“Thank you [UPV Health Lifestyle and] Wellness Committee for not dropping the ball of wellness; and it could not have come at a better time. The pandemic really tested us with the online strain of doing online work and of course the accompanying social isolation can really take its toll. We all recognize that our mental health suffered during the pandemic. The Wellness Committee got this one right.”
This was the message of UPV Chancellor Clement Camposano during the awarding of winners of the 1st UPV Virtual Run held on December 10, 2021, Miagao campus.
The event was announced on November 17, 2021. Eighty-one (81) registered; 42 for the 21K category and 39 for the 10K. They had 15 days to finish their mileage from November 24 to December 8.
For the 21K category, 34 out of 42 finished their mileage while for the 10K, 26 out 39 ; which means that 60 finished out of 81.
The first 10 participants to finish the 21K and the 10K were declared winners and were given cash prizes. They are as follows:
Winners of 10k
1. Early Sol Gadong - UPHSI - faculty
2. Andrio N. Tagapan - DoPE - faculty
3. Dennis C. Ong - SoTech - faculty
4. Teresita E. Portugalete - DoPE - faculty
5. Danielle V. Tabnao - student
6. Sharon Rose Galorport - Library – staff
7. Sharon G. Nillana - TLRC – staff
8. Gene Ann F. Camaymayan - Div. of Biological Sciences – staff
9. Lei Marie Tess Paulma - OVCA – staff
10. Maria Theresa G. Romey - staff
Winners of the 21K
1. Brian M. Sapinosa - CDMO – staff
2. Fermar Novilla - OUR-CRSIS – staff
3. Ralph Reuben Mueda - HRDO – staff
4. Carmellie J. Sumagpao - DoPE - Faculty
5. John Salvador Y. Ricacho - SoTech - Faculty
6. Loui Tadia - SoTech - Faculty
7. Jeraldine Jocil Calangi - SoTech - Faculty
8. Jessa Jan C. Vinson - DoPE - Faculty
9. Apple Gray Deallo - REPS
10. Glenn M. Arlanza - DoPE - Faculty
What made the event a great hit in the community was probably because it was a very friendly virtual run. Participants can walk, jog, run or combine any of the 2 or 3; and they can do this anytime, anywhere.
The participants were also required to post a selfie, along with a screenshot of their mileage using apps like Strava and Runkeeper and post them in the wall of “One Fit and Well UPV,” an FB account maintained by the Wellness Committee.
Seeing their own progress and also that of their fellow walkers, joggers and runners served as a great motivation for them to finish their own mileage.
The Committee also created special awards for the non-athletic runners who made best efforts in achieving their goals. The awardees are:
For 10K
1. Fe Albarece Paguntalan (fighting despite lumbar issue)
2. Ana Liza Subade (slow but sure)
3. Teresa Hortillo (fighting as a cancer survivor)
4. Denivi & Nikko Torrecampo (mother & son tandem)
5. Samuel Miagaue (the struggle is real in uploading app screenshot)
For 21k finishers
1. Nats Añasco & Cherry Anasco (couple goals achieved)
2. Jay & Angeline Nuespaña (couple goals achieved)
3. Connie Ponce (consistent in earning her mileage)
4. Christina Molano (wakes up to run before sunrise)
5. Rosalie Piccio (highest accumulated distance in 21K at 42.82)
Wellness Chair Mary Lyncen Fernandez congratulated the elite runners for having crushed their distance in one go. But she said that the Committee is just as impressed by the dedication and effort of the non-athletic participants who surprised themselves that indeed, they were able to finish their distance. Many of them of them were even awardees.
She thanked the UPV administration for their invaluable support of the wellness program of UPV and likewise acknowledged the hard work of her fellow committee members in making the Virtual Run possible. (Source: UPV Healthy Lifestyle and Wellness Committee)