Sports
๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ง๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ก๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ช๐ฎ๐โ๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ
San Jose, Antique- Trail runners were fired up in the mountains of Barangay Aningalan in San Remigio, Antique as participants burst off the line to open the Antique Trail Marathon on Friday, March 28, which this year serves as the Philippine National Trail Running Championships.
An estimated 260 runners are competing in the 80K, 42K, 25K, and 16K categories, traversing the rugged terrain of San Remigio and several barangays in the neighboring town of Sibalom.
Antique was selected as the host province for the 2026 championships, which will determine the countryโs representatives to the Southeast Asia Trail Running Cup (SEATRA Cup) 2026 in Indonesia on July 23โ26 and the 2026 Asia Pacific Trail Running Championships (APTRC) in China on November 12โ15.
Governor Paolo Javier welcomed the runners during the opening program, noting the strong turnout of participants from across the country.
โWe had always prided ourselves as the โprovince where the mountains meet the seaโ and we are proud to host athletes from all over the Philippines. We want to showcase to everyone the natural beauty and challenging trails of Antique,โ the governor said.
Antique is home to four national trail running team members: John Ray โStingrayโ Onifa, Larry Apolinario, Angelica Alejo, and Ken Oliver Libo-on. All four participated in the Antique Trail Marathon.
Onifa, who was recognized by the Philippine Trail Running Association (PhilTRA) as the countryโs top-ranked trail runner, shared his joy over his home province hosting the national championships.
โNalipay gid ako nga natuman gid man ang handum kang PhilTRA nga e hold rugya sa qualifying championship para sa national team, nga ma testingan nanda bukid dya sa Antique,โ said Onifa.
He added that he is encouraged by the growing number of trail running enthusiasts in Antique and hopes more will follow in his footsteps.
โSa tanan nga Antikenyo, sunda nyo ron ko ron para maabot inyo handum kag mag-imaw kita sa race nga world-class.โ
Governor Javier expressed optimism about staging the event again next year.
โHopefully next year, this will become a continuing program for our visitors, tourists, and guests,โ the governor added.
The DOT is venturing into trail running as a means of promoting sports tourism, according to Roberto Alabado, director for the Office of Film and Sports Tourism. He said trail running offers another reason to โLove the Philippinesโ by highlighting the countryโs natural landscapes and outdoor adventure opportunities.
The Antique Trail Marathon is a collaborative effort among PhilTRA, the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Provincial Government of Antique, the Office of Senator Loren Legarda, the Office of Congressman AA Legarda, the local government unit of San Remigio, and Antique Road and Trail (ART) Running.
Key officials and organizers attended the opening ceremony, including Congressman AA Legarda, San Remigio Mayor Mar Mission, DOT Region 6 Regional Director Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez, Antique Police Provincial Office OIC PCOL Ryan Devaras, International Trail Running Association (ITRA) President Janet Ng, and race director Mannie Magbanua.
The Antique Trail Marathon will officially conclude tomorrow, with cash prizes ranging from Php 5,000 to Php 20,000.
