THE 2025 AIA Rock ’n’ Roll Running Series Manila officially kicked off Run Week on Monday with the opening of the AIA Health & Wellness Expo at Robinsons Place Manila, marking the start of celebrations leading into the country’s biggest and loudest running event.
This year’s staging sets a new milestone with more runners, more music, more entertainment, and more on-course features as thousands prepare to take over the streets of Manila on Saturday (Nov. 29), starting at the historic KM 0 at Rizal Park.
Anchored on its 2025 theme – Miles, Music, Medals, Memories and Manila – Rock ’n’ Roll Manila once again redefines what a running event can be: part cultural celebration, part high-energy street festival, and part athletic challenge.
Runners will traverse a fast, fully closed nighttime course measured by AIMS and World Athletics, making it ideal for personal-best attempts. Categories include the ASICS Marathon, the Pilipinas Live Half Marathon, the AIA 10km, AIA 5km and the AIA 1km Kids Run – ensuring a route suited for both competitive athletes and fun runners experiencing Manila in a vibrant new light.
The course spotlights the capital’s most iconic landmarks – Roxas Blvd., Intramuros, the National Museum, Manila City Hall, Luneta, Chinatown, and more – all illuminated by festive holiday lights. Manila’s unique blend of heritage architecture and modern nightlife creates a striking backdrop for both runners and spectators.
Music remains the signature heartbeat of Rock ’n’ Roll Manila, and this year’s entertainment lineup is the largest yet. The number of performance zones has more than doubled, from 12 last year to 30 entertainment spots spread across the route. Runners will be treated to a nonstop soundtrack of rock, pop, dance, and Filipino crowd favorites performed by local bands, DJs, drumlines, cheer squads, and cultural groups.
The post-race festival at the Quirino Grandstand will be headlined by some of the country’s most beloved performers – The Itchyworms, Basti Artadi, Gracenote, and Reujen Lista & the Trinidad Band – with DJ Marc Marasigan setting the energy at the start line. Ten Nissan music stations will also immerse runners along the course.
The 2025 finisher medals uphold the race’s tradition of oversized, highly detailed, collector-grade pieces. Participants earning multiple medals through the Remix Challenge can look forward to a set designed for display and celebration.
With over 8,000 runners, hundreds of spectators, and a city transformed into a nighttime playground, AIA Rock ’n’ Roll Manila presented by ASICS promises an unforgettable fusion of athletic achievement and Filipino festivity. From on-course entertainment to sponsor activations to the post-race festival, the entire experience is built around community, celebration, and the joy of movement.
Run Week continues with the Expo and kit claiming from Nov. 24 to 27 at Robinsons Place Manila, followed by the opening of the Festival Area on Nov. 28 at Quirino Grandstand. The #RNRManila races begin at 12:01 a.m. on Nov. 29, with other categories rolling out through the morning.
With expanded entertainment zones, heavier medals, an iconic city course, and a record-breaking field, the fourth staging of the annual year-end racing festival presented by ASICS is set to deliver an extraordinary night of miles, music, medals, memories – and Manila.
