A generally successful and rather exciting revival of the Pacific Coast Mountain Trail Festival in General Nakar, Quezon, took place last weekend with Angelie Cabalo claiming the biggest spotlight by winning the 100km overall! Our 3rd place finisher in last year’s ATM Final - and therefore the driving force behind Team Pilipinas in winning the ATM Team Championship - managed to catch male leader Bhert Opiada towards the end of the runable trail race, an ATM Candidate Race, and finished in 13h11. Cabalo has been in great shape over the past few months and she ought to be one of the top favourites to become the first Filipino female ATM Champion at Borneo TMBT on 14 September. Behind Cabalo, Ann Jilian Pulanco took second place. Also Pulanco could be making the team this season. Second male behind Opiada was Jonel Lobos.

Cabalo was not the only one who raised eyebrows, however, in General Nakar. In the women’s 50km, Jewel De Luna finished in 5h15 and fourth overall and 7 minutes ahead of Cecille Wael, sixth overall in. Both ladies are in great shape. The men’s top three meant serious business, too. Trail rookie Cesar Bellen grabbed victory ahead of Maynard Encormal in 4h45 and Andy Borras. John Ivan Zonio was sandwiched between De Luna and Wael. Richard Akol came fifth.

As we had just seen in UTSG 50 in Singapore, flattish and runable trails can create some spectactular racing between several candidate winners and podium placers.

Bhert Opiada was the fastest man on the 100km, but could not keep Cabalo behind at the very end

Cesar Bellen was a surprise winner on the 50km, finishing ahead of a.o. Maynard Encormal

Maynard Encormal settled for second place, but confirmed once more he is in great shape this season

Jewel de Luna took the victory on the 50km in a splendid time and fourth overall

Cecille Wael was fast, too, sixth overall, but a few minutes behind De Luna

We are happy to announce that the redesigned Pacific Mountain Coast Trail Festival in Luzon, Philippines, has obtained the ATM Candidate Race label for the event on 6/7 July. General Nakar is a large municipality located to the east of Manila in Quezon Province, passed the Rizal mountains. On the event programme we find 100km and 50km as main race categories, but less ambitious runners can also choose for the 25km or 12km. There is also a kids race foreseen. This event coincides with the towns' founding anniversary, celebrating bounties and culture through the Gapo and Palusong Festival.

The new PCMTF event is in a way not brand new. A previous version was held back in 2018 under a different management. Back then, the event had a runable terrain, but according to the new race director there will be more technicality in the hinterland this time around. General Nakar itself, of course, lies by the sea. The precise course map will be made available soon.

You can find more information via the webpage and the facebook page linked below.