SWIMBIKERUN.ph supports Gabriels Symphony

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For mere mortals like us, it’s not everyday that you get to work with a senator of the country. So when Ani de Leon-Brown informed me that Mailet Ancheta (staff of Senator Pia Cayetano), would call me to inquire as to how SWIMBIKERUN.ph can help and work together with Sen. Pia’s annual Gabriel’s Symphony, I was stoked and immediately said yes to the opportunity.

Last September 3, 2011, the 9th Gabriel’s Symphony Foundation’s (GSF) 12-Hour Multi-Sport Celebration In Memory of Gabriel was successfully staged from 6am to 6pm at the Alabang Country Club in Muntinlupa City.

One of the things that SBR.ph is most proud of is the fact that aside from helping newbies get started with triathlon and multisport, this website has become a tool for people to reach out to our less fortunate brothers. We did it earlier this year when our first ever shoe drive was launched. We were able to collect 41 pairs of shoes. All of which were donated to Tuloy Foundation.

Donated shoes at the SBR.ph booth

High tech signage!

For Gabriel’s Symphony, SWIMBIKERUN.ph was tasked to handle and organize the event’s shoe drive. A total of 29 pairs of shoes were collected during the event. All of which were turned over to Sen. Pia’s Gabriel’s Symphony Foundation.

Turning over the shoes to Sen. Pia Cayetano

The event was jam-packed with activities. For participants, you can choose to do a swim-a-thlon, bike-a-thlon, a run-a-thlon, or do all 3 events! I chose to do the bike-a-thlon wherein you bike as may km’s as you can for 1 ½ hours. I was even lucky enough to win 3rd place!

Start of the Bike-a-thlon

With Pia Cayetano and the Younghusbands

One of the main event of the day was the mini-football tournament for kids organized by the Younghusband Football Academy. The event drew as many as 20 teams from various schools and football clubs from all over Metro Manila.

Kids battling it out

Celebrities who graced the 9th GSF include popular actor and TV host Richard Gutierrez, who also joined the bike-a-thon where he won second place; Philippine Azkals stars James and Phil Younghusband, who also helped Sen. Cayetano present awards to some of the winners; the famous racing ‘Team Pangilinan’ family led by lawyer-host Anthony Pangilinan; and triathletes Arland Macasieb and Noy Jopson, Filipino elite champions of the Cobra Ironman 70.3 in CamSur in the 2011 and 2009, respectively.