and to raise funds for the benefit of the library’s outreach program.

Details of the Event

The Fun Run was held on February 12, 2017 (Sunday) at the UP Academic Oval and was open to anyone willing to support the advocacy. The marketing focused on reaching the library and information science community as well as the faculty and staff of the College of Engineering. The Fun Run was decided to have two distance categories of 3K and 5K. The assembly time was decided to start at 4:00 AM. The gun start for the run was set to start at 6:00 AM for the 5K distance category and 6:10 AM for the 3K distance category, respectively.

A total of 192 participants from all walks of life participated in the Fun Run. The target number of 300 participants was unfortunately not met this year.

PROGRAM

Registration 4:00 A.M.

Opening Ceremony 5:00 A.M.

Welcome Remarks            5:05 A.M.

Briefing Prior to Race 5:15 A.M.

Warm-Up 5:30 A.M.

Briefing Prior to Race    5:40 A.M.

Start of the Race

5K 6:00 A.M.

3K 6:10 A.M.

Awarding of Winners 6:45 A.M.

RACE ROUTE

Lugaw For A Cause

To raise additional funds for the outreach program, the Library decided to provide soup for the participants which they may avail at a low price after the run. The Task Force decided to tap the Beta Epsilon fraternity to sponsor the soup.

Event Proper

The library staff came earlier before the assembly time to set up the venue. The marshals were given instructions on their tasks along with the rubber bands and drinking straws that they will disperse in their stations. Marshals were assigned at their stations 15 minutes before the start of the run. Representatives from UP Beta Epsilon Fraternity also came earlier to set up the food and drinks which they brought. The fraternity also brought 50 pieces of long-stemmed roses for the first female finishers. The library staff and utility workers also assisted in the distribution of the food and drinks.

Members of the Archives Section of the Library also set up an exhibit showcasing the I Love My Library Campaign’s history, development, and implementation.

I Love My Library Exhibit

At 4:00AM, the registration of participants to confirm their attendance on the day begun. Out of the 192 participants, 145 were present and 47 were not able to attend the event. The program, led by Mr. Mark Angelo B. Francisco, started at 5:00AM. The warm up was then led by Mr. Marvin Factor.

Participants warming up before the start of the run

Shortly after the warm up, Ms. Sharon Maria S. Esposo-Betan, Head Librarian of the College of Engineering Library, gave her welcome remarks. She emphasized that the Fun Run was an initiative of the College of Engineering Library to raise funds for its Outreach Program which will help rebuild libraries in need. Following her is a brief discussion of the mechanics of the run. The colors of the rubber bands and drinking straws to be picked up from each station were also announced.   

Five minutes before 6:00AM, the participants of the 5K distance category were told to assemble in front of the race mark. The gun start of the 5K run started at exactly 6:00AM. Mr. Marvin Factor marked the start of the race with a 10-second countdown and by blowing a whistle. The same was done for the 3K distance category which started at exactly 6:10AM.

A video camera was placed near the race mark to record the arrival of the participants. The top finishers were spotted as well as the winners of the special prizes. Representatives of UP Beta Epsilon Fraternity also waited near the race mark with their flowers and balloons for the top 50 female finishers.

Participants of the 5K distance category in front of the race mark

At around 6:45AM, the awarding of certificates and prizes followed shortly after all the participants have finished their run. Sponsors and partners who attended the event were awarded with certificates of appreciation.

Representatives of sponsor companies and event partners were awarded with certificates of appreciation: MegaTexts (top left); LibTech (top right); UP Beta Epsilon Fraternity (bottom left); and UP LISSA (bottom right).

Special prizes were also given to the participants. These prizes include the Early Bird Award; EnggGanda Award; EnggGwapo Award; Youngest Participant; and Oldest Participant. The following participants were given the special prizes:

Name	Award
Carl Adam Abesamis	Youngest Participant Award (7 years old)
Benjamin Liquete	Oldest Participant Award (74 years old)
Biboy Paguio	EnggGwapo Award
Ma. Brida Lea Diola	EnggGanda Award
Rodel Legaspi	Early Bird Award

Top finishers were then called to receive their prizes. The prizes were handed to the winners by the Head Librarian, Ms. Sharon Maria Esposo-Betan. Monetary prizes were given to the top three finishers of each distance category. Each category had two winners: one male and one female.

The following participants were the top three finishers for each distance category.

	3K Lap			5K Lap
Place	Male	Female	Prize	Male	Female	Prize
1st	Elbren Neri	Beverlie Parale	Php 1, 500 Medal Certificate	Alex Melly	Susan Jemutai	Php 2, 000 Medal Certificate
2nd	Ronald Salgado	Glee Ann Lumauag	Php 500 Certificate	Nahabwe Kenneth	Janette Lumidao	Php 500 Certificate
3rd	Danny Morales	Monica Navarro	Php 500 Certificate	Kennichi Lorbes	Divine Grace Agura	Php 500 Certificate

Top finishers with representatives from the event sponsors and partners

After all the awards were given, the program ended by giving a shout out to all the sponsors and by encouraging the participants to avail of the soup for the “Lugaw for a Cause” project.