The Mikel Lovina Jamborun is an annual fundraising event in memory of Mikel Lovina. Loved ones remember Mikel as a beloved sportsman and dear son, brother, cousin, and friend. Sadly, Mikel passed away in a car-accident 28 years ago at the age of 18. In honor of his memory, Mikel’s family and friends started the Jamborun thirteen years ago, and for the past several years, have been donating the proceeds to NVC Foundation. Thanks to the Jamborun, children received LoveBags, backpacks full of essential school supplies, and nutritious Mingo Meals. Click here to read about the Jamborun 2024 and its beneficiaries.
Just by joining the run, participants already sponsored meals for hungry kids. Most of the registration fee went directly to the Jamborun fund for Mingo. What’s more, for every kilometer run or walked by each participant, the organizers pledged one Mingo Meal. Family and friends of Mikel ran 28km to commemorate his passing 28 years ago, but other participants were free to run or walk as many kilometers as they wished.
In previous years, Jamborun participants were mostly friends and relatives of Mikel, or supporters of NVC. However, for 2025 we decided to change things up. The general public became aware of the Jamborun because of two key activation events, the first of which took place in Makati on December 8, 2024.
Ayala Avenue’s Car-free Sunday attracts many joggers and runners. The Jamborun organizers got permission to set up a Jamborun sign up booth in front of the Makati Stock Exchange Building. Volunteers approached people on the street and encouraged people to sign up. It was a successful event and at least 50 Jamborun first-timers signed up that day.
The second activation took place on January 26 at the Lacson St. Closure in Bacolod. Mingo arroz caldo was served as an incentive for people to sign up for the run.
To raise additional funds for Mingo, the organizers sold limited edition Jamborun 2025 caps, shirts and singlets.
Kilometers covered while participating in other races during Jamborun dates were considered as kilometers for the Jamborun (as long as participants were properly registered). For instance, many participants of the Vermosa Sundown Rundown Race on January 25 pledged their kilometers for Mingo Meals. Furthermore, the organizers of Sundown Rundown donated P100 to the Jamborun Mingo Meals fund for every registered participant of their own race.
150 stunted children from Cadiz, La Carlota and San Carlos cities were recently enrolled in the Mingo Meals Nutrition Program by the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental. Whenever possible, NVC provides Mingo Meals to the siblings of the children enrolled in the program. This year’s Jamborun raised more than 60,000 servings of Mingo. With some leftover funds from last year’s Jamborun, there is enough to support daily Mingo Meals for an entire year for the 245 siblings of those 150 children. Isa Lovina, Mikel’s mother (second from left in photo), was present at the kick-off of this Mingo Meals Nutrition Program in February.
Thank you to the Jamborun organizers, especially Ines Lovina Santiago (Mikel’s sister) for choosing to honor Mikel’s memory in partnership with NVC. And thank you to the event sponsors for helping make the Jamborun a success through the years.
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