■ Ofelia C. Empian
Trailrunners are set to converge in Hungduan, Ifugao for the Rice Terraces Marathon on July 21.
Featuring the 42-kilometer, 21-km., and 12-km. trail run categories, the event is organized by Team Malaya in partnership with the local government of Hung-duan.
The start and finish line will be at the Heritage Village in Hungduan with the participants running through the Unesco World Heritage Hapao Rice Terraces, waterfalls, hotspring, coldspring, Spanish trail, and the Panique rice field.
Registration is ongoing for the event where the 42-km. is pegged at P3,200; the 21-km. at P2,300; and the 12-km. at P2,200 with inclusions of three meals: carbo-loading, breakfast and post run meal; event T-shirt, medal, race bib and timing chip.
The organizers said the registration is non-transferable and cannot be cancelled. Kit claiming will be on July 20, while a van bound for Manila will be present for visiting runners after the event on July 21.
Hungduan came from the word “hung-du” meaning “to traverse through.”
This word means a place where a person traverses through on their way to another place, as people in the olden times traversed through Hungduan going to another municipality or place in nearby Benguet province.
Runners will also witness the annual Punnuk Festival of Hungduan on July 20.
The harvest festival is one of the well-kept traditions in the country showcasing the indigenous peoples’ way of celebrating life, thanking the Almighty for a bountiful harvest, knowing fully well that everything they need comes from the land and their environment.
For inquiries, contact Team Malaya at teammalaya.org or facebook.com/teammalaya.org.
