The Life News Agency
August 11, 2023

Bacolod Yuan Thong Temple is Fo Guang Shan's vihara closest to the city of Cadiz. Venerable Zhi Rong of Yuan Thong Temple shared that all of us should hold on to Venerable Master Hsing Yun's concept of "ecological and environmental protection," respect Buddha and Gods, and love the earth, because it is closely related to human life and survival.

Venerable Zhi Rong of Yuantong Temple revealed to the principals during the teacher training in May that Fo Guang Shan will hold the VegRun public welfare road running event.


Students were running on the hills. photo／The Life News Agency

Viola P. Montilla, principal of Progresso Elementary School, said that she strongly identifies with and supports the VegRun activity, which will not only make the participants healthy, but also do good deeds. This is a win-win public welfare activity for participants and the socirty, especially for those children from poor families. To this end, principals of 18 primary and secondary schools in Cadiz were invited to respond and support, with the number of participants ranging from 40 to 250 per school.

Eighteen schools started the road running on July 24 for 8 consecutive days until July 31, about 1,800 teachers, students and parents participated in the activity. A total of about 12,600 kilometers were run in 8 days. Everyone is doing their part to protect the planet and promote vegan diet.

Sangay Elementary School's students participated in the VegRun. photo／The Life News Agency

Ian B. Sevellejo, the principal of Don Luis Consing Primary School, found that the VegRun public welfare road run event is meaningful and very supportive. John Paul C. Sadia, principal of Egido Fernandez Elementary School, ran with the students every day and also accompanied the students in their morning exercises.

Hon. Jessie D. Olvido, head of the Luna community, integrated road running into community activities and invited parents to participate. When venerables of Fo Guang Shan went to Progresso Primary School to participate in the road run, the district chief visited the school, express the importance of education and the impact of practicing Three Acts of Goodness.

Students of Cotco elementary school participated in the VegRun. photo／The Life News Agency

Venerable Yong Guang, Chief Abbess of Philippines Fo Guang Shan, expressed gratitude to the schools in Cadiz for their great support of the charity event and the Buddha's Light International Association (BLIA) Philippines for supporting the poor and vulnerable by donating food to families in Cadiz.

In this charity road run, BLIA will donate rice and food based on accumulated mileage to support disadvantaged families and promote vegan diet culture.

Lungating elementary school's students and parents participated in the VegRun. photo／The Life News Agency

Cadiz and nearby cities are the main crop-producing regions in Philippines. Food is very important for people's livelihood. Therefore, the government plans to set up at least 5 agricultural schools in each city. Cadiz is a place with a clean environment and great air quality, and mainly produces black and red rice. These rices need to be grown on plateaus with clean water, therefore the environmental protection movement is even more important.

Students were running in the fields. photo／The Life News Agency

For the firat time, all primary and secondary schools in Cadiz signed up for the selection of Three Acts of Goodness campuses this year, hoping to become the second city in Philippines that all schools are Three Acts of Goodness schools.