MARIVELES, Bataan – Some 36 runners on Saturday participated in the Ist Tarak Peak National Open Endurance Competition aimed at exposing the beauty and wonder of the mountain range here.
The participants (three-man team) who ran and walked the 31-kilometer distance from Barangay Alas-Asin in Mariveles to the Tarak Peak in the Mariveles mountain range and back to the finish line, also in Alas-Asin.
Once inside the lush forests, the chirping of the birds and the cicadas could be heard as race competitors traversed up and down the mountains passing through some rocky paths near deep ravines.
“Makikita hindi lamang sa Bataan o sa Pilipinas kundi sa buong mundo man sa pamamagitan ng paligsahan na ito kung gaano kaganda ang Mariveles lalo na ang Tarak Ridge na marami ng bisitang naakit,” said Cleotilda Concepcion, Mariveles Tourism Council chair.
Below the Tarak Peak about 14 kilometers from the Roman Superhighway in Alas-Asin is the beautiful Tarak Falls and the Papaya river that has enchanted many visitors.
“One thing more, this is not just a competition but a tree planting activity to protect the environment,” continued the wife of Mariveles Mayor Jesse Concepcion. Many were seen going up the mountain carrying seedlings of forest trees for planting.
Dennis Cuarto of Tarak Travel & Events Koordinator or TREK, organizer of the endurance race said “this is the first competition in Bataan of mountain climbers and trekkers that we hope will be an annual event to show that eco-tourism and environmental protection can work hand in hand.”
He narrated that he worked in a corporate world in Makati but his life was changed when, last year, he discovered the enchanting Tarak Falls.
“My life was changed from the corporate world to the natural world,” Cuarto said.
TREK is the first and pioneering business and environmental organization in Mariveles. It also wants to promote eco-tourism and environmental tourism sites in the town and the whole of Bataan.
“Through this race, we want to show stakeholders of the beauty and wonder of the Mariveles mountain range,” the event organizer said.
He thanked supporters of the event like Mayor Jesse Concepcion and wife Cleoty, Rep. Albert Garcia of Bataan’s Second District, officials of the Freeport Authority of Bataan and some sponsors.
There were male and female categories in the race where winners in each category received P20,000 as first prize, P14,000 (2nd) and P8,000 (third).
One of the participants, Jocel Payumo ran without shoes some kilometers away from the finish line.
“Sumuko ang sapatos ko,” he said while showing some bruises on his feet. “But I will participate again and again to this race because I found the Tarak Peak as very unique and challenging.
The participants (three-man team) who ran and walked the 31-kilometer distance from Barangay Alas-Asin in Mariveles to the Tarak Peak in the Mariveles mountain range and back to the finish line, also in Alas-Asin.
Once inside the lush forests, the chirping of the birds and the cicadas could be heard as race competitors traversed up and down the mountains passing through some rocky paths near deep ravines.
“Makikita hindi lamang sa Bataan o sa Pilipinas kundi sa buong mundo man sa pamamagitan ng paligsahan na ito kung gaano kaganda ang Mariveles lalo na ang Tarak Ridge na marami ng bisitang naakit,” said Cleotilda Concepcion, Mariveles Tourism Council chair.
Below the Tarak Peak about 14 kilometers from the Roman Superhighway in Alas-Asin is the beautiful Tarak Falls and the Papaya river that has enchanted many visitors.
“One thing more, this is not just a competition but a tree planting activity to protect the environment,” continued the wife of Mariveles Mayor Jesse Concepcion. Many were seen going up the mountain carrying seedlings of forest trees for planting.
Dennis Cuarto of Tarak Travel & Events Koordinator or TREK, organizer of the endurance race said “this is the first competition in Bataan of mountain climbers and trekkers that we hope will be an annual event to show that eco-tourism and environmental protection can work hand in hand.”
He narrated that he worked in a corporate world in Makati but his life was changed when, last year, he discovered the enchanting Tarak Falls.
“My life was changed from the corporate world to the natural world,” Cuarto said.
TREK is the first and pioneering business and environmental organization in Mariveles. It also wants to promote eco-tourism and environmental tourism sites in the town and the whole of Bataan.
“Through this race, we want to show stakeholders of the beauty and wonder of the Mariveles mountain range,” the event organizer said.
He thanked supporters of the event like Mayor Jesse Concepcion and wife Cleoty, Rep. Albert Garcia of Bataan’s Second District, officials of the Freeport Authority of Bataan and some sponsors.
There were male and female categories in the race where winners in each category received P20,000 as first prize, P14,000 (2nd) and P8,000 (third).
One of the participants, Jocel Payumo ran without shoes some kilometers away from the finish line.
“Sumuko ang sapatos ko,” he said while showing some bruises on his feet. “But I will participate again and again to this race because I found the Tarak Peak as very unique and challenging.
