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.
NEWS
MILO, PSC strengthen ties to build stronger grassroots sports development
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.
NEWS
TikTok, Plan International Partner for safer digital spaces for teens
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.
NEWS
Puregold spotlights sari-sari stores as neighborhood lifeline at ‘Tindahan ni Aling Puring’ Convention 2026
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.
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MILO, PSC strengthen ties to build stronger grassroots sports development
TikTok, Plan International Partner for safer digital spaces for teens
