Senate kicks off Centennial celebration with 3K fun run, bike run

Senate President Franklin M. Drilon led around 263 officials and employees of the Philippine Senate in a three-kilometer fun run and bike run during the launch of its centennial anniversary Monday, October 12.

Drilon said the athletic event was a "fun and healthy" way to help start the official commemoration of the Senate's 100 year of existence, a yearlong event to be observed from October 16, 2015 to October 16, 2016.

Last August 7, President Aquino signed Proclamation No. 1091 recognizing the Senate as "a revered democratic institution that consistently upholds the national interest, protects civil, political and human rights, and promotes transparency and accountability in public service."

The President "deemed it fitting to honor the institution's history and contribution to economic development, social justice and political maturity, and its defense and promotion of democratic values."

Officials who joined the fun run included Secretary Oscar Yabes, Sergeant-At-Arms Jose Balajadia, Deputy Secretary for Administrative and Financial Services Arnel Jose Bañas, Senate Legal Counsel Maria Valentina Cruz, External Affairs & Relations Executive Director Diana Lynn Le-Cruz, Special Services Chief Nick San Pedro, Economic Planning Office Director General Ronald Golding, Print Media Service Director Sammy Santos, Broadcast Media Service Director Flue de Liz Godoy, among others.

Dave Tan, of the Senate External Affairs and Relations, said the fun run and the bike run were organized by the The Samahan ng mga Empleyadong Nagkakaisa sa Adhikain ng Demokratikong Organisasyon (S.E.N.A.D.O.) and the Senate Bikers Club respectively to "create camaraderie and brotherhood among Senate officers and employees."

Tan said the participants started the race at the parking area of the Philippine Senate at 4 p.m, to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), the Manila Film Center, World Trade Center and Philippine National Bank in Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard then back to the Senate campus. Jojo Villapando of the Senate Bikers Club said 30 club members and guests, including Wahoo Sotto, nephew of Sen. Vicente "Tito" Sotto III and current councilor of Parañaque, joined the event.

He said the bikers cycled for three-kilometers before they joined the runners in their three-kilometer run. "We are trying to popularize biking. It's a good sport since it gives us disciple as well as keeps us healthy. It is for all, regardless of our social standing, age or gender," Villapando said.

Meanwhile, the Senate held a golf fellowship pre-anniversary event last October 9. San Pedro said less than 40 members of the Senate of the Philippines Golfers Association joined the event.

"This is a fellowship among Senate employees and we encourage everybody to join. Our numbers had grown from 20 members in 2014 to almost 40 this year," San Pedro said.

He said winners of the event got trophies and medals. (Yvonne Almirañez)