TF, Banat News win big in MILO contests

CEBU, Philippines — The FREEMAN and Banat News dominated the writing and photo contests in this year’s 41st National MILO Marathon.

The FREEMAN sports reporter Caecent No-ot Magsumbol placed first in the English category while Asst. Sports Editor Lemuel Maglinte placed first in the Filipino/Bisaya category.

Magsumbol’s story featured the journey of Cebuana marathoner Mary Joy Tabal to clinching her historic fifth MILO marathon gold medal while Maglinte’s story featured Tabal’s coach, Philip Dueñas.

Event organizer Ricky Ballesteros said the winning entries “were able to unfold the element of human interest portraying an emotional touch of the story or the subject” but Magsumbol’s article stood out because of “the way it was written… the drama in sports that highlighted the struggles of Mary Joy Tabal as a runner, as a defending champion and as a daughter.”

Placing second in the English category is Richiel Chavez of SunStar Cebu and placing third is Glen Dale Rosal of Cebu Daily News.

In the Filipino/Bisaya category, Richiel Chavez and Jun Migallen, both of SunStar, placed second and third place, respectively.

Tabal’s story tugged at the heartstrings because her father passed away on the eve of the race this year.

“If you are the reader, while reading it, you will also feel the struggles and the life of the subjects of the story,” Ballesteros said.

Meanwhile, sports reporter Gloreitta Lariosa and photojournalist Joy Torrejos won first and third place, respectively, in the photo contest.

Lariosa’s photo featured Tabal bowing down to the ground at the finish line.

Ballesteros said of Lariosa:

“I got curious of her. It’s the first time I heard of her name. I already met her personally but I am more familiar to names of renowned photographers or photojournalists,” he said.

“Looking at the picture, you can say there is a story behind it,” Ballesteros said.

The stories were judged by professors Reynaldo Caturza, Mia Embalzado Mateo, and Caridad Capuesto.

The photos, on the other hand, went under the scrutiny of award-winning photographers Mikhail Arrogante, Paul Gotiong, and Mike Perez.

For the first time in 41 years, Cebu City hosted the finale of the national marathon, which is considered the biggest and most anticipated footrace in the country. (FREEMAN)