Connect with us

NEWS

MILO champions share stories of hard work that led to their lifelong success

September 27, 2022 2:00 p.m.

MILO® Philippines has extended its partnership with Jamie Lim, Coach Rio de la Cruz, and Japoy Lizardo. Adding another chapter to their years-long relationship, the beloved nutritious beverage brand is excited to tell each Champion’s unique story of pagpupursige that will inspire the next generation of young athletes to persevere in their own Champion journeys.

Breaking stereotypes
Being the daughter of a professional basketball legend and growing up in a family of athletes, it seemed destined for Jamie to become a star karateka. However, from an early age, both her father and mother – who is also a seasoned lawyer – taught Jamie the importance of choosing her own path and instilled in her the belief that she can always be more than your stereotypical jock. 

Choosing to not limit herself, Jamie decided to pursue goals in both sports and academics. The journey was not without its challenges as she had to learn how to balance the many responsibilities she had as a student while keeping up with the discipline of an athlete.

“I remember, in my preparation for the SEA Games back in 2019, I only had 5 months of real training as I was already in the last months of my senior year. On top of that, I was out of Karate for 4 years so training was twice as rigorous. Although it was difficult, I was able to power through it because I knew that the stakes were also high,” shared Jamie.

With her family’s continuous support, she was inspired to break past the mold and prove that she can indeed excel on and off the mat. Still one of her proudest achievements was winning both a gold medal in Karate during the 2019 SEA Games and graduating Summa Cum Laude in UP Diliman with a degree in BS Mathematics. Today she is focused on furthering her studies in London while awaiting for the start of training for the next SEA Games in 2023.

“Coming from being a part of MILO® AAK and now with my extended partnership with the MILO® family, I hope to inspire kids who are faced by the same barriers as mine to be brave in breaking out of those stereotypes and in paving their own paths. Their time to prove themselves will come,” added Jaime.

Running through life’s obstacles
Before Coach Rio became an international marathoner and one of the top running coaches in the country, his road to success was paved from humble beginnings. Coming from a big family that struggled in putting food on the table, Coach Rio sorely lacked the financial support that most young runners his age needed to pursue a professional career. 

At times, all young Rio had was an unwavering pagpupursige and discipline – and that was enough. He never once missed training, even on the days he had no running gear or equipment, and learned early on that he needed to work thrice as hard to achieve his one clear goal: be a successful athlete to provide for his family.

“One time when I was in elementary school, there was a trial race that I really wanted to join. Ang kaso sabi ng coach ko noon, hindi ka pa ready – pero makulit ako. I still showed up during the competition day and patiently waited. Buti na lang, one athlete didn’t show up so my coach gave me a chance. I proved to him that I deserved it by winning it all,” shared Coach Rio. That win opened the doors for Coach Rio’s future success in the sport.

“Time management and determination were key for me. Even when I was young, my life was all about school and training. I knew what I wanted and I was focused on my goal despite knowing that it would come with a lot of sacrifices,” emphasized Coach Rio. 

For Coach Rio, being a part of the MILO® Philippines family has played a huge part in his grit journey. From joining the MILO® Marathons and using his winnings to support himself in school, to now being the main organizer for all their events nationwide and a familiar face in the new MILO® TV commercial, it has come full circle. He continues to help pave the way for aspiring young athletes who are hoping to succeed in sports the same way he did. 

Molding the next generation of athletes
Japoy started his journey in sports at a MILO® Sports Program. At just 12 years old and being known as the teenage heartthrob whose face was on every MILO® pack, Japoy recognized the responsibility he had as thousands of other kids were aspiring to be just like him. This became an important driving factor for Japoy to pursige in succeeding in Taekwondo.

Since he wasn’t as tall or built as other athletes his age, he struggled to put on the required weight for his category but he persevered and worked twice as hard in developing his techniques. He turned his height and weight into an advantage that allowed him to create his signature “Spinning Kick” move that earned him the nickname “The Spinning Kick of Asia”.

Now at 36 and a professional coach himself, Japoy uses this experience in shaping the next generation of strong-willed athletes and giving them a platform to become an inspiration for the generation after them. In this extension of his partnership with MILO®, Japoy also aims to share this with more kids nationwide. “Although not all athletes are born gifted in a sport, they are molded through the years with experience and the right pagpupursige to succeed. That’s how strong athletes are created,” said Japoy.

The MILO® Champions have come together to inspire kids as they continue on their own Champion journeys. Their unique stories of pagpupursige also show that the values learned from sports can also lead to success. 

“We’re very happy to be extending this partnership with Jamie Lim, Coach Rio, and Japoy Lizardo. We believe that they each have personal stories that will serve as inspiration for many young athletes today to pursige in achieving lifelong success just like they did. As one MILO® family, we are proud to give them a platform that allows them to do just that,” said Veronica Cruz, MILO Business Executive Officer, Senior Vice President, Nestle Philippines, Inc.

Together, MILO® Philippines calls on moms to join the MILO® Champions in building pagpupursige within their children through sports. To know more about MILO® sports programs, please visit the official MILO® Philippines website.

Shown here are (from left) Veronica Cruz, MILO Business Executive Officer, Senior Vice President, Nestle Philippines, Inc.; coach Rio dela Cruz, karate champion Jamie Lim and Milo Sports Executive Carlo Sampan. Taekwondo champion Japoy Lizardo (center) joined the four virtually.

NEWS

“Priceless” Nino Muhlach FAMAS trophy sold to Boss Toyo 

12:59 p.m. May 15, 2024

Entrepreneur and child actor Nino Muhlach gave Boss Toyo one of his prized awards from the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) in exchange for P500,000.

But Boss Toyo reiterated that Muhlach’s award is “priceless” and will become part of his future museum. 

In an episode of Pinoy Pawnstars last Monday, Boss Toyo haggled with Muhlach, who personally visited the content creator’s shop in Quezon City to personally give one of his five FAMAS awards and make it as part of his collection.

“Aalagaan mo ‘yan, irerestore mo yan [Take care of that, restore it],” Muhlach told Boss Toyo. 

Boss Toyo said that he wants to restore the award, one of Muhlach’s five FAMAS awards to its former glory and showcase it in his planned museum alongside the award that Jiro Manio sold to Boss Toyo a few months ago. 

Muhlach said that it was Toyo who personally inquired about the award and decided to sell to the content creator one of the five Best Child Performer awards that he received in his career. 

“I decided to give it to him, pero big deal, kailangan alagaan niya and irestore niya and ilagay niya sa museum niya, dahil hindi ko na naalagaan, ‘yun ang deal namin [I decided to give it to him, but big deal because he needs to take care of it seriously, restore it and put it in his museum because I never take care of it. That’s our deal],” Muhlach said.

Boss Toyo said that Nino Muhlach’s FAMAS award is one of his dream items as he wants to note how Muhlach changed Filipino entertainment through his movies with noted Filipino actors such as the King of Filipino movies and legends such as Fernando Poe Jr. and Dolphy. 

“Ikaw ang barometer, ‘pag sinabing ‘child actor’, tandaan natin, wala pa akong nakitang nakadaig sayo as a child actor [You are the barometer of a ‘child actor’ because we have to remember nobody does it better than you],” Toyo said. 

Apart from the award, Muhlach gave to Boss Toyo some of the theater lobby cards from the movies he starred in and produced. 

Aside from acting, Muhlach also dabbled in several businesses, including the El Nino Apartments and Muhlach Ensaymada, which was gifted to Boss Toyo.

Continue Reading

NEWS

Check out this Next-Gen ID of Ateneo De Manila University, powered by Maya 

12:30 p.m. May 15, 2024

Have you caught sight of the latest innovation making waves at the Ateneo de Manila University? Maya, the #1 Digital Bank in the Philippines, has unveiled its cutting-edge ID card at the Ateneo de Manila University, redefining campus experiences and revolutionizing security and cashless transactions for students, faculty, and staff alike.

Featuring a sleek design and an embedded RFID chip, this Maya-powered ID card provides seamless access to vital university points, ensuring convenience and security not only on campus but also beyond. But here’s the kicker—it’s not just about identification. Maya’s collaboration with Ateneo goes beyond mere convenience—it’s about revolutionizing the entire campus experience by linking this innovative ID card to the Maya app. Together with Maya’s end-to-end cashless ecosystem, it simplifies identification, empowers students, faculty, and staff to make secure payments across the campus, and drives adoption of financial services.

Additionally, the Ateneo community can experience smooth transactions not just within campus establishments like Kitchen City and Macroasia, but also at nearby off-campus establishments like McDonald’s and Starbucks. And there’s more—this ID card offers exclusive offers and promotions through the Maya app, in addition to enabling users to purchase load, pay bills, open savings accounts, and invest in Funds and Stocks, among other features.

With Maya leading the charge, the groundbreaking partnerships established with UP-Diliman in 2019, UP-Cebu last year, and this year’s collaboration with Ateneo are reshaping the educational landscape through cutting-edge technology. Say hello to secure, efficient, and modern campus environments, welcoming a new era of university experiences across the Philippines.

To dive deeper into the Maya experience, head over to maya.ph and mayabank.ph. Don’t forget to follow Maya at @mayaiseverything on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, and @mayaofficialph on Twitter for the latest updates.

Continue Reading

NEWS

foodpanda logistics pays tribute to Ka-panda moms

2:00 p.m. May 14, 2024

They say that being a mother is a tough job in itself, especially when you’re also a working mom. But these mom heroes are taking it a notch higher by taking on a job typically dominated by men – navigating busy streets and traffic to support their families as delivery partners. Their resilience and dedication make them truly exceptional, embodying the spirit of hard work and determination.

Last Mother’s Day, delivery service provider foodpanda logistics paid tribute to the mothers in their Ka-panda delivery fleet who broke barriers and paved the way for themselves and their families, one delivery at a time.

Mom & daughter tandem

The bond between a mother and daughter is undoubtedly one of the most powerful relationships there is, and this dynamic duo takes it to the streets as freelance delivery partner bikers. Nina Heroda is a newcomer Ka-panda, having joined just four months ago, and her mother Purita followed shortly after.

“Pinagsasabay ko ang pag-aasikaso sa mga anak ko at pagha-hanapbuhay. Kahit uuwing pagod, kakayod ulit kinabukasan. Go lang nang go,” Nina shared.

Purita was also drawn to becoming a Ka-panda because of the opportunities it offered. Besides the typical motorcycle riders, bikers also have the chance to deliver orders, while enjoying the flexibility in their hours. “Ang kagandahan sa pagiging delivery partner ay nakakaya kong i-manage yung oras ko sa pagiging ina at pagiging Ka-panda. Ulirang ina sa umaga, tapos kukuha naman ako ng delivery session pagdating ng hapon. ”

Riding towards the future

A single mom maneuvering through the streets delivering food and grocery orders on her e-scooter – that is Jay Ann Martinez.Her e-scooter gives her the freedom and independence to build a brighter future for her daughter, even as a single parent.

“Kapag minsan na masama pakiramdam ko, pwedeng hindi muna kumuha ng session. Pero kapag gumaling, balik agad. Bilang nanay, kailangan natin ma-provide yung mga kailangan ng mga anak natin kahit mahirap dahil wala tayong hindi kakayanin para sa pamilya.”

Soldiering on foot

The Ka-panda delivery fleet’s inclusivity even extends its opportunities to walkers who fulfill orders on foot. This presents a unique chance for individuals who either don’t own vehicles or lack the know-how to operate one, such as Reena Dolores. She decided to become a Ka-panda to join her husband.

“Sa kagustuhan ko tumulong sa asawa ko, pinapasok ko na rin ang pagiging delivery partner. Nagagampanan ko pa rin naman ang pagiging ina dahil minsan, maghahatid ako ng mga anak ko tapos magde-deliver.”

A tribute to Ka-panda SuperwoMoms

The Ka-panda moms were treated to gifts from foodpanda logistics brand partners Silverworks and Motivo, as well as cash giveaways. They also had the opportunity to bond with their family members to celebrate the special occassion.

“It’s amazing how these women delivery partners show that they are just as capable as men in this line of work. We pay tribute to the amazing mothers in our delivery fleet because they represent the resilience and dedication we admire,” said foodpanda logistics Rider Experience Lead Ron Sanders.

In addition to rewarding the moms, foodpanda logistics also provided special Quests for its delivery fleet, allowing them to earn extra income by completing a series of orders on Mother’s Day last May 12. Raffle entries were also available for a chance to win one of the brand-new motorcycles.

“On Mother’s Day, we honored the exceptional contributions of Ka-panda moms and extend a warm invitation to aspiring mothers to become part of our Ka-panda community,” Sanders emphasized.

Visit the foodpanda riders Facebook page to discover the compelling stories of these Ka-pandas, alongside other Ka-panda mothers.

Continue Reading