LuckyToe joined The Million Hectare Challenge

November 21, 2010 is already part of my personal history. I, together with my husband M and children Leon and Maia joined the pledge run organized by Haribon Foundation to help restore the Philippine Rainforest. Officially, our family team was named LuckyToe.

Team LuckyToe
1394 - M; 0038 - Hahai
0028 - Leon; 0023 - Maia

My husband M joined the 5K run category while me and the kids joined the 3K walk/run category...well, for obvious reasons, both kids are too young to do the distance but Leon definitely had fun running and walking around the 3K route. Maia of course was in her stroller the whole time.

M finished the 5K route 37.10 minutes and was ranked 37 amongst 130 5K male runners. While I did the 3K route in 30.05 minutes ranking 83 among 138 female 3K runners. Mine was a combination of run and walk since Leon was with me during the 1st kilometer of the 3K distance. He called it quits almost halfway complaining that he's already tired and was more interested in playing with the other kids at the kids activity area.

M crossing the finish line

Me, making faces right after
crossing the finish line chute

So far, both me and my husband enjoyed the event, the race component especially, because it paved our way to join in more races in the near future. For the kids, it's only tagging them along with us for them to be able to see and realize the benefits of running and practicing a healthy lifestyle.

Haribon Foundation made the event more fun by giving out freebies and special prices. Maia grabbed the youngest registered participant at 7 months old. The organization as well commissioned ColoursPhotoShoppe for a free photo booth for all participants and guest.

Maia with Daddy M accepting the youngest registrant prize.

Team LuckyToe having fun at the photo booth

Running is our form of exercise. We do not go to the gym to get fit, rather we make it our regular Sunday afternoon activity running, jogging or walking around UP's acad oval.

With the Million Hectare Challenge paving our way to more runs, I guess, joining in fun/advocacy runs will be a regular event for Team LuckyToe.

Hosted by Krystyn

The Million Hectare Challenge

Last Sunday, November 21 was a big day for us Haribon Foundation employees, volunteers and partners. It was the staging of our first-ever fun run to raise funds to restore the Philippines' rainforest, dubbed as the Million Hectare Challenge 2010. The fun-pledge walk/run was held at the Venice Piazza at the McKinley Hill in Taguig City.Many joined the event, from individual participants such as our employees, members and supporters to team participation composed of family members, group of friends and officemates to organization teams such as the contingent from the National Grid Corporation, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Army, Mead Johnson Nutrition Phils., 3M Phils., UST-Global, Malayan Insurance. School organizations were also well represented. Teachers and students from the Ateneo de Manila University, the San Beda Mountaineering Society, Miriam College, Xavier School, Brent International School joined in to support the cause.

Private companies sponsored the event to show their support for Haribon. GMA7, Manila Times, Business World, Aquabest, Mega Publishing Group and the RadioPartner were some of the major sponsors. Other sponsors were MegaWorld for the venue and San Miguel coffee, Rebisco crackers, Coppertone, Mizuno, Pascual Laboratories, 3M Phils., A&F Magazine, TaiChi, LiteWater, Honda Phils., Acer and for the freebies.

Private personalities also shelled out cash to help support the cause. Mr. John Lesaca, a Haribon Board of Trustees shouldered the food supply of all Haribon staff and volunteers during the event. Miescor through Mr. Jesus P. Francisco, Haribon's Chair donated a good sum of money to cover some expenses. The Rotary Club of Midtown Diliman represented by its President Mr. Randy Tan graced the event by handing to our COO their check donation.

Danny Dematera served as the race director together with his UP Mountaineer team who acted as race marshals. Runningmate supplied the race chips as well as the software for a more accurate running time for all runners. Volunteers from the Southern Police District was there to aide in the traffic flow of not just the runners but also the vehicles plying the McKinley Road. Two medical teams with two ambulance from the PCSO were there give first aid to participants who might need them, good thing no one needed their services. Forerunner supplied the sound system and electricity during the whole event. ColoursPhotoShoppe graciously supplied the photo booth that catered all participants and visitors of the event.

Local celebrities such as Suzie Abrera and her 3 pretty daughters graced the event. They too ran to show their support for the cause. DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman and family likewise supported the cause by participating in the run. Yco of Unang Hirit lead the warm up exercise and DJ Tom Alvarez hosted the event's program. The Sex Bomb dancers added fun to the program by rendering 2 sexy dance numbers.

Hector & Dinky Soliman crossing the Finish Arch

Sex Bomb Dancers

Aside from the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes for male and female for all the 3 categories (3K, 5K and 10K), participants were also treated with special prizes. Highest number in terms of corporate/company team was awarded to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines with a more than 200 participants. Highest number for a family team went to MaxB team of the del Castillo clan. Oldest registered participant went to a 77 year old man who took the 3K challenge - Mr. Benjamin Elgincolin while the youngest registered participant went to my dear Mita Ysabel "Maia" Ponce at 7 months old. Face of the day - male and female are yet to be awarded as well as the individual and team participants with highest amount of pledge raised.

Oldest registered participant

Start & Finish set-up

Warming up

Philippine Coast Guard in their bright orange uniform

Prof. Blas Tabaranza, Jr. Haribon's Chief Operating Officer
welcoming and thanking all those who supported the run

With the positive and encouraging comments we've been getting during and after the event, we're now looking at how to improve next year's Million Hectare Challenge. Cheers to Haribon Foundation and the Philippine Rainforest!

The Pink Run: D'Feeting Breast Cancer (MYM/RT)

I was invited by my officemate Beechie to attend The Pink Run not as a participant but as an observer. It was held on October 17, 2010 at the Venice Piazza Mall, McKinley Hill in Taguig.

As mentioned before, we at Haribon will be having our own run, The Million Hectare Challenge. Since I'm head of logistics and Beechie, head of technical, for our event and since it will also be held at the same venue, we decided to look at how the organizers of The Pink Run managed their event, from physical arrangement to crowd management.

The Pink Run was a successful event, thumbs up to the Philippine Society of General Surgeons for an event-well done. Indigenous cancer patients are the beneficiaries of this fund-raising run. Congratulations as well to those who run the 15K, 10K, 5K and 3K distances to show their support for this cause.

From what we have observed, we will share to the committee and see what amongst it can be duplicated on our event and what not to do during the event. We hope to be able to generate the same number of participants, if not more. We also would want to make The Million Hectare Challenge a successful event just like The Pink Run.

There were turn-offs though, we were charged a parking fee of 50 bucks! though we were informed by the management of McKinley that parking is free on Sundays. This issue we have to clarify with Megaworld and for us to be able to inform our participants about it. Another major issue we really have to inform and ensure with with Megaworld is the issue on car breakage and burglary. We were informed that some cars were robbed either through forceful entry or through breakage of windows.We partly paid for the venue and we will demand what it is due from the Megaworld management. We want our event to be successful thus part of the success is the security not just of the runners/organizers but of properties as well.

Here are some photos during The Pink Run:

Start/Finish Arch

15K run about to begin

10K runners in queue

5K runners getting ready

3K runners waiting for the gunstart

The Pink Run message board

Mother & daughter tandem strolling after the event.
This we want during our event - a family quality time :)