4:02 p.m. April 20, 2026

FOR decades, MILO® Philippines and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) have stood behind the journeys of Filipino champions. 

On April 14, 2026, these two pillars of sports renewed their commitment through a landmark partnership aimed at strengthening support systems and building a more inclusive sports culture across the country.

The collaboration aligns with the PSC’s “Grassroots to Gold, Gold to Greatness” campaign, which emphasizes that excellence is built early and consistently with the right support. Present during the signing at the Nestlé Hub in Rockwell were PSC Chairman John Patrick “Pato” Gregorio, Veronica “Caron” Cruz, Senior Vice President of MILO® Philippines and Business Executive Officer at Nestlé Philippines, and Carlo Sampan, Head of MILO® Sports.

A shared vision for a stronger nation. 

PSC Chairman Gregorio joins MILO® Philippines’ Veronica Cruz and Carlo Sampan to officially renew their longstanding partnership. The collaboration reinforces a joint commitment to athlete welfare and the “Grassroots to Gold” mission, ensuring every Filipino athlete is empowered from their first step to the podium.

Nurturing Champions in Life

The core of this renewed partnership is a shared focus on expanding grassroots reach to ensure inclusivity across the archipelago. By leveraging platforms like MILO® Active Pilipinas, Batang Pinoy, Women in Sports, and community-based sports programs, the collaboration aims to provide every child, regardless of background, the space to discover their potential.

“At MILO, our purpose is to build champions in sport and in life,” said Cruz. “Developing sport, especially at the grassroots, cannot be done by one institution alone. It takes committed partnerships that bring together a shared purpose and a long-term view of impact. We are inspired by the PSC’s direction and are honored to stand with them.”

A Sustainable Legacy of Sport

This vision is further reflected in MILO® Philippines’ ongoing efforts to champion active lifestyles nationwide. Earlier this year, the brand marked the 50th year of the MILO Marathon, a milestone that highlights its long-standing role in grassroots sports. 

“At MILO®, we believe in a holistic approach to sports development: one that goes beyond physical training to include values formation, proper nutrition, and access to meaningful opportunities,” said Carlo Sampan, Head of MILO® Sports. “This partnership with the PSC allows us to further strengthen that commitment by creating a more complete support system for young athletes, from grassroots to elite levels,” Sampan added.

7:15 p.m. April 19, 2026

TikTok, the leading destination for short-form mobile video, continues to strengthen its #ThinkTwice Troop advocacy program through a partnership with Plan International Pilipinas, a non-government development and humanitarian organization specializing in girls’ and children’s rights, reinforcing its commitment to online teen safety.

In an event to mark National Women’s Month, Rinoa, Shantel, Marianne, and Kathleen, Youth Advocates from various Plan International Pilipinas projects, were announced as the first teen members of the #ThinkTwice Troop, contributing youth perspectives to TikTok’s ongoing efforts to promote digital literacy, safety, and positive online engagement among Filipino teens, especially young girls.

“Safety has always been at the core of everything we do at TikTok,” said Yves Gonzalez, Head of Public Policy for the Philippines at TikTok. “Expanding the #ThinkTwice Troop through our partnership with Plan International Pilipinas allows us to directly engage with more young people, understand their aspirations and challenges, and empower them to navigate digital spaces safely with confidence and creativity.”

Safe Spaces for Creativity, Learning and Connection

During the Youth Panel, Rinoa, Shantel, and Kathleen shared their perspectives on navigating the digital world, citing they feel comfortable to share content and participate in online communities when educated on safety tools and privacy features.

They also cited how platforms like TikTok are positive spaces, where they can express themselves, connect with others, and discover new interests, a testament to how the digital world has become a meaningful part of teens’ everyday lives.

Finally, advocates underscored the importance of involving teens and young people in shaping safer online spaces and continued support from platforms, educators, and communities through digital literacy programs, reflecting the important role of young people not only as beneficiaries but as active partners in shaping safer and more inclusive digital environments.

“Teen-friendly and easy-to-understand policies, user-friendly tools, insights from the youth–these are just some of the aspects that are vital for platforms to understand and apply in creating safer environments for us,” said Marianne.

Empowering Teen Girls and Young People

In a separate panel, Pebbles Sanchez-Ogang, Executive Director of Plan International Pilipinas, Irish Almeida, Chief Privacy Officer of Globe Telecom, and licensed professional teacher and TikTok creator Lyqa Maravilla (@lyqamaravilla), highlighted the importance of women representation in tech leadership, policy development, and content creation, ensuring society builds online spaces where women and girls can thrive.

10:12 p.m. April 14, 2026

As Filipinos confront rising prices of basic goods, the friendly neighborhood sari-sari store is once again proving to be a reliable lifeline for Filipino families and communities. 

Leading supermarket chain Puregold Price Club is putting the spotlight on the sari-sari store’s invaluable role in Filipino neighborhoods as it holds this year’s Tindahan ni Aling Puring (TNAP) Sari-Sari Store Convention. 

Happening on May 14 to 16, 2026 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City with the theme “Panalong Lakbay Tungo sa Tagumpay,” the 2026 Tindahan ni Aling Puring Sari- Sari Store Convention is set to honor neighborhood store owners with a three-day event filled with exclusive discounts and treats from brand partners, free masterclass sessions, performances from a star-studded lineup, and a grand raffle.

Day 1 is exclusive to Aling Puring members, while Puregold PERKS members can also join on May 15. They just need to bring their membership cards to enter for free. The third and last day is open to the public.

“At this year’s Aling Puring Convention, we salute our sari-sari stores as an indispensable pillar of Filipino society. At a time when we bear the impact of price hikes, sari-sari stores shine as an extension of Puregold, a reliable ally of Filipino families who need to stretch their budget. That’s why we have made it our core mission to support these micro-entrepreneurs,” said Vincent Co, Puregold President.

This year, the Puregold Sari-Sari Store Convention is extra special as Puregold marks a milestone of surpassing the 1-million membership mark for Tindahan ni Aling Puring. The loyalty program currently has 1.061 million members across the country, with Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao seeing the fastest growth. 

“We have prepared a relevant lineup of activities where our Ka-Asensos will not only enjoy but also learn from industry experts. Through the convention, we aim to help our sari-sari store partners face the challenges of today while strengthening them for future disruptions,” said Co. 

Reflecting its commitment to sari-sari store owners, Puregold has also launched new interventions to address the rising costs of doing business for sari-sari store owners. 

For one, Puregold has significantly increased its specialized “Case Deals” and “Dealskarte Bundles,” designed to help sari-sari store owners maximize their profit margins despite inflation.