WITH the sound of the percussionists and samba beat in the background, the second leg of the highly-anticipated Rising Together-Baton Run hits Manila, Philippines early this morning to another resounding success.
Following last week’s flourishing opening start of the Baton Run in Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei Darussalam, the second leg in Manila was a step up with more than 10,000 athletes, VIPs and also the average citizens of this sprawling Metropolis taking part in the 7.2km run from the Malacanang Palace to the Culture Centre of the Philippines.
“I would like to extend our deepest gratitude and appreciation to the Republic of the Philippines and specifically the Philippines Sports Commission for their valiant efforts and assistance in making the Baton Run a success.
“It was indeed an overwhelming success and this was the results of the excellent coordination between the two countries,” said H.E. Ybhg Dato’ Raszlan Abdul Rashid, the Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines at the official press conference afterwards.
Prior to the start from the Malacanang Palace, Ybhg Dato’ Raszlan, Hon. Ernesto C. Arbella, the Philippines Presidential Spokesperson and also William I. Ramirez, Chairman of the Philippines Sports Commission (PSC) as well as the rest of participants took part in a zumba workout.
The start of the Baton Run which was also accompanied by a percussionists band and the bugle corps on floats decked with balloons, saw Dato’ Raszlan, Arbella and Ramirez with Rio Olympic Games 2016 silver-winning weightlifter, Hidilyn Diaz, taking off to the sound of the gong.
Others in the group were Mary Joy Tabal, Philippines 2016 Olympian, John Philip Duenas, 2016 Olympic coach and also two representatives from Milo (Wilfrido de Ocampo and also Roberto de Vera).
They were also accompanied by a handful of Para Athletes from the Philippine Sports Association of the Differently Abled (PHILSPADA) who covered the first 2.3km.
The baton was then passed over to the Gilas Pilipinas squad – the Philippines’ men basketball team – at the first checkpoint next to the Philippines Normal University as they covered the next kilometer alongside runners from the NCAA and PHILSPADA.
The second checkpoint at Luneta saw Philippines national athlete Maristella Torres-Sunang taking over as she covered the next 1.6 kilometre to the third checkpoint at Rajah Suleyman Park.
The baton was then taken over by Ryan Alvin Acosa (the Office of the Philippines Designated Runner) and also H.E. Juvencio de Jesus Martin, the Timor Leste Ambassador to the Philippines, joining in for the next stage to Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
Ramirez, Para athlete athlete Josephine Medina and Richard Gomez, the Ormoc City Mayor, then took it all the way to the finish in the next kilometer to the Cultural Centre of the Philippines where a massive crowd awaits.
The baton was then returned to Ybhg Dato’ Raszlan by Ramirez who then in turn passed it over to Souksanith Vongphankham, the Laos PDR Deputy Ambassador to the Philippines.
Laos PDR will be the next venue of the Rising Together Baton Run on 18 March 2017.
“It is important that we bridge this friendship in ASEAN, not only in sports but also in environment, culture, politics and economics. The power of sports can transcend and transform,” said Ramirez.
“It is due to the spirit of friendship and solidarity that we are here. That is the most important.”
Other dignitaries who attended the Rising Together-Baton Run at the finish line were H.E. Johnny Lumintang, the Indonesian Ambassador to the Philippines, Teityana Jasli, the First Secretary from the Singapore Embassy, Councilor Lei Lei Sein from the Myanmar Embassy, Amin Sulaiman, Second Secretary from the Brunei Embassy and Sirimon Atipatya from the Thailand Embassy.
Conceptualised as part of the legacy for the 29th SEA Games and 9th ASEAN Para Games which Malaysia will host from 19-31 August and 17-23 Sept 2017 respectively, the Rising Together Baton Run will cover all countries taking part in the Kuala Lumpur 2017. The run is expected to end in Singapore on 13 May before the start of the Torch Run in Malaysia.
Suasana karnival iringi Larian Baton Bangkit Bersama peringkat kedua di Filipina
LARIAN Baton Bangkit Bersama peringkat kedua di bandar Manila berlangsung dalam suasana penuh meriah dengan berlatarbelakangkan muzik samba yang menceriakan acara sempena menjelang bermulanya temasya Kuala Lumpur 2017 Ogos dan September ini.
Selepas sambutan meriah di Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam minggu lepas, larian di Manila menyaksikan hampir penyertaan lebih 10,000 orang dari kalangan orang kenamaan, atlet, pegawai kerajaan Filipina serta penduduk setempat yang turun memenuhi sepanjang lokasi larian dan memberi sokongan.
Laluan sejauh 7.2 km yang bermula dari Istana Malacañang dan tamat di Pusat Kebudayaan Filipina itu melibatkan empat pusat pemeriksaan (check point).
“Saya mengucapkan setinggi tahniah kepada penduduk Filipina khususnya Suruhanjaya Sukan Filipina (PSC) atas usaha dan kerja keras menjayakan acara Larian Baton ini.
“Ia sememangnya kejayaan amat membanggakan… ini hasil kerjasama baik daripada kedua dua negara,” kata Ybhg Datuk Raszlan Abdul Rashid, Duta Besar Malaysia ke Filipina pada sidang media selepas acara.
Sebelum acara bermula, Ybhg Dato Raszlan, Jurucakap Presiden Filipina, Ernesto C Arbella dan Pengerusi Suruhanjaya Sukan Filipina, turut serta dalam acara senaman zumba.
Pemenang pingat perak Sukan Olimpik Rio 2016 dalam acara angkat berat, Hidilyn Diaz menjadi pembawa pertama baton bersama-sama Datuk Raszlan dan Ernesto Abella, sambil diiringi kumpulan pemuzik di sepanjang laluan.
Selain Hidilyn, atlit lain yang turut mengmabil bahagian termasuk Olimpian 2016, Filipina Mary Joy Tabal, John Philip Duenas, jurulatih Olimpik 2016 serta dua orang wakil daripada Milo, Wilfrido de Ocampo dan Roberto de Vera. Seramai 21 atlet Para dari PHILSPADA turut serta di sepanjang laluan.
Hidilyn menyerahkan baton kepada skuad Gilas Pilipinas – pasukan bola keranjang lelaki Filipina – di pusat pemeriksaan pertama di Universiti Normal Filipina yang kemudian meneruskan larian sejauh 900 meter bersama-sama pelari dari NCAA dan PHILSPADA.
Baton kemudiannya diserahkan kepada atlet lompat jauh, Maristella Torres-Sunang di pusat hentian kedua di Luneta dengan kesemua peserta akan berlari sejauh 1.6 kilometer untuk ke pusat pemeriksaan ketiga pada Rajah Suleyman Park.
Wakil Pejabat Presiden Ryan Alvin Acosa dan Juvencio de Jesus Martin, Duta Timor Leste ke Filipina memainkan peranan di peringkat seterusnya sehingga ke Kompleks Sukan Memorial Rizal sebelum larian sejauh 7.2 kilometer di Pusat Kebudayaan Filipina dilengkapkan Ramirez, atlet PHILSADA, Josephine Medina dan Datuk Bandar Ormoc, Richard Gomez.
Baton itu kemudian diserahkan kembali kepada Ybhg Dato’ Raszlan oleh Ramirez yang kemudian diserahkan kepada Timbalan Duta Laos ke Filipina, Souksanith Vongphankham.
Laos menjadi lokasi seterusnya bagi peringkat ke-3 Larian Baton Bangkit Bersama pada 18 Mac ini.
“Amat penting bagi kita merapatkan persahabatan di kalangan negara ASEAN bukan sahaja dalam bidang sukan tetapi juga dalam aspek alam sekitar, budaya, politik dan ekonomi,” kata Ramirez.
Antara yang meraikan ketibaan peserta di garisan penamat termasuk Duta Besar Indonesia ke Filipina, Johnny Lumintang, Setiausaha Pertama Kedutaan Singapura, Teityana Jasli, Ahli Dewan Kedutaan Myanmar Lei Lei Sein, Setiausaha Kedua dari Kedutaan Brunei, Amin Sulaiman dan wakil Kedutaan Thailand, Sirimon Atipatya.
Larian Baton Bangkit Bersama merupakan sebahagian daripada usaha legasi bagi Kuala Lumpur 2017 yang Malaysia akan menjadi tuan rumah Sukan SEA pada 19-31 Ogos dan Sukan Para ASEAN dari 17-23 September ini.
Baton menjelajah ke semua negara di Asia Tenggara dengan destinasi terakhir di Singapura pada 13 Mei ini sebelum bermula Larian Obor di seluruh pelosok Malaysia.
