“If you care enough to make the Pasig River clean, this is your chance to make a statement and run for the river.” Words from Gina Lopez, the ABS-CBN Foundation , Inc. (AFI) managing director and concurrent president of the Kapit Bisig Para Sa Ilog Pasig (KBPIP).
Words that were heeded by 86,545 runners who came together in the early morning hours of November 20, 2011 in the Run for the Pasig River. Included in this big number were myself and 69 fellow First Balfour (FB) runners who were registered by our company which is part of the Lopez Group of Companies.
Out of the 70 FB runners, 50 were entered in the 5 kms while 20 ran in the 10-kms.
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| FB runners at the 10K start |
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| FB runners at the 5K start |
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| FB runners with fellow Lopez group employees |
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| FB runners with Raffy Alunan of Lopez Group Foundation, Inc |
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| FB runners waiting for the 5K to start |
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| Huge number of runners along Roxas Blvd |
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| FB runners at the halfway mark of the 10k |
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| Indian run for the FB runners |
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| FB runners at the 10K finish |
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| FB runners at the 5k finish |
FB runners joined this year and we also joined last year’s edition of the Run for the Pasig River (which is in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the most number of participants at 116,000 runners in a running event).
Why do we join this very big event?
Obviously the wellness factor is very much in play but more than that I would like to think that many of our employees who joined believe that they can make a difference in the community and in the country. Many of our FB runners are inspired by the Lopez Credo that exhorts Lopez group members to “...be responsible stewards of all our resources, and conscious of our obligation to present and future generations.”
Joining in an important event that will be benefit the Pasig River is a manifestation of our concern for the present , and, more importantly future generations. We want to come together and be counted.
Many agree that the Pasig River is the lifeblood of Metro Manila. For hundreds of years, this river has been used to transport people, livestock and cargo. It has been a source of food and water for the people. The Pasig River has been part of our local folklore. However, this river has been dying.
But thanks to the effort of the Kapit Bisig Para Sa Ilog Pasig (KBPIP) which is the beneficiary of the proceeds from the Run for Pasig River, gains are being made to restore the original beauty and dignity of the river. Formally launched in 2009, the KBPIP is co-led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the AFI. For more about the KBPIP, please visit http://lopezlink.ph/features/2236/2236 and KBPIP website http://www.abs-cbnfoundation.com/kapitbisig.php.
So, we will continue to join the Run for Pasig River. Already, we anticipate with excitement the 2012 edition of this monumental fun run. We heard it will be held in the historic EDSA, the birthplace of People Power. How proper for us to come together for a noble cause. How powerful indeed.
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