Family First

Philippines is located inside the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire—a region on earth where a vast number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions happen, also, Philippines is situated in a region where tropical typhoons and storms are present during rainy season. Two typhoons had devastated many towns and cities in the Luzon island (northern Philippines) where thousand of Filipinos lost their properties including their houses.

One of the victims is the family of the reining women’s division champion of Milo Marathon National Finals, Cristabel Martes. Martes, whose family lived in La Trinidad in Benguet (one of the most devastated towns due to the typhoons in the Philippines), chose to run the 42-kilometer race in exchange of her slot in the Philippine National Track and Field Team. Martes will be the Philippines’ bet in the marathon event of the 25th South East Asian (SEA) Games that will be held in Laos.

The Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA) released a memorandum that all the members of the national team will be forbidden to join any races that will cover 10 kilometers and above. Martes is quite sure that PATAFA will remove her on their roster due to his attendance on the said event. Cristabel chose to run because of one main reason—she needs money to support her family who was affected by the tragedy. She still has no communications with her family in Benguet—we can’t blame her. Poverty pushed her to gamble his slot for Php 75,000 (USD 1,562) which will be of great help to her and to her family.

Martes is the Milo National Marathon Queen last 1999, 200 and 2001. This year is her fourth inking a 3:01:20 margin.

photo courtesy of Nestle Philippines