17,000 government workers join fun run

MANILA, Philippines — Over 17,000 government workers joined a fun run on Sunday, the first day of Civil Service Month, to raise funds for a program benefiting the orphans of their colleagues who died in the line of duty.

The R.A.C.E. to Serve Fun Run held on Roxas Bulevard aims to raise funds for the Pamanang Lingkod Bayani financial assistance and scholarship program.

At the finish line in Quirino Grandstand, race participants received free health services such as a blood pressure check, blood sugar and cholesterol tests, and fat analysis courtesy of Watsons.

A mobile clinic also offered a free electrocardiogram test.

According to Watsons marketing director Viki Encarnacion, Filipino workers as young as 30 years old suffer from hypertension.

“This is because of our lifestyle — the fast food we eat, our sleeping pattern and the traffic. Everything that is happening here is a cause for hypertension so don’t be surprised if [people] aged 25 experience hypertension,” she told the Inquirer.

She encouraged them to observe a proper diet, regular exercise and take vitamins to prevent illness.

The Civil Service Commission said there were over 1.8 million government workers nationwide, with women accounting for over 60 percent. —Nikka G. Valenzuela