Puregold Hakot Relay draws 4,000 runners in Cavite, takes it to the next level with epic 8K challenge

Puregold’s “hakot” legacy hit a whole new stride in Cavite as the Hakot Relay South Luzon leg transformed Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus into an adrenaline-charged showcase for speed, grit, and panalo. More than 4,000 runners that showed up had their game face on as they competed, enjoyed the camaraderie, and joined the signature “hakot” moments of the race.

Around 500 runners took on the full 8 kilometers, proving that Puregold Hakot Relay is also about pushing one’s limits and crossing the finish line stronger than ever.

The rest competed in the event’s signature Hakot Relay, where runners formed teams and raced through the course while collecting grocery items along the way.

Therein lay the difference: Hakot Relay was a team event, while the new 8K was an individual race.

In the relay, teammates had to strategize and work together as they raced to collect groceries before reaching the finish line. In the 8K Individual Challenge, runners tackled the longer distance entirely on their own.

“We wanted to offer runners a fresh and enjoyable way to challenge themselves, with the ‘hakot’ mechanic adding a playful and uniquely Puregold twist to the race. Being part of the running community is meaningful to us, and it is a privilege for Puregold to bring people together for a shared panalo experience.” said Ivy Hayagan-Piedad, Puregold Senior Marketing Manager.

Participants began with a pre-race warm-up before heading to the starting line and completing their respective courses within prescribed cut-off times.

After crossing the finish line, runners collected their race-day rewards and visited sampling booths of participating brands. Sponsor-led stage activities and an awarding ceremony capped the event.

Participants in the team Hakot Relay went home with a Grocery Sling Bag and a Finisher’s Grocery Bag, but a ‘surprise’ awaited the solo 8K finishers at the end of the line: the chance to roll home their loot in a finisher’s grocery cart wagon.

“We’re always looking for ways to level up the Hakot Relay and give Filipinos something new to look forward to,” Piedad said. “This year, this meant introducing our first-ever 8K challenge and bringing the experience to an even bigger scale.”

With more than 4,000 runners joining either as teams or solo competitors, the South Luzon leg expanded the Hakot experience while keeping its coveted reward intact: you race to the finish line—and go home with groceries, too.

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Philippine cinema’s brightest unveil latest works at Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival mediacon

The Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival 2026 recently presented the 26 participating original films and their extraordinarily talented makers at a lively media conference held at Quantum Skyview in Gateway Mall 2, Araneta City. 

Alongside seasoned directors and actors joining this year’s filmfest are stoked-up aspirants and brave auteurs seeking to make a name in the industry through a diverse mix of movie genres.

Hosted by TV personality Migs Almendras, the Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival mediacon served to bring excited festival participants within reach of their multi-generation audience. On stage, the artists spoke with passion about their projects while providing attendees with glimpses into this year’s films.

In attendance for the coming-of-age film “Apol of my Ai” were director Thop Nazareno as well as actors Zion Cruz and Rochelle Pangilinan. 

Representing the fantastical “Beast” was producer Meg Bryan Bermudez, together with the film’s supporting cast of Candy Pangilinan, Karl Medina, Ruslan Jacob, and Dax Alejandro.

The quiet and moving drama “Mono No Aware” was represented at the event by director BC Amparado, producer Patricia Salic, as well as lead actor Juan Karlos Labajo.

The supernatural and proudly queer “Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa’yo)” had director Rodina Singh in attendance alongside actors Sassa Gurl, Joao Constancia, Phi Palmos, Gaia Poly, and Inah Evans.

The otherworldly love story “Patay Gutom” had actors Khalil Ramos, Cris Villanueva, and Alwyn Uytingco joining co-directors Carl Joseph Papa and Ian Pangilinan.

The romantic comedy with a deadly twist “Stuck on You” saw Mikko Baldoza take the stage with lead stars Xyriel Manabat and River Joseph. 

And last but not least, director Joseph Abello appeared to present “Wantawsan,” his ‘slice of life’ comedy with a twist of political dilemma. 

Also in attendance for the event were the nineteen filmmakers participating in this year’s student shorts category. Hailing from all over the country, this new generation of cinematic voices are raring to leave a mark at this year’s upcoming festival. 

“Every film in this year’s CinePanalo carries the passion of its creators,” says Ivy-Hayagan Piedad, festival chair of Puregold CinePanalo. “Giving these stories a platform where audiences can experience and celebrate them is our way of supporting Filipino artistry and contributing to the continued growth of Philippine cinema.”

PUREGOLD CINEPANALO FULL-LENGTH CATEGORY

“Apol of My Ai” 

Director: Thop Nazareno

Starring: Zanjoe Marudo, Zion Cruz, and Rochelle Pangilinan

Logline: Bata lang si Apol pero binata na ang tingin niya sa kaniyang sarili. Masusubok ang kaniyang pagbibinata nang ma-inlove siya sa kaniyang choir teacher, at nang gumawa ang kaniyang tatay Poli ng isang desisyon na maglalayo sa kanilang loob. Kaya ba silang hilumin at muling paglapitin ng musika?

“Beast”

Director: Lawrence Fajardo

Starring: John Arcilla

Logline: After a final harvest forced upon him by the landlord, a farmer and his loyal carabao embark on a magical road trip to Manila, chasing the ghost of a niece the years stole from him.

“Mono No Aware”

Director: BC Amparado

Starring: Juan Karlos Labajo and Perry Dizon

Logline: In a quiet apartment in Japan, a Filipino kodokushi cleaner meets an elderly widower who asks him for one final favor before he dies. What begins as a promise becomes a quiet story of grief, family, and accepting life's impermanence.

“Multwoh (Patay Na Patay Sa’yo)”

Director: Rodina Singh

Starring: Sassa Gurl and Joao Constancia

Logline: When a college queer dies suddenly in their dorm, they return as a ghost—not to seek revenge, but to say the one thing they never found the courage to say in life: “I love you.” A haunting, hilarious, and tender story about fear, desire, and the kind of love that refuses to die.

“Patay Gutom”

Directors: Carl Papa and Ian Pangilinan

Starring: Khalil Ramos, Ian Pangilinan, Agot Isidro, and Cris Villanueva

Logline: The story follows a grumpy shut-in whose third eye is accidentally opened after eating an offering meant for a charming but lonely ghost. Now bound together, they discover family secrets, shared heartaches, and a love that blurs the line between life and the afterlife.

“Stuck on You”

Director: Mikko Baldoza

Starring: Xyriel Manabat and River Joseph

Logline: A heartbroken manicurista accidentally takes on a hitman’s job, leading her to a deadly conspiracy where she must choose between saving her family or killing the man of her dreams.

“Wantawsan”

Director: Joseph Abello

Starring: Joross Gamboa, Rita Daniela, and Zion Cruz

Logline: A cash-strapped father receives money from the newly elected mayor he supported, but when he sets out to buy food for his son’s birthday that day, he’s thrust into a comical adventure that tests his wit and his values.

PUREGOLD CINEPANALO STUDENT SHORTS CATEGORY

SET A

“Starfish”

Director: John Clite Apolinar

Starring: VR Relosa, Nour Hooshmand, Jake Ulan, Floyd Tena, and Dads Valencia

Logline: Forced to return to his provincial hometown, a male sex worker confronts his estranged father, sister, and a town where oppression wears a more familiar face.

“Kun Hain, Bisan Diin. (Anywhere and Everywhere)”

Director: Jomarie Reyes

Starring: Pau Baluyan, Carla Zarcal, and Anton Nolasco

Logline: A young lawyer returns to Samar to look for her estranged activist mother before her wedding.

“Kanibal”

Director: Michael Baylon

Starring: Rowen Jean Ledesma, Roselle Lao, and Ma. Lourdes Maculada

Logline: Sa palengkeng hindi maiwasan ang pagbabago, kasabay nito na magbabago ang paniniwala at katawan ni Lea.

“Sa Mga Nagdaan at Lumipas”

Director: Ezaldea Carla Fernandez

Starring: Darelle Tiu, Aly Torres, and Karla Dipasupil

Logline: Ella, a queer archivist in mourning, reminisced about her lover by preserving a historical video documenting the first Pride March in the Philippines in 1994, in which they are both featured. 

“Limlim” 

Director: Samantha Beatriz Acoja Palaje

Starring: Zoey Madison Presentacion Lim and Angela Salga

Logline: A ten-year-old girl and her mother move into seclusion at an old chicken farm, where they are forced to confront their grief while starting a new life.

SET B

“Alumahan”

Director: Christian Melvin M. Arejola

Starring: Don Rishmond Cerbito, Zoey Madison Lim, and Jeremy Mayores

Logline: In a small provincial fishing town, 13-year-old Unyok, a grieving fish port helper bullied by his peers, seeks to belong in a violent youth gang and faces a brutal initiation rite.

“When Heaven Inched Towards Earth”

Director: Vinh Marco

Starring: André Miguel and Kaleb Ong

Logline: In a Catholic high school in Bulacan, a farm boy’s bond with a sacristan forces him to grapple with faith, shame, and the space between heaven and earth.

“No Mad is an Island”

Director: Carl Geronimo

Cast: Arjhay Mangulabnan and Vic Romano

Logline: In a vibrant fishing town, Matmat dreams of dancing like a fish, yet the world keeps casting nets around him.

“Tingi”

Director: Rowan De Aro

Starring: Jero Andrey Marcelino and Evangeline Argete Gigante

Logline: Inside a neighborhood sari-sari store where every transaction tells a story, a graduating student quietly saves every coin for college until an unexpected turn challenges the future he has carefully built.

“Ang Huling Banlaw ni Susan”

Director: Hezekiah M. Estorque

Starring: Jonalyn Mateo, Ian Laczi, Chayl Flores, and Jeffrey James

Logline: A Filipina labandera’s vivid fantasies slowly take over her reality, exposing the hidden cost of surviving in a broken system.

SET C

“Pulis Dunggab”

Director: Maxine Dela Bajan

Starring: Van Jordan Gacayan, Elj Seth Tababa, and Richel Ann Basiga

Logline: While playing his favorite game of Pulis Dunggab, 9-year-old Dongkoy stumbles into an encounter that transforms childhood make-believe into something all too real.

“The Sound of K”

Director: Jay Gabriel A. Cañada

Starring: Jay Gabriel A. Cañada

Logline: A young boy burdened by the fear of speaking discovers that finding his voice may require confronting the very sound he’s spent his life avoiding.

“Nakabinbin”

Director: Carlo Gula

Starring: Soliman V. Cruz

Logline: A widowed father must secure a death certificate to bury his daughter, only to learn that without proof she was ever born, the law leaves him no choice but to break it.

“Nang Matakasan ang Tagay”

Director: Giancarlo Santiago

Starring: Chino Alfonso and Jovic Gabriel Cardano

Logline: On the eve of his departure, a seaman drifts between a farewell drinking session with his friends and quiet moments with his son, until the tension between machismo and tenderness pushes him toward a reckoning he can no longer postpone.

SET D

“Teks Battle: Shoot Pati Pato!”

Director: John Russel Capule

Starring: Trisha Nicole Corpus, Kenneth Mendoza, Rhandylle Marius Obra, and Samantha Gleo

Logline: In a small barangay where a children’s game of teks reflects real power, Maya challenges Rod, the reigning champion turned tyrant, in a teks battle that could change the fate of their community.

“Kapag Tapos na ang Umpukan”

Director: Justine Lee Estinor

Starring: Oz Kenshin Rodas

Logline: A young man trapped between family obligation and personal ambition finds himself at a crossroads when the rituals of lambanog-making and a night of celebration force him to confront the courage he has long been stalling.

“12 Shots”

Director: Minnesota Flores

Starring: Nor Domingo, Kyrie Samodio, and Ethan King

Logline: In a dying Manila photo studio, a teenage apprentice inherits her mentor’s vintage camera and his penchant for the past—until a debt turns deadly, and the only mercy left is to walk the hours back to where it began.

“Bumtak Sara ti Nuangen (The Carabao’s Horns Have Cracked)”

Director: Lloyd Pereira

Starring: Belle Francisco and Riya Miranda

Logline: A young woman determined to find her mother is about to become their town’s first OFW, sending the townsfolk into a frenzy of over-the-top reactions.

“Miss Intrams”

Director: Henri Marie C. Belimac

Starring: Mariella Cuerpo, Mika Hamajo, and Diana Palma

Logline: A queer transmasc college student enters the campus Miss Intramurals pageant not to win, but to understand: is this who she is? Or is this the farewell to who she was?

The Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival runs from September 23 to October 4 at Gateway Cineplex 18, TriNoma, Fairview Terraces, Ayala Malls Feliz, Ayala Malls Circuit, Ayala Malls Manila Bay and Market! Market!

Tickets are priced at ₱250 regular and ₱200 discounted, while a ₱2,000 festival pass gives moviegoers a way to take on the entire lineup. PWDs, senior citizens, students, national athletes and Aling Puring and Perks cardholders qualify for discounted tickets.

Festival passes will be available at the Gateway Cineplex 18 beginning September 22, and also TriNoma starting September 23.

The Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival 2026 is sponsored by Alaska, Angel, Argentina, Ariel, Bingo, Birch Tree Fortified, Bear Brand, C2, Century Tuna, Champion, Chuckie, Coca-Cola, Colgate, Cream Silk, Datu Puti, Downy, GoodNom Fresh, Great Taste, Del Monte, Jack 'N Jill, Knorr, Lucky Me!, Maggi, Magnolia Real Mayonnaise, Milo, Monde, MY San, Nestea, Nissin, Nivea, Palmolive Naturals, Pantene, Purefoods, Rebisco, Royal, Safeguard, Sprite, Surf, Wilkins, and Zonrox.

Familiar and Fresh: How URC Continues to Surprise Filipinos After 70 Years

 

Some favourites never go out of style—and they continue to delight in new ways. For 70 years, Universal Robina Corporation (URC) has been a constant companion in Filipino households through quality and well-loved brands such as Jack ‘n Jill Piattos, Maxx, Cloud 9, Cream-O, C2 Cool and Clean, and Great Taste, among others. Staying true to its purpose of delighting everyone with good food choices, URC constantly evolves alongside the tastes and lifestyles of consumers.

Today, the company continues to excite generations of consumers by introducing fresh flavours, new formats, and exciting product experiences that prove innovation can come from the brands Filipinos already know and love. 

Here’s how some of URC’s popular brands are continuously evolving to excite and delight everyone:

The iconic tasty hexagon snack keeps offering exciting flavours

As a staple in daily snacking moments of Pinoys, Piattos is widely loved for its signature hexagon shape, satisfying crunch, and classic flavors such as Cheese, Sour Cream & Onion, Roadhouse Barbeque, Nacho Pizza, Roast Beef and Spicy Cheese. To excite today’s adventurous palates and satisfy evolving snack cravings, the brand continues to introduce more flavor options—from limited-edition creations like Beef Bulgogi and Truffle Cream, to exciting flavor combinations like its latest Cheddar & Sour Cream variant.

Alongside Piattos, other Jack 'n Jill favorites—including Nova, Mang Juan, and VCut—as well as classics like Chippy and Chiz Curls, continue to roll out exciting new flavor profiles, giving Filipinos even more reasons to look forward to snack time.

From sandwich cookie to full chocolate experience 

Cream-O has long been the go-to treat for chocolate lovers, but URC has reimagined the brand to go way beyond the traditional cookie format. To satisfy modern cravings for premium and indulgent textures, the brand has expanded into an entire ecosystem, featuring Cream-O Cake Bar, Cream-O Cakewich, and Cream-O Premium. Its newest is the Cream-O Dark Choco, an indulgent cookie sandwich that offers a rich and bold chocolate experience. 

The spirit of variety extends across URC’s biscuit favourites with Dewberry, Presto, and Magic Crackers, continuously adapting their formats to fit every kind of modern snack craving.

Reimagining the chocolate enjoyment with a new crunch 

Known for its signature combination of nougat, caramel and peanuts, URC’s Cloud 9 chocolate has been a go-to treat for several chocolate lovers. The brand has been introducing new ways to satisfy sweet cravings by offering products like the new Cloud 9 Crunchies that bring a fun and crispy texture to a familiar favourite.

Alongside Cloud 9, other fun treats like Nips chocolate introduce vibrant flavors and formats, proving that chocolate moments can make any day a little sweeter.

Fruity freshness, now with a chewy twist

Maxx has always been a pocket essential for on-the-go freshness. Recognizing a growing consumer preference for playful, chewy textures, URC expanded its candy lineup with Maxx Chews. This chewy menthol candy comes in a convenient, value-packed three-piece stick that is tailor-made for the fast-paced routines of modern commuters and professionals.

Together with URC’s other candy favourites like XO, Dynamite and Lush, Maxx offers something for every candy craving and every moment that calls for a refreshing treat.

Offering refreshing tea favorites, and flavor innovations 

As the pioneer of ready-to-drink green tea in the Philippines, C2 Cool and Clean introduced a refreshing tea experience to Filipinos. Alongside its Classic Green Tea, Apple, and Lemon variants, C2 continues to evolve its product lineup, introducing flavor innovations such as Raspberry, Dalandan and Peach. Its latest flavor, C2 Freeze Melon, brings an innovative twist on fruity tea with a delicious melon flavor and a refreshing coolness that lingers in every sip.

Brewing modern coffee moments, one cup at a time

As one of the country's most chosen beverage brands (based on Kantar's Brand Footprint report), URC’s Great Taste has a history of delivering innovative products - most notably by introducing White Coffee in the Philippines. 

URC continues to elevate Pinoy’s daily coffee ritual with the new Great Taste Premium roast, a coffee mix that’s designed to give everyone a delicious afternoon coffee break companion with its Tapang-Sarap blend of dark-roasted robusta coffee, palm sugar and real milk - para Balik Lakas Sigla.

Bigger, bolder flavours for instant happiness 

Payless continues to redefine value-for-money meals by giving consumers MORE at a sulit price, through its delicious range of instant noodle variants and bold innovations. 

Its newest Payless Chili Garlic Mami offers a flavorful twist on a Filipino comfort food favorite. Made with rich chili oil and real garlic bits, this crave-worthy meal delivers a balanced blend of Anghang-Linamnam that elevates your everyday noodle cravings. Experience the kakaibang Anghang-Sarap na Tumatatak goodness of Payless Chili Garlic, available in Beef and Chicken flavors.

Moving into modern pet care

Beyond making everyday snacking moments more enjoyable for Filipinos, URC also supports joyful moments shared by pet parents and their fur babies. Through its award-winning pet care brand, TopBreed, URC has been supporting fur parents’ journey by offering quality pet care products including dog and cat food, and other pet essentials. This 2026, TopBreed brand started expanding its portfolio from dry dog and cat food to other formats like wet and treats, also TopCare cat litter.

Always something new to discover

For 70 years, URC has grown alongside generations of Filipinos—evolving with changing tastes, lifestyles, and everyday moments. As a lifestyle companion, URC stays true to what it has always stood for: bringing quality, flavor and everyday delight to Filipino homes.

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For 70 years, Universal Robina Corporation (URC) has grown into one of the Philippines' leading food and beverage companies, with a portfolio of trusted brands enjoyed by millions of consumers locally and across international markets. Through decades of innovation and a deep understanding of evolving consumer needs, URC has built a lasting legacy of delivering quality products that enrich everyday life. Its iconic brands—including Jack 'n Jill Piattos, Cloud 9, Maxx Candy, Cream-O, Payless, C2 Cool and Clean, and Great Taste coffee—have become household names, connecting generations of Filipinos through shared moments and the simple joy of great taste. To learn more about URC, visit its website (www.urc.com.ph), Facebook page (@URCPhilippines), and TikTok account (@URCPhilippines).

What’s Really In the Bowl? Why Pet Parents Deserve More than an Ingredients List

 

What if pet parents could feel as confident about their pets’ food as they do about the food they choose for themselves?

With shelves crowded with products promising everything from “natural” ingredients to better digestion and healthier coats, making an informed choice can feel overwhelming. According to the 2025 ADM Pet Insights Report, pet parents are looking beyond the growing front-of-pack claims and becoming more discerning about the information behind the products they choose, making ingredient visibility an increasingly important part of premium pet nutrition.

“True transparency goes beyond simply listing ingredients. Pet parents are increasingly interested in understanding where those ingredients come from, how they are sourced, and the standards behind the food they give their pets,” said Romy Sia, Managing Director of Bow & Wow Philippines. “The more information pet parents have, the better they can make choices that are right for their pets and aligned with their values.”

What Real Transparency Looks Like

For Open Farm founders Jacqueline Prehogan and Isaac Langleben, the journey began after rescuing their first pugs, Maddie and Bella, and struggling to find pet food that met their standards for nutrition, animal welfare, sustainability, and transparency. This led them to build Open Farm around three core commitments: premium nutrition, animal welfare, and sustainability.

Today, Open Farm brings these commitments to life through every aspect of its products, from the ingredients it selects to the standards behind every aspect of its products, from ingredients it selects to the standards behind their sourcing and production. 

Available at all Bow & Wow Stores and the Bow & Wow Online Store, Open Farm’s recipes feature ethically sourced meats as the first ingredient, alongside non-GMO fruits and vegetables, naturally occurring prebiotic fiber, and natural superfoods. Its animal proteins are also sourced according to specific welfare and sustainability standards, including pasture-raised lamb from New Zealand, crate-free pork, pasture-raised beef, and sustainably sourced, wild-caught fish.

Open Farm takes these commitments a step further through traceability, empowering pet parents to understand exactly where their ingredients come from and hold the brand accountable for delivering on its promises. 

Through Open Farm’s own transparency platform, pet parents can enter the lot code found on the back of each bag to access information about where the ingredients in that specific batch came from. With this greater visibility into the supply chain, pet parents can see how the brand's standards are carried through every step of the process, from sourcing and raising ingredients to their final production.

“Pet nutrition is becoming a more holistic conversation,” Sia added. “Pet parents are looking not only at whether it meets their pets’ nutritional needs, but also at the practices behind it. Understanding sourcing, animal welfare, and sustainability gives them a fuller picture of what they are choosing for their companions.”

Making Transparency Easier for Pet Parents

For Bow & Wow, this emphasis on transparency reflects a broader commitment to helping pet parents make more informed choices. As the pet care market continues to expand, the company puts standards first when curating its portfolio, considering ingredient quality, sourcing, nutritional standards, and transparency. By bringing in brands like Open Farm that align with these values, Bow & Wow aims to give pet parents access to better options and greater visibility into what they feed their pets.

Transparency is also the heart of Bow & Wow's approach to pet care advice. Rather than simply recommending the most expensive options, its trained Pet Care Advisors work closely with pet parents to understand each pet’s individual needs and tailor recommendations based on formulation, ingredients, sourcing, and production practices, helping pet parents make informed decisions with confidence. 

“Every pet is different, so choosing food should go beyond simply picking the product with the most appealing claims,” Sia concluded. “Our role is to help pet parents understand their options, ask the right questions, and find a food that fits their pet’s individual needs.”

For those who want to experience the products before committing, Bow & Wow also offers free in-store samples of Open Farm’s Wild-Caught Salmon and Homestead Turkey & Chicken Grain-Free Kibble recipes. Pet parents can also browse Bow & Wow's full Open Farm Collection online to explore recipes tailored to their pets' needs. to explore recipes tailored to their pets' needs.

Ultimately, the evolution of pet nutrition is reshaping what “premium” means. Today, pet parents increasingly want to understand the story behind the bowl—from the ingredients and how they are sourced to the standards and practices behind them.

For Open Farm, that means traceable ingredients, responsible sourcing, and animal welfare standards. For Bow & Wow, it means making better options and the information behind them more accessible. For pet parents, it means greater visibility and confidence in every choice they make for the companions they love.