Paddle Shots, Speed Demons, and the NIVEA Midweek Reign

It's no secret that staying on top of your game means hustling 24/7 and having that tunnel vision for success, even if it means sacrificing your free time.

NIVEA Men says it's about time men found a way to beat the dreaded midweek slump with an invigorating “Midweek Reign,” or putting the mind and body at ease without having to make that excruciating crawl to the weekend.

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You may think that running around and hitting a few plastic balls may be an exhausting endeavor in the middle of an already draining week, but hear us out. At the state-of-the-art Dink & Shot pickleball hub in Marikina, the guys who signed up for the Esquire Philippines x NIVEA Men Midweek Reign got to sweat the stress out in a battle of strategy, wit, and maybe a touch of technique. This was just the first part of the two-part series, with the second being an exhilarating experience of the F1 races.

The pickleball extravaganza, which was held on November 12, saw the courts packed with seasoned pickleball enthusiasts and those with tennis and racket sport backgrounds in a competitive test of muscle memory and adaptability. New players also saw guidance from pickleball coaches to remind the guys on rules and regulations. Whether they kept score or not, hitting balls with paddles and making new pals is the sort of energy booster our Esquire men needed.

"This event made me realize that it's okay to take a step back from the stress and work sometimes and to just live and enjoy," said Apollo Raza, a former aircraft mechanic turned lifestyle content creator.

"I'm so glad I got to do that by trying new things like playing pickleball and trying out the F1 simulator."

For professional dancer Jigoro Gragasin, the midweek pause was heaps of fun and a breath of fresh air from all the training and performing that goes into his line of work.

"I made new friends, and I felt taken care of by the people around me. All in all, it was a great experience!" he reflected.

If you missed the pickleball leg of the Esquire Philippines x NIVEA Men Midweek Reign, there's still plenty of time to lace up your tennis shoes, prep with NIVEA Men Deep anti-perspirant products, and head to a pickleball court nearest you.

Monza Barcade in Arcovia, Pasig, has always been such a fun hangout spot, catering to Formula 1 racing enthusiasts and appealing to anyone looking for a place to unwind with clever cocktail drinks. This was the final pit-stop location for the second leg of the Midweek Reign series for our participants. Think of it as throttle therapy behind the wheel. Well, this is all without the liability of crashouts and the ability to drink behind the wheel.

Who says you can’t be Max Verstappen or Lewis Hamilton going 200 miles per hour for a day to satisfy your adrenaline cravings for the week? The guys also dug in with classic comfort food picks such as onion rings, fries, and pizza to fuel them up for a few rounds of passing laps around the track. Monza Barcade is outfitted with top-tier computer racing simulators fit for speed demons. Indulging in F1 racing is a fitting outlet for the working man, since this midweek reset skips that weekly race to the weekend finish line.

“Overall, the two events were great. I liked pickleball the most since we were being paired up with other participants, whom we eventually got to know more,” said Jiggy Villanueva, an AI product manager, web designer, and fashion content creator.

“For the F1 racing event, I wished there were more chances to mingle and to get to know the people there.”

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