1st Sunset Marathon to Happen on December 9, 2017

RUNRIO, Tourism Promotions Board Philippines and the Clark Development Corporation announces the upcoming Clark Sunset Marathon happening on December 9, 2017, at the Parade Grounds of Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga at 4pm. It is the first of its kind ever conceptualized in the Philippines.  The Clark Sunset Marathon is a race conceptualized and organized by RUNRIO, Inc. and was inspired by the fact that in tropical countries like the Philippines, the weather is mostly hot and humid. A night run is the perfect running event for running enthusiasts to have a more cooler and more exciting race experience.  Clark Sunset Marathon features running categories in 5KM, 10KM, 21KM and 42KM with the full marathon’s gun start happening at 5pm. The 21KM, 10KM and 5KM follow shortly at 5:15pm, 5:30pm and 5:45pm respectively.  The race event is expected to attract a total of 5,000 running enthusiasts coming from all parts of the country, as well as runners from other parts of the world. “The Clark Sunset Marathon comes at an opportune time when we are being very aggressive in promoting Clark Pampanga as one of the country’s premiere tourist hub.” Said Noemi Julian, manager, Clark Development Corporation, Tourism Promotions.  This landmark running activity is inspired by other world-famous famous running events such as the Boston Marathon, New York Marathon, Singapore Marathon, and the Tokyo Marathon, and is expected to put the country on the global map as a destination for running enthusiasts.    In partnership with Tourism Promotions Board Philippines and Clark Development Corporation the Clark Sunset Marathon aims to establish Clark, Pampanga as a venue of world-class running events in the Philippines. The activity also aims to establish this event as a premiere international marathon foot race in the country by securing route standard accreditation from AIMS/IAAF, the international governing body for distance races in the world.  “The development of Clark International Airport, including the construction of a P12-billion passenger terminal will not only provide running enthusiasts easy access to attend this event, but will also open new opportunities for both tourist and business groups in Clark Pampanga” added Julian.    Running coach Rio dela Cruz of RUNRIO Events, Inc. is proud of this ambitious running event that will not only promote the sport of running, but more importantly, promote the country as well and boost tourism.   “When we started conceptualizing the Clark Sunset Marathon, we wanted to have a first class running experience that targets not only local runners but also foreign running enthusiasts. We thought of a running event that can be compared to world-renowned marathons such as Boston Marathon, Singapore Marathon, New York Marathon among many others. And our goal is not just a one-time event. But to have an annual running event that will make our country one of the top running destinations” said dela Cruz.   For the inaugural year, runners can choose five categories and their cut-off times. 42K-7 hours, 21K - 4 hours, 10K – 2 hours and 5k – 1 hour.  

Since Clark has an international airport, Clark Sunset Marathon is also targeting foreign runners to join the race that will culminate with the Clark Sunset Marathon Music Festival, an after party celebration at the finish line. The activity will showcase DJs that will provide the party atmosphere of the running event. “We at RUNRIO want to give a one-of-a-kind experience to all the participants. We staged this running event on a Saturday evening so that the participants will have a relax and “chill-type” of an experience.  It will be a night of running and partying with DJ Ashley Rivera and DJ Tom Taus dishing out the coolest music. This will make sure that participants, their families and friends will have a good time,” said Andrew Neri, managing partner, RUNRIO Events, Inc.   Clark Sunset Marathon is made possible by Gatorade, the official sports drink, ActiveHealth, the official sports system solution, Garmin, the official timing partner and Solar Sports as the official media partner. The first running event of its kind in Clark, Pampanga is also made possible by Nizoral and Nyxsys.   For more information, visit www.runrio.com or like the official Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/runrioeventsinc/.

A must-try "DINNER IN THE THE DARK": (Opens Eyes for the Blind)

  Ever wonder how it feels or what it would be like to be blind?

This event will give all participants a chance to open their eyes in a “dark” condition. This great cause will give you a unique experience of dining in total darkness and understand how it is to be blind.

A Shining Advocacy

Zoomanity Group, one of the most reputed companies in the park industry, will  once again host “Dinner in the Dark” experience for the benefit of the Blind Foundations in the country. The same will be held on Sunday, November 20th from 12 noon to 8 pm.  Save the date!

 The aim of which is to stir awareness campaign of what it is like to lose the sense of sight and appreciate its essence to life even more.   Indeed, a must try!

Earlier,  the groups hosts  similar events  on the ff:  dates and venues :  October 28 - Zoocobia Fun Zoo, Clark Pampanga, November 11 - Zoori (Zoo @ Residence Inn), Tagaytay, November 18 - Zoobic Safari, Subic November 18 - ​ Midori Restaurant, Alabang Country Club.

What excitement awaits prticipants?

Before the dinner proper, a 30 minute orientation before will be conducted in various Zoomanity parks and resto'. In time for the dinner itself,  one's sense of sight will be wholly reduced in order for their other senses to precede over and their power be heightened. To complement "the blind" experience, awesome scents and soothing music, will be boost the one-of-a-kind experience. Isn't it delightfully thriling to explore the faculty of those other senses. A sight to behold not by the naked eyes!
  
See your chance to dine in total darkness while reaching out the light to the sightless. 
 
For tickets and added info: eye on Zoomanity Group at (02)847-0413, 8899824-28, (02)8957142,   09158904728 or email zoomanityg@gmail.com.

ASEAN signs FTA, investment deal with HKC

ASEAN and Hong Kong, China (HKC) strengthened vibrant trade and economic relations with the signing of the ASEAN-Hong Kong, China Free Trade Agreement (AHKFTA) and ASEAN – Hong Kong Investment Agreement (AHKIA) at the sidelines of the 31^st ASEAN Summit and Related Summits on 12 November 2017 in Manila.

The two agreements are part of the region’s continuous efforts in expanding external economic relations to foster greater trade opportunities for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).

“This will open more opportunities for ASEAN as we ensure greater market access for our products and sustained flow of foreign direct investments (FDI),” said Secretary Ramon Lopez, this year’s Chairperson of the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM).

Lopez shared that these agreements would provide job opportunities for people and enhance collaboration among businesses, particularly the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) sector.

AHKFTA is ASEAN’s sixth free trade agreement (FTA) with external partners, after ASEAN-China FTA (ACFTA), ASEAN-Korea FTA (AKFTA), ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP), ASEAN-India FTA (AIFTA), and ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA (AANZFTA). It covers trade in goods, rules of origin, non-tariff measures, customs procedures and trade facilitation, trade remedies, technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, trade in services, intellectual property rights, and economic and technical cooperation.

In the case of the Philippines (PH), which is an advocate of establishing an inclusive and innovative region, the deals provide more opportunities for MSMEs as well as to the country’s export industries given HKC’s role as gateway to the China market and their annual tourist arrivals.

For the first eight months of 2017, HKC was PH’s third top export destination with US$5.55 billion worth of exports equivalent to 13.18% of the country’s total exports. Meanwhile, approved investments from HKC for the first semester of 2017 amounted to US$10.74 million, making it the 12^th source of investments of the country.