MILO Philippines and the Department of Education launched in Mandaue City, Cebu the other day the Milo Active Pilipinas campaign aimed at motivating Filipino families and school youth all over the country to engage in an active and healthy lifestyle.
In collaboration with the DepEd, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee and local government units, Milo intends to use its programs such as the Milo Marathon, sports clinics and Barangay Liga to encourage school youth to take up sports and other physical activities.
Mandaue City sports director and former marathon runner Mary Joy Tabal, a six-time Milo Marathon women’s champion, kicked off the drive at the Mandaue City Central School with the participation of 4,000 students, parents, teachers and representatives from key sports stakeholders.
Among them were DepEd’sMarivicTolitol of the PalarongPambansa secretariat, DepEd Region VII director Dr. Salustiano Jimenez, POC marketing chief Niko Huelgas, PSC Commissioner Edward Hayco, and Milo Sports executive Carlo Sampan.
Also present was national karateka and Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Jamie Lim, a Milo goodwill ambassadress.
“Milo believes that sport is a great teacher. We recognize that accelerating sports participation among Filipino school children is an important part of raising a nation of champions,” said Veronica Cruz, Nestle Philippines senior vice president, during the occasion.
“By expanding the scale and reach of sports programs across more provinces, particularly in Visayas and Mindanao, Milo gives Filipino children even those in remote or far-flung areas the opportunity to participate, grow, and dream big,” Sampan said.
“Milo has become a critical catalyst in Philippine Sports. Of the 2,000 national athletes, 80 percent come from the province and public schools, only 22 qualified for the last Paris Olympics,” Hayco, who oversees grassroots sports development for the PSC, pointed out.
“Launching your Milo grassroots program in a public school sends a very strong and strategic message. Potential Olympians are found in our humble public schools. We only need to provide them with the right opportunity to be discovered,” he said.