Spaniards run for Yolanda-damaged schools

MANILA, Philippines - Around 2,500 runners from Spain, including famous athletes, joined 'Run for the Philippines,' a marathon organized last month by Madrid-based non-government organization Fundacion Solventia, which pledged the proceeds to Aboitiz Foundation, Inc.

The marathon was jointly organized with the Municipal Board of Fuencarral-El Pardo, was attended by noted Spain-based athletes such as long distance Olympics runner Chema Martinez, cyclist Carlos Abella and runner Enrique Alvarez.

A total of 21,000 euros (P1.3 million) was handed over to repair Anonang Sur Elementary School in Bogo City, Cebu, where 323 students have to use damaged classrooms with recycled tarpaulins as roofing. The school was among those damaged when typhoon Yolanda hit the country November last year.

“We would love to be [on that school] with the Aboitiz Foundation. It is an honor for us to be a part, as little as this might be, of such an incredible effort of solidarity as the Aboitiz does for the Philippines day by day,” said Solventia Foundation Director Javier Iturralde Lind.

Repair and rehabilitation of the school is expected to start late this month.

Run for the Philippines featured 5- and 10-kilometer runs through the streets of Madrid. Present during the awarding ceremony were Philippine Ambassador to Spain Carlos C. Salinas, Fuencarral Counselor Jose Antonio Gonzales, Solventia Foundation President Conrado Truan and La Vaguada Commercial Center Director Sebastian Herrero.

The Aboitiz Group plans to repair around 130 classrooms and build 70 new ones in 28 schools in Bogo City and San Remigio in Northern Cebu starting this month for the benefit of some 13,000 students. The group has allocated P140 million to the school rehabilitation project as part of the P203 million it raised last year through various donations from its business units, Aboitiz family members and their friends from all over the world, private organizations and individuals who donated through U-Share.