Sweating it out for education on national hero's 150th birthday

This is one fun run where you can show both your love for education and for the national hero.

On June 19, during the celebration of Jose Rizal's 150th birthday, the Department of Education is to hold a fun run (gun start at 6am) at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta for participants who want to sweat it our by running or walking 1, 2, or 3 kilometers.

Instead of paying registration fee, participants are instead enjoined to bring donations or sign a pledge form stating what they can contribute to upgrade the standard of education in public schools.

Donations-in-kind could be school supplies (pencils, ball pens, ruled paper, notebooks, crayons, chalk, etc.); classroom furniture (chairs, tables, cabinets, etc.); equipment (fax machine, computers, printers, electric fans, etc.); classrooms; or shop equipment (for Industrial Arts, Home Economics, Agri-Fishing, etc.).

“We all know how our national hero pushed for the education of the Filipinos and I am sure that a century after his death that remains his aspiration,” said Education Secretary Armin Luistro.

Volunteers can also "donate" their time and energy by serving as a resource person for a particular subject; tutorial assistance; peer counseling; assistance to teachers (preparing visual aids, teacher aid); school maintenance and repairs; or teaching.

The fun run will be spearheaded by all DepEd Division Offices (DOs) nationwide. All participating DOs will handle the preparatory work which shall include the organization of different committees to promote the activity as well as coordination with volunteers, sponsors and media.

Participants to the fun run will be asked to accomplish a pledge form to signify support to schools. Completed forms will be submitted to the Local Registration Committee. The pledges / actual donations will be accounted for and turned over to the schools.