CLOSE to two thousand bikers and enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels rode their bikes along city streets to launch the Sun Life Cycle PH yesterday at the Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
Celebrities including Piolo Pascual, Ysabel Ortega, Gerald Anderson, Jake Cuenca, Matteo Guidicelli, Kisses Galavin of Pinoy Big Brother fame, Gretchen Ho and three-time Tour de France green jersey winner Robbie McEwen led the launch.
The cyclists completed rides of 20 kilometers and 40 kilometers depending on their fitness. Later in the morning children got their turn to ride their bikes either alone or accompanied by parents depending on their age.
The event was a welcome treat for families and friends to bond while biking around customized paths. Sun Life Financial Philippines said they advocate cycling as a healthy and fun activity as well as a sustainable option of transportation and moving around the city.
“Our mission at Sun Life is to help people achieve lifetime financial security. But every now and then, we create events on health and wealth because we believe that health and wealth go together,” said Mylene Lopa, chief marketing officer of organizer Sun Life Financial Philippines.
Sun Life embraces the growing love of Filipinos for cycling and an active lifestyle. Riders—whether new or seasoned cyclists—had a blast riding along partially closed roads as they enjoyed the challenging route from Bonifacio Global City, Taguig all the way to Pasay City.
Sun Life Financial in the Philippines offers a wide spectrum of products that include Life Insurance, Accidental Insurance, Pension Plans, Education Plans and Mutual Funds.
The premier 40-km race started at the corner of 9th Avenue and 30th street then went to the Kalayaan Flyover toward Roxas Boulevard then back again to Bonifacio Global City, going through the course in two loops.
The fun ride, held in partnership with Sunrise Events, Inc. and backed by the Bonifacio Global City, Department of Tourism, Powerade, Rudy Project, F2P, 2GO, Ford, Trek, Cetaphil, Sanicare, Alaska, Alcoplus, Cignal and the Philippine Star, also helped raise funds for underprivileged kids under Pascual’s Hebreo Foundation.
Sunrise Events, Inc. was established in 2008 by Wilfred Steven Uytengsu after it was granted the Ironman 70.3 license by the World Triathlon Corporation. The vision of the company is to stage world class events to put the Philippines in the sports tourism map of the world. SEI currently stages at least 13 events per year and has the exclusive rights to the IRONMAN, IRONMAN 70.3, 5150, XTERRA, Irongirl and Ironkids events.
A popular category—the Bid2Bike—gave participants the chance to pedal side-by-side with their chosen celebrities. Bidding started at P500 until all slots were filled. Winning bidders got to bike out with their chosen stars in 20km or 40 km races and had their jerseys signed and photos taken.
Proceeds from the bidding will help send underprivileged children to school under Pascual’s Hebreo Foundation.