NEWS
PSC tells warring Obiena, Juico: Stop!
January 5, 2022 8:28 p.m.
The Philippine Sports Commission on Wednesday finally put its foot down and told warring parties pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena, the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association and the Philippine Olympic Committee to “stop the mad issue” and resolve their conflict “like sportsmen.”
Here is the statement of the PSC Board:
This morning, the Philippine Sports Commission Board met to discuss our collegial action on the athletics issue, which took several ugly faces yesterday. I would like to relay the following on behalf of my colleagues in the PSC Board.
PATAFA’s dropping of EJ from the athletics national team without any chance given for the athlete to appeal was a sad development. Due process requires proper disposition of issues and cases whether in government or private venues, including in administrative proceedings.
We also express our disappointment that the mediation process was not realized.
When the POC declared their involvement, we hoped they would bridge the gap between EJ and PATAFA, both being under their authority. However, the issue became more muddled with the declaration of (Patafa president Philip) Juico as persona non grata and now calling on us to intervene on the PATAFA’s removal of EJ from the national team.
This is a simple case of liquidation.
EJ has given his partial liquidation report and the documents are now being examined and verified. This is a good step. Do not allow anyone to use those against you by getting it done. Finalize your liquidation and then you can focus on the other concerns.
With this situation, the PSC now took a second look and have started to craft policies on the requests of NSAs to fund and support someone into becoming an elite athlete at the international level. This issue has once again highlighted how NSAs do not give due consideration on the investment of the government and the people.
We will implement stricter guidelines on granting of financial assistances to NSAs and will require their submission of a disciplinary code or protocol in case anything like this happens in their sport. We shall also be requiring them to include the policy on arbitration within their by-laws as mandated under RA 11232. Failure to comply with these two policies by the end of the month shall constrain the PSC Board to review and reconsider granting of assistances to all non-complying NSAs.
Another matter which this issue forced us to look into is how the law limits us on situations like this and how much we need to amend it to keep it relevant and strong for our time. We understand public outcry demanding us to take certain actions, even from parties who know the legal dynamics in sports.
However, we would like to remind that the PSC is primarily a funding agency, the government’s arm to give its logistical support to the national team in the realm of elite sports. The training, disciplinary efforts and choosing of national team rosters all fall under the baton of the NSAs and their personality in international competitions under the POC. These are the roles that we take in sports.
We are sportsmen, proudly calling the Philippines our motherland. Instead of throwing accusations against each other, can we not talk as sportsmen trained and exposed to the core values of Olympism — excellence, friendship, and respect.
On behalf of the PSC board, we lay down the following:
1. We demand for EJ to immediately finish his liquidation of accounts so that we can continue to support him.
2. We demand for PATAFA to reconsider their declaration of dropping EJ from their rolls, provide him an appeal mechanism and not to execute their decision immediately.
3. We demand for the POC to bridge the two parties as the mother organization of both and reconsider their decision of declaring Mr. Juico persona non-grata on the premise of promoting peace in elite sports.
4. We demand for the PATAFA, EJ, the POC and all the parties who wish to stoke the fire of this mad issue to stop. You have all publicly recognized the PSC and asked us to help resolve the issue, please listen to us on this simple request. Stop issuing public statements and come to the table with us to discuss this matter.
We have said this before and we are saying this again. Let us resolve this like sportsmen.
The issue has dragged on and have pulled the nation’s name to the mire of negativity in the international sports scene. We all pledge our love for country, we trust that you will heed our call immediately, for love of flag. Para sa Inang Bayan!
We are here, we have offered our neutral table to seek a peaceful resolution to this from the very beginning. It is one thing to declare your stand publicly and one thing to follow it through with action. If we really all desire to see this to resolution, please listen to us.
Within the day, the PSC is set to talk separately with the above parties. We hope that we can all arrive at a resolution soon. The PSC board is set to report all related information to the Office of the President this afternoon.
We remain committed to the Filipino athlete.
Allow us to lift this from the International Olympic Committee’s website: “Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example, social responsibility and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles. The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of humankind, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.”
That is a paragraph brimming with life lessons which sport ingrains among its children. These are the very ideals we all claim to adhere to, but sadly fail to show at this challenging time. Let us come together and find a way to solve this. If not for our own interests, let us do it for flag and country.
WILLIAM I. RAMIREZ
Chairman
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
