At 76, farmer inspires runners at cancer awareness run in Bohol
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol—At 76, most people slow down.
But for Queruben “Tatay Ruben” Abella, every step he takes is a testament that age—and worn-out shoes—are no match for a determined heart.
Abella, a farmer from Barangay Candelaria in Dagohoy town, was among the more than 4,000 runners who joined the 4th Alturas Pink Run on Sunday in Tagbilaran City. The annual event, organized by the Alturas Group of Companies, aims to raise awareness and funds for cancer patients in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness month.
Despite his age, Abella conquered the 21-kilometer race in 2 hours, 37 minutes and 4 seconds—a remarkable feat that earned admiration from fellow runners and spectators alike. Last year, he clocked a faster time of 1 hour, 56 minutes and 29 seconds.
Abella said he intentionally took it slow this year, having joined two marathon events just weeks earlier.
Tried and tested shoes
He shared that muscle cramps hit him midway through the race, but the ointment he carried eased the pain just enough for him to keep going.
“I was not tired at all. I fought until the end,” he said in Cebuano at the finish line, smiling through exhaustion and triumph.
Yet what captured the crowd’s hearts wasn’t just his endurance, but the pair of old, hole-riddled shoes he wore.
“These are my favorite,” he said, smiling as he pointed at his tattered sneakers. “They’re light and comfortable. I’ve run many races with them.”
He said he purchased the shoes from an ukay-ukay (thrift store) and he intentionally punched holes in the shoes to improve ventilation and prevent water from pooling inside when he ran through rivers.
Abella has been running since he was 14, joining marathons across the Visayas and Mindanao. The Alturas Pink Run was his 22nd marathon, and his second time participating in the event.
But for him, this run was not about medals or records: “I joined to help raise awareness for cancer. It’s a worthy cause, and it makes running more meaningful.”
A former boxing trainer, Abella spends most of his days tending to his 20-hectare banana farm. Running, he said, keeps him strong—both in body and spirit.
He and his wife, Pilar, 67, have five children and eight grandchildren who proudly cheer him on in every race.
Inspiration
For Mary Grace Ido-Bernaldez, Alturas Pink Run organizer, the event was more than just a race—it’s a powerful movement to raise breast cancer awareness and support cancer patients and survivors.
She said Abella has become the living emblem of the event’s message of hope and perseverance.
“Tatay Ruben isn’t just a participant—he’s our inspiration,” Bernaldez said. “He reminds everyone that it’s never too late to do something good and to live with purpose.”
