MILO Philippines and the Department of Education (DepEd) celebrated the recent success of its inaugural Milo-DepEd Palarong Pambahay.
The joint effort was the first-of-its-kind inter-sport and inter-school virtual competition held on a nationwide scale.
The two-day live broadcast involved more than 700 schools and 2,000 aspiring student athletes who showcased their skills and competed with pride in front of 1.5 million-plus online viewers.
“It is our great pleasure to partner with Milo Philippines for the first-ever Milo-DepEd Palarong Pambahay competition,” DepEd Undersecretary Tonisito MC Umali, Esq, said. “Even though the pandemic has hindered most of our on-ground activities, our organization, as well as coaches, teachers, and parents, have worked tremendously hard to make this event a reality.”
“This is quite a milestone and integral proof that nothing can stop the Filipino champion spirit and our winning culture of Bayanihan,” Umali added.
The groundbreaking online sports event opened doors for young athletes who showed their determination as they trained and competed from their homes, as well as their parent coaches who helped guide them along the way to overcome the many challenges of staying indoors.
“We saw the dedication of the athletes and their parents to join the Palarong Pambahay amid the pandemic,” Milo Sports Executive Carlo Sampan said.
The Milo-DepEd Palarong Pambahay is just the latest of many creative and innovative programs now available from Milo Philippines designed to provide kids with an outlet to stay physically active and teach them the important values learned from sports such as discipline, respect and determination.
“Taekwondo helps me build my self-confidence so that I can attain success through hard-work and determination,” said Justin Apura who hails from the University of San Agustin-Iloilo.
Apura won gold in taekwondo and has been competing in local and international competitions since he was six years old.
Jennie Villanueva, whose son Marvi Marcelo competed in Athletics, said: “We can see the effort to win and the will excel in something—in doing the best he can.”
Faced with a new reality and challenges, Milo Philippines and DepEd have proven to parents across the country that there are opportunities to adapt and continue their child’s champion journey at home.