April 22, 2024
Tzu Chi is the advocacy partner of the 2024 Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run
By Joy Rojas
Sporting yellow singlets, 10,000 runners showed up well before sunrise to cover the 5K, 10K, and 21K distances of the Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run organized by Runrio on April 21 at SM Mall of Asia’s concert grounds.
Celebrated every April 22, Earth Day promotes environmental awareness and protection, a cause that can no longer be denied: The super typhoons and oppressive heat that we’ve been experiencing in recent years are the result of climate change, a spike in global temperature due to pollution from burning coal, oil, gas, and other fossil fuels.
“This is a first for Tzu Chi,” says Tzu Chi Philippines Deputy CEO Peggy Sy-Jiang of the foundation’s tie-up with a running event. “Because it’s our 30th year, we have a series of activities that will let people know more about Tzu Chi. When Runrio learned about our efforts in environmental protection, they realized that we are doing so much to protect the Earth—our only home. So, they changed their advocacy partner from another organization to Tzu Chi.”
As it turned out, race organizer and coach Rio de la Cruz had personally experienced Tzu Chi’s mission and vision before. “Actually, I'm very familiar with Tzu Chi Foundation because I'm from Marikina, and every time we have a flood, they're there to help our community,” he says. “So, it’s perfect that they became our partner in this Earth Day Run.”
As the advocacy partner of the Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run, Tzu Chi Foundation made its presence felt from start to finish. Before runners took off, the Tzu Chi Philippines Deputy CEO invited everyone to visit Tzu Chi’s booths at the event’s Race Village, where they could buy fresh fruits, vegetarian sandwiches, clothing made from a composite material of discarded fabric and recycled plastics, and upcycled products like floor mats and stool covers made of excess sports sock materials.
Large trash containers set up by Tzu Chi volunteers in the middle of the Race Village reminded runners to properly dispose of their trash. These would all be brought to Tzu Chi’s recycling stations for recycling and composting. At the end of the event, Tzu Chi volunteers recycled 214 kilograms of plastic bottles, 242 kilograms of fruit peels, and 20 kilograms of cartons.
Before the awarding of fastest finishers, Tzu Chi scholars and volunteers performed the veggie dance. Key volunteers then joined the race organizer and sponsor representatives in a Green Pledge, committing “to protect all life on our planet, to live in harmony with nature, to share our resources justly, so that all people can live with dignity, in good health, and in peace.”
Runners have three months to prepare for the next run that will incorporate Tzu Chi’s Earth-saving initiatives. Organized by Runrio, Tzu Chi’s Charity Run for Education is slated for July 21 in Diliman, Quezon City.
“We will do a lot of pioneering firsts in the Tzu Chi Charity Run,” says Peggy. “Hopefully we can be a pioneer and let all the races in the future follow Tzu Chi’s footsteps on more sustainable runs and races.”
This year’s Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run saw 10,000 runners—including celebrities Donnie Pangilinan and Gardo Versoza and over 60 Tzu Chi volunteers—sign up for the 21K, 10K, and 5K categories. Organized by Runrio, the annual run was held at the SM Mall of Asia concert grounds on April 21. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
This year’s Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run saw 10,000 runners—including celebrities Donnie Pangilinan and Gardo Versoza and over 60 Tzu Chi volunteers—sign up for the 21K, 10K, and 5K categories. Organized by Runrio, the annual run was held at the SM Mall of Asia concert grounds on April 21. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
This year’s Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run saw 10,000 runners—including celebrities Donnie Pangilinan and Gardo Versoza and over 60 Tzu Chi volunteers—sign up for the 21K, 10K, and 5K categories. Organized by Runrio, the annual run was held at the SM Mall of Asia concert grounds on April 21. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
This year’s Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run saw 10,000 runners—including celebrities Donnie Pangilinan and Gardo Versoza and over 60 Tzu Chi volunteers—sign up for the 21K, 10K, and 5K categories. Organized by Runrio, the annual run was held at the SM Mall of Asia concert grounds on April 21. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
This year’s Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run saw 10,000 runners—including celebrities Donnie Pangilinan and Gardo Versoza and over 60 Tzu Chi volunteers—sign up for the 21K, 10K, and 5K categories. Organized by Runrio, the annual run was held at the SM Mall of Asia concert grounds on April 21. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
This year’s Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run saw 10,000 runners—including celebrities Donnie Pangilinan and Gardo Versoza and over 60 Tzu Chi volunteers—sign up for the 21K, 10K, and 5K categories. Organized by Runrio, the annual run was held at the SM Mall of Asia concert grounds on April 21. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
This year’s Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run saw 10,000 runners—including celebrities Donnie Pangilinan and Gardo Versoza and over 60 Tzu Chi volunteers—sign up for the 21K, 10K, and 5K categories. Organized by Runrio, the annual run was held at the SM Mall of Asia concert grounds on April 21. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
This year’s Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run saw 10,000 runners—including celebrities Donnie Pangilinan and Gardo Versoza and over 60 Tzu Chi volunteers—sign up for the 21K, 10K, and 5K categories. Organized by Runrio, the annual run was held at the SM Mall of Asia concert grounds on April 21. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
This year’s Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run saw 10,000 runners—including celebrities Donnie Pangilinan and Gardo Versoza and over 60 Tzu Chi volunteers—sign up for the 21K, 10K, and 5K categories. Organized by Runrio, the annual run was held at the SM Mall of Asia concert grounds on April 21.
A co-race organizer waves the flag of Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines, the advocacy partner of Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run by Runrio. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
As advocacy partner of Runrio’s Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run, Tzu Chi volunteers set up trash bins in the area for runners to properly dispose of their garbage. The trash was later collected and brought to Tzu Chi’s recycling station. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
As advocacy partner of Runrio’s Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run, Tzu Chi volunteers set up trash bins in the area for runners to properly dispose of their garbage. The trash was later collected and brought to Tzu Chi’s recycling station. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
As advocacy partner of Runrio’s Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run, Tzu Chi volunteers set up trash bins in the area for runners to properly dispose of their garbage. The trash was later collected and brought to Tzu Chi’s recycling station. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
As advocacy partner of Runrio’s Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run, Tzu Chi volunteers set up trash bins in the area for runners to properly dispose of their garbage. The trash was later collected and brought to Tzu Chi’s recycling station. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Tzu Chi Philippines was among the exhibitors of Runrio’s Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run. After their respective races, runners visited the booths for fresh fruits, vegetarian sandwiches, clothing made from a composite material of discarded fabric and recycled plastics, and upcycled products like floor mats and stool covers made of excess sports sock materials. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Tzu Chi Philippines was among the exhibitors of Runrio’s Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run. After their respective races, runners visited the booths for fresh fruits, vegetarian sandwiches, clothing made from a composite material of discarded fabric and recycled plastics, and upcycled products like floor mats and stool covers made of excess sports sock materials. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Tzu Chi Philippines was among the exhibitors of Runrio’s Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run. After their respective races, runners visited the booths for fresh fruits, vegetarian sandwiches, clothing made from a composite material of discarded fabric and recycled plastics, and upcycled products like floor mats and stool covers made of excess sports sock materials. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Tzu Chi Philippines was among the exhibitors of Runrio’s Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run. After their respective races, runners visited the booths for fresh fruits, vegetarian sandwiches, clothing made from a composite material of discarded fabric and recycled plastics, and upcycled products like floor mats and stool covers made of excess sports sock materials. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Before the awarding of the fastest runners, Tzu Chi volunteers went on stage to perform the Veggie Song, with volunteer Kinlon Fan hosting and singing and other volunteers signing the song. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Before the awarding of the fastest runners, Tzu Chi volunteers went on stage to perform the Veggie Song, with volunteer Kinlon Fan hosting and singing and other volunteers signing the song. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Before the awarding of the fastest runners, Tzu Chi volunteers went on stage to perform the Veggie Song, with volunteer Kinlon Fan hosting and singing and other volunteers signing the song. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Before the awarding of the fastest runners, Tzu Chi volunteers went on stage to perform the Veggie Song, with volunteer Kinlon Fan hosting and singing and other volunteers signing the song. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Before the awarding of the fastest runners, Tzu Chi volunteers went on stage to perform the Veggie Song, with volunteer Kinlon Fan hosting and singing and other volunteers signing the song. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
RunRio race organizer and coach Rio de la Cruz (sixth from left, in green) is flanked by Tzu Chi volunteers Molita Chua (fifth from left), Woon Ng (third from right), and Peggy Sy-Jiang (second from right), as well as sponsor representatives, in a Green Pledge. Together with runners, they committed “to protect all life on our planet, to live in harmony with nature, to share our resources justly, so that all people can live with dignity, in good health, and in peace.” 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Over 60 Tzu Chi volunteers participated in this year’s Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run organized by Runrio. Here, some of them proudly display their finisher medals. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Over 60 Tzu Chi volunteers participated in this year’s Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run organized by Runrio. Here, some of them proudly display their finisher medals. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Over 60 Tzu Chi volunteers participated in this year’s Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run organized by Runrio. Here, some of them proudly display their finisher medals. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Over 60 Tzu Chi volunteers participated in this year’s Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run organized by Runrio. Here, some of them proudly display their finisher medals. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Over 60 Tzu Chi volunteers participated in this year’s Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run organized by Runrio. Here, some of them proudly display their finisher medals. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Over 60 Tzu Chi volunteers participated in this year’s Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run organized by Runrio. Here, some of them proudly display their finisher medals. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Over 60 Tzu Chi volunteers participated in this year’s Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run organized by Runrio. Here, some of them proudly display their finisher medals. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Four-year-old Tzu Chi volunteer Sephora Hung helps receive donations to raise funds for the victims of the recent magnitude 7.4 quake in Hualien, Taiwan.