At Mount Kalatungan Ultra in Bukidnon, Philippines, Julie Ann Morales already grabbed her third victory of the current ATM season in the event’s 85km race! The Davao mountain ultra specialist took control on the long ascent of one of her country’s highest mountains and hung unto the lead despite the challenge of ultra long distance specialist Ann Jilian Pulanco. Morales finished before sunset. She now totals 1500 ATM Championship points, which could already be enough to qualify for Team Pilipinas in the ATM Final. Morales was part of the team in 2022, but not last year as she competed in just two events. Since the end of the covid crisis, the 32-year-old has collected five race wins in our series.

Pulanco managed to keep second place till the finish. Great performance by last year’s winner in Sierra Madre! She was 23 minutes behind Morales. In third place on the podium was local Bukidnon runner Mary Joy Sumanda, ATM Finalist last season and just like the race winner a new face that has emerged in the Philippines’ competitive field over the last two years. That also counts for Shally Yuson, who fnished in fourth place ahead of Chloe Base and Irish Glorioso.

The men’s 85km race saw two runners crossing the finish line together: Jevie Cagatin and Yoyong Sacayle. Cagatin had set the pace early on with Kik Suello and Anthony Paladin. The latter would fade away, but Cagatin and Suello climbed well. Two names that will not ring a bell with ATM followers. Suello is a newcomer to the scene, Cagatin first appeared on Mount Apo last December, where he scored second place on the podium. While Suello lost ground in the second half of the race to take third place, Cagatin pressed ahead but was nevertheless joined by local favourite and ATM Finalist, 7th last season, Yoyong Sacayle. The duo stayed together till the end, but instead of a sprint they came in hand-in-hand. Moments later, Sacayle suggested that Cagatin is the deserved race winner with him in second. Cagatin, Sacayle and Suello were remarkably far ahead of the others in what was a strong field. Bagtit 100 winner Maynard Encormal did not have the best of races and finished in 7th place. Florence ‘Enciong’ Alave was 12th. Mount Apo race winner Isaiah Paraiso found Kalatungan also tougher than expected. He came in fourth , but almost two hours behind the lead duo. Jomarc Ferrer and Marvin Buizon did well in five and six, with Sean Aying in 8th.

The busy Filipino season continues in a fortnight with Sierra Madre Trail in the Rizal mountains east of Manila.

The men’s top 3 at Mt Kalatungan Ultra with Jevie Catagin declared as official winner

Julie Ann Morales keeps winning: this was number 3 of the current ATM season!

The Filipino ATM season continues this weekend in Bukidnon in Mindanao with the Mount Kalatungan Trail Ultra. A successful Candidate Race in 2020 just before the covid pandemic brought everything to a halt. Four years went by, and the team around Grandmasters Ramie and Rene Amigleo from the Ultra Runners Republic are delighted they can finally put the event back on. For non-Filipinos, Mount Kalatungan is a stratovolcano, albeit with no historical eruptions, and a serious altitude of 2860m making it just a bit smaller than Mount Apo near Davao. The ATM points race is 85km long with the ascent of Kalatungan located in the first third of the race. Runners better save some energy for after the big climb, in other words.

Bukidnon is the region roughly between Davao and Cagayan de Oro, from where lots of new trail running talent has emerged in the past few years. The Amigleo brothers did a lot for the sport there. Today, Yoyong Sacayle is arguably the best-known local top runner, Mary Joy Sumanda another up-and-comer. Both were ATM Finalists and top ten placers last year, and both will toe the start line in Pangantucan this weekend.

ATM Championship overall leader Julie Ann Morales will be aiming to make it three victories out of three races this season. Morales has been on a roll with wins on Mt Apo and last month at Bagtit Ultra. Another top performance would put her already in a very comfortable position to make Team Pilipinas for this year’s ATM Final. Her main competitors for the victory will be the aforementioned Mary Joy Sumanda, Ann Jilian Pulanco, Shally Yuson, Anne Maridol Rongavilla and Chloe Base. Keep an eye out for Sumanda, who on home soil could as well take her first ATM race win.

In the men’s race, Yoyong Sacayle will have to take care of Bagtit 100 winner Maynard Encormal, amongst others. Encormal looked solid three weeks ago, hopefully he has fully recovered from the effort. Sacayle ran the 9 Dragons 50/50, though, albeit rather anonimously. Perhaps that was calculated to be 100% for this weekend? On paper, Encormal and Sacayle look like the ones to beat, but there’s many other podium contenders in the race, such as Jonathan Pido, ATM Championship points leader Sean Aying, Florence Alave, Freddie Blanco, Henry Joe Cottilon and Ariehmar Bardoquillo.

ATM will be reporting from the Mt Kalatungan Ultra event on the usual channels.

Local Bukidnon runner Mary Joy Sumanda could go for her first ever ATM race win this weekend

Yoyong Sacayle: can he keep Maynard Encormal at bay ?

Maynard Encormal was a great winner at Bagtit 100 just three weeks ago

ATM Points Leader so far: Julie Ann Morales. Kalatungan is already her 3rd race this season

We are happy to add Mount Kalatungan in Philippines to the ATM Championship calendar for season IX on the weekend of 2/3 March 2024. The event was a popular Candidate Race in March 2020, just before the entire world went into lockdown. After four years, the event finally returns to the trail calendar and the longest race category, 85 km, offers points for the ATM Championship and the Grandmaster Quest.

Mt. Kalatungan, also known as Catatungan is a volcanic mountain located in Municipality of Pangantucan, Province of Bukidnon. It is a stratovolcano but with no known historical eruptions. It is the fifth highest mountain in the country with height of 2,287 meters above sea level. It is known as a technical mountain climb, so runners taking part in the 85km should have appropriate trail race experience already. The estimated elevation gain of 4,500 to 4,600 meters (to be finalise on GPX file) sums it up nicely: this is a tough course. The course of Mt Kalatungan Trail Ultra is a 95% trail for 85km combination of dirt roads, farm roads,single tracks (mostly going to the summit). The route will take place runners to tourists spots of Pangantucan like the Lake Napalit, Kidanggin Hot Spring, Blue Water (Kimereges) with amazing views of the mountain like Muleta Falls, BarRCamp Pangantucan, Mt. Kalatungan peak, hills, valleys, grasslands, plantations (sugarcane, corn. cassava banana & pineapple) and local villages along the way.

Less ambitious runners can also sign up for the 55km, 32km & 17Km. The host venue is the Pangantucan Municipal Gymnasium in Pangantuca, Bukidnon.

Please note that, as with Mount Apo, there is a fixed quota of people permitted to climb the mountain per day. Hence, register as soon as possible to avoid missing your spot on the 85km start list. Also take note of the fact that the race essentially takes place on Sunday, not on Saturday, which may influence your travel plan for the event.

You can find more details via the event’s facebook page linked below.

A year ago the Mount Apo Sky Race was the ATM Championship decider seeing Vietnamese sensation Hau Ha and Davao local Arnie Macaneras winning the titles in the female and male categories respectively. This weekend the event and its 100km race is one of two season openers for Season IX of our series. The other one is Izu Trail Journey in Japan on Sunday.

Mount Apo and its boulderface remain a popular challenge for plenty a trail runner. It’s the highest mountain of the Philippines, after all, and the race goes from the beach in Santa Cruz to the peak and back. On the start list we find last year’s 100k winner Yoyong Sacayle, who just a week ago ran arguably the best competitive race of his running journey at Siksorogo Lawu Ultra. As part of the winning Team Pilipinas, Sacayle kept up with none other than Hisashi Kitamura for the big majority of the race. Only a small dip towards the end still saw Wilsen Singgin overtake him, but his seventh place and the manner it came about was a positive surprise for all observers. Has Sacayle recovered enough this week to take a repeat victory on Apo this weekend? His main competitors are likely to be another former Apo winner - Ronnie Torlao - and Rexell Aguirre, who was outstanding in the 100 miles race at UT Chiang Rai in October. What can Sean Aying do? Part of Team Pilipinas alongside Sacayle last week, Aying did not have the best of race days in Indonesia and contented himself with ‘just’ finishing. His racing season has been very long and his greatest form that saw him, a.o. score third place in Mantra 116 in July, may be over by now. Or can he find a final burst of energy on Apo to challenge for the win? Let’s also keep an eye on Bernie Bauyot and Jomarc Ferrer.

In the women’s race, we are looking forward to what can be a close competition between Julie Ann Morales, Manilyn Mamugay and relative newcomer Shally Yuson. Only a few weeks ago, Yuson outpaced Mamugay in the Santa Cruz 70 Candidate Race and Matanao in October, but now we are going up Apo. Mamugay has won this race already. Yuson also finished ahead of Morales in Matanao 70 last October. But Morales was the best Filipino female in the ATM Final last year with a great fifth place.

Just a week after showing how much competitive improvement he made in a year: Yoyong Sacayle is going for the double on the Mt Apo 100

Shally Yuson is one of Mindanao’s new faces this year, very much like Mary Joy Sumanda.

Julie Ann Morales was best Filipino on Mt Apo last year

Full of experience and a former winner on Mt Apo: Ronnie Torlao. Can he challenge a potentially tired Sacayle this Saturday?

Also a former winner and always a contender: Manilyn Mamugay

The Candidate Race in Santa Cruz, easily enough titled ‘SC 70’ , saw quite a number of new faces from Mindanao’s ever growing trail running community. The 70km main race, which had 4000 metres of elevation, featured several regional peaks but avoided Mount Apo. Youngsters Eldy Bulod and Shally Yuson emerged victorious.

Organised by the experienced Team Jegol Runners, SC 70 flagged off in the afternoon for what then mainly turned into a nighttime race. Eldy Bulod and Isaiah Paraiso set the pace with Anthony Paladin initially as the closest chaser. Bulod and Paraiso stayed together across the hills until the final section, which was 10km flattish back to the race venue. Bulod had the fastest legs and won ahead of Paraiso, who also scored second in Matanao Mountain Marathon last month behind Yoyong Sacayle. Good old Angelito Vertudazo - ATM Finalist last year - eventually claimed the third step on the podium.

Shally Yuson led the women’s race from an early stage, but was pushed forward most of the way by Manilyn Mamugay, who is reaching her best competitive level again after a few years off. Yuson was second in Matanao a month ago behind Cecille Wael. Beberly Lim and Cherry Fuentes were third and fourth.

Mindanano has become a hotspot for trail running in the Philippines over the past few years, illustrated in both quality and quantity of runners (reigning ATM champion Arnie Macaneras is from Davao) and also by the many event organisations on the large southern island. Team Jegol Runners is the latest addition to the list of organisers and their upcoming event Santa Cruz 70 is accredited as an ATM Candidate Race. The event takes place on the weekend of 25/26 November.

Asia Trail Master followers know that Santra Cruz stands for Mount Apo - highest mountain in the Philippines, host venue of the ATM Championship Final last year and of the forthcoming Mt Apo Sky Race on 9/10 December. But Santa Cruz is more than the gateway to Mount Apo, and Team Jegol wishes to make that statement very clear. The event has three race categories of which the 70k is the longest. Less ambitious runners can go for the 25k and 15k options. Neither one of them goes to Apo.

The 70k ultramarathon trail has an elevation gain of about 4000hm, and will feature scenic and iconic places in Santa Cruz, namely, Mt. Loay, Mt. Dinor, Tacub Laya Falls, Pilan River, Sinoron, Lipantod, Camotes Ridge, and Mt. 796. This will surely give runners an adventure that they will never forget in the infamous mountain ranges of Santa Cruz. The course profile is actually quite distinct and interesting from a competitive point of view. Mount Dinor is the cornerstone and highest peak in the first half, Mount Loay in the second half. Runners should also be aware that after the final descent of Loay, there’s still a 10km flattish section to the finish back in Santa Cruz. That could hurt for some, while be a tactical all-in section for others.

Registration for the SC 70 event goes via this online form . More details can be obtained via the official website and Facebook Page.

The event hotel is the MGL Hotel, with Ms Mercy as contact person (Local tel: 0907-530-7415 / 0929-447-2789)

Teaser video

The 70km race at the second edition of Matanao Mountain Marathon was held in mostly sunny conditions and saw a first ever ATM race victory for Yoyong Sacayle and a second one for Cecille Wael. Both pre-race favouirites came out on top at the end, but had to fight for their wins. Matanao was the final Filipino points race in this season’s Asia Trail Master Championship.

The 23-year-old Isaiah Paraiso made an excellent debut on the scene, as he topped the leaderboard at many early checkpoints. Former Mt Apo race winner Ronnie Torlao was also very much in the mix in the early stages of the nighttime after the 9 pm start. But as sunrise approached, Yoyong Sacayle appeared first to win in 10h33, fifteen minutes ahead of Paraiso, who held onto a very promising second place. Angelo Maynard Encormal again managed to run a great second half to grab his third third place of the season, along with the important points that come with that. Maynard is looking good to join Yoyong, Arnie Macaneras (who was a DNS in Matanao), John Ray Onifa and Sean Aying (sixth this weekend) in the men’s Team Pilipinas. The sixth runner (Macaneras as defending ATM champion has scored a wild card) is still very much up for grabs in the remaining ATM points races in Thailand, Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam and India.

The early leaderboard of the women’s 70km race in Matanao, showed Cecille Wael only in sixth place. Shally Yuson, Julie Ann Morales and Manolyn Mamugay were setting the pace. Later it was discovered that Wael had gone significantly off course and thus had to play catch-up for a long time. Especially as Shally Yuson, another newbie from Bukidnon, turned out to be a serious opponent for the victory. Even Morales had to let Yuson go ahead. On the last of the main climbs, Wael returned and attacked, knowing the remaining downhill to the finish would suit her more than the young and inexperienced Yuson. Thanks to her first ATM victory since CMU last year, Wael moves up to third place in the ATM Philippines’ ranking. She could have been safe already for ATM Final qualification, but her VMM race last month proved to be an unexpected struggle. The five slots for the team will remain highly contested until at least Lam Dong Trail on 11 November. Only Roan Biguasen is already secure with four strong results during the season.

The women’s podium with Cecille Wael in the middle

Mindanao’s Yoyong Sacayle has assured himself of a spot on Team Pilipinas for the ATM Final with his debut race victory in ATM

After a disappointing VMM, Cecille Wael bounced back with a solid race win in Matanao

The men’s podium with Yoyong Sacayle on the far right

The second edition of the picturesque Matanao Mountain Marathon in Mindanao, Philippines, is the final chance for Filipino runners to score ATM Championship and Grandmaster points within their own country this season. Places for Team Pilipinas are hard-fought, and several of the ten regular spots, such as Arnie Macaneras, John Ray Onifa and Roan Biguasen, are already secure. Matanao Mountain Marathon - MMM - will shake up the rankings nonetheless with many of the country’s protagonist runners this season featuring on the start list of the 70 km race.

Matanao is located in the province of Davao del Sur on Mindanao, approximately 90 minutes car drive from Davao City and airport. It is a flourishing town and area for tourism and leisure activities and those who have been there already understand why. Runners in the event this weekend will enjoy lush green scenery, plenty of impressive waterfalls and beautiful rolling hills. In the context of trail running, locals refer to the race course as ‘trail porn’. Natural trails, most of them single trails, will provide technicality to the race and the rollercoaster up and down the hills can make the 70k quite tough, indeed. MMM was an ATM Candidate Race last year and is part of the extensive portfolio of events of Vertical To Sky and Doi Calbes, who also does, amongst others, the Mt Apo Sky Race in December and The Punisher in August.

Reigning ATM Champion Arnie Macaneras, who is from Davao, is scheduled to run the 70k as part of his late season campaign that should lead to the defence of his ATM title at Siksorogo Lawu Ultra on 2 December. Just three weeks ago, Macaneras very much looked the part in Vietnam Mountain Marathon, where he demolished the rest of the competitive field on the 70km race distance. Based on that performance, it is hard to see who can follow him in Matanao this weekend. Still, there’s quite a lot of other podium challengers and recognised race winners in the field to give it a go. Yoyong Sacayle has been in great form this season, having collected three ATM race podium finishes so far already. Maynard Encormal scored two himself and is reportedly very determined to ensure he gets qualified for the ATM Final. So is the 22-year-old youngster John Ivan Zonio, a surprising second behind Jeff Campbell in the Sierra Madre Trail 75 in May. Zonio also finished his first 100 at the very competitive TMBT early September inside the top ten. Angelito Vertudazo was an ATM Finalist last year and always strong in Mindanao. Avelino Versola III and Iasias Tonog II have been running very well this season, reflected by their current sixth and seventh place in the ATM Philippines ranking. Sean Aying had an off-day in Vietnam Mountain Marathon 100, but has otherwise been a regular top placer with third on the podium at Mantra 116 as a highlight. Ronnie Torlao is a former Mt Apo race winner and always in the mix for a solid result. Ariehmar Bardoquillo finished fourth in Sierra Madre, and Richard Akol came 8th in TMBT 50.

The women’s 70k race is likely to develop into a battle between Davao’s Julie Ann Morales, who knows the trails, and Cecille Wael. Morales was a great newcomer on the scene last year, culminating in a great fifth place in the ATM Championship Final on Mt Apo. She has won two ATM races so far: The Punisher in 2022 and MUSPO 100 last July. Wael has been around since 2018 and collected many race podiums before her stand-out competitive performance in winning CMU 50 last year ahead of many other ATM protagonists. She does a lot of races, but if she is fresh Matanao offers a great opportunity to bag another 500 points in her quest to be part of Team Pilipinas in the ATM Final this season. Manilyn Mamugay is arguably the dark horse in this race and never to be underestimated. Mary Joy Sumanda can do a great job for her ATM Final chances, and so does Irish Glorioso, winner of the first ATM race this season in Laos.

Julie Ann Morales and Sean Aying during a course check end of last year

Plenty of eye candy in Matanao!

Three weeks after a dominating performance in VMM70, reigning ATM Champion Arnie Macaneras will be looking for his second race win of the season

Cecille Wael won a local ultra just a week ago, and is looking to add Matanao to her ATM record this weekend

We are happy to announce Matanao Mountain Marathon as a new ATM Candidate Race in Mindanao, southern Philippines, on 22 October this month. The event is set up by the well-known team of Vertical To Sky and Doi Calbes, and is supported by the local government to showcase the highlights of Matanao, famous for its beautiful caves, hidden gems of waterfalls, and scenic peaks & ridges.

The event has two race categories: a trail ‘marathon’ of 42 km and a ‘half marathon’ of 21 km. The start is at 4:30 am and 5:30 am respectively, so just a little while before sunrise. The course is nearly entirely offroad and on proper trails leading to caves and scenic waterfalls.

To reach Matanao from outside Mindanao, you fly to Davao. Then from Davao City to Matanao it will only take 2 hours drive or around 90 kilometers, then from Matanao proper another 30 minutes drive going up to the mountains or our venue at the Tourism Building, Sitio Talambato, Barangay Asbang. .

Matanao is also only 30kms away from Digos City, so if you’re coming from Davao City or General Santos City you can also take a bus going to Digos City, then from Digos we have lots of alternative way going to Matanao –by motorcycle, habal-habal, jeepney, etc., then from Matanao proper going to the venue at Barangay Asbang we will arrange transportation to all participants.

All details can be checked via the event’s facebook page.

 

The first Filipino points race in the 2022 Asia Trail Master Championship series takes place in Mindanao in the south. MUSPO Ultra is a new entry, too, after a successful stint as a Candidate Race back in 2019. MUSPO takes you the hilly terrains of Mount Musuan of Maramag and around the majestic Lake Apo of Valencia. With about 650 meters of elevation, Musuan Peak gives you a panoramic view of the province. Lake Apo gives you a mystical feel of nature with the lake and nearby mountain ranges.

The event offers 4 distances, but it’s the 100km that matters for ATM points, both for the Championship contenders and the Grandmaster Quest challengers.

The trails are quite fast and runable with some portions that are technically challenging. On paper a nice mixture that should attract everyone. Valencia is kind of sandwiched between Mindanao’s bigger cities Davao and Cagayan de Oro. Those are also the international arrival options, particularly Davao.

Registration is open for the event now, and pay attention, slots are limited still!

The 100k race map is subject to only minor modifications still

As announced some time ago, the second Mindanao points race in the 2018 Asia Trail Master Championship series has decided to upgrade its flagship race to a 50 miles distance. Trail Fifty Mapawa thus not only gets a new name (the event used to be called Ultra Trail Mapawa) but also a new face.

Trail Fifty Mapawa will now criss cross the entire Mapawa Nature Reserve, as you can see on the map below. The new 50 miles race is arguably also the biggest roller coaster you can find, as the trails go up and down continuously to reach an elevation gain of over 4500 hm. Asia Trail Master Championship and points chasers should be aware that the “old” 50 km race remains on the event programme as well. Moreover, it has been decided that - this year - the ATM points allocation will be the same for both 50 miles and 50 km distances. Winners on both distances will thus score 500 points.

Last year at Mapawa we witnessed the emergence of John Ray Onifa, who took the measure of 2016 ATM Champion Manolito Divina. It was also the race where current young female protagonist Aggy Sabanal appeared on the ATM scene for the first time. Aggy finished third and this season has built on that performance to become a race winner at Rizal and Mt Apo. One of the most popular running events on Mindanao Island, Trail Fifty Mapawa in Cagayan de Oro not only has an extraordinary profile, it also every year gives us a glimpse of new trail talents.

Registration remains open and is convenient via raceyaya.

Trail Fifty Mapawa