MANILA, Philippines?At first impression, one would never expect this seemingly delicate, handsomely tanned woman to actually be a mean and determined machine built to run grueling long distances.

So tough is Joy Rojas and so unheeding of severe runs that in 2005, she went on leave from a desk job in publishing, got a one-way ticket to Davao City courtesy of Cebu Pacific and resolved to traverse the Philippines ? on foot.

Calling her historic run Hakbang Pangarap (literally Dream Step or Step to a Dream), Rojas became the first woman to run across the Philippines, from Davao City to Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, in 46 days. She would mostly end up sleeping in local public schools on her pit stops and giving inspirational talks to high-school kids on the importance of having a dream and pursuing it.

Three years later, she?s at it again.

This time Rojas is going for a mother lode: to run across the United States. She explains, ?Running across the Philippines was a good experience?a happy time?that I?d like to try to replicate. And if I were to choose a location, why not go all the way and do it in the US??

Such a dream comes at a most appropriate time when the spirit and faith of Filipinos are deeply challenged by current national and political events. Through her run, Rojas aims to connect with Filipino communities in the US, affirming the strong cultural contributions of Pinoy immigrants to the world?s strongest state.

Four-month project

Of the several hundreds who have run across America, 11 are women and one is Filipino: Cesar Guarin, owner of the sportswear company Botak, who negotiated New York to California on foot in the mid 1980s.

Rojas?s intended run across America, called Takbong Pangarap (Dream Run), will have her crossing 12 states: California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. She will be joined by Mateo Macabe, an active figure in the local running circuit who was also part of the Trans Philippines team.

Spanning an estimated 5,000 km, Takbong Pangarap will have Rojas covering an average of 50 km a day; rest days are included in the four-month-long project.

Coordinators will schedule visits to Filipino communities along the route, to meet the team upon reaching a destination. In much the same way that Rojas spoke before schoolchildren in the Philippines after each day?s run, she is open to sharing her experience at end of each day.

She would like to encourage members of the communities to share their own dreams, an activity that gets people thinking about their personal life goals, and whether they?re serious and passionate enough to pursue them.

Rigid preparations

Lest one points out that it?s a crazy idea, Rojas has been making strict preparations to realize her dream, the way three Filipinas climbed Mt. Everest last year.

Rojas is both a magazine editor and an accomplished runner. When she was a regular of the local road racing circuit from 1995-2002, she was among the top 10 female finishers of such prestigious 42Ks as the PAL Marathon, Milo Marathon and Pasig River Heritage Marathon.

Her participation in the 40-day, 1,196 km Visayas leg of Fr. Robert Reyes? Trans-Philippine run sparked her passion for long-distance, multi-day runs. With running partner Mat Macabe, Rojas ran from UP Diliman to UP Los Baños in three days, and Manila to Baguio in five days.

In 2005, her Hakbang Pangarap, a 2,000-km stretch from south to north endorsed by the Department of Education, then headed by Secretary Florencio ?Butch? Abad, proved both an empowering and humbling experience for a runner who stayed on the road despite extreme conditions.

?Rain, heat, good roads, bad roads, no roads, hecklers, even a nasty cold or injury are no excuse to stop you from getting to where you?re going, which is usually about nine to 12 hours away, depending on your pace and what you encounter during the day.?

Since then this runner has added more accomplishments to her résumé. In September 2006, Rojas ran 100 km from the 0 km marker in Luneta, Manila to the 100 km marker in Nasugbu, Batangas in 16 hours.

In February 2007, she covered the rough but scenic route from Baguio to Banawe in three glorious days. She reveals, ?For obvious reasons, the run across the Philippines remains a sentimental favorite. The thought of it makes me smile.?

Reserved but thorough
Joy has always been a very low-key person. Among people in the publishing business, she has always been known as a reserved but thorough editor and writer.

How ironical for this woman to shy away from media interviews to talk about her feat. What moves Rojas to run, however, isn?t self-glorification but the chance to see the world in a simple, almost spiritual manner.

?Running for me,? she has said, ?is about meditation, reflection and prayer.?

She may have quietly gone on leave from her work and funded herself mostly through her life savings in Hakbang Pangarap, but friends have urged her to get the help of sponsors for her run across the US.

To date, friends have been helping her to closely inch her way to her dream by creating an informal team to help raise the money for the plane tickets, food and lodging. Every little bit of help goes a long way.

Adidas has also provided her with shoes and apparel, and Ayala Foundation US is accepting pledges on the project?s behalf.

Sen. Gregorio Honasan has offered his valuable assistance, and HSBC, Sen. Pia Cayetano (also a passionate runner) and various alumni of the University of the Philippines in the US have made pledges and committed to hosting Rojas in their homes when she crosses their states. Publicist Joy Buensalido has volunteered to set up an informal desk for inquiries in her Makati office.

Joy Rojas?s dogged determination has raised interest and inspired those who hear about her story. And with her every step across each state, with each Filipino family she will get to meet, she will carry with her that history and great pride in a Filipino woman?s faith, fearlessness and perpetually hopeful outlook.

For inquiries, call 8174471 or e-mail takbongpangarap@yahoo.com.