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| Jollibee launched a partnership with NAS through a PHP5 million pledge. Ivan Saldajeno |
CAPAS—For the first time ever, the corporate sector is stepping in to boost the National Academy of Sports.
On Monday, restaurant giant Jollibee 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 two-time gold medalist Carlos Yulo, the headliner of the successful Philippine Olympic team, 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. 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," said Dorothy Dee-Ching, Jollibee's vice president and head of marketing.
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. At hopefully it will jump start a lot of help from the private sector in the same way na maraming tumutulong sa edukasyon from the private sector," said Angara.
Yulo and the 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.
According to Prof. Joy Reyes, the executive director of NAS, 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.
Follow him on X: @IvanSaldajeno
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