Pascua recovers from chicken pox to win Milo Marathon's Laoag leg

A bout with chicken pox a week before the opening leg of the 35th National Milo Marathon did not stop Reynaldo Pascua from ruling the 21-kilometer eliminations held in Laoag, Ilocos Norte on Sunday. "Mabuti nanalo kasi nasira ang training ko dahil nga nagkabulutong ako," said Pascua, a 42-year-old veteran runner who's been taking unsecured jobs in the past two years, after pocketing the P10,000 cash prize. Pascua, who found time to train despite working in farms or sometimes being employed as a fisherman or a construction worker, booked the best time in the men's division. He finished the course in one hour, 16 minutes and 22 seconds to earn a spot in the National Finals on December 11. Being familiar with the route gave Pascua an extra advantage as he relegated his friend and training buddy Jay Viloria (1:16:33) to second spot and pocket P6,000. Edison Melchor (1:20:54.4) completed the top three finishers and won P4,000. "Nakatulong ng malaki na pamilyar ako sa ruta kaya naiwanan ko ang mga kalaban," added Pascua, who have participated in 12 previous Milo Marathon eliminations, after topping the Laoag leg for the sixth time. He won the same eliminations from 2004 to 2007 and again in 2009. His best finish in the National Finals was fifth in 1996. Mercy Taypoc, another veteran runner and like Pascua came from Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte, took the women's tiara with a time of 1:36.24. She also won P10,000 and a place in the National Finals. Finishing behind Taypoc were Sandi Menchi Abahan (1:47:05.2) and Anna Liza Maraan (1:55:39.2). But the respective second and third place clockings of Abahan and Maraan failed to breach the qualifying time for the National Finals. The 23-year-old Taypoc, who ruled last year's Baguio eliminations, also capitalized on being familiar with the up and down route. "Hindi ako hirap sa adjustment, sanay kasi ako sa Baguio na taas baba ang daan ng aking tinatakbuhan," said Taypoc, a varsity players and a third year BS Administration and Financial Management student of University of Baguio. With 8,000 runners participating in all races including the 10K, 5K and 3K participants, Milo was able to donate 500 pairs of shoes to students from Dingras National High School, Pila Elementary School, Alipio Ignacio Elementary School, Cabuloan Elementary School and Casili Elementary School Dingas National High School, Pila Elementary School, Alipio Ignacio Elementary School, Cabuloan Elementary School and Casili Elementary School. Milo donates P10 from participants' registration fee. Last year Milo donated 4,200 pairs based on their free shoes advocacy. This year, Nestle, the company which produces Milo, hopes to donate 10,000 pairs. The Milo eliminations goes to Dagupan next Sunday. - Perry Legaspi/JVP, GMA News