Despite the hectic schedule of the UPV community as it prepares for the Lantern Parade on Dec 20, 2023, the faculty and students having exams, and personnel rushing to finish various reports, closing of cash advances and the likes, the Christmas Fun Run pushed through on December 15, 2023 at the UPV covered court.
Now on its 5th year, the Christmas Fun Run was conceptualized by the UPV Healthy Lifestyle and Wellness Committee to encourage the UPV community to engage in the joys of racing in a fun-filled environment. Thus, it has various categories not just for competitive runners, but also has a “Rampa Run,” wherein participants dressed-up in whatever costume they choose and are judged 50% for the costume and 50% for speed. To encourage more participation, the Committee added “Grupo ta ya;” which encouraged employees to run or walk together with their peers in a pre-assigned team color. The team with highest number of participants in a group to have crossed the finish line regardless of time is declared the winner.
The UPV Healthy Lifestyle and Wellness program was primarily designed for UPV employees but this year, it has included the students. The winners for this year Christmas Fun Run are as follows:
Endurance Run for UPV Employees (Male & Female Categories)
Male
1st Place – Rufino Tomaquin (CFOS)
2nd Place – Amberlanz Niño Momville (CDMO)
3rd Place – Tomas Momville (SoTech)
Female
1st Place – Mary Li Nulada (OVCRE)
2nd Place – Ma. Carmel Javier (PGC - Visayas)
3rd Place – Cezarie Golingay (RRC)
Rampa Run
1st Place – Jarem Espinosa (OVCA)
2nd Place – Czar Ian Esquivel (TLRC)
3rd Place – Rosalie Piccio (OUR)
Ten special awards were also given for the “Rampa Run,” those who were also in costume, as well as the first male and female participants who arrived at the venue to register or confirm their online registration. Meanwhile the winners of the “Grupo ta ya” are:
1st Place – Pink Team lead by SPSO for the central admin group
2nd Place – Red Team (CAS)
3rd Place – Blue & Green Team combined (Sotech & CFOS, etc.)
For the students, the winners are as follows:
Endurance Run for UPV students
Male
1st Place – El Andro Obar (CFOS)
2nd Place – Kristian Tribiana (CAS)
3rd Place – Stephen Andicoy (SoTech)
Female
1st Place – Precious Nicola Gaurana (CFOS)
Laughter is heard at the covered court as participants, audience and organizers shared the Filipino breakfast prepared by the Committee after the race.
The UPV Healthy Lifestyle and Wellness program was launched by the UP system among its constituent university in August 2014. UPV is the only CU that has sustained the program and will be on its 10th year next year.
