Running is always better with a partner at the 9th Robinsons Supermarket’s Fit and Fun Wellness Buddy Run

Why do we run? Why do more and more people sign up for those expensive fun runs? Why can we wake up very early on a Sunday race day all perky and excited but unable to do so during workweek?

During the prehistoric times, running was a necessity because man has to hunt and chase after our food. You don’t run, you don’t eat and you die.

Before automobiles I guess our ancestors also had to run a bit to get from one place to another—and maybe faster during the wartime to survive.

But nowadays when we can have food without even standing, or just use our fingers to order just about anything we need, is there still a reason to run?

So why do people do something that’s physically and mentally challenging, and occasionally painful, when no one is forcing us and there’s basically no reason why.

You’d probably answer for health reasons but there are a lot of ways to stay healthy and other exercises which you can do without waking up before Mr. Sun does

It was a constant thought that was “running” around my head as I walked, trotted and ran sporadically during the 9th Robinsons Buddy held a couple of weeks ago at the BGC area.

When Robinsons held its 9th Robinsons Supermarket Fit and Fun Wellness Buddy Run, I immediately signed up with a buddy and partner. I remember joining last year with a blogger friend, and ran for 5K.  It was the best fun run yet because I got to the finish line without me realizing it, sweaty but energized.

I was watching all the other runners around me. There were families who were alternating stroller duties to push their sleeping babies along the track, couples who still looked very sleepy and were clearly just forcing themselves to run so as not to disappoint their partner, there were friends who took more photos than steps, and there were also a lot of older people who were probably thankful they could even walk and stretch their legs.

I had my own motivations-- to fit into my old pants and small size dresses again, and maybe shed a few pounds--- although I know that just one run wouldn’t probably do any miracles. 

But as we saw the last 1 km marker and neared the finish line, I realized that while there is no real necessity and while we are not forced to do it, running has become a social activity of sorts, a rather liberating way of escaping the sometimes monotonous and often stressful work schedule.

Thousands ran in pairs for Robinsons Supermarket’s (RSC) 9th Fit and Fun Wellness Buddy Run, held recently at Bonifacio Global City. The annual run hosted by the country’s largest health and wellness supermarket chain was not only attended by recreational runners taking on the journey to a healthier life but also celebrity advocates of the active lifestyle.

The Fit and Fun Wellness Buddy run is testament to RSC’s steadfast commitment to promote a healthier lifestyle among Filipinos.

Power couples graced the run, with Gretchen Ho and Robi Domingo hosting the event, and Coaches Jim and Toni Saret leading the warm-up and post-run cool-down exercises. Around 4,500 runners joined the 5K and 10K races, including triathlete and 28th SEA Games Gold Medalist Nikko Huelgas.

Top finishers each took home exciting prizes. The 2nd and 3rd placers of the 5K run received P8,000 worth of Robinsons gift certificates, while 10K runners  got P15,000 worth of Robinsons GCs. The 1st placer of the 5K run won a 3D/2N trip with accommodations for two to El Nido, Palawan and the 10K winner received a 3D/2N trip for two to Bali, Indonesia with accommodations.

The 9th Fit and Fun Wellness Buddy Run was made possible by RSC’s wellness partners, Nestle Philippines, Johnson & Johnson, Nivea and Fonterra, among others, all of which share RSC’s mission to provide more health and wellness options to Filipinos.

Take on a health and wellness journey with Robinsons Supermarket. Like it on Facebook www.facebook.com/RobinsonsSupermarketOfficial or visit its official website at www.robinsons-supermarket.com.ph to stay updated on the activities that it has in store and learn more about the #ILoveWellness campaign.

Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific draws 3,000 participants from 43 countries!

Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championships launches on July 7 at The Shangrila The Fort BGC. Celebrity triathlete Ironman finisher himself, Matteo Guidicelli hosts the event. SEI president Wilfred Uytengsu Jr. and World Class,  Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza and Renowned Filipino industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue graced the launch together with celebrity triathletes.

Kenneth Cobonpue

Close to 3,000 participants from 43 countries, led by very strong lineup of pros, will converge in Cebu on August 7, 2016  for the Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championships presented by Ford at Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa. 

Titleholders Tim Reed and Caroline Steffen will banner a world-class field of 35 professional triathletes that will also feature 2,869 equally determined competitors in the Filipino elite, CEOs, age groups and relay divisions.

Excitement for the prestigious event has been high since it was first announced that Cebu will be the hosting the 2016 Asia Pacific Ironman 70.3 Championship event. The event sold out 2,900 slots in 28 minutes when registration opened in October 2015.

Matteo Guidicelli

Produced and organized by Sunrise Events, Inc. and backed by Cobra Energy Drink as title sponsor, the tournament will offer the biggest prize money ever in the Philippines at $75,000 and the highest points earned.

Piolo Pascual

“We are truly honored to be chosen as host for the Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championship, marking the first time that this elite event is held in Asia, outside of Australia and New Zealand,” said SEI president Wilfred Uytengsu Jr.

“On its 5th year in Cebu, the Province will be ready to welcome all the participants and their families with the traditional Cebuano warmth and festivities.” Atty. Mark Tolentino, Provincial Administrator of the Province of Cebu.

Dyan Castillejo

Bubbles Paraiso

At the same time, 50 slots to the 2017 Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Chattanooga, Tennessee will be up for grabs, giving participants extra motivation to vie for top honors.

Apl de Ap

Gilbert Remulla

Among the celebrites expected to see action at the Cobra Energy Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championship include Piolo Pascual, Matteo Guidicelli, Paul Jake Castillo, Dingdong Dantes, Gretchen Fullido, Kim Atienza, Apl de Ap, Dyan Castillejo, Ivan Carapiet, Bubbles Paraiso, Xander Angeles, Anthony and Maricel-Laxa Pangilinan, Sara Black, Gilbert Remulla and Wilfred Steven Uytengsu.

Paul Jake Castillo

Kim Atienza

World Class and Renowned Filipino industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue will once again be crafting the beautiful medals and trophies for the winners.

The event will be aired for the first time via live streaming in 120 countries to over 2 million viewers on www.ironman.com courtesy of Globe Telecoms.

The event presented by Ford, Globe Telecom, Philippine Airlines, Summit Water, 2Go Express (official courier and logistics partner), Asics, Gatorade, Prudential Guarantee, Oakley and Timex and Mactan Resort and Spa, in support of the Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotions Board, Cebu Province, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu City, Mandaue City, and Talisay City.

Ivan Carapiet

Matteo Guidicelli

Other sponsors include, Alaska, David’s Salon, Intercare, Gu Gel, Kenneth Cobonpue, Megaworld Mactan Newtown, Sun Life Financial, and TYR.

Media partners are The Philippine Star, ABS-CBN Sports+Action, TriLife Magazine, AsiaTri, Finisher Pix, and Xurpas as technology partner.

Official hotels for the Cobra Iron Man 70.3 are Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa, Be Resorts Mactan, Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan, Waterfront Hotel and Casino Mactan, Movenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu. Official registration partner is Active Network.

Citronella and coffee beans at Mt. Kitanglad Center, Bukidnon

We woke up to a very chilly weather on our 4th Day in Binahon Farm.  We proceeded to our last stop, the Mt. Kitanglad Agri Ecological Techno Demo.

We traveled for about 2 to 3 hours to reach Mt. Kitanglad Farm. It was located uphill and just like in Binahon, the road was not passable to cars.  So we had to leave our vans 1km away. We walked our way to the Techno-Demo Center hauling our luggages behind.

We were lucky that it was not raining  that time.

It turned out to be a very tiring afternoon. I was just thankful that my luggage didn’t concede to the rough terrain it went through.  When we reached Sir Benjamin Maputi's office, manang showed us to our room with bunk beds inside.

I chose the bed that was nearest the door for easy access to kitchen and bathroom, thinking we would be spending the night at Kitanglad.

Once we were settled, our hosts treated us to a sumptuous lunch of Paksiw na Isda, vegetables and brown rice. We finished it with organic passion fruit juice, red bananas and watermelon as desserts.

I realized each of the five farms we visited left us with a specific mark/memory which I would forever associate it with--  For Cervantes Farm it was the edible kangkong and square foot garden.  For Alomah's Farm it’s the tarragon tea and fresh salads. I will always remember Jaya's  for their blue ternate flower. And the carrot cake and that red tree will forever remind me Binahon. And for Kitanglad farm it wasn’t  the food—but rather their Citronella oil.

I guess they are so proud of their Citronella oil—which they supply to Human Nature here in manila—that they just couldn’t resist spraying it all over the place—even near our table where we were eating. I just couldn’t stop myself from asking if it was pure citronella she was spraying, because the food we were eating smelled and almost started to taste like citronella.

The smell stayed on my hair even after I shampooed that night that’s how generous they were in spraying it.

After our lunch, our guide toured us around Kitanglad farm—for two hours at least. Mr. Ben Maputi, the multi awarded owner of Kitanglad farm and Chairman to his barangay took us trekking to the mountains.

The Mt. Kitanglad Agri-Ecological Techno-Demo Center (MKAETDC) is owned jointly by the family of Benjamin Maputi and the Imbayao Multi-Purpose Cooperative, the center conducts regular seminars for farmers, teaching them about sustainable upland farming, diversified agriculture, agroforestry, cattle, duck raising, and abaca production. The center is his own source of living. He teaches the use of organic fertilizers and natural pest control in the farm, to spread awareness of ecological issues to farmers in the area.

Citronella plant

Our tour quickly became a trek upwards Mt. Kitanglad, and we were all catching our breath while trying to grab on to some tree roots to balance ourselves as we climbed the steep terrain. So much for our citronella fueled lunch!

I realized I was out of shape as I was catching my breath. I could feel my pulse and hear my heart pounding as we labored on.

We saw tea trees, beehives, frog ponds, passion fruits, crops, coffee beans, cattle, ducks, a ritual ground! We were told!  (I suddenly remember the movie Green Inferno)  and a giant tree, which seemed straight out of a horror movie.

I just had to have a photo taken near that huge ancient tree. Yup, I was that adventurous,  and after that we got lost for a while but found the right way in 5 minutes.

I was wearing my Huawei TalkBand, so I knew we had taken a lot of steps already. Making things more difficult was that I was only wearing a pair of sneakers throughout the hike! . So during that entire trek, I was not only getting tired but also getting paranoid that I might step on something like a centipede or worse—snakes! It still gives me goosebumps whenever I recall that experience. I was honestly praying the entire time.

We reached the techno demo center at around 5pm or so. We were quite tired and looking forward to getting back to our room and get some rest. But instead we saw our drivers hurrying and running back and forth to fetch our luggages and load them back to the vans.

Everyone was in a hurry to leave the place. When we got to the van, we asked our driver, why they seemed quite agitated and in a hurry to leave.  He just looked at us and gave us a nervous smile.

We never got our answer, even until today.

When we reached the city, we checked in to a hotel and left the morning after for Manila.

As I lay comfortably in bed back in Manila, I felt a warm sense of pride of the things I’ve done during our five-day Organic Farm Tour Adventure organized by Agriculture Training Institute (ATI) Department of Agriculture.

It might seem simple, but if you know me, I couldn’t survive a day without a sip of my favorite lemon Green Tea (that explains the blog name) but I did! For five days I overcame my cravings for those cold cups from GongCha, Chatime etc and was surprisingly satisfied with tarragon tea, organic food, fresh salad, and mountain water.

Second was the realization that I could actually live in the province, without all my digital distractions and instead enjoy the calmness, the cool wind and the slower pace.

I adored the "probinsya life.” Waking up with greens, fruits, trees, and beautiful sunrise made me relax and appreciate things.

Those five days made me think about saving up to buy a small portion of land, leave Manila's traffic and pollution behind and spend the rest of my days quietly.

To know more about Mt. Kitanglad Agri-Ecological Techno-Demo Center
Please contact:

Agriculture Training Institute
ATI Central Office
ATI Bldg. Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City
929-8541
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