The Mikel Lovina Jamborun 2024

About the Jamborun

The Mikel Lovina Jamborun is an annual fund-raising event held in memory of Mikel Lovina–beloved sportsman and dear son, brother, cousin, and friend–who passed away in a car accident at the age of 18. This year marked the 12th year of celebrating his life through this run. Since 2018, the organizers of the run (Mikel’s family and friends) have been donating the proceeds of the Jamborun to NVC Foundation. In previous years, the event has provided children with Love Bags full of much-needed school supplies and Mingo Meals.

Here’s how the Jamborun has helped NVC beneficiaries through the years:

• 2018 – 327 LoveBags for survivors of the Mt. Mayon eruption

• 2019 – 534 Love Bags and 2,800 MingoMeals for the children of the Ata Manobo indigenous people of Capalong, Davao del Norte

• 2020 – 10,036 Mingo Meals for survivors of the Taal Volcano eruption

• 2021 – 56,625 Mingo Meals for the Feeding Force Project

• 2022- 85,439 Mingo Meals for the children of Siargao (after Typhoon Noru/Karding)

• 2023 – daily Mingo Meals for 300 children in Marufinas, Palawan for 6 months.

Above: Triathlete Ines Lovina-Santiago, Mikel’s younger sister, is the driving force behind the Jamborun. She has found a way to turn her passion for racing into a way to raise funds to support children in need.

Children at an evacuation center in Taal posting a shoutout to the Jamborunners in 2022.

The Jamborun is a virtual race open to anyone from anywhere in the world. For every kilometer run by participant on the race dates (January 27 & 28), a child will be fed care of our generous sponsors. The more kilometers we run, the more meals for undernourished children in the Philippines. Family and friends of Mikel ran 27 km to commemorate his passing 27 years ago, but participants were free to run or walk as many kilometers as they wished.

The goal was to raise P450,000 but in the end, a total of P474,780 was turned over to the foundation. With the proceeds of this year’s run, 60 children in two areas (the Pan de Azucar Island in Iloilo and the landlocked 2nd class municipality of Isabela, Negros Occidental) were enrolled in the Level 2 Mingo Meals Nutrition Program. This program goes above and beyond supplying children with a daily ration of Mingo. In addition to daily Mingo Meals for a year, children receive quarterly medical check-ups. Meanwhile, the mothers or official guardians of the children will undergo regular wellness counseling. Other benefits such as food for the rest of the family will be provided as well.

Scenes from This Year’s Jamborun

We thank every who participated in this run to help us raise Mingo Meals for hungry kids.

Above: When it comes to the fight against malnutrition, NVC President Millie Kilayko doesn’t just walk the talk, she also walks the walk! She logged in more than 10km on the first day of the 12th Jamborun by walking around Bacolod City.

Right: Many of the participants of the Sundown Rundown chose to dedicate their kilometers to the Jamborun.

Jamborun 2024 Beneficiaries

On April 22, we kicked off the first round of Mingo Meals feeding care of the Mikel Lovina 2024 Jamborun. 30 children from Isabela, Negros Occidental are now on the road to better health. Isabel Valles Lovina, Mikel’s mother is a regular volunteer at NVC activities based in Negros. That day, she was helping out at the height and weight measuring station. We briefly called her away from her duties so that she could receive a Thank You poster from Isabela Mayor Irene C. Montilla.

Above: Isabel Valles Lovina, mother of Mikel Lovina, receives the Thank You poster from Isabela Mayor Irene C. Montilla.

Left: NVC Volunteer Honey Sheen Demogena worked with the children at the coloring station to make the Thank You poster for the Lovina Family.