More than 200 Open Access employees, together with their families, friends, and pets, joined the company’s 2026 Fun Run along Ayala Avenue in Makati City.
Held during the city’s Car-Free Sunday, the early morning activity gathered participants from different teams for a run through the closed roads of the Makati business district.
Ayala Avenue Opens at Dawn for Open Access Runners
 Participating employees power through their pre-race warmups just before kicking off the Open Access Fun Run. |
Participants started arriving at the Open Access booth near Ayala Tower One as early as 5:00 AM to claim their running kits, which included event singlets and race bibs. Employees who brought their pets also received custom scarves for their furbabies before the run began.
After a group warm-up session, the 5K and 10K categories officially started at 6:00 AM along Ayala Avenue. The 1K and 3K categories followed shortly after around the Ayala Triangle area.
The shorter routes gave first-time runners, casual participants, families, and pet owners a chance to join at their own pace. Throughout the morning, employees filled the route while supporters gathered along the sidelines, cheering them on.
Promoting Workplace Wellness and a Healthier Culture
The Makati Fun Run formed part of a series of employee engagement activities organized by Open Access this year.
For Employee Engagement Manager Lubert Alvaran, initiatives like the Fun Run give employees space to connect outside of work while encouraging healthier routines.
 Recruitment Specialist Grace happily swapped her usual weekend routine for the Open Access Fun Run with her kids and their dog. |
“In a BPO environment where our people spend their days solving problems for customers, this initiative reminds us to show up for ourselves and each other,” Alvaran said.
“Seeing employees from different departments run and bond together reflects a truly connected culture. Work-life balance means having real encouragement from the company to prioritize wellness outside of our daily responsibilities.”
“I brought my two kids and our Maltese along because I wanted them to experience the community we talk about at home,” shared Recruitment Specialist Grace Baltazar who joined the 3K category.
“Usually, work stays inside the office, but seeing my children run with my teammates and our dog getting his own little scarf made us feel completely welcome.”
Beyond the race itself, employees from different teams spent time together, whether by joining the run, cheering along the sidelines, or gathering near the booth area after finishing their routes.
A Shared Commitment to Health and Community
 Open Access leaders proudly display their medals after the Fun Run. From left: VP Joy Sebastian, Executive Program Manager Crissy Tuazon, Senior Program Manager Myka Florendo, Head of Recruitment, Training, and Facilities Bobby Jusayan, and Senior Director Nate Martinez. |
Employees from different departments took part in the activity alongside company leaders, with many bringing their families, friends, and pets to the event.
Some participants completed their first organized run, while others joined the longer categories along Ayala Avenue.
Families and friends stayed along the route, supporting employees as they moved through the different distances.
Open Access Senior Program Manager Myka Florendo noted how the setting shifted the usual workplace dynamic.
“It was fun and refreshing to see everyone outside the office wearing their running shoes, sweating, cheering each other, and laughing through the fatigue,” Florendo said.
The event concluded with closing activities and photo opportunities at the Ayala Tower One booth, following the awarding of top finishers across the different race categories.
Building a Connected Team to Deliver Exceptional Customer Experience
The Open Access Fun Run forms part of the company’s broader employee engagement efforts that run alongside daily operations across teams and accounts.
At Open Access, workplace wellness is closely tied to how teams perform and work together. These programs help support steady, engaged teams that can adapt to the demands of a fast-moving customer experience environment.
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