#TatakboPH: Ultra-runner runs for education

MANILA, Philippines – How far are you willing to go for your life advocacy?

For ultra-runner Mac Milan, it is literally around the Philippines and the world.

Milan is the founder and CEO of Eat-Pray-Read-Play Foundation, an organization that seeks to give underprivileged children a brighter future.

A former teacher, Milan said that he understood the state of Philippine education better when he ran from Davao to Manila, where he saw the plight of child laborers across the country.

“Instead of going to school, some children work the entire day…They were earning only P5 a day for the very hard labor they do,” Milan said in a mix of Filipino and English.

He said the experience made him realize what he really wanted to do, given the skills he possessed.

“I (realized) it is not enough for me to stay in the classroom for the students. I have the responsibility also of reaching out to children outside the classrooms. Especially those children not given enough opportunity to have classrooms and go to schools,” he said.

Tatakbo Pilipinas

On Sunday, September 15, Milan started his dream campaign.

Milan initiated Tatakbo Pilipinas, an advocacy run that aims to raise awareness on education and distribute a million books and toys to underprivileged children.

Milan started his run in Luneta at 8am. He was joined by his supporters and the faithful of Our Lady of La Sallette Silang, Cavite.

For the first leg of the campaign, Milan will run across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao for a month. He will give talks on the importance of education and bring books and other school supplies to impoverished public schools.

Milan said that the campaign is his way of sharing his vision to the rest of the world.

“The end goal is very simple: To give awareness, to share the awareness to everyone that we all have the responsibility of teaching minds, touching hearts and transforming lives of other people, most especially the children,” Milan added.

After running across the Philippines, Milan also plans to run to Europe. He will cross 40 countries in 6 continents. He will meet with overseas Filipino communities in these countries.

Uphill slope

Milan admitted that the journey will not be easy. He had been preparing for the run the past 8 months.

“I had to train not only physically. There’s also the (sic) intellectual, spiritual and social,” he said in a mix of Filipino and English.

He believes, however, that his dreams will push him to complete his mission.

“If I can’t run, I will walk. If I can’t walk, I will crawl. The most important thing is that I reach my dreams,” Milan said.

Long journey

More than raising awareness, Milan said the end goal of the campaign is to move people to action.

“Everyone has the responsibility of making each other’s dream come true…The run will be a bridge for the children’s dream (sic) to come true,” Milan said.

Milan and his team accept toy and book donations for the campaign. They may be delivered to the following addresses:

1) St. Francis School, Kapaligan St, Araneta Avenue, Quezon City c/o Ms. Becky Santos.

2) National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette, Silang, Cavite

Details of his entire run will be featured by MovePH.

-Rappler.com

For updates on the run, follow @irunmacmilan on Twitter and like Tatakbo Pilipinas on Facebook.

The campaign is held in partnership with Kaya ng Pinoy, Aral Pinoy, Project Michelangelo Foundation and St. Francis School – VSA Philippines. Inquiries regarding monetary donations may be directed to the Allari, Fiel, Lascano Law Firm at 695-3395.