17/12/2025
When a Community Runs as One
Success is often measured by numbers, but the true success of the 1st Sta. Lucia Fiesta Run 2025 goes beyond statistics. It is found in the people who gathered before sunrise, in the shared prayers at the starting line, and in the collective understanding that this run was never just about running.
This event was born in a time of challenge. Our community was still recovering from the earthquake that jolted Bogo City and nearby towns, followed by the devastation brought by Typhoon Tino and Typhoon Wilma. Despite fatigue, uncertainty, and loss, the people of Sta. Lucia chose to move forward together.
Runners did not join simply to finish a race, but to support a cause: Run to Give, A Retablo to Live. Each step helped bring us closer to restoring the altar and building a new retablo for the Parish and Archdiocesan Shrine of Sta. Lucia. This was faith put into action.
It is also important to acknowledge that some runners may have been disappointed by the absence of a water station along parts of the route, which was expected to be provided by an assigned neighboring barangay. While this concern is valid, the understanding and patience shown by participants reflected the true spirit of the event. Questions were also raised regarding awards, particularly in the female category. This run, however, was never intended to be about competition or prestige, but about service and fundraising. In that sense, everyone who ran for the cause was already a winner.
What made this initiative truly meaningful was that it was not driven by private interests or individuals, but by genuine Lucinian hearts. Volunteers, organizers, sponsors, and donors worked quietly behind the scenes, motivated by devotion rather than recognition. Support even reached beyond borders, with generosity coming from as far as Las Vegas, USA.
Our deepest gratitude goes to the runners who came not only from Sta. Lucia, but also from Tuburan and Balamban, whose strong participation showed that this cause resonated beyond our own community.
The success of the Sta. Lucia Fiesta Run 2025 lies in its spirit of bayanihan. It reminded us that healing can happen while moving forward, that hope can be rebuilt step by step, and that faith grows stronger when shared.
This run may have ended, but its purpose continues.
Because when a community runs as one, the journey truly matters more than the finish line.
