Over a thousand runners have already registered and more are expected to join as Dingdong Dantes and Yes Pinoy Foundation’s “fun-book-run” culminates on Jan. 31 at 5 a.m. at the Bonifacio High Street, Taguig City.
According to Catherine Ilacad, one of Yes Pinoy Foundation’s trustees and owner of Posh Nails, one of the events sponsors, she is encouraging people to register, have fun, be fit and at the same time help their cause. The fun run was organized with National Bookstore as its main advocacy partner. The goal is to generate books for public elementary and high school students whose schools and libraries were affected by last year’s major calamity – Typhoon Ondoy.
Every person who signs up with either 3K, 5K or 10K run is encouraged to donate an elementary or high school book. This lowers the joining fee to P400. Without a book, the fee is P450 which is the average fee for joining races in the country. Interested parties can join personally at R.O.X. Store in Bonifacio Street
“According to the Department of Education, P2 million-worth of books were damaged during the flood caused by the typhoons last year... whatever we generate from this fun run, we will choose the school na kung saan maraming na-damage na libraries and schools most affected and they will be our beneficiaries,” explained Dingdong Dantes. The schools and libraries they plan to rehabilitate are from Cainta, Rizal, Laguna, Marikina and Muntinlupa.
The fun run is also Yes Pinoy Foundation and National Bookstore’s second charity work together. Their first was Project Aklat launched in December 2009.
“Our Project Aklat was successful that we wanted a follow-up that would jumpstart the year 2010. We decided on a ‘book run’ and so far it’s drawing a lot of participants,” shared Dingdong.
The actor also expressed enthusiasm about their partnership with National Bookstore. The popular nationwide book chain and school supplies store will always support the projects of Yes Pinoy Foundation.
“We’re a new foundation that needs funds for a greater purpose. We built Yes Pinoy from scratch and we’re very hands-on with our projects. So we always appreciate everything that’s donated or what we earn because it doesn’t go to us but to the foundation and its beneficiaries. Our goal is to be successful for our foundation’s causes,” stressed Dingdong.
From the registration fee, each runner will receive a Singlet which is powered by an RF I.D. that will record the person’s race performance digitally. There will also be a lot of giveaways from the race’s sponsors. Their major sponsors are San Marino, Mario D’ Boro, PGA Cars, Goldilocks, Nature Valley, Rudy Project and DMCI Homes. The actor has also invited celebrity friends to join the fun run but is not confirming who would be available at 5 in the morning. Marian Rivera, his rumored real life girlfriend, wants to join Dingdong but everything is dependent on her taping schedules. And “Darna’s” last taping day, according to insiders of the show, would be this Saturday, Jan. 30.
“Definitely it will be one fun morning for everybody. I don’t know yet which run I will join but the most important thing for me is to make sure the runs are successful. I want to make everyone happy,” he smiled.
As to his charity works being a prelude to a future political career, Dingdong said no.
“Often kasi when we do something that is from the heart, that is nice or that is for a great cause, there would be some people who would think that way. But this has been an ongoing advocacy since I was a kid... nasa kanya-kanyang hilig lang yan. Others may be very successful at what they do and they may have their own way of giving it back to those in need. Not necessarily putting up a foundation, but my point is, this is my way of giving back to society, masarap lang siya kasi nagkakaroon ng balance sa pagkatao and my blessings,” he pointed out.
For 2010, Dingdong revealed that his focus will be on doing good movies and helping good causes. In line for him are – a summer movie with Marian Rivera, the hard action fantasy “Andong Agimat” and the TV series “Endless Love.” He is also leaving for the States as a guest performer in the concert series of Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez.
How does he see himself in 2010?
“If there’s one thing that I would like to be known, it is as a three-dimensional person... I want to be someone that you see the same anywhere… this year I really want to focus on doing nice movies like ‘Kimmy Dora’ which was very significant to me. I want to be part of something that would make the industry richer,” he replied.
And how does he keep himself grounded?
“I believe that it is in one’s personality. It is not learned at hindi rin siya naituturo. Pero nasa values siya na nakuha mo all throughout the years. From all the experiences na naranasan mo ikaw mismo ang momolde sa sarili mo. Ako kasi simple lang ang mga gusto ko kaya ganun lang,” was his humble answer.
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