Fun, fitness, living at HGS Mega Aero Marathon
The Mindanao Daily Mirror
(October 16, 2009)

It was a big day last October 11 for Holiday Gym and Spa and its sister companies from Holiday Group of Companies like Center for Asian Culinary Studies, Camp Holiday Beach Resort, and Holiday Oceanview Samal as they joined forces and came up with a one day exhibit on what they can offer us to enjoy a active and healthy living.

Fun and fitness activities ranged from free 10-minute foot massage samplers to tired shoppers of SM City to a cooking demo by Chef Toto Erfe on preparing simple healthy salads. Erfe showed participants how to make Greek Salad with Grilled Chicken Breasts, 3-Citrus Salad and afterwards sampling the creations of the first batch of Center for Asian Culinary Studies students.

There were also lectures on how to warm-up before any exercise activity by Emil Salcedo, introduction on Pilates breathing by Sash Resurreccion, a preview of a cardio dance workout by Korn Cocjin, a whole body mini workout sampler with Dopee Ferolin & Joel Bontuyan and a taste of what yoga is all about by Philip Young.

To close the day, a three-hour aero marathon dubbed as the 2nd Davao Mega Aero Marathon was held. It was a fitting name since several participants came all the way from General Santos City , Cotabato City , Toril, and outskirts of Davao City . The mega marathon also featured many firsts.

It was a first time for any marathon to have a student category (20 years old and below) and for the novice category to be divided into age groups like the 21 years old to 40 years old and 41 years old and above. It was also the first time that HGS featured a guest instructor, Vicky Javier, one of the pioneers of aerobics in Davao City and Fitness Advantage-Davao. Javier now owns a gym, BeeFit Gym.

The winners for the 2nd Davao Mega Aero Marathon are: for female student category Ma. Lauren Luy- first place, Charmaine Sinoy- second place and Isabella Mempin for third place. For the novice category ages 21 to 40, the male winners are: Christopher Eyao- first place; Jabar Umpar- second place and Jojo Tutor- third place. For the female winners, Heidy Labana- first place; Josefina Rosario- second place and Estrella Debildos- third place.

For the novice category 41 years and above, the male winner is Gregorio Paganpan for first place. The female winners are: Yolanda Eridiano- first place; Eva Albañez- second place and Marisse Belisario Go- third place. For the expert division, the male winners are: Rodolfo Enot, Jr. for first place, Mark Ryan Wamilda for second place and Renante Medina for third place. For the female winners: Maria Milanishino- first place; Jacqueline Canlas- second place and Ma. Ofelia Ferolin- third place. Tokens of recognition were given to the most senior participant- Daisy Estioko and the youngest participant- Judy Fe Alas.

HGS would like to thank the following for contributing to the success of the event: H2Zero for providing water for the participants, The Event Centre of SM City Davao, PN Ninte Metals & Crafts for the beautiful trophies and plaques, Nestle Phils. BluGre Coffee for the snacks of the judges and tabulators, Liza Bautista of Bangayan Group of Companies and Honeylet Lim of CACS for serving as tabulators, MaxGXL, The Glutathione Accelerator, for the gift packs they gave to the champions, Holiday Spa for the massage certificates and to the judges: Student Category: Doll Chuim, Oscar Casaysay, Edmund Supirata; Novice Category: Jimmy Javier, Bryan Grandeza, Nino Calamba, and Mutya ng Dabaw 2008 MJ Lastimosa; Expert Category: Jinggoy Salvador, Espie Aparris, and Jappy Fernandez.

Congratulations to the Holiday Group exercise instructors led by Gen Guino-o, Korn Cocjin, Ronnie Bulanda, Dodjie Batu, Haroon Cali,Dang Fernandez, Jingle Apilado and MiMi Anito. Special thanks to Ms. Vicky Javier and to the rest of the staff of Holiday for ensuring the success of the activity.

Have fun while staying fit. Visit Holiday Gym and Spa now, located along Torres Street , Davao City with telephone numbers 222-3041 or visit their website: www.holidaygymandspa.com.

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