Some athletes don't come to Mactan for races. Some of them already work here, too.

Guests at Savoy Hotel Mactan Newtown may know Laurence Amistad from Housekeeping, Ian Keith Generalao as a Beach Lifeguard, and Michel Filoteo as a Duty Manager.
But beyond their hotel roles, the three share another identity: they are athletes who make time to stay active and challenge themselves.

That was put into action when they joined the Sunrise Sprint, stepping away from their usual roles supporting athletes and becoming participants themselves.

Savoy Hotel Mactan Newtown employee-athletes Ian Keith Generalao for the Swim leg, Michel Filoteo for the Bike leg, and Laurence Amistad for the Run leg of the Sunrise Sprint.

For Laurence, Ian, and Michel, being an athlete means finding time to train while balancing the demands of their jobs. Laurence brings his physical energy from Housekeeping into running, Ian’s work as a Beach Lifeguard requires physical readiness, and Michel balances his responsibilities as Duty Manager with his own active lifestyle

“Supporting our employees in initiatives like the Sunrise Sprint is one way we encourage them to challenge themselves and be part of the sporting community,” said Josef Victor Chiongbian, General Manager of Savoy Hotel Mactan Newtown. “We are proud of Laurence, Michel, and Ian for taking on the challenge.”

Their participation reflects Savoy’s broader involvement in Mactan’s sports community.

For four consecutive years, the hotel has served as a partner accommodation for IRONMAN 70.3 Lapu-Lapu Philippines, welcoming athletes and their teams as they prepare, compete, and recover during the event.

Savoy has also supported Philippine Airlines athletes Dalton Simon Castaneda, Sheila Co, and Matthew Geremy Tan, as well as long-time partner and Kevlo Skin Clinic owner Mark Geniston, reflecting Savoy’s belief that sports are also about the connections built around them. Events bring together athletes, businesses, organizations, and communities, creating opportunities to support one another beyond the race itself.

Spectators cheered from the sidelines as one of Savoy Hotel Mactan’s sponsored athletes raced toward the finish line.

“Sports bring different people and organizations together,” Chiongbian added. “We value the partnerships we have built through these events, and we are happy to extend our support not only to our own employees, but also to the athletes and partners who are part of the wider community.”

Mactan is no stranger to sporting events. With marathons, triathlons, and other races regularly taking place across the island, sports have become an established part of the destination’s identity. Its waters, roads, and landscapes provide the natural setting, while hotels, businesses, organizers, and communities help create the environment that supports the athletes who come here.

For Savoy, that support begins close to home.

The athletes who bring energy to Mactan’s sporting events are not always visitors arriving from somewhere else. Sometimes, they are the people already here, working, living, and becoming part of the destination in their own way.

And for Savoy, supporting Mactan’s sports scene means making sure these athletes have a place in it, too.