Running boom powers Veco

Ethel Taneo-Natera
Sun.Star Staff Reporter

RUNNING has become a passion of Veco. Proof of this is the organization of the 110-member Veco Power Runners.

A core member, Judith Ocana of the Community Relations Department, is fast proving to be Veco’s running queen with top-five finishes in three races. Her latest victory was second place in the Alumni division of the 1st Recoletos Run last Aug. 29, finishing the 5K in under 23 minutes.

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The victory was memorable for Judith who hardly had time to prepare for the race. Judith and the Community Relations Department have been busy with numerous Corporate Social Responsibility projects.

In the Aboitiz Race to Reduce Challenge, Judith clocked in at a shade over 23 minutes, good enough for fifth place. Veco was the biggest and loudest delegation with 105 registered runners.

Four female Power Runners finished in the top 10 of the Aboitiz Group 3K category.

Jary Sibonghanoy of the Power Metering Department (PMD) was first, Shynn Limpangug of the Business Solutions Department came in second, while Meh Yuamador of the Customer Service Group and Lorie Alvarez of PMD were in fourth and fifth places, respectively.

In the men’s division, three of the top 10 finishers also came from Veco. Jimnard Leonor of PMD came in at fifth, Noel Congcong of the Geographic Information System Department was at eighth, and Archie Malasador of System Operation Department was 10th.

Eight Veco runners joined the 21K. Four guys from the Procurement and Logistics Department—Victor de Gracia, Chino Peñaflor, Joseph Canen and Resty Rabillas—finished the race.

The other finishers were Marven Ponce of Quality Audit Department, Jason Abaniel of SOD, Ramontito Omboy of PMD, and Dennis Verallo of UEG. Way to go for first timers in the 21K!

Ma’am Sye Aniga, our ever-supportive AVP for Human Resources, also joined the Race to Reduce Run challenge.

Earlier, Jimmy Aboitiz, Veco EVP and COO, challenged the 110 runners to finish the race by placing a pledge in their behalf for AEV’s Christmas Outreach Program.

The running fever has been such that even family members of team members have joined in. I have become a stage mother to my 13-year-old son, James Christopher, who has participated in two consecutive races so far. The running bug has bitten him and he loves it.