MANILA, Philippines – Runners, celebrities and politicians converged in Manila on Sunday as they took part in radio DZMM’s Takbo Para Sa Kalikasan Year 11.

The run for an environmental cause began at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila at 5 a.m. According to The Philippine Star, 5,000 runners participated in the event.

The runners were led by Vice-President Noli de Castro, Sen. Pia Cayetano and ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. (AFI) Managing Director Gina Lopez.

They were joined by ABS-CBN stars Piolo Pascual, Jake Cuenca, Enchong Dee and Maricar Reyes plus DZMM anchors Ahwel Paz, Ariel Ureta, Cory Quirino and Vic de Leon-Lima.

Nhea-An Barcena and Jujet de Asis ruled the men’s and women’s 10K races, respectively. Barcena clocked 39:59 while de Asis ended his run with 32:29.

The 5K race winners, meantime, were Roger Denolo (16 :20) and Serenata Saluan (19:31).

A 3K run was opened for the young ones while a Hall of Fame run was held for former champions.

San Miguel Corp. won the biggest non-government organization (NGO) contingent special award while the Philippine National Police took home the biggest government contingent award.

STI was named the biggest school contingent, ABS-CBN’s asset management warehouse division was the largest Kapamilya contingent, and the Robles Family bagged the biggest family contingent award.

Eufemia Fabillar, 86, was declared the oldest female finisher while 84-year-old Felix Belarmino was the oldest male finisher.

Proceeds from “Takbo para sa Kalikasan Year 11” will be donated to the Pasig River rehabilitation project through AFI’s Kapit Bisig para sa Ilog Pasig (KBPIP). – With a report from The Philippine Star