Advocating humanitarian causes and volunteerism amongst citizens, more than 600 Philippine Red Cross–Davao Chapter volunteers and freelance runners joined the nationwide fun run yesterday.

With its event banner #RunForHumanity, Million Volunteer Run 5, the fifth year of the event, aims to promote service for the marginalized sector.

“Humanity is one of our fundamental principles. Iyan yung isa sa mga nagbigay ng karakter ng Philippine Red Cross at ang ibang Red Cross around the world,” Rogelio Aca, Jr, Chapter Administrator of Phil. Red Cross–Davao Chapter, said, emphasizing that the primary purpose of Red Cross is “to be able to serve the people who are distressed (and) who are suffering especially due to disasters and some other causes.”

He then concluded that mobilization among volunteers becomes a defining cause to fulfill the needs of the distressed.

“Presently kasi we have series of earthquakes affecting our nearby provinces so the Red Cross is there hindi lang dito sa Davao Chapter but ‘yung buong Philippine Red Cross. (The organization) supports talaga para naman yung mga biktima, maalalayan din sila,” he asserted.

The fun-run consisted of two main categories, a 3-kilometer run, and a 5-kilometer run, with each having male and female divisions. The 3k run had its participants turn around Jollibee Bajada as its turning point while 5k in Davao Light Bajada.

Jomarie Luayon, a government employee-athlete from Davao CTTMO, bagged first-place for the 5K run with 20 minutes and 1 second with his dedication and experience in fun runs and triathlons.

“Akong ma-advice lang sa ilaha, enjoy lang jud ang race. Kung naa jud pangarap, training lang hud para maabot ang pangarap,” Luayon said, addressing aspiring participants of races.

Other winners include 3k men’s Zyrus Earl Montealto with 8 mins and 0.9 sec, 3k women’s Aime Siarot with 9 mins and 59 sec, and 5k women’s Grace Onday with 30 mins and 22 sec.

Winners for these categories had received recognition among members and heads of Phil. Red Cross–Davao Chapter.

Some Arrupe volunteers also joined the fun run in support of the advocacy of the Philippine Red Cross.