Around 400 participants attended the Lopez HR Council Lopez Lifelong Wellness Walk the Talk (WTT) at the Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center (NAPWC) in Quezon City on March 23. The WTT was hosted by Energy Development Corporation (EDC) and OML Center.
In his welcome remarks, OML Center executive director Dr. Rodel Lasco spoke about the need to translate knowledge into action. He stressed: “Our presence here today means we do not just know things, but we also apply what we know, so let us put our advocacies in action.” Atty. Allan Barcena, EDC head of Corporate Social Responsibility, followed with a talk on the BINHI program. The walkers were prepared for the two-kilometer trek around the compound by the lively exercises led by an instructor from Gold’s Gym as well as a safety briefing from JP Tiglao of EDC. OML Center’s Kato Sarmiento introduced an added twist to this edition’s WTT, the tree spotting activity, in partnership with BINHI. Walkers took selfies with the Philippine native trees that could be found along the path; prizes were given to the first 30 participants to submit their selfies. Twelve trees were identified: alibangbang, balitbitan, banaba, bolong-eta, dao, kamagong, kaatoan-bangkal, molave, narra, talisai, siar and supa. Prizes were also given to the first 20 individuals to complete the word scramble of OML Center climate icons, as well as the first 20 to complete “Climate A-Z,” which challenged them to list climate issues that start with each letter of the alphabet. Among those present at the WTT were EDC heads Beth Nasol of Human Resource Management and Ireneo Itoses of Facilities Operations and Maintenance and Technical Services, and First Balfour Human Resources and Administration head Caloy Salonga. The NAPWC is a 22.7- hectare zoological and botanical garden. It has a lagoon, an aquarium, a playground, botanical garden and a wildlife rescue center, which the Department of Environment and Natural Resources uses as a temporary shelter for wild animals. Incidentally, the NAPWC is one of the sites of BINHI tree-planting activities. (Story/Photos by: Gerbs de Castro )
