23-Year-Old from Ifugao is Overall Champion in 2025 Porac Spartan Trailfecta (50KM Category)

Aguinaldo, Ifugao — A 23-year-old athlete from Aguinaldo, Ifugao made headlines on social media after emerging as the overall champion in the Porac Spartan Trailfecta 2025 (50KM Category) held on October 25, 2025, at Access Road, Alviera, Porac, Pampanga.

The Porac Spartan Trailfecta 2025 brought together elite runners from the Philippines, Austria, the United Kingdom, the United States, Singapore, Belgium, Canada, and Hong Kong. The event is known for its challenging course through rugged mountains, terraces, and native villages, designed to test the endurance and grit of participants against scenic yet demanding landscapes.

The competition featured three categories — 50KM, 21KM, and 10KM, each offering a grueling test of strength, stamina, and mental toughness.

Over 500 runners participated, including 110 competitors in the 50KM category. Ligorinson Abbugao, a maritime student from Manila, finished first overall, completing the race in 5 hours, 46 minutes, and 44 seconds.

The young seafarer has consistently dominated the local Spartan circuit this year, clinching victories in:

Leg 1 – Spartan Orani, Bataan (Sprint: 5KM | 20 Obstacles)

Leg 2 – Spartan Capas, Tarlac (Super: 10KM | 25 Obstacles)

Leg 3 – Spartan Calamba, Laguna (Beast: 21KM | 30 Obstacles)

He also earned the overall title in the 2025 Philippine National Series – Men’s Age Group.

The Honor, Challenges, and Message of the Overall Champ

In an interview with GURU Press Cordillera, Abbugao shared that representing the Cordillera and winning the Spartan Trail 50K was a profound honor.

“To win and represent my family and the Cordillera is an incredible honor. It fuels my passion to push harder—to inspire others to embrace their roots and show the world the strength and resilience of our heritage. This victory is a testament to what we can achieve when we run with heart and pride,” he said.

When asked about his biggest challenge, Abbugao mentioned the difficulty of maintaining a strict training routine, often traveling to Rodriguez (formerly Montalban), Rizal, since Manila lacks mountainous terrain suitable for trail practice.

The Ifugao athlete also offered words of encouragement to fellow athletes, saying,

“There’s no such thing as too late when it comes to fitness goals. You can start now and enjoy later. Always remember, God is the main source of our strength. Every time you step on the podium, it’s God who brought you there. Be grateful, trust your training, and let your hard work shine.”

Meanwhile, the 23-year-old champion is set to compete in the Spartan Asia Pacific Championship 2025 OCR this coming November 8–9 in Alviera, Pampanga, and will wrap up the year by joining the 50KM Race to Lake Holon 2025 in South Cotabato on December 6–7.