NEWS
MILO PH energizes over 5,000 athletes in Batang Pinoy

December 26, 2022 12:30 p.m.
VIGAN, Ilocos Sur – – Beloved nutritious beverage brand MILO® Philippines and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) celebrated the success of its annual youth sports program Batang Pinoy Championship returning after 2 years of the pandemic.
The 6-day championship took place from December 17 to 21 in the Heritage City, Vigan, Ilocos Sur where thousands of student athletes joined different sports competitions and earned their respective medals.
The City of Baguio emerged victorious as the overall champion with 100 medals, followed by Pasig City and Quezon City with 48 and 46 wins respectively.
MILO® Philippines also presented the MILO® Batang Pursigido Awards to deserving athletes and Batang Pinoy teams who showed exemplary grit, perseverance and dedication to sports.
The recipients of the MILO® Batang Pinoy Pursigido Awards include Adrian Jessie Magbojos of City of Sta. Rosa (most bemedaled female athlete), Miguel Adrian Carlos of City of Puerto Princesa (most bemedaled male athlete), City Pangasinan (with the biggest delegation), six-year-olds Art Joe Cabatan of Davao de Oro and Hailey Bolico of Pasig City (youngest male and female athletes).
Batang Pinoy is known as the Philippine Sports Commission’s grassroots development program that student athletes and other kids from around the country may join.
After being forced to a halt because of the pandemic, Batang Pinoy has finally returned to a hybrid of online and on-ground events.
There are a total of 9 on-ground events conducted in Vigan, Ilocos Sur with athletics and swimming garnering the most number of participants.
“The Batang Pinoy has become an integral part of our national sport program, and now one of the flagship programs of the country, especially for the grassroots. From the tracks to the courts and other fields of play, dreams of young athletes began, dreams of waving our flag, wearing our colors and bringing pride to our country in international sports competitions. These dreams were offered through the Batang Pinoy platform,” said PSC Commissioner Emmanuel “Noli” Eala.
MILO® Ambassadors, Olympic medalist and world champion Hidilyn Diaz and Carlos Yulo were once participants of Batang Pinoy.
In order to make this happen, Batang Pinoy 2022 was also supported by the Provincial Government of Ilocos Sur.
“WOur province warmly welcomes our athletes, coaches, parents and guests to Vigan, and we are honored to be part of your sports journeys. One thing is for sure, we all are winners in our own ways, and may this triumph be the perpetual success of Batang Pinoy,” said Gov. Jerry Singson.
“We are very happy to be back on ground with kids from different parts of the country! We’ve worked hard with PSC over the last years to work on making sure that kids are continuously active throughout the pandemic and it’s amazing to see them in person again doing what they love in person and with their peers,” said Carlo Sampan, MILO® Sports Executive.
MILO® Philippines continues to show parents across the country that it is consistent in finding ways for kids to continue their Champion journey whether they are at home or outside adjusting back to face-to-face classes and activities.
Batang Pinoy 2022 is an exciting welcome to kids back to in-person competitions with more to come in 2023.
To learn about other activities that kids may join throughout the year, make sure to watch out for updated in the official MILO® Philippines website.
NEWS
100 days to go before world’s best play in front of world’s best fans

May 18, 2023, 2:16 p.m.
In 100 days, the best players from the Philippines and all over the world will converge i Manila for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.
The Philippines – and its well-renowned most passionate fans – will play host to the USA and Serbia, as well as Lithuania and Greece, as four of the top ten-ranked teams in the world will be on our shores for the Group Phase in the world meet running from August 25 to September 10. Angola, Dominican Republic, Italy, South Sudan, China, Puerto Rico, Jordan, New Zealand, Egypt, Mexico, and Montenegro round out the visitors who will enjoy Filipino hospitality, with games set to be played at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City and the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
At the same time, Filipinos will grant enviable homecourt advantage to the Gilas Pilipinas Men’s Team, as the team commences its campaign in the tournament’s first game at th colossal Philippine Arena on August 25.
To mark the countdown and engage the local market in the Philippines, a 100 Days-to-Go TVC will be aired on key channels & social media platforms while LED billboards along key sites in the Metro will also feature materials on display. Features on key news programs and video callouts from local ambassadors of the FIBA Basketball World Cup will also be shown on tv & social media.
This the first time in 45 years that the Philippines is hosting the FIBA Basketball World Cup, albeit alongside Japan and Indonesia, and the co-hosts are promising the most memorable world meet yet.
According to Al S. Panlilio, President of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, “The event will be tremendous – the fan experience will be unprecedented, unmatched in its impact and truly memorable for all.”
Filipinos may very well watch the MVP-caliber play of Serbian Nikola Jokic and Greek Giannis Antetokounmpo, as well as a bevy of NBA stars by taking advantage of alreadyavailable tickets with the Follow My Team Passes with access to all preliminary games of your chosen team, the Ultimate Fan & Super Fan passes, which give access to games from the Quarterfinals to the Finals, and the Two-Day Passes, which give fans the chance to watch 4 games on 2 consecutive days.
Single-Day Passes will also be available starting May 25 for basketball fans to get a chance to see their favorite basketball stars up close and personal. Fans can purchase their tickets to the biggest basketball event of the year via philippines.worldcup.basketball.
NEWS
INC Chronicles reboots visuals to better engage youth, public

May 1, 2023 2:42 p.m.
INC Chronicles, a weekly television feature-documentary that delves into the rich history and community-building efforts of the Iglesia Ni Cristo’s various local congregations, has recently undergone tech-driven enhancements to make the show more visually engaging in today’s fast-changing media landscape.
With sharper cinematography, spruced up digital graphics, and creative animation, the re-envisioned program aims to better connect with today’s younger audiences and those yet unfamiliar with the Church’s storied beginnings.

INC Chronicles’ new visually compelling episodes highlight the struggles, lessons, and timeless Christian values that marked the Iglesia Ni Cristo’s formative years in various communities around the Philippines and abroad.
The show seeks to create a deeper appreciation for the Church’s history and how its spiritual and humanitarian activities have been helping drive community growth and empowerment for over a century.
INC Chronicles is broadcast every Thursday at 3:30 p.m. on INCTV, with reruns every Thursday at 8:30 p.m. and Sunday at 10:00 p.m. It is a co-production of the Christian Era Broadcasting Service International Inc. (CEBSI Inc.), the religious media arm of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, and the INC Museum.
In an interview, INC Museum Director, Cornelio N. Cortez, emphasized the value of chronicling the story of the Iglesia Ni Cristo and expressed gratitude for the Church’s continued growth. “The hand of God is present during all those decades. We are thankful,” he stated.

According to Cortez, the Iglesia Ni Cristo’s dedication to preserving its history and cultural heritage is also reflected in the INC Museum which houses over 17,000 protected catalog items inside temperature-controlled and humidity-monitored rooms.
From its humble beginnings of preaching at riversides and small town houses in the Philippines to becoming a global religious institution, the Iglesia Ni Cristo has millions of members in over 7,000 congregations spread across 164 countries and territories worldwide.

NEWS
FIBA ambassador Luis Scola, US rapper Saweetie to banner FIBA World Cup Draw 2023

April 24, 2023 3:51 p.m.
The world’s biggest basketball tournament is about to unfold in Manila at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, with basketball legend Luis Scola gracing the much-anticipated draw with performances by American rapper Saweetie, Sarah Geronimo, and Billy Crawford this Saturday, April 29 at the Smart Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City.
Scola has won multiple medals as a member of the national men’s basketball team of Argentina. He played for Argentina’s national squad from 2001 until 2019, winning two silver medals at the FIBA World Championships, one each in 2002 and during his final tournament in 2019 at the age of 39. During the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship tournament, Scola became the all-time leading scorer in FIBA AmeriCup history and won his 4th tournament MVP.
On the live performance side, Saweetie is an American rapper who made a name for herself by rhyming over iconic tracks, giving a nod to those who came before while building her own catalog of fiery hits such as “My Type,” “Tap In,” and “Best Friend,” a collaboration with Doja Cat.
Meanwhile pop superstars Sarah Geronimo and Billy Crawford are expected to represent the Filipino side at the international event happening on Saturday, 7:30 at the Big Dome.
Ranked #40 in the world, the Philippines has gained an outright berth in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup Games by being one of the host nations alongside Japan and Indonesia. This is the sixth time that the Philippines is playing on the world stage, and its second time as host nation following its hosting in 1978 where it finished in the top eight.
As a FIBA global partner, Smart is going all-out for the FIBAWC 2023 Draw Event as anticipation reaches a new high with all the 32 qualified nations receiving their country assignments during the spectacle. This year’s much-anticipated FIBA draw will finally announce the matchups and finalize which countries will be playing in the Philippines, giving Pinoy basketball fans time to plan which games and basketball greats they wish to see live in action.
Catch Ben&Ben live and win prizes from Smart at ‘FIBA in Manila’ in BGC
Basketball fans can also join the all-day festival party, “FIBA in Manila,” at BGC Uptown area, corner of 9th Avenue and 36th Street in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) from 10 am onwards, also on April 29.
Ben&Ben’s performance at the “FIBA in Manila” will be streamed live via Smart’s official Facebook page at 2pm.
Never miss a moment with the Smart LiveStream App
Smart subscribers can get hyped with non-stop FIBA basketball action by catching all the exciting happenings and the games, including those played in the previous windows, via the Smart Livestream App.
Using the app, fans can catch every minute of live basketball action at the 2023 FIBAWC from Aug. 25 to Sept. 10.
The Smart LiveStream app is downloadable on the App Store and the Google Play Store, and subscribers will only need to enter a valid Smart Prepaid or Postpaid mobile number to enjoy all the sports action.