More than 4,000 runners brought energy, teamwork, and plenty of panalo spirit to the latest leg of the Puregold Hakot Relay in Imus, Cavite, turning the highly anticipated running event into a celebration of fitness, camaraderie, and community.
Despite the rain, Puregold shoppers, running enthusiasts, families, and participants from across the community showed up ready to take on the unique physical challenge. The event highlighted the brand’s signature Hakot Relay concept, where teams work together to collect groceries and other prizes along the course before carrying their haul all the way to the finish line.
Running With the Panalo Spirit
Unlike conventional running events, the Puregold Hakot Relay puts teamwork and strategy at the center of the experience. Participants don’t simply race toward the finish line—they also have to navigate the hakot sections, where they collect groceries that they can bring home.
For some teams, the challenge meant carrying everyday household essentials, including bags of rice, packs of instant noodles, and jugs of soy sauce. Others took on an even more demanding task, carrying home appliances such as electric fans on their shoulders while making their way through the rain.
The weather did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the participants, with runners continuing to cheer for their teammates and push forward despite the challenging conditions.
For Puregold, the event reflects the brand’s effort to create experiences that bring its shoppers and communities together.
“We started Hakot Relay with a simple idea of bringing our shoppers together through an experience that is uniquely Puregold,” said Ivy Hayagan-Piedad, senior manager of Puregold. “Seeing everyone show up, cheer each other on, and keep going through the rain was incredible. That’s the panalo energy that makes Hakot Relay so special, and we can’t wait to bring it to more communities.”
A New Challenge for Individual Runners
This year’s Puregold Hakot Relay also offered something for runners looking for a more personal test of endurance.
More than 500 participants took on the newly introduced 8K Individual Challenge, completing an eight-kilometer course designed to test their stamina, determination, and personal limits.
Unlike the team-based Hakot Relay, the individual challenge placed the focus squarely on the runner. Participants were challenged not simply to compete against other runners or chase a specific time, but to push themselves and make it to the finish line.
Completing the 8K course came with its own rewards, including a finisher’s medal and a surprise grocery cart that participants could take home.
The addition of the individual challenge expanded the event’s appeal, giving experienced runners and fitness enthusiasts another way to participate while maintaining the community-centered spirit of the Puregold Hakot Relay.
More Than Just a Running Event
The Puregold Hakot Relay continues to offer a different take on the traditional running event by combining physical fitness with the everyday experience of grocery shopping.
For families and teams, the event becomes an opportunity to work together toward a shared goal. For individual runners, it becomes a personal test of endurance and determination. And for the broader community, it provides a venue where people can come together, support one another, and celebrate their accomplishments.
Whether participants were chasing a big haul for the family, completing their first 8K, or simply looking for a fun and challenging weekend activity, the Imus leg demonstrated that there was something for everyone.
The thousands of runners who braved the rain and completed the course embodied the panalo spirit that Puregold hopes to bring to more communities through the Hakot Relay.
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