The “Palarong pang Empleyado,” dubbed as “the friendly games” for University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) employees got a reboot on November 9, 2023 through the partnership of the All UP Workers Union, the All UP Academic Employees Union, and the UPV Healthy Lifestyle and Wellness Committee.
First introduced in 2018, the event was conceptualized by the UPV Healthy Lifestyle and Wellness Committee to encourage non-athletic employees to be physically active as it is not as demanding and intimidating as joining the Pahampang as an UGYON athlete. The last Palaro was held in November 2019.
In addition, the event also afforded employees with a break from the rigors of work, destress, have fun, get to know their colleagues more, and establish friendship and camaraderie through the friendly games.
Shirley Miagao, President of All UP Academic Employees Union, welcomed the participants.
The employees who participated were grouped into team colors of red and yellow upon registration. Prof. Rhoma Grace V, Pandan, faculty member of the Department of Education, College of Arts and Sciences, led the warm-up for employees through a Zumba. A short talk on wellness followed, given by Mary Lyncen Fernandez of the UPV Healthy Lifestyle and Wellness Committee.
She shared that wellness is an act of practicing healthy habits on a daily basis to attain better physical and mental health outcomes. “When we are well, we do not just survive, we thrive,” she pointed out.
Fernandez also shared that wellness does not just refer to one’s physical well-being that focuses on nutrition, exercise, and weight management. She said that wellness is a holistic integration of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. To achieve this, we need to eat well, get adequate sleep, exercise and have spiritual wellness.
The games that were played were, Batohan ng Bola, Volleyball with a Twist, Kadang-kadang, Hilahan ng Lubid, and Basketball for Men.
Cash prizes were given to winners and non-winners for all the games. Likewise, the winners of Circuit 2 of the “On Your Feet UPV!,” a year-long, virtual walk challenge for UPV employees organized by the UPV WelComm, were also recognized and given their token cash prizes.
“Nag-enjoy gid, kami, baw kasadya, daw na kwa man ang stress ta ba, ay kasagad gali sa iya magsalo sang bola.” These are just some of the words overheard from participants. The laughter heard at the covered court and the smile on the faces of the employees spoke volumes that the activity achieved its purpose.
Ma. Regina Montevirgen, President of the All UP Workers Union thanked everyone for joining the event. She also gave updates on what the union has been doing for the employees and urged their continued support of union endeavors.
