The Pope John XXIII Minor Seminary (PJS) is set to make history as it launches the inaugural PJS White Lions Run on August 8, 2026.
The run features four race categories: 3km, 5km, 10km, and 21km, catering to both casual runners and seasoned athletes.
Participants will receive race inclusions such as a singlet, race bib, medal, and meal, with finishers in the 10km and 21km categories also earning an exclusive finisher’s shirt.
As an added incentive, the first 500 registrants will be granted a FREE membership to Landers Superstore.
Proceeds from the event will support the upgrading of classrooms and facilities, ensuring that the seminary continues to respond effectively to the evolving needs of its students. Yet beyond infrastructure, the run carries a more profound purpose.
According to Fr. Allan Delima, rector of PJS, the event reflects the seminary’s commitment to holistic education—one that forms not only future priests, but also responsible, well-rounded individuals prepared to serve society.
“We welcome young people not because we inspire or encourage them for priesthood,” Fr. Delima explained. “Rather, we welcome them for the way we do education or formations in the seminary. We want to help them develop a balance spiritual, human formation.”
For Engr. Pert Cabataña, chairman of the PJS Alumni, the inspiration behind the run is deeply personal and symbolic. He shared that the idea draws from the vocation story of Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Emilio “Boy” Bataclan, who marks his 60th sacerdotal ordination anniversary this year.
Bishop Bataclan stands as the lone surviving member of the first five Filipino diocesan formators who helped shape the identity and direction of the newly renamed seminary in its formative years.
Notably, his own journey into the seminary did not begin with a clear intention of becoming a priest. Instead, he was first drawn by the strength of its sports program — a simple invitation that would later blossom into a lifelong vocation of service.
Engr. Cabataña noted that Bishop Bataclan’s story captures the very spirit the White Lions Run hopes to embody: that formation can begin in unexpected ways, and that every step, whether on the track or in life, can lead to a greater purpose.
With this vision, the PJS White Lions Run becomes more than a fundraising event. It is a celebration of stories, a witness to vocation, and a living expression of the seminary’s mission to form individuals grounded in faith, discipline, and service, whether in the priesthood or beyond.
Visit their official Facebook page for more information on registration and updates on the PJS White Lions Run.