The Silliman University High School Centennial Committee will launch An August Rush, one of the highlights of its celebration, on May 26, 2016 at 6:30 pm at the Portal West Building front patio. An August Rush features a series of run events which highlight Silliman University’s environmental advocacy, and hopes to involve the participation of over a 1,000 high school students in Metro Dumaguete as well as its alumni and the community.
Originated as a Founders’ Day Run by the Ruby Reunioning Class of 1976, An August Rush, quickly developed into a multi-faceted flagship of the SUHS Centennial celebration. Quickly picking up on the environmental advocacy theme of the events, the SUHS Centennial Committee led by its Chair, Atty. Grace A. Sumalpong, added the feature of the Centennial Tree. Then, the Dumaguete Chapter of the Silliman Alumni Association, Inc. introduced the 100 kilometer Ultramarathon, to symbolize the 100 years of Silliman High. Other alumni batches also contributed the concept of building a fund called STReAM – SUHS Retired Teachers’ Assistance Medical Fund for the benefit of the alumni batches’ teachers with medical issues. Thus, An August Rush has become more than simply a celebratory run – it is a movement with many stakeholders coming onboard as alumni, friends, and the community identify with its theme of stewardship for nature and concern for the welfare of fellowmen.
An August Rush features the following events:
a. Progressive Thursday Night Runs
• Every Thursday, May 26 – August 4, 2016, 8:00 pm, Assembly at Portal West. Night Fun Runs every Thursday as a build up towards the main events. Completion medals will be given for those who join all Thursday runs from June 2 – August 4.
b. A Hundred Trees for a Hundred Years: Briefing on the Environment
• August 6, 2016, Saturday, SU gym. This will be an Environmental Advocacy Briefing for at least 1,000 high school students from all over Metro Dumaguete and Negos Oriental by experts from Silliman University. The Briefing on the Environment will be coordinated with SUHS and is tied-in to a tree planting activity for participants.
c. A Hundred Trees for a Hundred Years: Centennial Fun Run
• August 13, 2016, Saturday, 5:00 a.m. Start and Finish line will be at the Overpass on Hibbard Avenue fronting SUHS. This is a 3-5-10K Fun Run with the participation of about 1,000 High School students from High Schools in Metro Dumaguete and Negros Oriental. This Run will be managed by the NOSDEP, DARS & MDRC.
d. An August Rush: Ultra-Marathon & Fellowship Run
100K Ultramarathon, August 20, 2016, 5:00 p.m. Gun start and Finish Line at the Rizal Boulevard by Silliman Hall.This is an open competition which will attract more than 200 actual runners from all over the country and abroad (single runner or team relay of 4 runners x 25K or 2 runners x 50 K). A Virtual Run will be held simultaneously for virtual participants here and abroad.
Fellowship Run, 5:15 p.m. Gun start and Finish Line at the Rizal Boulevard by Silliman Hall. This is a 3K & 5K Fun Run for alumni, family and friends
The Runs will be managed by the NOSDEP, DARS & MDRC .
Beneficiaries of An August Rush will be the newly established SUHS Teachers Retirement Assistance Medical Fund (STReAM Fund), and the Erwin P. Cabanag Adult Leukemia Ministry Foundation (EPCALM).
A special feature of An August Rush, especially among alumni, is the Centennial Tree Project. A Batch or group shall accumulate a minimum of 100 points per tree for the privilege to plant a Centennial Tree at the SUHS Centennial Tree Forest, Centrop Center, Palinpinon, Valencia, during the Founders’ Week activities (August 27). Points are earned: by persons participating in the Run Events on August 13 & 20, 2016. One kilometer, of a finished race, earns one point. Hence, 100 Kilometers = 100 points; 10 K = 10 points; 5 K = 5 points; 3 K = 3 points. A Batch or group shall accumulate points either by their members’ participation as Runners in the Run Events, or by sponsoring a student Runner from among the participating high schools in Metro Dumaguete. To qualify to be sponsored for the Fun Runs, Runners from high schools in Metro Dumaguete must attend the Youth Environmental Advocacy Briefing (August 6) & Tree Planting Program. The Tree Planting activities will be scheduled on 4 Saturdays in June and July.
The Centennial Run for high school students is organized in coordination with the Department of Education through the Regional Office and the Schools Divisions of Dumaguete City and Negros Oriental.
An August Rush is a partnership among the SUHS Centennial Committee, Silliman University High School, HS Ruby ’76, SAAI, Dumaguete Chapter, the Negros Oriental Sports Development Program, Metro Dumaguete Roadrunners Club, Dumaguete Adventure Runners & Striders, SUHS alumni Batches & SUMCFi. The events are sponsored by Chooks to Go and SMART Communications, Inc. Among the early supporters are the Province of Negros Oriental, the City of Dumaguete, Energy Development Corporation, Tao Corporation, Royal Trading, Inc. SUY Corporation, Dumaguete DYMY Energy FM, Del Monte Corporation, Joebon Marketing, Dumaguete MetroPost, BDO Silliman Branch, Antulang Resort, Sans Rival, Hotel Essencia, Hui Discovery Tours, Mel’s Kitchen, Sea Forest, Solane & Plantasia Park. As the Centennial approaches, more supporters are coming onboard.
The concept of An August Rush is summed up by the organizers in the following quote:
"...Whether the world is changing for better or for worse, will depend on how we appreciate our place and our role in directing the course of the earth and the course of our lives..."
For this reason, there is an urgency, there is a RUSH, for people everywhere to understand the issues surrounding our social and natural environments; because there is an urgency, there is a RUSH, for people everywhere to look beyond the concerns of today and begin to plan for tomorrow; that is why, there is an urgency, there is a RUSH, for people everywhere to act in community for each other and for the earth.
We cannot delay. If we must Run with life, we must Run for Life! Time spans years and generations…a hundred years, for Silliman University High School! But time for man is brief. In this short lifetime, we must move with An August Rush!
Disclosures: This is a reprint of An August Rush's article in Facebook entitled: "Silliman High Runs Towards Centennial" dated May 26, 2016. See link to the article below:
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