Every Step Counts: Vermosa Run Funds Native Tree Planting Drive

More than 2,000 runners laced up before dawn on Sunday, June 28, turning their morning strides into a direct investment in the Philippines’ forests as the Vermosa Green Run marked its fifth edition at Vermosa Estates in Imus, Cavite.

The five-tiered race drew a mix of running enthusiasts, run club members, elite athletes, fun runners, and even members of the media running community, all racing across 3K, 5K, 10K, and 21K distances, plus a 1K Dog Run for four-legged participants. Edgardo Panopio and Lorely Magalona topped the 21K category, while Jomm Lacanilao-Gay and Patrice Quiday ruled the 10K. John Mark Balogo and Ira Alvaro claimed the 5K title, Jessi Valentine and Danielle Sophia won the 3K, and Moises Calastravo crossed first in the 1K Dog Run alongside his dog, Onzi.

The Vermosa Green Run featured races from 3K to 21K along with a 1K Dog Run.

But for organizers, the real victory wasn’t just who crossed the finish line first — it was what the race left behind.

Every Registration Plants a Seed for the Future

This year, the Vermosa Green Run leaned harder into its environmental mission by encouraging corporate and group registrations. Groups of 10 who signed up were automatically enrolled in the Haribon Foundation’s Forests for Life Movement, a nationwide initiative that restores degraded forests using native tree species through a science-based rainforestation approach.

The impact of those registrations is already taking root. “Our partnership with the Haribon Foundation is a cornerstone of why we do this. Over the past few editions, the funds raised have gone directly into Haribon’s Adopt-a-Seedling and rainforestation programs. For this milestone 5th edition, we were overwhelmed by registrations where we attracted many groups of 10. That means hundreds of new native trees will be nurtured directly because of our runners’ strides today. Crossing the finish line is fantastic, but knowing your team left a lasting ecological legacy is the real victory,” said Letty Oh-Nañagas, Vermosa Marketing Manager.

Beneficiaries of this year’s race included the Haribon Foundation, Takbo Kabitenyo, and Pawssion Project, reflecting the event’s three-pronged advocacy: ecosystem conservation, active lifestyles paired with youth sports development, and animal welfare.

From Plastic Bottles to Race-Day Gear

The sustainability push extended well beyond tree planting. Runners were encouraged to donate used plastic bottles as part of the event, with those bottles later turned over to Makati Development Corporation (MDC) for upcycling into eco-bricks used in sustainable construction at Ayala Land projects.

The race gear itself carried the same message. Runners’ singlets, finisher shirts, and even the dog bandanas handed out for the 1K Dog Run were manufactured entirely from recycled PET bottles, transforming plastic waste into wearable sportswear.

“We wanted our runners to experience sustainability both literally and symbolically. This year, we offered a discount for donating used PET bottles, and the community supported this! Celebrating our landmark fifth consecutive year, the energy across our 3K, 5K, 10K, 21K tracks, and 1K Dog Run was unmatched. Seeing families, elite athletes, and pet lovers come together at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub shows that our community’s passion for fitness is deeply intertwined with environmental action,” said Lani Tan, General Manager of the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub, where the race was held.

Tan added that organizers are already looking to grow the event’s reach in future editions. “Looking ahead, our goal is to continue scaling this impact. While Vermosa remains our flagship home because of its expansive, nature-forward open spaces, we are constantly exploring deeper corporate and community partnerships. We want to bring more runners into the fold each year, proving that active, high-performance lifestyles can be completely sustainable,” she said.

The fifth edition of the Vermosa Green Run was supported by Oishi, Merrell, Pocari, Salonpas, Booster C, Fitbar, Gatsby, Milo, Apex, Topbreed, Dunsk Kuhner, Baby Boo, Chef Special, Entrée Gourmet Pet Treats, Saint Roche, The Gourmet Specialist, Zert, and Wonderpaw.