Stride for safety
While some were just getting home from a night out or clocking out from the evening shift, I was already wide-awake at 2 a.m. on a Sunday, buzzing with anticipation. The sky was still navy blue as I made my way to the UP Diliman Academic Oval for Takbo Babae 2025: Run Now to End Violence Against Women (VAW).
Ordinarily, you'd never catch me waking up this early for a weekend run. But this one felt different. It was a movement; the kind of morning where you show up and sweat for something bigger than yourself.
Takbo Babae 2025 turned a simple fun run into a safe space for solidarity, strength, and real conversations.
Why we run
Despite the 4:30 a.m. call-time, the turnout was nothing short of inspiring. Women, men, kids, students, professionals—even entire families— gathered in the still-dark campus, ready to run for a cause that matters to them. Each runner received two bibs: one with a race number, and another with a question that hit right at the heart of it all: "Para kanino ka tumatakbo?"
The answers were raw, personal, and deeply moving: "Para sa aking batang sarili." "Para sa mga Filipina journalists." "Para sa karapatan, kalayaan, at kinabukasan ng bawat babae."
These handwritten messages were declarations. Worn close to the heart, they reminded everyone exactly why they showed up.
Organized by the UP Diliman Gender Office, GABRIELA National Alliance of Filipino Women, UP Delta Lambda Sigma Sorority, GABRIELA Youth, and the Quezon City Gender and Development Council, the run aimed to raise awareness about VAW, a crisis that demands urgent, sustained attention.
And yes, it is a crisis. Rape cases in the Philippines rose by 26% from 2022 to 2023. Online gender-based violence also continues to spread. In a country where silence often feels like the only safe option, Takbo Babae became a space where people could speak up and run forward.
Kudos to everybody
Among the runners was actress Barbie Forteza, who finished a personal record in the 5K. But beyond the time she logged, it was her message that struck a chord. Sharing a photo on Instagram, she wrote: "I feel so empowered seeing all these women and men running to fight for an end to violence against women. Iba talaga ang push ‘pag may pinaglalaban!"
Also in the crowd was actress Ryza Cenon, a long-time advocate against gender-based violence. Back in 2020, she told The Philippine STAR, “I believe that the best way to protect women from abuse and violence is to demand that our leaders pass better and stricter laws... We can also do it in our own homes by educating our children and family members to value and respect women.”
After the run, the energy evolved. A free self-defense class was held near Palma Hall. It was a sobering yet empowering reminder: awareness is the first step, but action is where the real change begins.
And just when I thought the morning was winding down, along came Pink Trash Project, a punk-rock-metal performer with electric pink hair and an even more electric presence. She ignited the crowd with rage, joy and fire. She had everyone chanting, "Babae ka, hindi babae lang!"
It was the perfect battle cry—loud, defiant, and unshakable.
Conversations that count
Takbo Babae also made space for meaningful dialogue. Young STAR caught up with Sarah Elago, former Kabataan Representative and current candidate under the Gabriela Women’s Party. She stressed the importance of collective action, especially among women.
“Napakahalaga ng suporta ng bawat babae, lalo na sa mga nakakaranas ng iba’t-ibang uri ng abuso at diskriminasyon,” she said. “Hindi ito laban na mag-isa lang natin kailangang harapin. Mas marami dapat ang kumikilos dahil ang ugat nito ay isang napaka-prevalent na patriarchal system—isang sistemang hindi lang babae ang nabibiktima, kundi pati rin kalalakihan, lalo na 'yung mula sa pinaka-marginalized na sektor.”
“'Yung Takbo Babae—kahit title pa lang ay para sa babae—bukas ito para sa lahat ng genders. Kasi ang laban sa abuso ay laban sa isang systemic na problema. At crisis level na ito. Araw-araw, may 36 na kaso ng VAW, at hindi pa 'yan buong kwento. Dahil sa kultura ng victim-blaming, shaming, at silence, 1 out of 10 cases lang ang nagre-report. Kaya kailangan talaga ng pagtutulungan, babae man o lalaki.”
Angel Romero of RWP Run Club also shared how running communities can foster safer and more inclusive spaces, “As run clubs grow in the Philippines, there has to be a conscious effort to make them inclusive. Whether babae, lalaki, or LGBTQ+, everyone should feel safe.”
“For RWP, we set clear rules against discrimination. We encourage open dialogue, and if someone ever feels uncomfortable, they know they can approach our leaders, like Coach Patrick Rubin, directly. That safety net has to be clear from the start.”
Keep the Pace
After the cheers die down, the bibs are tucked away, and the medals are handed out—what comes next?
If Takbo Babae 2025 taught me anything, it’s this: we don’t stop running.
We run for the girls who are too scared to speak. We run toward a future where walking home at night doesn’t feel like a risk. We run to tear down the culture that tells women to stay quiet, to endure, to make themselves smaller.
Every stride matters. Every cheer counts. Every handwritten bib is a promise to keep going. So lace up, runners. We’re just getting started.
