MINERVA BC NEWMAN
CEBU CITY—A veteran runner and a renowned eye surgeon from Cebu City Dr. Potenciano “Yong”” Larrazabal III finally received the official copy of the House resolution congratulating and commending him as the first Filipino to conquer the World Marathon Challenge held on February 7 to 13, 2020.
“It has been two years, but I will always be grateful to everyone who believed in me. So, this commendation is not mine alone. I share this with my family, friends, and supporters who helped me achieve my goal and with my beloved Cebu,” read Larrazabal’s Facebook post.
The World Marathon Challenge, comprising seven marathons in seven continents within seven days, began in Antarctica where competitors ran the standard 42.2-kilometer marathon distance in the seven continents comprising of Antarctica, Africa, Australia, Asia, Europe, South America and North America.
Dr. Larrazabal traversed the globe and ran the standard 42.2-kilometer marathon distance and finished overall at 12th place.
Cebu Fifth District Representative Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco, a sports enthusiast himself personally handed over to Larrazabal the mounted copy of the resolution on Tuesday, Feb. 8.
Frasco sponsored Resolution No. 203 that was adopted by the House of Representatives on August 31, 2021 duly signed by Speaker Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco and House Secretary General Mark Llandro L. Mendoza.
Larrazabal thanked Frasco and the 18th Congress for adopting the resolution saying that it is such a great motivation to continue advancing his advocacy in promoting the sport he loves and a great reminder that there are leaders who back the progress of all types of sports in the country.
Frasco said Larrazabal made history as the first Filipino marathoner to compete and finish the World Marathon Challenge, and thus earned the privilege of joining the unique Seven Continents Marathon Club which is reserved for athletes who have ran a marathon within the Antarctic circle in the Antarctica continent, and in the other six continents.
