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\u201cI\u2019m committed to my sport to encourage women. Living this lifestyle also allows me to encourage more people \u2013 because this is also for their health, so that everyone can live longer lives for their families. And this will be my life until the day I die,\u201d says Emily Fabros Nillusguin, an ultramarathon runner and children\u2019s running coach.<\/p>\n

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On her earliest running days<\/strong><\/p>\n

Emily Fabros Nillusguin has earned her right to speak such strong words.<\/p>\n

Emily was born in Nueva Vizcaya, where her parents supported her and her seven siblings as farmers. When she turned 13 years old, her older brother assigned her one of their more difficult chores. Every day after school, Emily went up the mountain, taking on a trail about five kilometers long. Here, she fetched firewood and fruits for her family, and she would descend the mountain with this load on her shoulders, with no complaints.<\/p>\n

As each day passed, Emily grew faster and stronger \u2013 which her older brother noticed. \u201cNakita ng kapatid ko na lumalakas yung katawan ko sa bawat pag-akyat at pagbaba ng bundok<\/em>. Sinabi niya, \u2018Yung lakas mo, gamitin mo sa mabuti<\/em>.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Emily took her brother\u2019s words to heart. She moved to Baguio shortly after, where she stayed with her relatives. Here, she took the strength and speed she gained from the mountains of Nueva Vizcaya, and ran on the roads of Baguio. At 14 years old, Emily started to run to support her family.<\/p>\n

\u201cNung simula<\/em>, mga<\/em> fun run, fun run lang<\/em>. Nagsimula ako sa<\/em> 5K kasi halos<\/em> same distance nung inaakyat ko sa bundok<\/em>. Tapos n\u2019on<\/em>, sinubukan mo na yung<\/em> 10K. Lahat ng pinapanalunan ko<\/em>, pinapadala ko sa mga magulang ko<\/em>,\u201d Emily shares about her earliest years in running.<\/p>\n

Emily recalled how difficult it was to train to win runs and be away from her family. After months of continuously competing, Emily\u2019s mother saw that her daughter was beginning to wear herself out. \u201cPinatigil ako ng nanay ko sa pagtakbo<\/em>. Sabi niya<\/em>, \u2018Nanay ako<\/em>. Obligasyon ko dapat ang alagaan kayo<\/em>.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Emily didn\u2019t take this order from her mother too well, but she knew she had to listen. \u201cMasama ang loob ko<\/em> noon kasi malaking tulong sa mga magulang ko yung premyo na napapanalunan ko sa pagtakbo<\/em>. At naisip ko rin na sana balang araw makilala rin ako<\/em>, at mai<\/em>–sha<\/em>share ko sa ibang tao yung kwento ko<\/em>. Pero kahit pa papaano<\/em>, sa saglit na panahon<\/em>, naibigay ko ang lakas ko sa pamilya ko<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Photo by Charisma Lico, Edge of Light; Make-up by April Feliciano; Hair by Jannet Saberon. Clothes by Running Skirts and Alii Sport, Shoes by Saucony, and Shoelaces by EZLaces \u2013 all from AtletaAko.com.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http:\/\/www.atletaako.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Emily2.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” url_new_window=”off” animation=”fade_in” sticky=”off” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” alt=”Emily Fabros” title_text=”Emily Fabros” use_overlay=”off”]<\/p>\n

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Photo by Charisma Lico, Edge of Light; Make-up by April Feliciano; Hair by Jannet Saberon. Clothes by Running Skirts, Shoes by Saucony, and Shoelaces by EZLaces \u2013 all from AtletaAko.com.<\/p>\n

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When God has another plan<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cKung hindi ako pwede tumakbo<\/em>, iaalay ko na lang ako buhay ko sa Diyos<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

After her short-lived running stint, Emily decided to join a group of missionaries and live in church. She spent years making her faith her mission, and she busied herself by teaching others about religion.<\/p>\n

When Emily was 22, she met a man at Burnham Park. They first spoke about faith, but shortly after, this developed into a more personal, meaningful conversation.<\/p>\n

\u201cNakilala ko si<\/em> Ron sa<\/em> Burnham Park. Nasa Baguio siya para sa<\/em> retreat kasama ng mga katrabaho niya<\/em>. Namasyal sila sa Baguio pagkatapos ng<\/em> retreat, tapos dun ko siya nakilala<\/em>,\u201d Emily recalls about meeting her future husband for the first time.<\/p>\n

A chance encounter at the park sparked the beginning of a courtship that transcended not just distances, but varying situations in life. Ron was a technical staff from Manila, while Emily was a missionary based in Baguio. Communicating proved to be difficult, as Emily resided in church; letters were their only means of correspondence.<\/p>\n

One day, Emily decided to go home \u2013 and that it was time for Ron to meet her family. \u201cBinigay ko yung<\/em> address ko sa<\/em> Nueva Vizcaya. Sinabi ko na sumama siya sa\u2019kin<\/em>. Sabi ko na magkita kami sa<\/em> terminal ng<\/em> bus.\u201d Emily and Ron, however, did not cross paths at the terminal.<\/p>\n

Emily arrived at her family\u2019s home, not knowing that Ron had already made it to Nueva Vizcaya. \u201cNagtanong-tanong lang siya tapos yung unang nakausap niya ay yung Kuya ko<\/em>. Tumawag yung Kuya ko ng<\/em> tricycle, tapos pinadala niya si<\/em> Ron sa bahay ng Tatay ko<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPag dating niya<\/em>, yinakap niya ako<\/em> ng mahigpit<\/em>. Akala niya kasi hindi na kami magkikita<\/em>,\u201d Emily continues. \u201cNagpasalamat ako sa Diyos kasi dun ko nakita na mahal niya ako<\/em>. Kahit di niya ako nakita sa<\/em> bus terminal, hinanap pa rin niya ako<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ron would continue pursuing his relationship with Emily, making the trip to Nueva Vizcaya every weekend from Manila. Emily and Ron married in 2000.<\/p>\n

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The past rediscovered, making a way for the future<\/strong><\/p>\n

Almost 11 years of marriage and three children later, Ron discovered something about Emily\u2019s past.<\/p>\n

\u201cNag-anyaya yung katrabaho ni<\/em> Ron, si<\/em> Ms. Ella, na sumali kami sa takbo<\/em>. Nang sinabi niya \u2018to sa\u2019kin<\/em>, hindi ako nagdalawang-isip<\/em>. Sabi ko, \u2018gusto ko \u2018yan<\/em>!\u2019 Gusto ko kasing subukan yung<\/em> 10K para makita ko kung nandon pa yung lakas ko<\/em>. Doon ko nakita na hindi nagbago<\/em>. Mabilis pa rin akong tumakbo kahit nanganak na ako<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHindi ko nasabi kay<\/em> Ron na tumatakbo ako nung dalaga ako<\/em>. So dun sa<\/em> Milo Marathon, tumakbo ako ulit<\/em>. Naghubad pa ako ng sapatos<\/em>! Binitbit ko yung sapatos tapos tumakbo ako nang mas mabilis<\/em>,\u201d Emily shares.<\/p>\n

Emily\u2019s first 10K-run in many years allowed Ron to see her skill in running. \u201cSabi ni<\/em> Ron, \u2018Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa\u2019kin na tumatakbo ka pala dati<\/em>? Sana natulungan kita<\/em>.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

With Ron\u2019s encouragement, Emily started to train in running again. After bringing her three children to school, she devoted some time to regaining her strength: \u201cI train by doing lunges, jumping jacks, planks, squats, burpees, and pushups. I also use the jump rope.\u201d Ron would accompany her every Saturday and Sunday for her long runs to Timberland and to Antipolo, then back to Marikina.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t an easy start for Emily, who was used to running longer and faster when she was younger, but she eventually found her feet with Ron\u2019s help. \u201cSi<\/em> Ron ang nag-train sa\u2019kin<\/em>. Sabi ko kasi sa kanya na papatunayan ko na kaya ko tumabko ulit<\/em>. Nung una, pinapahirapan ako ni<\/em> Ron!\u201d Emily jokes. \u201cPatunayan ko raw na kaya ko<\/em>. So nauuna siya tumakbo<\/em> \u2013 tapos nasa kanya yung tubig naming dalawa<\/em>! So kailangan ko siyang habulin<\/em>.\u201d That would change soon enough, as Emily recovered her running ability. \u201cNgayon<\/em>, ako na ang may hawak ng tubig at pagkain pag tumatakbo kami<\/em>. Siya na humahabol sa\u2019kin ngayon<\/em>!\u201d<\/p>\n

Emily and Ron have joined many long races together, declaring themselves a running tandem. But out of all of their runs, Emily\u2019s most memorable feat was earning third place at the \u2018Patibayan\u2019 event held at the Quezon City Circle. Here, Emily ran for 24 hours, logging hundreds of kilometers on the road over the entire weekend. It wasn\u2019t an easy accomplishment, and Emily knew she couldn\u2019t have done it without Ron. \u201cHindi ko na malabanan ang antok ko<\/em>. Si<\/em> Ron, hawak niya yung kamay ko habang tumatakbo<\/em>. Pumipikit-pikit yung mga mata ko at si<\/em> Ron yung<\/em> naging<\/em> guide ko<\/em>. \u2018Kaya mo yan, Ma. Lumaban ka<\/em>,\u201d sabi niya<\/em>. Pinapalakas niya yung loob ko<\/em>, hawak-hawak niya ako<\/em>. Hanggang nahimasmasn ako<\/em>, tapos bumawi ako<\/em>, kahit tanghaling tapat at mainit<\/em>. Di ko inakala na<\/em> magthi<\/em>-third place pa ako<\/em>!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cInalay ko ito kay<\/em> Ron. Dahil hindi ako dapat mananalo kung wala siya<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Photo by Charisma Lico, Edge of Light; Make-up by April Feliciano; Hair by Jannet Saberon. Clothes by Running Skirts and Alii Sport, Shoes by Saucony, and Shoelaces by EZLaces \u2013 all from AtletaAko.com.<\/p>\n

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Photo by Charisma Lico, Edge of Light; Make-up by April Feliciano; Hair by Jannet Saberon. Clothes by Running Skirts, Shoes by Saucony, and Shoelaces by EZLaces \u2013 all from AtletaAko.com.<\/p>\n

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Running, and its higher purpose<\/strong><\/p>\n

After years of running together, Emily and Ron decided that it wasn\u2019t enough for them to just join races \u2013 it was time for them to do something else together.<\/p>\n

In 2014, Emily and Ron formed the Liksi Barangay Sto. Ni\u00f1o Youth Runners group in their barangay. \u201cDito kasi sa\u2019min<\/em>\u2026 maraming kabataan na nalululong sa droga<\/em>, sa masamang bisyo<\/em>. Kaya naisipan namin<\/em> ni<\/em> Ron na kung anong natutuhan namin<\/em> sa running, ituro namin para ilayo sila sa masasama<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Every day after school, Emily and Ron teach a group of neighborhood children everything they know about running. On Saturdays and Sundays, the group went on their long runs. Their first batch grew to 43 students shortly after they started, with their ages ranging from 14 to 16 years old.<\/p>\n

The couple does coaching for free. They also shoulder the expenses for the races their group joins \u2013 everything from transportation, food, water, and race fees.<\/p>\n

\u201cKailangan hubugin mo sila<\/em>,\u201d says Emily. \u201cPara pwede mo silang isali sa laban<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

In their first batch of students, 20 have won races so far, in different distances.<\/p>\n

Emily and Ron have begun teaching their second batch, comprised of children ages five to seven. 11 have joined so far, and the couple are expecting this group to grow.<\/p>\n

\u201cSa awa ng Diyos<\/em>, nakikinig sila sa amin<\/em>. Nagpapasalamat pa yung mga magulang nila kasi nilalayo namin<\/em> yung mga mga anak nila sa masamang bagay<\/em>,\u201d Emily shares. \u201cKailangan lang ng kaunting tiyaga at pasensisya.<\/em> Para kaming nagkaroon ng mga bagong anak<\/em>!\u201d Emily jokes.<\/p>\n

Emily shares that her experiences from as a young runner and, now, and as a mother drive her to keep on doing this for the community. Her knowledge of running, along with Ron\u2019s, have allowed them both to remain strong not just individually, but as a couple. \u201cKaya gusto namin i<\/em>-share kung anong natutuhan namin<\/em>. Hindi lang sa pagtakbo<\/em> \u2013 pati na rin ang pagtulong sa kapwa<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLahat ito<\/em>, para sa kalugusan<\/em>, sa karangalan<\/em>. At sa Diyos<\/em>. Dahil kung wala siya<\/em>, hindi natin ito kaya lahat<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

More information on the <\/em>Liksi Barangay Sto. Ni\u00f1o Youth Runners may be found <\/em>here<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Emily’s Journey<\/h1>\n

Photos from Emily Fabros<\/span><\/p>\n

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