From riding the waves to enjoying the sun by the pool, find out what these athletes got up to at #TheGAMESummer in Baler, Aurora!
Summer in the Philippines is all about soaking up the sun and the heat, maybe sipping on a freshly opened buko in hand, and if you’re lucky enough, cooling off with some water and waves.
For one last summer hoorah, The GAME wanted to do exactly that, and with a very special group of guests.
After dedicating their summer competing in the men’s volleyball tournament in Season 85 of the UAAP, last weekend, The GAME treated three-peat champions, the National University men’s volleyball team, on a trip to Baler, Aurora, for their exclusive summer event, #TheGAMESummer, for some much-needed downtime.
To celebrate these talented athletes, the NU Bulldogs were also joined by fellow athlete Christiana Dimaunahan, as well as fitness and sports enthusiasts for a fun and relaxed weekend where they enjoyed the sun, rode the waves, and immersed themselves in all that Baler has to offer.
Curious to see how the summer celebration went down? Here’s a quick recap of our weekend trip:
Relaxing in the sun
The guests’ first few hours in Baler were dedicated to one thing: relaxation.
Upon arrival at The GAME’s official venue partner, Costa Pacifica, guests were treated to a delicious lunch buffet before they got the chance to spend their afternoons exploring all that the deluxe resort had to offer, from their inviting pools to their relaxing rooms, as well as their beautiful gardens.
The NU Bulldogs, Joshua Retamar, Michael Buddin, Obed Mukaba, and MJ Fortuna, were all spotted enjoying the summer sun while keeping refreshed in the pool — the perfect way to chill after a championship season.
Fitness and sports enthusiasts also enjoyed their downtime in Costa Pacifica’s pool, while also making sure to stay protected from harmful UV rays using Cetaphil Sun.
To truly take relaxation to the next level, The GAME, in partnership with leading skincare brand Cetaphil organized a sunset yoga session in Costa Pacifica’s beachside garden for all the guests to mindfully unwind, while simultaneously enjoying the beauty of the outdoors.
The sunset session was led by yoga teacher Joanne Villablanca. Focusing on a heart-opening flow, she led the team to a fulfilling and mindful yoga practice that allowed the guests time to reconnect and serve their bodies.
To cap off the evening, The GAME treated the guests to another lovely dinner by the beach, prepared by Costa Pacifica.
Adrenaline chasing
After spending their first day in Baler in full relaxation mode, the next items on the itinerary were all about pumping the adrenaline.
The NU Bulldogs, as well as the fitness and sports enthusiasts, woke up bright and early to enjoy the best of Baler: surfing. Although most of them were beginners, they embraced the challenge of learning a new skill with open arms and had a blast riding the waves!
But the adrenaline rush was just getting started. After conquering the sea, it was time to conquer the land with a thrilling ATV experience. The guests were all down to get dirty, speeding through the slopes of Baler’s Moto Park.
Of course, Cetaphil played a huge role in giving the athletes the confidence to take on these new adventures under the heat of the sun, knowing that they were protected by Cetaphil Sun.
And yet, the action did not stop there. To enjoy the last of the sun, the champion NU Bulldogs led a volleyball game right by the beach on the gardens of Costa Pacifica — a casual pickup game that naturally brought out the guests’ competitive sides. While they didn’t keep score, they did enjoy the thrill of competing.
But of course, the time finally came to wind down, so to cap off the second day of Celebrate Summer with The GAME, the guests all got together for a cozy movie night with popcorn in Costa Pacifica’s mini library.
Celebrating The True Spirit of Sports
All in all, it was truly a weekend to remember.
The NU Bulldogs finally got the chance to unwind after working hard for another championship-winning season, and the fitness and sports enthusiasts got a taste of how The GAME hopes to celebrate the true spirit of sports — finding ways to enjoy working up a sweat, honoring the achievements of talented individuals, and bringing communities together.
The GAME would like to extend its gratitude to its official event partner, Cetaphil, and its official venue partner, Costa Pacifica, for being a valuable part of its mission to elevate Philippine sports.
#TheGAMESummer was presented by Cetaphil and sponsored by Manly with official venue partner Costa Pacifica.
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