SENATOR PIA CAYETANO,
NEW YORK MARATHON FINISHER

Senator Pia S. Cayetano was one of the 38 Filipino finishers in last Sunday's staging of the New York City Marathon, considered as the world's biggest annual long-distance foot race.

Cayetano clocked four hours, six minutes and 28 secondsa personal bestto place 14,080th overall from among this year's 37,954 finishers. She also took 2,772th spot in the women's division and 516th in her age category.

"Being part of the Philippine contingent to this year's New York Marathon is truly an honor and a heartwarming experience. Being cheered on by fellow Filipinos boosted our spirits and pushed us to give it our best," the senator said, in reference to Filipino-Americans who came in droves to support the Filipino runners.

She also thanked the Philippine Consulate General in New York, which treated the runners to a light snack after the grueling 42-kilometer race.

Cayetano ran under Team-ING Bank Manila, which is composed of sports enthusiasts and first-time marathon runners. As part of its advocacy, the group sought to raise P1.04 million through supporters' pledges to build low-cost housing units for residents of Baseco Compound in Tondo, Manila.

Her teammates include business tycoon Fernando Zobel de Ayala, who clocked 4:08:51(14,805th overall), Juan Vicente "Jon-Jon" Rufino, the top male Filipino finisher who clocked 3:45:31 (7,524th overall) and Amanda Carpo, the top female Filipino finisher, 3:58:55 (11,801th overall).

Other members of the team are Franchesca Carpo, Zaki Delgado, Rashid Delgado, Joel Ferrer, Wen Szu Lim, Jesse Maxwell, Kristina Mijares, Sabino Padilla IV, Arthur Tan, Nona Torres, and Harvey Ty de Baron.

The youngest elected woman in the history of the Philippine Senate, Cayetano is also a known duathlete and triathlete who has been actively competing at home and abroad. She earlier joined the Venice Marathon, held last October 22, where she clocked 4 hours and 14 minutes, the Chronicle Marathon in San Francisco, California in 2002, and the World Duathlon Championships in Newcastle, Australia in 2005.

Cayetano herself has initiated several sporting events for a cause, including 'Bike for Hope,' which raises community awareness on pressing health and environmental issues, and 'Pinay in Action,' an all-women's run meant to educate women on breast and cervical cancer and the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

In the last four years, the senator has also staged a 12-hour walk-run-bike event in memory of her son Gabriel, who died from a rare chromosomal disorder in 2001 at the age of nine months. Proceeds raised from this activity are used to support disadvantaged and differently abled children.

Considered as the premier annual long distance running event in the United States, the New York City Marathon covers a 26.2-mile (42-kilometer) course that runs through the five boroughs of New York City. This year's staging attracted a record 38,368 starters that included seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong. Marilson Gomes Dos Santos of Brazil and Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia ruled the men's and women's divisions, clocking 2:09:58 and 2:25:05, respectively.

The New York City Marathon started at the Verazzano Bridge and ended at Central Park. It cut through the city's five boroughs: Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan.