“Tungod sa Inyong Pagdagan, ang DXGN Padayon Usab sa Pagdagan”: Dagan Para sa Dekada Fun Run Successfully Held

Before the sun had fully risen over Davao City on the morning of June 13, 2026, over 2000 runners gathered along the Bago Aplaya Coastal Road in Talomo, stretching, praying, and radiating with the kind of energy that only a community with something worth celebrating can produce. The occasion was Dagan Para sa Dekada, the anniversary community fun run organized by the Commission on Social Communications of Davao to mark the tenth year since the reopening of DXGN 89.9 Spirit FM — the Archdiocese of Davao’s official Catholic radio station. What unfolded that morning was more than a race. It was a living, breathing celebration of a community that continues its mission of evangelization.

The program began at 4:00 AM with the assembly of participants and acknowledgement of sponsors, followed at 4:30 AM by an opening prayer led by Ms. Echerica Yamba, SoCCom Coordinator of San Isidro Labrador Parish in Lumondao. The Philippine National Anthem and “Tayo’y Dabawenyo” were played via AVP, after which Program Head Mrs. Annie Libres of DXGN 89.9 Spirit FM delivered the opening remarks, welcoming everyone. She also thanked everyone on behalf of Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, D.D, Archbishop of Davao and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Davao Verbum Dei Media Foundation Inc. (DVDMFI) and Rev. Fr. Ritsche J. Gamaya, Managing Director of DVDMFI and the Archdiocesan Commission on Social Communications. A warm-up and Zumba session energized the crowd at 4:40 AM, followed by a race briefing at 4:50 AM.

The 10KM gunstart fired at exactly 5:00 AM, with the 5KM and 3KM categories following at 5:05 AM and 5:10 AM, respectively. Runners of all ages and fitness levels took to the coastal road, their footsteps a collective act of solidarity with the station that has served as Davao’s Catholic voice on the airwaves for decades.

Afterwards, the top 3-finishers of Dagan Para sa Dekada were:

3KM Male: Rico Bansilan claimed first place with a blazing time of 10:13, followed by Kyle Drama at 10:24, and Gian Carlo Madenancil at 10:51. 3KM Female: Rachel Subere crossed first at 13:41, with Shiela Marie Rada finishing second at 15:29 and Lian Seneriches third at 16:20.

5KM Male: Corcino Satinitigan led the pack with a time of 16:44, narrowly ahead of Marico Satinitigan at 16:56 and Fritz Cabanig at 17:11 — a remarkably tight finish across all three podium spots. 5KM Female: Yashara Daligdig took the top spot at 20:30, followed by Janel Cabiles at 23:16 and Cherie Mae Palicte at 25:59.

10KM Male: Clenton Ropia and Lloyd Prado delivered one of the morning’s most dramatic finishes — separated by just one second, with Ropia clocking 35:55 and Prado at 35:56. Elmer Bartolo rounded out the podium at 37:12. 10KM Female: Charlen Cos won with a time of 44:49, followed closely by Leedy Erika Villamonte at 45:14 and Renalyn Lausan at 47:11.

Special awards were also given to the oldest and youngest finishers, to the male and female runners with the brightest smile.

The excitement carried well past the finish line. Between 6:00 and 7:00 AM, participants gathered for a community dance featuring the official jingle of DXGN 89.9 Spirit FM’s 10th anniversary, entitled “Ten Years Na Tayo” with lyrics and music by reporter scholar Mr. Kelvin Aguilon, performed by Heart Migellano, Blessy Palacay, and Sophia Jose, and choreographed by the DAYCA Animation Ministry. It was a joyful, fitting anthem for a station that has spent a decade earning every note of that celebration.

The raffle draw added even more excitement to the morning. Top prizes went to Marissa Yee, SoCCom of San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish Talomo (1st prize, ₱5,000), Virgen Dolorosa Parish Babak SoCCom (2nd prize, ₱3,000), and Jeffren Miguel of San Francisco de Asis Parish Tagkawayan SoCCom (3rd prize, ₱2,000). Consolation prizes included ten cash winners of ₱500 each, five giveaways from Organica Nutrition, five from UNILAB, and ten rechargeable radios and official merchandise from DXGN 89.9 Spirit FM and the Davao Catholic Herald.

The event also served as the stage for two significant announcements: the launching of the countdown to the 75th Anniversary of the Davao Catholic Herald in 2027, and the announcement and awarding of the winner of the SoCCom Logo Making Contest given to the Our Lady of Fatima Parish, underscoring that the morning was as much about the future as it was about looking back. A same-day-edit video of Dagan Para sa Dekada capped the program, preserving the morning’s memories for the community.

“Tungod sa inyong donasyon, ang DXGN nagapadayon sa lihok sa ebanghelisasyon ,tungod sa inyong pagdagan, ang DXGN padayon pud nga modagan. Kaninyong tanan kita-kita na pud ta sa sunod higayon mga Ka-Spirit, sama-sama together always and forever!” Fr. Ritsche Gamaya said in his closing remarks and followed by final blessing.

That DXGN 89.9 Spirit FM has reached the tenth anniversary of its latest reopening is itself a story worth telling. It has sustained each time not by institutional and financial resources alone, but by the faith of ordinary people who believe the Good News deserves to be heard. Last June 13, those very people ran. They ran for the station, for the mission, and for more years of evangelization.