It is a pleasure to announce that the new Mt. Anggas Vertical Challenge will be a Candidate Race for Asia Trail Master on 18 January. 2026. It is the first-ever trail running event to be held at the iconic Mt. Anggas in Gitagum, not too far from Cagayan de Oro in Mindanao, Phillipines. Designed to showcase the rugged beauty of Misamis Oriental, this race combines stunning ridgeline views, steep ascents, and community spirit into one unforgettable trail experience.

After Davao and Bukidnon, the northwestern area of Mindanao is also clearly developing into yet another trail hub. Only last week, Impasugong Ridge Ultra took place as well. Mount Anggas Vertical Challenge offers several race distance categories, of which the 42km is the longest. It has 1800 metres of elevation gain. Less ambitious runners can also choose the 21km, 15km or 10km categories. 

Mount Anggas has been a popular hiking and trekking destination for a while. It is a grassland mountain range, rich in minerals and rocks. Not very high, but providing great scenic views across the region nonetheless.

The event is organised by Bakyard Events in cooperation with LGU Gitagum. As Jay Lorenzo Amarga states: “We aim to highlight Mt. Anggas as a premier trail running destination in Mindanao while promoting eco-tourism, sustainability, and mental health awareness.”  The event therefore has a long horizon, envisaging gradual growth towards one of the country’s flagship trail events. 

The event is very easy to access for those coming from a bit further away. Mount Anggas is basically next to Laguindingan Airport, the airport of Cagayan de Oro. Via the facebook page below, you can get all details including links to the registration page.

It’s another busy weekend in the Philippines with the Grandmaster Quest event Santa Cruz Trail Ultra near Davao, and on the other side of Mindanao, the Impasugong Ridge Ultra near Cagayan de Oro. A new ATM Candidate Race, which will have its third edition and the main race - 55km - starting on Sunday early morning.

Organised by Trillchaser Sports Promotion Services and directed by experienced trail runner Juliet Chavez, Impasugong offers a challenging and scenic 55km race. Impasugong Ridge Ultra aims to provide for runners of all levels. The 55km is the flagship race, but there’s also a 30k and a 15k for the less ambitious. Participants on the 55 will need to conquer no less than 2600 hm of elevation gain: not nothing. For competitive runners, the last 10k are downhill and flattish to the finish, so one better keep some juice in the legs.

On the start list of the 55km we find new names almost throughout the list, which proves again the enormous boom of trail running that has been happening since covid on this large southern island in the Philippines. Mind you, the list is 110 lines long - just for the 55km. We are looking forward to getting to know some of them this weekend.

One week before the conclusion of Season 10 in the Asia Trail Master Championship series in Vietnam, runners on the Grandmaster Quest have a chance to collect another GM point in Santa Cruz, Davao, Philippines at the Santa Cruz Trail Ultra. Established by Santa Cruz Trail Runners and with Grandmaster*** Sean Aying as race director, the event was a Candidate last year and now offers a GM point for finishers in the 75km category.

2025 is the third edition of the Sta Cruz Trail Ultra. The event is in celebration of the 141st Araw ng Sta. Cruz, a tribute to the rich heritage and awe-inspiring landscapes of Santa Cruz in Davao del Sur. While the 75km is the main category, less ambitious runners can also choose 3K, 15K, and 30K categories options. As the official SCTU intro reads: “the event will be guiding participants through the heart of the central mountain ranges and across the rugged ridgelines of majestic summits. The course reaches its climax at Mt. Tinako, standing proudly at over 1,300+ above sea level—the highest point of the race—offering not just a test of endurance, but views that will take your breath away. “

Interesting to note is that SCTU is part of the Trailblazer Program under the Sta. Cruz Tourism Office, positioning the municipality as a top trail running destination in Southern Mindanao. A strong focus on eco-tourism and community involvement, the event brings together athletes, nature lovers, and local stakeholders for a cause that goes beyond the finish line.

The start venue is the new Sta Cruz New Municipal Hall and the 75km will be flagged off on Saturday afternoon 4 pm. On the start list, several well-known runners and Grandmasters such as Jay Delgado, Elron Joyce Josue, Ryan Arriola, Emman Manongsong, Leoniel Perez, Rhodel Sarande, Mario Yap, Benjamin Nueva Jr and even ATM Finalist Roberto Cain III.

It is true pleasure to announce today the first male Golden Grandmaster from the Philippines in our Asia Trail Master series : none other than Alfredo Reyes Jr managed to collect his fourth Grandmaster star at Marilog Ultra 70 in Davao a few weeks ago! Alfredo is the 7th Golden Grandmaster overall, following in the footsteps of a.o. his compatriot Rhea Batac, who completed her Quest back in July 2024.

Alfredo Reyes Jr required just three years to run and finish is 20 ATM ultras. He began his journey at MUSPO 100 in July 2022 and by the end of 2023 scored his first Grandmaster star in Indonesia. He continued with great determination and added his second star eleven months later in at Lam Dong Trail in Dalat, Vietnam. But it’s only since then - ten months ago - that his engine really came up to speed. From 10 to 20 in less than a year! Alfredo was also not shy to include some really tough ultras on his itinerary , such as The 9 Dragons, Pulag Ultra and Hardcore 50 Miles. He traveled to several countries during his Grandmaster Quest, including Hong Kong, Indonesia and Vietnam while crisscrossing the Philippines from Mindanao to Luzon and back as well.

He may not be a Championship runner, but his amazing achievement - especially in the final year - is an inspiration for all of us, proving that with the right mindset you can do everything. Let’s have a very big and well-earned applause for new Four Star Grandmaster Alfredo Reyes Jr!

Alfredo Reyes Jr.’s Grandmaster Quest Palmares

1. Muspo 100km July (2022),

2. Mt. Apo Skyrace 100 Dec (2022)

3. Sta. Ines Mountain Adventure Run 80k (2023)

4. Sierra Madre Trail Ultra 75 May (2023)

5. Matanao Mountain Marathon 70k Oct (2023)

6. Siksorogo Lawu Ultra 80 Dec (2023)

7. Bagtit Ultra 100k Feb (2024)

8. Mt. Kalatungan Trail Ultra 85k Mar (2024)

9. Bali Ultra 80k Aug (2024)

10. Lam Dong Ultra 75k Nov (2024)

11. Santa Cruz 70 Nov (2024)

12. Malico Grand Ultra 75 Jan (2025)

13. The 9 Dragons 50miles Feb (2025)

14. Pulag Ultra 65km Feb (2025)

15. Vietnam Ultra Marathon 75k Mar (2025)

16. Lantau 70 Mar (2025)

17. Hardcore Ultra Trail 50miles May (2025)

18. Camiguin Ultra Trail Race 70km July (2025)

19. Punisher Ultra Marathon 50miles Aug 16-17 (2025)

20. Marilog Trail Ultra 70km Aug 30-31 (2025)

New Corella Trail Ultra is a new Filipino entry on the Asia Trail Master Championship calendar of Season 11. The third edition of the event is scheduled for 20/21 December and will therefore be the last points race or championship qualifier before the Christmas and New Year’s break. Focus is exclusively on the 70km category for both ATM Championship points and Grandmaster Quest points.

New Corella Trail Ultra is the second event organised by the AWRA Davao Team, located in Davao del Norte. Their other event, Bislig Ultra Trail, features on our Grandmaster Quest calendar one week after the Season 10 Championship Final. Both events went through the Candidate Race label process last year.

New Corella does not have mindblowing elevation gain numbers with approx 2800 hm for 70km, but numbers can be misleading. Last year’s race proved the trail course is much tougher than one expects at first sight. Views and scenery along the way are sublime, so you will get rewarded for your efforts.

Participants will traverse diverse terrain, from rolling hills and dense forests to river crossings and rugged mountain trails. The course has a number of distinct highlights. Bundok Cave is a remarkable 200-foot-long cave that runners will traverse. The Panas Waterfalls and the Casilak Waterfalls are two breathaking natural falls. Then there is Balaang Bukid, a prominent landmark with significant local cultural and spiritual relevance. Furthermore, runners will also pass by neighbouring municipalities that will show the beauty of Nabunturen and Mawab.

One of the race's highlights is the passage through the famous Bundok Cave, a stunning 200-foot-long natural formation, as well as scenic spots like the breathtaking Panas Falls. The race route also extends to neighboring municipalities, showcasing the natural beauty of Nabunturan and Mawab. Beyond the competition, the NCTR50 promotes environmental awareness, supports the local tourism industry of Davao del Norte, and highlights the rich culture of New Corella.

A new talent from Bukidnon won the men’s race a year ago: Vincent Philip Sinanggote . The 24-year-old had the better of another promising runner, Eldy Bulod. Sinanggote finished the 50km in a time of 7h11 , which was almost half an hour quicker than Bulod. In fact, Bulod had to hurry up in the end as Angelo Navarro concluded his race just 30 seconds after him. The women’s 50k Candidate Race was won by Guia Heistaire Angela, who finished quite a way ahead of Janet Arnego and Carmhelle Pilos, who completed the podium.

We are happy to announce that the popular Race To Lake Holon in South Cotabato, Philippines, has obtained the ATM Candidate Race label for its next edition on 6/7 December 2025. Presented by the Barangay Salacafe Council, in partnership with Tribu Pakaras & Tboli Multisports and supported by Municipal Government of Tboli, Department of Tourism- Socckskargen Office, Tboli Tourism Development and Promotion Unit, Race to Lake Holon features a 50km main race category, which in the past two years saw two of Philippines’ biggest names Arnie Macaneras and Angelie Cabalo taking top honours. Less ambitious runners can also choose between the 21km, 12km and 7km.

The 50km race also has 3000 metres of elevation gain, which is not nothing. The cut-off time is 16 hours, which essentially means Sunday, at 4:00 pm in the afternoon as the start is foreseen for midnight at Salacafe Gym.

One of the key figures behind the organisation is Grandmaster Florencio Alave.

Race To Lake Holon can be accessed via the General Santos Airport via domestic flights from Manila or Cebu. Davao’s international airport is a bit further away, but another option.

Arnie Macaneras and Angelie Cabalo have been back-to-back winners of the main race

For the second year in a row , trail runners looking to score Grandmaster points can draw a red line around SC 70 into their diaries. One of the annual events in the ever growing trail hub Santa Cruz in Davao del Sur, SC 70 takes place this year on the weekend of 22/23 November. On the menu, just like last year, is a 70km main race - exactly the required GM distance. ‘Challenge your limits’ is the event’s tag line.

Less ambitious runners can also take part in the shorter 32km and 16km categories. The event venue is the L' Circulio Sea Blue Garden Resort, Brgy. Talisay, Coronon in Santa Cruz. SC 70 is organised by Team Jegol.

Registration is open and can be done HERE: https://forms.gle/VrMqQ6vxenXSvse16

The 2024 course map of SC 70

This weekend, trail runners on the Grandmaster Quest can also score a point at the Marilog Ultra event in Mindanao, Philippines. The 70km race was a Candidate Race last year and features on the Grandmaster calendar for the first time . Organised by Team Brad and directed by 2-star Grandmaster and former ATM Finalist Julieann Morales, Marilog Ultra takes place in a district west of Davao City and southeast of Bukidnon.

The 70km has an estimated elevation gain of 3600 hm. The toughest part is the mid-section , as can be seen from the elevation profile , and the trail to the finish line also goes uphill. Last year, the 70km race was won by Roberto Cain III in the men’s and Shekinah Velasquez in the women’s. Among the favourites for this weekend’s edition we have Jomarc Ferrer, ATM Finalist, 3-star Grandmaster Sean Aying, Punisher 2024 co-winner Eldy Bulod and Allan Gadong. The women’s race seems to have less outspoken favourites, but the name of Julie Mae Marquez always sticks out in Mindanao. Lots of Grandmasters on the start list as well, runners aiming to get that extra GM point on the way to their next level on the Quest.

ATM will be reporting from Marilog Ultra thanks to our contributors Christine and Brian.

Godwin Mirar grabbed his third ATM race victory of the season and a guaranteed ticket for Team Pilipinas in the upcoming ATM Championship Final at last weekend’s 11th edition of The Punisher. The 25-year-old young talent from Bukidnon ran away impressively from everyone else to finish the 80km in a time of 8h 36 minutes. Mirar needed this win to eliminate his unfortunate DNF at Lam Dong Trail in the early part of the ATM season last November. With 1950 ATM points, including the abroad bonus, he is even the overall points leader as well, having scored 25 points more than reigning ATM Champion Jeff Campbell and Chris Timms. It perfectly illustrates the step forward he has made this year and Godwin Mirar will be among the top favourites at Mu Cang Chai Ultra Trail on 4 October!

Behind him, Marjunes Abugan, Brigz Zamora and Sean Aying had a great competition for the remaining steps on the podium. Abugan made it into a career-best second place, which puts him in sixth place in the Filipino ATM ranking. That means first reserve. Zamora took third in the race in a nice debut for him. Aying was fourth and upped his points total by another 70 points, good enough for seventh in the ranking and second reserve.

The women’s race was expected to be more open and in the end developed into a battle between Kimberly Flores and Metzi Joy Alson. The 28-year-old Flores had the upper hand and scored her first ever ATM race win in 13h 18 minutes. Flores is close to qualification for Team Pilipinas, but may need another result in the remaning two qualifiers, or points races, of the season at Borneo TMBT or Ijen Mountain Marathon. Metzi Joy Alson on the other hand is now fourth in the points ranking after a consistent performance level this season. Second place in The Punisher was her first ATM podium. Third place was for Kriz Bondad, also for her a trail career first podium in ATM. She managed to stay ahead of Hong Kong’s Rachel Chan in fourth place, who neverthless secured her third consecutive qualification for her country’s team in the ATM Championship Final.

Six years after it all started for the then just 19-year-old, Godwin Mirar returns to The Punisher this weekend as part of a renewed ambition to qualify for this season’s ATM Championship Final. Indeed, we are entering the final three qualifying points races of Season 10 with the big day at Mu Cang Chai in Vietnam just under two months away from today. The Punisher on Babak Samal already celebrates its 11th edition and while it has always stayed loyal to its ‘grassroots’ nature it’s become a great race to have on your record as a trail runner, whether as a competitor or a Grandmaster Quest point seeker. The 80km points race has a new start and finish venue, so the course has also undergone some changes. The island, just off the coast of Davao City in Mindanao, features a great mixture of runable and technical trails.

Godwin Mirar actually already ran this race twice. After his amazing 4th place as a 19-year-old in 2019 behind Hisashi Kitamura, Arnie Macaneras and then-ATM Champion John Ellis, Mirar finished 3rd on the podium in 2022 behind Kitamura and Macaneras again. Now in 2025, he is unmistakenly the runner to beat this Saturday. It’s been almost four months since his fantastic race win in the Penang Sky Race and with The Punisher he continues his ATM season in a last-minute attempt to qualify for Team Pilipinas in the ATM Championship Final early October. Mirar is also scheduled to run the 50km at Borneo TMBT in two weeks.

His main competitors this weekend are expected to be Sean Aying and Marjones Abugan, both also keen to keep or earn a spot on the team for the Championship Final. Aying is currently fifth in the points ranking, just ahead of Mirar. Abugan has more work to do to still try to get in, but has been in excellent form recently. There’s more international runners with the same ambitions, and trail runners with ambition often can cause surprises. Singapore’s Ko Ing Hui and Japan’s Eiji Tagami, for example.

The female race has less outspoken candidates for race victory. Youngsters like Kimberly Flores, Metzi Joy Alson and Julie Mae Marquez are all in with a good shot. Rachel Chan from Hong Kong needs a good result to get herself qualified for her country’s team again, and might be a serious challenger for the local aces. Over the past two years, Rachel has often proven to be competitive when she wants, e..g 7th in the ATM Final 2023 and 2nd in Silabur 100 in Sarawak last year. Her compatriot Ellen Cheng is also on the start list, a 2-star Grandmaster and winner of the very technical V Trail 85 this year. From Sabah, we also have Vianah Ng Chen Sia.

ATM will be reporting live from The Punisher 80km on Saturday, as always subject to connectivity.

Kik Suello and Eldy Bulod, last year’s co-winners at the Punisher

Ko Ing Hui will try to run himself again into Team Singapore for the ATM Final

Already a 2-time finalist, Rachel Chan needs a good Punisher to qualify for the 3rd year in a row

The race when it all started for Godwin Mirar: The Punisher in 2019 (he came 4th behind Kitamura, Macaneras and John Ellis

Expected winners at MUSPO 100 this year. Roberto Cain III and Shally Yuson had to fend off a solid challenge by others, but nevertheless prevailed in the penultimate Filipino points race of Season 10, propelling both of them to the top of the Filipino ATM ranking and a certain qualification for the Championship Final in Vietnam on 4 October.

Already a race winner at BTR Ultra in Bali this season, Roberto Cain III was running nearly the entire race, which started at midnight, side by side with co-favourite Jevie Cagatin. Behind the duo, Marjones Abugan, Sean Aying and the surprising Cabalona Ace were battling it out for the third step on the podium. It was only towards the end that Cain III reached out to victory, also aided by the fact that Cagatin began to suffer from stomach issues. Cagatin even briefly dropped behind Marjones Abugan, who was running his best and most competitive race of the season. While Cain III marched on to victory, Cagatin persevered in the last hillclimb to overtake Abugan again for second place and important points to ensure qualification for Team Pilipinas. Abugan was third, Sean Aying a very solid fourth and Cabalona Ace fifth. Gerald Paday was sixth.

Shally Yuson and Kimberly Flores also looked equally matched for a while, until Yuson began to apply her experience in competing. She went on to her third ATM race win of the season - which does underline the improvement in performance and the consistency we have seen this year. Flores finished second some 20 minutes later - a great result for the podium placer in Point Trail last month. Unfortunately, some confusion at a checkpoint earlier in the race resulted in a time penalty for Flores, which brought her down to sixth place in the official result. Emelyn Cabingas therefore claimed second place, a strong performance by her, just ahead of Roflyne Fangayen.

Roberto Cain III celebrates his second ATM race win after BTR Ultra in Bali two months ago

Jevie Cagatin is edging closer to his top form again. Another podium in the bag.

Marjones Abugan was a very competitive third in MUSPO 100

the men’s podium

Shally Yuson has become the benchmark in women’s trail racing in Mindanao

Kimberly Flores: a great run, not too far behind Yuson, but a missed checkpoint meant penalty time

Emelyn Cabingas scored a great podium

Datu Salumay Invitational Trail Run, perhaps better known as ‘DASAL’, is a new entry on the ATM Grandmaster Quest calendar on the weekend of 8/9 November 2025. The popular event takes place in Marilog - some 80km outside of Davao City and - indeed - has a full decade’s history already! This will be the 11th edition and following last year’s Candidate Race label, the organisers continue with the freshly introduced long ultra category of 85km that has instilled fear in many participants. Hence, the race carries the tagline “Leave you fears beehind” At least, it is regarded as a considerable challenge with 5000 metres of elevation gain on paper. Of course, the 85km is the category to go for if you wish to score a Grandmaster Quest point. For less ambitious runners there is still the shorter distances of 42km, 21km and 12km during the weekend. For those wondering: the bee is the event’s mascotte, chosen also to highlight the importance of bees for the natural environment.

The trails of Datu Salumay will have runners passing by waterfalls, streams, rivers, trees, grasslands, and steep hill ascents and descents. It starts and finishes at the Datu Salumay Elementary School grounds, which is just adjacent to the Syre National Highway. The start is usually at 2 pm in the afternoon, meaning nearly everyone will also need to run through the night, which at least has the benefit of being cooler.

Last year, the long ultra saw victories by Roberto Cain III and Metzi Joy Alson.

You can check the official facebook page for more details. Registration is open and you can also order some nice-looking merchandise while you are at it.