Some of the participants of the International Women’s Month Fun Run pose for a photograph at Museum of Islamic Art Park, yesterday. Pic: Raynald C Rivera/The Peninsula
DOHA: Underlining women’s crucial role in the society, International Women’s Month Fun Run was held yesterday morning at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) Park which saw more than 300 participants, mostly Filipino women.
Every year, the Philippines celebrates the month of March as National Women’s Month with many events as part of the global observance of International Women’s Day.
Here in Doha, the Filipino International Triathletes Qatar (FITQ) and the Association of Nursing Service Administrators of the Philippines Inc. Qatar Chapter (ANSAP-Qatar) jointly organised the Fun Run in coordination with the Philippine Embassy and the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) to mark this significant occasion.
“We want to emphasise the important role of women in the society through this event. We started this last year and we plan on holding this every year,” Vice-Consul Kristine Bautista, who also heads the Cultural, Community and Public Information arm of the Embassy, told local media.
Philippine Ambassador to Qatar Alan L. Timbayan along with other embassy officials were among those who attended yesterday’s Fun Run.
“This is the first time that we have partnered with MIA Park and they have been very accommodating so we hope to do this again next year,” Bautista added.
Jaynald Canaria, President of FITQ, was happy with the increase in the turnout compared to the inaugural edition of the event.
“There were around 310 who registered online in addition to walk-in participants, which was more than last year. We are very happy that MIA said yes to us and we are using the MIA Park as venue this year,” Canaria said.
“We are looking forward to organising this as an annual event in celebration of International Women’s Month,” he added.
Established in 2015, FITQ is a non-profit sport organisation in Qatar which is a chapter of FIT - a global organization with presence in the Philippines, GCC, and Australia among other countries.
“The main objective of FITQ is to encourage the whole community to be engaged in healthy living through the sport of triathlon which involves three disciplines including swimming, biking and running,” explained Canaria.
Since its founding, FITQ’s membership has grown to more than 100 active members and over 1,000 followers who also include other nationalities, he added.
