Color Manila reveals 2017 plans

On its fifth year, Color Manila seeks to build on its successful 2016 with a bigger 2017.

The winner for the ASIA Sports Industry Awards for Best Mass Participation will kick off the new year with their trademark Color Manila Run at the MOA Running Grounds on January 8.

Runners can choose between 3k, 5k, 10k, and 21k runs.

Color Manila VP Justine Cordero says, "We are happy to be on our fifth year for the Color Manila Run. This is our biggest annual event and we usually like starting the year with a big bang. Some of the runners are already familiar faces who have been participating in our events from Day 1. We are always thankful for their support and we look forward to seeing them more in the future.

Aside from the Color Manila Run, Color Manila is also looking at holding other runs in the provinces, and in the long run, overseas.

Color Manila President Jay Em shares, "Our goal has always been to bring that same level and fun in other parts of the Philippines. In the past, we brought our "concept-fun runs" to these key cities - Davao, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Cebu, Pangasinan, Bacolod, La Union, and Isabela. For 2017, we are going back to these exciting locations and we are also adding events in Boracay, Bohol, Rizal, Abra, and Cagayan de Oro."

He adds, "We have also partnered with the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), since it is also one way to encourage sports tourism in the country. For some of the participants, the events become a way for them to see the rest of the country, by joining different fun runs in different cities. For example, last October, we had participants who joined us from the Costume Run in Alabang to Clark the next day, then capped it with the Blacklight Run in Vigan the day after. It was a long weekend for all, and some took the time out to have a vacation run of sorts."

Em believes that this is the time that they go overseas, noting "We were more than inspired by our win at the Asia Sports Industry Awards (SPIA), that as a Philippine sports entity, we can compete internationally. Perhaps on our fifth year, this will be the perfect time to enter the international market. We are ready to bring that Filipino brand of fun and excitement to other parts of the world.

Color Manila is capping off its 2016 calendar with a couple of provincial Black Light Runs, one at Clark on December 3 and at Dagupan on December 10.