Around 20,000 participants from different government agencies join the “VibeRun: Takbo para sa mga Servant-Heroes” at Quirino Granstand in Manila, predawn of September 1, 2024. Jessie Cruzat, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Around 20,000 participants from different government agencies on Sunday joined the fun run at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila to celebrate the 124th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary.

The event, called "VibeRun: Takbo para sa mga Servant-Heroes," aims to promote camaraderie, physical fitness, and mental well-being among civil servants.

"Sobrang malaking tulong kasi kahit papaano nakakapag-unwind. May iba’t ibang activities tayong nawi-witness. Masaya lang. Nakakapag-bonding," said Yang Mercado, an employee of the Taguig city government who participated in the event.

"It’s my first time to experience this kind of concept, ‘yong run o viberun. Nakakatuwa lang kasi very colorful po ‘yong moment, ‘yong vibe… Nakakatuwa po na at least meron tayong ganitong event [ang] Civil Service para meron naman tayong just a bit of break do’n sa puro work lang," said Jesh Rubrico, who works for the Department of Tourism.

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Civil Service Commission Chairperson Karlo Nograles said that the event will also serve as a fundraiser for the Pamanang Lingkod Bayani (PLBi) Program of the CSC, which honors public servants who died in the line of duty by providing their families with financial assistance, a scholarship, and recognition rites.

"It is our way to show camaraderie at pagkakaisa ng ating mga civil servants and it is a kick-off sa marami pa nating activities for the whole month of September," Nograles said.

"This is our way also of welcoming mga kabataan, the new blood, bagong recruits natin in the government. Isa rin yan sa mga mandates ng civil service to increase the pool of eligibles, the pool of civil servants. Kaya ang panawagan ko rin sa lahat ng ahensya na nandito ngayon, let’s work hand in hand to fill up the vacancies in government," he added.

Aside from the fun run, the CSC will also conduct a series of events such as tree planting and job fairs across the country.

"Meron po tayong job fair, nationwide din po ‘yan. Government job fair para sa vacancies sa government para makatulong tayo na ma-fill up ang vacancies," Nograles said.

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