Over 10,000 runners, including celebrities, heeded the call to be more responsible about the environment and put their words into action, participating in the Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run 2024 last Sunday at SM Mall of Asia Complex.
The event supported by Samsung Electronics Philippines (SEPCO) and Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines was unique as eco-finishers completed the course by bringing their own water bottles, deviating from the traditional plastic and paper cups in hydration stations, as well as making their pledge to be more eco-friendly.
“This is very special. We actually committed to being more eco-friendly for the Earth Day Run, to make use of the materials na ginamit natin dito and recycle them into something more sustainable,” said Rio dela Cruz, RunRio Founder and CEO.
Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines Deputy CEO Peggy Sy added that all of the recyclable materials used for the event will be donated to the NGO and will be recycled into usable plastic products.
Celebrities like Donny Pangilinan, Gardo Versoza, and Geneva Cruz, and even National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan participated in the event.
Yoneil Enreras topped the 21K male category by clocking one hour, 18 minutes, and 57 seconds, besting Jojie Daga-as (1:24:13) and Jevie Avila (1:24:22).
Maricar Camacho, on the other hand, was the fastest in the 21K female category, stopping the clock at one hour, 29 minutes, and 47 seconds finish, outrunning Angelie Cabalo (1:33:00) and Jocelyn Elijeran (1:38:58).
For the 10K category, the top three males were Jaspher Delfino (36:35), Aldrin Serrano (37:23), and Andrew Pope (40:02); while the top females are Kristine Santillan (45:43), Jennifer Padallan (48:27), and Angelica Lim (52:51).
For the 5K category, the top three finishers were Karl Angelo Oxales (17:35), Mark Angelo Biagtan (17:36), and Christopher Iblan (18:18) for males; and Jyzel Gabriel (23:08), Jonezamie Sustituedo (23:18), and Maria Mae Ablando (25:15) for females.
