11 September 2015 – The Philippine Consulate General in Guam joined the 5th Annual 5K Run Fund Drive, entitled “Run for our Mane’Lu” or “Run for our Brothers and Sisters,” in Saipan held last Saturday, September 5. The 5K Run was organized by the Office of Guam Senator Dennis G. Rodriguez, Jr. to raise funds for the benefit of the victims of Typhoon Soudelor that devastated Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) in August.
Consuls Edgar Tomas Q. Auxilian and Mark Francis C. Hamoy led the Consulate General’s staff during the 5K Run, which in total had some 500 participants from the Guam community. Senator Dennis G. Rodriguez Jr. and his wife, Lena Calvo-Rodriguez, together with CNMI Lieutenant Governor and Madam Ralph Torres of Saipan, also graced the event. The 5K Run/Walk started at 6:00 AM from Chamorro Village in Agana and covered the stretch up to the Office of Guam Governor in Adelup and back.
Speaking before to all the runners at the start of the event, Senator Rodriguez Jr., a Filipino-American, thanked all the participants, a big number of which are Filipinos living on the island, as well as all the sponsors for their generous support and assistance for the people of Saipan affected by Typhoon Soudelor.
Around 15,000 Filipino nationals reside in Saipan, with the majority being overseas Filipino workers. In August, the Philippine Consulate General gave helped to purchase some basic relief goods for distribution to Filipinos in Saipan who were badly affected by the typhoon and in need of assistance. END