VIA GRAPHIC PLUS — Car-Free Sunday at Ayala Triangle Gardens looked a little different, instead of the usual joggers and cyclists having the road to themselves, Makati woke up to roughly 8,000 runners lacing up for the Angat Bayanihan Run: Angat Buhay’s flagship fun run, and this year, the official kickoff to the organization’s year-long countdown to its fifth anniversary. According to the organizers, the run aims to raise funds for Angat Buhay’s community-driven programs while promoting volunteerism.
Angat Buhay has never really been about the finish line. Since it started in 2022, the organization founded by former Vice President Leni Robredo has built its name on bayanihan — the idea that if you’re going to help, help well. This run is the physical version of that idea: every 1K, 3K, 5K, and 10K stride doubling as support for the organization’s community programs across the country.
Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo, who also chairs Angat Buhay, was there in person to thank the participants and organizer. When she went up on stage, the crowd broke into applause. She extended her apologies for not being able to run that morning herself.
“Ang Angat Bayanihan ay parte ng Angat Buhay (Foundation)—ito yung volunteer groups that we launched after Angat Buhay. Almost all provinces in the country meron po tayong Angat Bayanihan chapters lalong lalo na po pag sakuna. Yung ating mga volunteers ang first on the ground. Yung pinakahuli po natin, yung earthquake sa Gen San, Davao, Saranggani Province until now yung relief and rehabilitation efforts are still being conducted by our Angat Bayanihan volunteers and they are able to do that dahil po sa tulong ninyo,” said Mayor Robredo.
She also announced the upcoming runs slated to happen for Naga, Iloilo, and General Santos in the latter part of this year, so Ayala Makati was really just the starting point for a bigger, nationwide year.
Adding to the festivities, Drag Race Philippines stars Brigiding, Precious Paula Nicole, and Viñas DeLuxe, collectively called the Divine Divas brought a full drag performance to the activity area after the race.
A first for Philippine Fun Runs
Somewhere between the water stations, runners hit something Philippine fun runs had not done before: an SPF reapplication station. Right alongside the familiar Pocari-sponsored hydration stop, Hello Glow set up shop with its mattifying sunscreen spray, letting runners top up their sun protection mid-route the same way they’d top up on electrolytes.
This run was built entirely on the premise of showing up for your community, and giving runners one more reason to take care of themselves through an SPF retouch station along the way felt right at home. Hello Glow also sent runners off with caps and shades to keep the sun off their faces long after the race ended — all in the name of UV protection, and in the same spirit of volunteerism the run itself was built on.
At the finish line, each runner received an intricately designed Angat Bayanihan finishers medal. At the exhibitors’ area, Ever Bilena prepared congratulatory cards paired with a tinted lip balm for every finisher, serving as a small, sweet reward for crossing the finish line!
And tucked into every Angat Bayanihan tote bag was a small survival kit for the day and beyond — a c-lium husk sachet sampler, an Ever Bilena Daily Dose Dewy Balm with SPF 50 PA+++, and a Hello Glow Sun Care Stick SPF 50+.
“We’re delighted to be part of the meaningful fun run organized by the Angat Buhay Foundation. We hope the Ever Bilena and Hello Glow products we gifted to participants added to the excitement and gave them an extra boost as they crossed the finish line,” shared Denice Sy, chief sales and marketing officer of Ever Bilena Cosmetics Inc.
Makati was just the first stop. With Naga, Iloilo, and General Santos next on the calendar, the Angat Bayanihan Run is shaping up to be less a single race and more a year-long relay! Which leg are you running soon?
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