University of the East coach Kenneth Tolin did not formally run a race on a warm Sunday morning, on April 28, along the flat roads around SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
But three young runners he was teaching to conquer long distances did and two of them became champions in the Manila Leg of the National MILO Marathon.
This made Tolin feel like a champion himself when it was over as varsity athlete Sheila Mae Bugarin ruled the female 5km run, Iber Megan Palad took the top honors in the female 3km event, and Palad’s running mate John Maxell Chico landed sixth to earn a medal in the male 3km category.
“Masarap ang pakiramdam. Nakakatulong pa,” said Tolin, whose big heart for teaching kids strive to be the best version of themselves, has fueled his passion.
Knowing what his wards were capable of, Tolin encouraged the three to push themselves to their limits and join a much longer distance. So it wasn’t a shock they they excelled in them the first time that they participated.
Bugarin, 18, a secondary education sophomore, took the women’s 5km honors in 22 minutes and eight seconds, her first race in this category, considering that she usually joins only the 3km events.
“Challenging siya pero exciting. Mababa ang time ko,” said Bugarin.
Since Tolin graduated back in 2009 as an Informational Technology student, he has taken the passion of coaching students from UE and youngsters who are seeking a chance to have scholarships when they reach college.
The fruit of Tolin’s dedication to his wards bore fruit that Sunday morning, when the two kids from Margarita Roxas de Ayala Elementary School earned success under his tutelage.
The 12-year-old Palad kept a disciplined pace in the female 1-km run to finish first in 14 minutes and 14 seconds, while Chico followed her into the finish line to end up in sixth.
“Doon ko binilisan sa dulo iyung takbo,” said Palad.
Tolin said the two were supposed to run with a pacer, someone who helps runners complete the course at a managed pace and finish within a certain, predesignated time.
But the designated pacer for Palad did not arrive on time. So Tolin himself ran beside Palad and Chico from a distance to make sure that they maintain their speed.
“Marami po akong na-coach na first timers sa race. Pero itong tatlo na ito ang mapapalad na nagka-medal,” said Tolin, one of UE head coach Arthur Fronda’s assistants.
Tolin’s accomplishment’s on that day goes hand in hand with MILO’s theme for its 60th anniversary — “Let’s bring out the champion in every Filipino.”
“Tinutulungan ko silang magpalakas. Para balang araw, ay magkaroon sila ng chance na magkaroon ng scholarship, at libreng makapag-aral,” added Tolin.
On that fateful Sunday morning, Tolin’s three wards did not just earn medals for their achievements. Tolin taught them to believe in themselves, and that bears more weight than any medal in the world.
