Joem adds meaning to his miles

MANILA, Philippines - When Joem Bascon felt he was packing unwanted pounds, he and his training coach decided pronto to devote most of his spare time to sweat out those excess poundage by running. So he started to lace up his shoes and pound the pavement either by his lonesome or with his coach every chance he gets. Joining fun runs has also become part of his fitness routine for some years now.

“I came to a point where I was leaning more on the heavy side and I had to do something about it,” Joem recalls his “heavy weight” days. “I told myself, ‘This is not right anymore.’ That’s the time when I thought of joining fun runs to shake off the flabs. So far, I’ve been shedding a lot by doing fun runs with my coaches (boxing coach Tex Gonzaga and conditioning coach Jay San Pedro) for the past few years.”

Being a celebrity all the more makes him want to bring back that macho build. Asked if insecurity had hit him bulls-eye, Joem replied, “Meron with the known (read: More popular stars) hahaha, but seriously more on being on the heavy side lang. I want to prove to myself that I can go back to the way I was before and I’m glad bumabalik naman na gradually.” 

Though he is mum about the “alarming numbers” that registered on the weighing scale, Joem is bent on sticking to 165 lbs. “I’m nearing my target. I just need to lose 10 pounds and I’m okay.”

And he hopes to achieve his target by joining another marathon event on Nov. 23 at the Bonifacio Global City dubbed as the 2013 Sunpiology Color Run organized by Sun Life Philippines with Piolo Pascual’s Hebreo Foundation as beneficiary. Piolo is the insurance firm’s ambassador. It has been five years now since Sun Life partnered with Hebreo in raising funds to send poor but deserving scholars to school. This year, Star Magic, the ABS-CBN talent arm, is joining in the charity event with the aim to give back.

“The Sunpiology has been a much anticipated annual charity event. And now that we have the stars by our side with Star Magic Gives Back, our combined efforts are sure to shine brighter,” Sun Life chief marketing officer Mylene Lopa stated in the press release.

For Joem, joining in the run is like hitting two birds with one stone. “You become healthy and at the same time you are able to help people. And with the blessings that I’ve been receiving, it is only but right to give them back to the people who are in need. This run will help send children to school at masarap sa pakiramdam na in one small act of kindness, you are able to help.”

This early, he’s been prepping up for the run in between his showbiz commitments. Joem is in the cast of 10,000 Hours topbilled by Robin Padilla. It is one of the official entries to this year’s Metro Manila Filmfest. He also stars in the indie Blu Bustamante directed by Miko Livelo for the Cinema One Originals Festival in November.

“There are several more days before the event but to make sure that I’m ready for the run pasingit-singit na sa schedule yung workout. I hope to finish the 10-kilometer (stretch) sana maka workout pa before the date considering my schedule now.”  

(Registration to 2013 Sunpiology Color Run is now open in all categories until Nov. 15. Distances include 1k for kids, 3k, 5k and 10k. Event partners are The Philippine STAR, San Miguel Purefoods, Brooks, St. Luke’s, Timex, Runnr, Toby’s and Pocari Sweat, San Mig Coffee, Gardenia, Max’s restaurant, Jumba Juice, Krispy Kreme, Hayan, KangaROOS, One Meralco, PDI, ANC, Metro, Star Studio, Lifestyle, Cinema One, Solar News, PEP, Fox, Outcomm, Soul BGC, PinoyFitness, DMC and Multisport. For details, visit www.sunpiology.com.)