SUPPORT FOR SPORT. Education Secretary Sonny Angara (5th from left) joins the presentation of pledge through a marker symbolizing the partnership between the National Sports Academy and Jollibee Foods Corp. in Capas, Tarlac on Monday (Oct. 7, 2024). Jollibee announced a PHP5 million pledge to the NAS to boost the preparation of the national athletes for future competitions. (Photo by Ivan Saldajeno)
CAPAS, Tarlac – For the first time ever, the corporate sector is stepping in to give the National Academy for Sports (NAS) a major boost.
On Monday, restaurant giant Jollibee Foods Corp. announced a PHP5-million pledge to the NAS as the aftermath of a successful Olympic run for the Filipinos in Paris continues even early into October.
No less than the headliner of the successful Philippine Olympic team, two-time gold medalist Carlos Yulo, joined Jollibee officials led by country president Ferns Uy and vice president and head of marketing Dorothy Dee-Ching in presenting the pledge through a marker symbolizing the newfound partnership right at the NAS campus here.
"Honestly, we were greatly impressed and inspired by the Philippine team's performance in the Paris Olympics, and we were thinking what better way to honor the Olympians than to actually empower and really build the next generation of world-class Filipino acts," Dee-Ching said.
"And it so happens that that is also the vision of the National Academy of Sports, so we're really happy to partner with NAS to really turn that vision into reality and inspire the next generation of world-class Filipino athletes like Carlos Yulo," she added.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara also graced the historic event alongside this town's mayor Roseller Rodriguez and Tarlac governor Susan Yap.
"Nagpapasalamat kami sa Jollibee dahil sila yung first corporate sector, so hindi namin makakalimutan ito (We thank Jollibee because they are the first corporate sector, we will not forget this). At hopefully it will jump start a lot of help from the private sector in the same way na maraming tumutulong sa edukasyon (that many are helping in education) from private sector," Angara said.
Yulo and Jollibee officials also went on a tour around the campus as they got to see the future superstar athletes in training.
Angara even got to play a table tennis game with some young paddlers even as the concurrent Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas chairman also made some shoot-around and Yulo performed some of his stunts alongside the gymnastics students.
Professor Joy Reyes, the executive director of NAS, said the school is planning to buy new ping-pong tables for the table tennis athletes, new badminton taraflexes as they look to improve the usage of its futsal court, which also serves as the badminton hall, and new puzzle mats. (PNA)
