SUNDAY VIDEO FEATURE: Running for a cause

They came with their friends, their office gang, their children, and their dogs. They ran with passion, some with serious intent to win, some to just hone their running skills further, but most just to get a badly needed exercise or unwind on a Sunday morning.

But they ran, nevertheless, and had some fun.

The 6,400 people who joined Globe Telecom-Ayala Land City Run for Home event at Fort Bonifacio last Sunday couldn't have picked up a better cause. Globe's first ever running event was organized to support the development of a community especially for the settlers of Ilog Pasig.

"We are helping to move certain settlers along the Pasig River through the KapitBisig Para Sa Ilog Pasig and they will be settled in Bayanijuan sa Calauan, Habitat Community," says Ferdinand de la Cruz, head of Consumer Wireless Business of Globe Telecom.

"So we are making a donation together with Ayala Land and Ayala Corp. of about P1 million to make this happen. Also about 10 percent of the proceeds from the registration will be added to this donation," he explains.

Habitat for Humanity is very much involved in the resettlement for Pasig River settlers and it is currently building houses for the settlers, starting with 800 houses, according to Francisco “Popoy” Del Rosario Jr., chairman ofHabitat for Humanity Philippines.

"So this (run) is a worthwhile project because a lot these people are being relocated for the beautification of Pasig River and the cleaning up of the sewerage system," he explains.

"To those who won the 3, 5, and 10K run I would like to congratulate you and I hope that you would continue run, compete and of course for a good cause," he adds.

However, social responsibility ideas aside, running is fast gaining popularity in Metro Manila.

"I've been running for fitness for a few months now, and I would like to take running more seriously. Are there any trails you can recommend that are good for training runs?"  a member of myGlobe Forums posted in one of the Lifestyle (Sports and Recreation) section.

"I do runs at UP, the Fort and Marikina riverbanks. You can also try out the area at MOA along Manila bay. I think there are a lot of runners there," replies one poster.

"At Boni High Street. Last night we jogged there, around the perimeter of the shops and the parking lots. There were plenty of people doing the same 'cause of the pleasant surroundings. My guess is the circuit is maybe 1.2km to 1.5km based on how fast (read "slow") we were able to do one lap," says another.

"I run at the Ultra Oval in Pasig. Plenty of runners, joggers and brisk walkers in the early morning hours. No entrance fee for dual citizens - Filipino and seniors," replies another poster.

De la Cruz says Globe is planning going to make the marathon an annual event and will continue to innovate and support a good cause.

Run for Home offered a challenge for all fitness levels, featuring a 3-kilometer, five-kilometer, 10-kilometer, and 21-kilometer runs. Cash prizes of up P15,000 were given away to the race winners.

What makes this year's Globe-Ayala running event unique for the metropolis' growing community of runners is that it used a disposable electronic timing chips to track the running time of participants.

The timing chip,  a miniature transponder, is used in popular international marathons where they are often attached to a runner’s shoelace.

Race results are now available at the Globe Run for Home website and all participants can view statistics on how long it took them to finish the race, how they fared with the best in their division and with all the other participants.
 
"To those who won the 3K, 5K, and 10K run I would like to congratulate you and I hope that you would continue run, compete and of course for a good cause," says Del Rosario.