Challenging but worthwhile—this was how 53-year-old Arnel Valerio described his first 7-Eleven Run experience in Iloilo.

Arnel, a network engineer at Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), prioritizes taking care of his health and wellness. Despite his busy schedule, he makes an effort to stay active by occasionally going for runs and biking.

“My interest in running started six years ago when my workmates at Smart invited me to join a local fun run. It was a memorable first run, which made me realize how enjoyable and beneficial running is,” shared Arnel.

This year, Arnel did not let go of the chance to participate in the Iloilo leg of the much-awaited 7-Eleven Run, powered by Smart.

“Despite the challenge of not having enough time to practice, this experience inspired me to put in more effort and improve my running routine. In the future, I hope to compete in a higher category,” he said.

Smart has been the exclusive telco partner of the 7-Eleven Run for the past seven years. Smart does not only enhance the connectivity experience of the participants, but also promotes an active lifestyle among its customers and employees nationwide.

Just like his previous runs, Arnel’s coworkers were also the ones who invited him to join in this year’s 7-Eleven Run. “I am fortunate to have supportive colleagues who are also into running. Apart from that, I am also grateful to Smart for its efforts to encourage us, its employees, to live a healthy and active lifestyle by organizing wellness activities and supporting running events such as the 7-Eleven Run,” he said.

This partnership also underscores Smart and its parent company PLDT’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainability Development Goal No. 3: ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. [END]