LOOK: Thousands flock to Puregold stores as Hakot Relay registration opens today

The running event combines fitness with teamwork in a uniquely Filipino relay format.

Long queues formed as early as dawn at participating Puregold branches across Metro Manila and Southern Luzon on Saturday as thousands of runners and families rushed to secure slots for the much-anticipated Puregold Hakot Relay and 8KM Individual Run.

From seasoned marathoners and fitness enthusiasts to office workers, students, parents with children, and groups of friends, Filipinos from all walks of life lined up hours before stores opened, hoping to secure one of the limited race slots available for this year’s event.

Registration officially opened on June 27 through participating Puregold stores, where customers who purchased at least ₱3,500 worth of groceries in a single receipt could register for either the Hakot Relay or, for Southern Luzon participants, the 8KM Individual Run.

Long lines were reported outside participating branches including Puregold Cubao, Paco, Taytay, Parañaque, Tayuman, Qi Central, Biñan, Putatan, San Vicente (Pacita), Lipa, and Anabu in Imus. Many participants arrived before sunrise, bringing foldable chairs, umbrellas, food, and drinks in anticipation of hours of waiting.

The Hakot Relay has steadily grown into one of Puregold’s biggest community sporting events, combining fitness with teamwork in a uniquely Filipino relay format. Teams of three navigate a relay course while carrying grocery bags, blending athletic endurance with the spirit of cooperation and everyday Filipino life.

This year’s Southern Luzon leg will be held on September 19 at Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus, Cavite, while the Manila leg takes place on December 5 at Burnham Green in Luneta.

To accommodate the expected turnout, Puregold implemented a queueing system in participating stores, with registration remaining open only while slots last. Receipts must be dated June 27 and issued by the same participating branch where registration is made.

Only Perks and Aling Puring members may register, although shoppers without memberships were allowed to sign up for either program on the same day before joining the registration queue.

The event is open to participants aged five years old and above, provided each relay team includes at least one adult representative.

With the overwhelming first-day turnout, organizers are expecting another successful edition of the Hakot Relay, further cementing its reputation as one of the country’s most anticipated community running events that brings together fitness, family, and the Filipino love for grocery shopping.

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