PRESS RELEASE: This year’s GCash Run features a variety of activities and attractions that highlight a variety of passions and advocacy, including music, wellness, sustainable shopping, and farm-to-table products.
Below is the press release from GCash.
Last year’s inaugural GCash Run was seen as more than just a social equity rally by planting trees for everyone who registers to pave the way for a sustainable future. This year, the event returned not only as a purposeful run but also as a full-fledged festival of well-being.
GCash has been playing its part in protecting the environment for years with GForest, where every transaction earns green energy points. These can be redeemed to plant trees and contribute to a greener future, making users “GForest Heroes.” Last year, GForest Heroes participated in the first GCash Race which resulted in the planting of 76,000 mangrove trees in 11 hectares in the Negros region. Last March 22, the event returned for its second edition along Ayala Avenue, gathering runners of all levels – including pets – and climbing more trees.
“In partnership with Silliman University, we have reached the milestone of 40,500 trees planted and connecting environmentally conscious brands and partners to share advocacy and inspire collective action,” Winsley Bangit, head of the New Businesses group of Mynt, GCash’s parent company, said during the event. “Regardless of the distance, the first step today was a big step towards a greener and more sustainable tomorrow.”
This year’s GCash Run featured a variety of activities and attractions that highlight a variety of passions and advocacy, including music, wellness, sustainable shopping, and farm-to-table products.
After the run, participants explored the Green Heroes Village and Eco Market, sharing meaningful experiences with their fellow runners. Overall, the event combined fitness, community, and advocacy, leaving participants with a deeper appreciation for sustainability and shared experiences beyond running.
It’s the ultimate lifestyle upgrade, with plenty of exciting reasons to make the switch. Here are a few others that made GForest Heroes say “Prepare, set, grow!” in GCash Run 2026.
- A record-breaking effect – GCash Run 2026 was a great opportunity for everyone to join a bigger cause. Since 2019, GForest Heroes have contributed to the planting of 4.2 million trees, regenerating nearly 19,000 hectares of land (larger than Quezon City), and supporting 15,000 farming families. GCash proves that heroes are made, not born.
- Sustainable style and paw-sitive energy – In GCash Run 2026, GForest Heroes had to wear hats and stretch their sustainable singles made of recycled materials. Additionally, pets joined the movement for the 1K run. Along with their humans, they played their tapes too, reminding everyone that sustainability is a family affair, including babies.
- Cashing in on the vibe – GCash welcomed everyone to its “Green Hero Village,” where runners won GCash Credits and recycled PET Bottle Collector. From using their 100% recycled GCash Cards to visiting eco-friendly MSME booths that were beneficial in nature, it’s all about saving the planet.
- The symbol of a hero – From in-app functionality to live speed, GForest Heroes demonstrated how digital transactions drive real-world environmental outcomes with their Digital Tree certifications. Besides ringing the PR Bell, runners lost their “Hero Era” lives through medal drawing stations, while 10K finishers took home a special towel as a badge of honor, which also shows their commitment to the environment.
- Gamified growth – This year, the race was again used as the last “Level Up” through GForest, where you can enter money, send money, pay bills, buy loads, and earn green energy money that can be redeemed to plant online trees – proving that fitness and forestry are the two new forces.
Additionally, sustainability took center stage in the village with 22 eco-market partners, including araro.gelato, Kangkong King, Odd Cafe, Commune Cafe & Bar, new Hatchin Trading Corp, Planted Bodega, Cafe Leopoldo, Abel Filipino, Cut the Craft, Eco Shift Essentials, Kaunlawander Essentials, Wornawander Essentials, Kaunlawander Home Stores, Kaunlaran Fabric Shopping. Malingkat Weaves, For Keeps Pure Beauty, Plato Wraps, Vitargo, Rural Rising, and Colors and Petals. Meanwhile, the cashless merchant area showcased the convenience of GCash for Business solutions for runners, such as SoundPay, PocketPay, and EasyPOS, as they shopped for sustainable products, healthy food, and eco-friendly products.
GCash Run 2026 was made possible by the generous support of advocacy organizations and corporate partners such as ABS-CBN Foundation, Angat Buhay, Berdeng Kalabaw, Caritas Manila, CRIBS Foundation, One Million Lights, Team Manila, UNICEF, WWF, and Zolo.
The event also had a strong network of sponsors and partners, including eTap Solutions, Globe, IKEA Philippines, Pay&Go, and Smart as Platinum Sponsors; BPI MS Insurance and General Insurance as Financial Sponsors; and ECPay, Park Access, REV, and Singlife as Bronze Sponsors. Finally, Business Driving Club Partners include ATRAM, ECPay, eTap Solutions, Globe, STTelemedia Global Data Centres, Pay&Go, PDAX, Seapeak, and Tech Mahindra.
In GCash Run 2026, the finish line was just the beginning of a purposeful and sustainable journey.
Learn more about GCash by visiting their site website. – Rappler.com
