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Solidarity Run for Peace, Health and the Philippine Eagle: Retracing the Death March Route on its 80th Anniversary

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CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, PAMPANGA – In celebration of the 50th anniversary of his
conservation work in the Philippines, Dr. Bob Kennedy, Ornithologist and Philippine eagle
conservation champion, initiated the Solidarity Run for Peace, Health, and the Philippine Eagle. He will run the 102-km Bataan Death March Route from August 6 to 7 to help promote and generate support for Philippine eagle conservation. This year also coincides with the 80th year of the Death March.

Dr. Bob Kennedy arrived in the Philippines in 1972 as a Peace Corps volunteer who was assigned to study and develop a conservation program for the critically endangered Philippine eagle. His work helped launch the “Monkey-eating Eagle Conservation Program”, which later on grew into the Philippine Eagle Foundation that we know today. He was also one of those who lobbied for the Office of the President to change the name of the endemic species from “Monkey-eating Eagle” to “Philippine eagle.” Bob traveled to the Philippines 31 times in preparation for his book: “A Guide to the Birds of the Philippines”. He worked on this book together with Pedro Gonzales, Edwards Dickinson, Timothy Fisher, and former PEF Science Director, Hector Miranda. The book aims to showcase over 60 years of research that aims to shed light on the numerous endemic bird species that are endangered due to continuous loss of habitat.

Dr. Kennedy will run with Filipino-American marathoner, Mr. JC Santa Teresa, holder of the
Guinness Book of World Records for the most ultra-marathons ran in consecutive days.

On August 7, 2022, the City Government of San Fernando, under the administration of Mayor Vilma B. Caluag, will welcome the two runners on this important event, together with H.E. Elmer Cato of the Philippine Consulate General in New York, USA. San Fernando, Pampanga played an important role in the very historic Death March as the actual march ended at the San Fernando Train Station in Barangay Sto. Niño. It is in this train station where the worn-out soldiers were dumped to train carts for transportation to Capas, Tarlac in 1942.

The wreath-laying ceremony will be followed by a book signing activity and press conference at Robinsons Starmills Pampanga at 2:00 pm.

The event is supported by the Arts, Culture, and Tourism Office of Pampanga, Bale
Capampangan, Megaworld, Microtel by Wyndham Pampanga, Robinsons Starmills, and The Orchids Garden.

For more information, please contact the City Tourism Office at 0936-268-8913.

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