Known as the "father of ultra-marathon" in the Philippines, 57-year-old Cesar Guarin has made it his mission to conquer over 42,000 kilometers across the world through the Global Run: Takbong Alay sa Pilipino at sa Buong Mundo. More than making it his personal achievement or setting a record as the first Filipino and the first Asian global runner, Guarin says he is doing this to pay tribute to Global Filipinos.
The determined runner expressed how he has always been inspired by the hard work and resiliency of Pinoys who work abroad and sacrifice a lot to give their families a better way of life. "And they have made a great contribution to our economy," he acknowledges. "Going on this global run is a way to let them know that their efforts are appreciated."
Guarin, whose group supports a program called Batang Pangarap through fund raising, also dedicates his global run to Filipino street children. This is made possible through partnerships with Overseas Filipino communities and various agencies to get underprivileged kids into running, and provide them with their basic needs and social development programs.
Cebu Pacific, the Philippines' leading low-cost carrier, is backing Guarin on his quest. "Cesar is very inspirational. He is trying to do something that no Filipino has ever done before, which is to run around the world, the equivalent of a thousand marathons," expressed Alex Reyes, general manager of the Cebu Pacific Long Haul Division, during the press con held at the Xin Tian Di of the Crowne Plaza Hotel. "He's also reaching out to all the OFW communities in the countries that he's visiting, reaching out and bringing a little bit of home to them."
The Global Run's next stop is the Middle East which is seventh of Guarin's 15-stage worldwide run. And while the tough weather conditions and rough terrains may intimidate regular runners, Guarin considers them part of the challenge and is looking forward to the adventure that awaits him.
According to Reyes, not only is Guarin's cause a worthy endeavor to support, the global run is aligned with Cebu Pacific's core mission, which is to serve Filipinos communities abroad. He announced that they have chosen Dubai as their first long-haul destination to cater to Filipinos based there. "By making fares so much more affordable, OFWs can come home much more often or their families can visit them there," explains Reyes.
"I'm happy that Cebu Pacific is backing this global run. This started as a very personal project, so I'm really delighted that we're getting more support," affirmed Guarin. "Choosing Dubai as one of their first long-haul destinations and offering low fares show that Cebu Pacific, like me, is a supporter of Global Filipinos.
Starting October 7, 2013, Cebu Pacific will offer daily direct flights to Dubai from Manila with year-round fares starting at P6,999. For bookings and inquiries, please visit www.cebupacificair.com.
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