TakBonifacio fun run to commemorate hero's 150th birthday

There are fun runs. Then there's the TakBonifacio—an afternoon running activity that encourages participants to don their best Katipunero or traditional Filipiniana outfits while going through fun “obstacle courses” along a 5-kilometer run within the Bonifacio Global City. 

TakBonifacio will be held on November 30 (4pm) as part of this year's three-day Passion Fest (November 29 to December 1). It' an activity that aims to commemorate the life of one of the country’s most passionate heroes Andres Bonifacio.

In this rather one-of-a-kind run, participants would need to complete “challenges” from Gwardiya Sibil amidst the 19th century setting. Participants will be wearing a belt with life flags, which runners must keep safe from the Guwardiya Sibil.

Fun obstacles along the way include historical events which happened in key areas around Metro Manila like San Juan (Guwardiya Sibil will be armed with water soakers to attack the participants); Pinaglabanan (An army of Guwardiya Sibil will be running after life flags instead of just standing around); Bonifacio (Participants should be on the lookout for Andres Bonifacio, who will be giving away free life flags); Marikina (Participants will climb up the giant inflatable slide and enjoy the way down! Or crawl inside the tunnels while Guwardiya Sibil awaits them on the other side); and Balintawak (Participants will express themselves and write why they are proud to be a Filipino).

Interested participants may register at any of the following establishments: Toby’s Sports in Shangri-La Mall, Mall of Asia & Glorietta; Runnr in Ayala Alabang Town Center & Bonifacio High Street; and Brooks in SM North EDSA.

Registration Fee for participants is P500.  Special rates apply to residents and workers of BGC at P350, Groups that form a battalion of at least 50 persons only have to pay P150 per head (registration and payment must be submitted at the same time), kids who are 5 to 12 years old only have to pay P150.

Top TAKBONIFACIO Finishers will be given cash prizes. Special Prizes await runners that will win the Best Costume award, which will be determined by originality, inventiveness, intricacy & color, and fun. Prizes to be raffled off are as follows: 1 Grand Prize worth P 50,000, and   5 Minor Prizes worth P 20,000.

For more details on costume requirements and registration by groups may log on to www.facebook.com/BonifacioGlobalCityPH.

** This article first came out in the Philippine Daily Inquirer last November 9, 2013. It has been slightly edited for TWIST. Enjoy! ***