Despite the pouring rain on Sunday, September 21, hundreds of residents in Glan, Sarangani, ran through the streets to honor Adrian Wenceslao Herasta, a 17-year-old senior high school student who was fatally stabbed on his way home from jogging earlier that week. The “Run for Adrian,” organized by the local running group TTG Stamina Stompers, began at the Glan Fountain area in Barangay Poblacion at 4:30 p.m. Participants wore white shirts and carried placards demanding justice, with donations collected during the event given to Herasta’s family. The organizers emphasized that the event was a tribute rather than a race, aiming to support Herasta’s loved ones and honor his memory. Herasta, a Grade 12 student at the Glan School of Arts and Trades (GSAT), was attacked on September 17 while jogging in Barangay Ilaya. He sought help at a nearby bakery but later succumbed to his injuries. Friends and teachers remembered him as a disciplined student who supported his siblings after the death of their parents. Theres Noreen Ravanes, a childhood friend, shared that the run inspired students to express their grief and solidarity, highlighting Herasta’s positive impact on their lives. The Department of Education’s Sarangani division condemned the killing, emphasizing that no child deserves such a fate. The Glan Municipal Police Station reported that suspects linked to the crime had been apprehended, with a 19-year-old arrested on September 19 and others taken into custody later that night. Organizers hope the event will inspire further support for Herasta’s family and efforts to protect Glan’s youth.
