BALANGA City- The city government on Friday afternoon launched the Balanga University Town (U-Town) Running Club with the aim of attracting residents in all 25 villages, students, city hall workers and employers and employees of private and public offices to join in an exercise of their choice.
The launch was made livelier with the application of Chi and Tai-Chi techniques. Chi is the energy that unites body, mind and spirit. Tai-Chi, an ancient Chinese tradition, helps reduce stress and anxiety and increases flexibility and balance.
It is a graceful form of exercise. Dr. Mark Banzon, city health officer, said the running club is a brainchild of City Mayor Jose Enrique Garcia III. Hinihikayat namin ang lahat ng barangay sa Balanga na sumali sa running club at kung maaari ay bumuo ng kanya-kanyang running club. Bahagi ito ng Balanga U-Town concept para sa healthy lifestyle ng bawat mamamayan,” Banzon said.
Garcia said the launch was timed with the anniversary of Hataw sa Plaza which is made three times a week. Hataw is a dance-exercise for all ages and usually participated in by more than 800 city hall workers, including department heads, every Friday afternoon at the Plaza Mayor de Balanga.
“Inilunsad natin ang running club upang maraming pagpilian ang ating mga kababayan kung anong exercise ang gusto nila. Kung gusto nilang sumayaw, nandiyan ang Hataw sa Plaza, kung pagtakbo naman ang hilig, nandito ang running club at sa susunod ay pwedeng sa tennis at badminton clubs,” the mayor said.
He said that not only students in various colleges and a university in the city will have many options on which exercise to go into. “Ang lahat ng ito ay bahagi ng healthy lifestyle program ng lungsod para makaiwas ang mamamayan sa paninigarilyo, pag-inom ng alak at paggamit ng droga at pagkain ng tama,” the mayor said.
Garcia announced that the sangguniang panlungsod is drafting a “Physical Activity in the Workplace Ordinance” to convince employers of both private and public offices to let their workers join any of the sports clubs in the city.
“Ito’y sa layuning maging malusog ang mga manggagawa upang mas lalo silang maging productive,” the mayor said.
Garcia led in the posting of ceremonial running club invitations to different offices in the Plaza Center Mall, Plaza Hotel and Galeria Victoria, high-rise buildings of the same façade and color around Plaza Mayor. At the background can be seen the city hall/ library and the St. Joseph Cathedral.
Hundreds of articipants led by the mayor and Vice-Mayor Noel Valdecanas joined the warm up in preparation for the Chi running-walking activity from Plaza Mayor to Dona Francisca Park, some 300 meters away.
Then, the Tai-Chi mass demonstration followed.
