Over 10,000 runners heeded the call to be more responsible about the environment and put their words into action, participating in the Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run 2024 last Sunday at SM Mall of Asia Complex.

It’s a unique race supported by Samsung Electronics Philippines (SEPCO) and Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines where eco-finishers completed the course by bringing their own water bottles, deviating from the traditional plastic and paper cups in hydration stations, as well as making their pledge to be more eco-friendly.

“This is very special. We actually committed to being more eco-friendly for the Earth Day Run, to make use of the materials na ginamit natin dito and recycle them into something more sustainable,” said Rio dela Cruz, RunRio Founder and CEO.

Samsung tied up for the first time with RunRio in staging the Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run 2024. “This initiative combines two of our biggest advocacies: building sustainability into our product experience, and pushing for wellness with our technology. The Galaxy Watch6 is designed to be a partner for a heart healthier lifestyle, and we are very glad to be able to do this with RunRio and the Tzu Chi Foundation,” said Jelina King, SEPCO Mobile Experience Ecosystem Category Head.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch6 series is taking wellness to the next level with blood pressure and ECG monitoring and other features that help monitor heart health. It has a built-in PPG sensor that periodically measures heart rate and rhythm while worn, and can do a quick blood pressure check with no added equipment required. It also offers a ton of exercise features to help you create your own unique fitness journey.

Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines Deputy CEO Peggy Sy added that all of the recyclable materials used for the event will be donated to the NGO and will be recycled into usable plastic products.

“We’re glad they’ve learned our efforts for environmental protection,” she said. “We turn pet bottles into pellets and fabric, we also do upcycling. What we do is we try to sort recyclables, so they do not end up in the oceans and landfills. It was very good that they promoted bring your own bottle, we reduced the single use plastic and paper cups. It’s a good start and I hope future runs will all follow this.”

Yoneil Enreras topped the 21K male category with his time of one hour, 18 minutes, and 57 seconds, besting Jojie Daga-as (1:24:13) and Jevie Avila (1:24:22).

Maricar Camacho, on the other hand, was the fastest in the 21K female category with her one hour, 29 minutes, and 47 seconds finish, outrunning Angelie Cabalo (1:33:00) and Jocelyn Elijeran (1:38:58) in this race which is also supported by Sante Barley, Century Tuna, and the Department of Tourism (DOT).

For the 10K category, the top three males are Jaspher Delfino (36:35), Aldrin Serrano (37:23), and Andrew Pope (40:02); while the top females are Kristine Santillan (45:43), Jennifer Padallan (48:27), and Angelica Lim (52:51).

For the 5K category, the top three finishers are Karl Angelo Oxales (17:35), Mark Angelo Biagtan (17:36), and Christopher Iblan (18:18) for males; and Jyzel Gabriel (23:08), Jonezamie Sustituedo (23:18), and Maria Mae Ablando (25:15) for females.

Celebrities like Donny Pangilinan, Gardo Versoza, and Geneva Cruz, and even National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan participated in the said event.