Over 5,000 Ilocanos participate in INC’s worldwide walk for Yolanda relief

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff Reporter

As part of continuing efforts to help victims and survivors of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name Haiyan), over 5,000 Ilocanos in this northern part of Luzon participated in a worldwide walk organized by the Iglesia ni Cristo [Church of Christ] to raise funds and at the same time an official attempt to surpass two Guinness world records.

With a registration fee of P250 each inclusive of a white shirt with the print “Worldwide walk for those affected by Typhoon Yolanda”, INC participants as young as nine months old and as old as 73 years old all trekked early on February 15 as they convened at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Stadium for a 1.6 kilometers walk from the stadium passing through the Laoag’s Gilbert bridge to the 365 plaza of neighboring San Nicolas town.

“The event’s objective is also to call the attention of people around the world that the more than 4 million affected by the supertyphoon still needs help,” said INC organizers based in Laoag City.

Days after the storm struck last November, various organizations here initially provided relief operations, raising funds and even sending medical health workers and volunteers to the heavily-hit Tacloban and Leyte.

Aside from the trying to break the record of Singapore, the INC also is looking to set a record in the Largest Charity Walk in 24 Hours (Multiple Venues). The worldwide event covered 13 time zones.

The 24-hours walk started in New Zealand on February 15 and ends at Hawaii-Pacific Time Zone.

Through the INC, the Philippines is the first country to attempt to break the record of most number of participants in the Largest Charity Walk in 24 hours category.

The walk-for-a-cause was staged in 85 sites in the Philippines and 55 more sites across the globe, 34 in the USA; six in Europe; 10 in Australia/New Zealand; and five in Asia.

Thousands of police officers were deployed in key cities to ensure security in the area while several ambulances and police patrol cars were also on standby.

Meanwhile, about a hundred participants of a separate three-kilometer fun run kicked off an hour earlier at 6am in front of the Ilocos Norte Capitol for the "Takbo para sa puso" led by the Ilocos Norte-based League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) jointly with the Vice Mayors' League, Philippine Councilors League and the provincial government of Ilocos Norte.

Sarrat Mayor Edito Alberto Balintona, LMP-Ilocos Norte president said funds raised from this event pegged at P500 per participant will shoulder the expenses of a bloodletting activity in cooperation with the Philippine National Red Cross and other volunteer workers to help out Ilocano residents during emergency situations.  

Nine-month old Ace Maverick Iborde of Bacarra, Ilocos Norte is being carried by his father during the worldwide walk for those affected by typhoon Yolanda.

Victoria Quiling, 73, the oldest participant in Ilocos Norte is being assited by other delegates during the worldwide walk for those affected by typhoon Yolanda.