Archbishop Soc Villegas to lead 'Run for Life' in Dagupan July 16

To mark the 21st anniversary of the 1990 killer earthquake in Luzon, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates "Soc" Villegas, D.D. will lead some 2,000 runners in a "Run for Life" on July 16. According to an article posted on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news site, the killer earthquake devastated Dagupan City and other parts of Central Luzon, especially Baguio City, on July 16, 1990. “By the grace of God and the resiliency of the Pangasinenses, we have risen even stronger from the rubbles of that natural calamity," Villegas said in a letter sent to the parishes. “It will be a leisurely run and walk for the gift of life that God gives all of us, a tribute to the resiliency and heroism of Pangasinenses," Villegas said. The "Run for Life" was organized by the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan’s social action ministry. “The Church has always been pro-life. She has always stood by for the promotion, protection and defense of life", said Fr. Allan Kristoffer Soriano, the Social Action Director. “The Church will always be there to fight for and defend life," he added. Runner-advocates Approximately 2,000 runner-advocates from the members of the clergy, lay leaders, ministers and members of religious organizations are expected to join the run. Local government officials, students and faculty of all Catholic and public schools in the archdiocese were also invited to join the advocacy run. The run will start at the St. John the Evangelist Cathedral and proceed to A.B. Fernandez West Avenue and out to the de Venecia Road and back to the cathedral. There will be one-kilometer, three-kilometer and five-kilometer groups. The Holy Mass will be celebrated at 3:30 p.m. at the cathedral before the “Run for Life" starts. The actual fun run will kick off at 5:00 p.m. A short program and orientation will precede the run. The event is expected to end by 7:00 p.m. - VVP, GMA News