55 years.
This 2024, First Balfour First Balfour is celebrating its 55 years of corporate existence. That is a big number of years, especially for a construction company in the Philippines. Only 4 major construction companies in the country are older than First Balfour. As an employee of FB for more than 20 years already, the Bicolano Penguin (BP) is proud and happy of this milestone.
To celebrate this milestone achievement, the company's management have lined up a handful of big events. For the 1st Quarter of 2024, First Balfour conducted a fun run in January 27: the Barkada 5Km Trail Run .
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| Recruitment poster for the First Balfour Barkada Trail Run |
It is a trail run as the venue is inside the
La Mesa Nature Reserve, the biggest area (2,000 hectares) with trees in Metro Manila. The La Mesa Nature Reserve is practically a rainforest in the middle of the urban jungle we call Quezon City.
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| Friendly reminders for the Barkada Trail Run |
The word "Barkada" is included in the fun run name because all participants must register as a team of five runners. All 5 runners of the team will have the same race bib number and are expected/required to cross the finish line at the same time. Fostering camaraderie is a form of fun. In addition, a 5km run for 5 team members correspond to the 55 years anniversary. The other option would have been brutal - 55 km long ultramarathon. If the 55km ultramarathon happened, there would be a handful of First balfour runners who would have gone for it but it would not have been inclusive.
The Barkada Trail Run was made available to employees of First Balfour. A number of clients, partners and suppliers were invited too. In total 55 teams (275 runners) registered for the event. In the case of the BP, I registered together with fellow row5runners: Mark Hernandez, Orly Jacob, Romie Jacob and Naomi Mabasa.
Despite an early gun start of 6am, the fun run was well attended with many eager runners arriving in La Mesa earlier than 5:30am. Many were excited for this fun run event and the lead organizers (Dolly Ramos of Corp Comm and Anchel Cruz of HR) did not disappoint by making sure there was enough sustenance (i.e. snacks and hydration) for the participants while waiting for the gun start.
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| Early at the assembly area, BP's team mates all wearing Bib# 09. All are row5runners. |
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| BP with lead race organizers Dolly and Anchel together with race volunteer Monica |
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| Getting my BP checked by Nurse Mehl before the start of the run. |
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| Welcoming guest runners. |
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| Emcee Bea doing a good job in hosting the program prior to start of the run. |
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| Race Director Thumbie giving instructions to the runners. |
In addition, medical staff were on hand to check on main vital signs like blood pressure and pusle. Emergency response crews in an ambulances were on standby. Prior to the gun start, Race Director Thumbie Remegio gave his briefing, focusing on the route which was marked with yellow ribbon to make sure no runner gets lost in the forest. He added also that the water stations will not have cups (to minimize wastes in the trail) and that the runners will have to utilize their bottles (BYOB).
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| Runners eager to start to First Balfour Barkada Trail Run. |
To warm up the runners, there was the zumba just prior to the gun start. The start was in 2 batches. First to start are the running teams from external companies likes DM Consunji, Energy Development Corporation, First Gen, and Italian-Thai Development. Then, following shortly after a 15-min interval, are the running teams from First Balfour.
Running on the verdant trail of La Mesa Nature Reserve is a very welcome development for us urban runners who are used to the smog-rich roads of Metro Manila. We can breathe the air. Moreover, the soil and pebble surface of the La Mesa trail is a softer one compared to concrete or asphalt. Plus, sounds of birds on the trees are music to the runners' ears.
Sharing here many of the photos enjoying the trail run.
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| First Balfour senior executives Malcolm Lorimer, Tito, Tessa Villanueva and Joval Pantangco ready to give the awards to the winning teams. |
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| 1st place in the Partners' category is Bib#34 team of DM Consunji |
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| 2nd place in the Partners' Category is Bib#31 team of DM Consunji |
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| 3rd place in the Partners' Category is Bib#55 team of EDC |
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| 1st place in the Employees Categiry is Bib#35 team of First Agua |
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| 2nd place in the Employees' Category is Bib#45 tem of Corporate Communications |
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| 3rd place in the Employees' Category is Bib#47 team of BCCPP project |
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| Post-race snacks of turon, banana cue, and sari-saring kakanin. |
Truly the First Balfour Barkada Trail Run was an enjoyable and worthwhile event with a lot to like . But don't take my word for it. Let us get some feedback from the participants. These runners were all asked the same question - What did you like about the barkada trail run? Here are their answers.
Mark Hernandez Bib#09 (HR executive at PTC )
The venue provided a great escape from our busy work schedules. It helped create strategy on how to pace one another to be able to finish as a group. Encouragement was evident. Personally, it was a first trail run for me and I enjoyed it a lot.
Naomi Mabasa Bib#09 (Grade school teacher at the Ateneo de Manila)
It was the first time for me to do a trail run. It was fun and a great experience. I feel more closer to nature because of the trees. Running makes me happy but when you do it with friends it was more of a core memory.
Jinutda Thongtan Bib#41 (Mechanical engineer at Italthai)
People who attended the event had a lot of positive energy. Including a smile. Help and enocuragement. I get new friendships. I got over myself, even though my group is late to finish. I get new experiences. It's a lot of fun. Have good physical and mental health.
Libby Ilagan Bib#08 (Recruitment head at First Balfour)
It was the camaraderie, the feeling of trust, friendship, loyalty and teamwork among the employees. I enjoyed it, had fun, and loved it. It was one of the activities of the company that I would join again, repeat it, and repeat it again. Thanks, thanks.
Ronnie Liu Bib#14 (Marketing head at First Balfour)
What I like about the Barkada Trail Run is that it's a team effort, with five members finishing together. This means supporting each other from start to finish. Our team was competitive and secured fourth place! As for the location, running along the trails of La Mesa Nature Reserve is refreshing, especially considering it's the only remaining rainforest in Metro Manila.
Well said by our participants. Music to our ears, especially the organizers. Speaking of the organizers, it takes a village to organize one good fun run event. Our lead organizers Dolly and Anchel did a very good job coordinating with the Race Director and the managers of the nature reserve. They are blessed to have had the services of numerous race volunteers who made sure the runners were safe and did not get lost in the trail.
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| Hard working triumvirate of RD Thumbie flanked by Anchel and Dolly |
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| It takes a Village to run effectively a Barkada Trail Run. Group photo of race director, race marshalls and race volunteers. |
By all counts, the First Barkada Trail Run is a successful event. From a macro perspective, the fun run event is consistent with what we do in First Balfour. In the words of First Balfour's EVP Malcolm,
"It all aligns. We're taking care of ourselves, we're looking after the welfare of our employees, and we are promoting sustainability."
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| First Balfour Barkada Trail Run participants showing the 55 hand gesture. |
Thank you to all the participants in our inaugural First Balfour Barkada Trail Run. There is fun in the run.
Hasta la vista!
Photo Credits: Cesco Angga (First Balfour Corp Comm team)
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