Lopez Group HR Council head Cedie Lopez Vargas and company waiting for the start of the programWhen the pandemic temporarily paused the Lopez Group’s Walk the Talk (WTT) activities, the yearning among the Lopez employees both old and new to bring back the program only grew stronger than ever.

After a few initial post-pandemic one-off engagements, the employees finally got their wish to have the walk reinstated, this time again as an ongoing program, and with some improvements.

WTT had established itself as a shared wellness event that is celebrated by all Lopez companies. Taking its origins from the love for walking of former chairman emeritus Oscar M. Lopez, WTT continues to be a relevant program that unites and forges a strong bond among Lopez employees.

For its relaunch this 2024, WTT has been reinvigorated and reimagined. In addition to its regular walk and fellowship activities, the new WTT— now called “WTT+” or “Walk the Talk Reimagined”—has incorporated health, safety and environmental goals.

During WTT+ events, participants are invited to bring their plastic donations meant for recycling and turn them over to the registration area for collection. Participants are also instructed to observe their surroundings and environment during the walk and to share their notes to the organizers so these may be reviewed and acted on. When appropriate, other activities to instill learning and love for the environment may be inserted in the WTT+ events.

As expected, a significant number of excited Lopez employees showed up for the first WTT+ for 2024, which was held at Makiling Botanic Gardens in Los Baños, Laguna, on April 27, 2024.

The over 230 attendees were welcomed by Cedie Lopez Vargas, head of the Lopez Group HR Council, and by Dr. Ana Codillan, associate dean of the University of the Philippines Los Baños College of Forestry and Natural Resources.

Before the walk, a short learning session was imparted by Prof. Juancho Balatibat, director of the Makiling Botanic Gardens. And to get the participants ready for the walk, a warm-up was led by Sarah Tapel, Energy Development Corporation talent development manager.

Making one’s way through the Makiling Botanic Gardens’ winding eco-trail can be considered challenging and exhausting even for seasoned hikers, but the Lopez employees and their dependents who attended the activity smiled with relief when they finished and admitted they enjoyed every minute of it.

The early morning trip, the sweat, the body aches and the waiting for Walk the Talk to finally return were all worth it.

Excited for the walk

(Story/Photos by:MIKE AYEN, JESSICAL BUDOL & JEROME GAOIRAN)