MVP Foundation to promote grassroots sports, build school

MANILA, Philippines –  A group of companies chaired by sports patron Manny V. Pangilinan launched Friday the MVP Sports Foundation, Inc. with a mission of helping both grassroots development and elite programs of eight national sports associations.

Also dubbed as GOAL! Pilipinas, the foundation will provide monetary and logistical support to football, basketball, boxing, cycling, taekwondo, badminton, tennis and running.

“Here’s a perfect opportunity, a perfect vehicle, to further help Philippine sports, while at the same time encourage everyone to live like a winner by leading a more active and healthier lifestyle,” said Pangilinan during the launch at the Meralco Gym in Pasig

“I wanted to put up a sports foundation that would have a positive impact not just on the performance of professional athletes but more importantly, on the attitude of everyday Pinoys who genuinely care about their physical well-being,” Pangilinan also said in his speech before top executives of PLDT, Smart, Talk N’ Text, Maynilad, Meralco, Cignal and TV5.

“The moment is here now,” he added.

The foundation has set specific goals for each of the eight sports that were selected.

“For basketball, the goal is to be the Asian champion; for boxing and taekwondo, no less than an Olympic gold; for cycling, the goal is to have a Filipino qualify in the Tour de France; for badminton and football, the goal is to be among the top three in Southeast Asia; for tennis, to be the best in Southeast Asia while for running, to be the best in all of the Asian region,” said Pangilinan.

Pangilinan, the country’s basketball chief and boxing chair, himself will chair the foundation with Al Panlilio as president, Patrick Gregorio as executive director and Ricky Vargas and Orlando Vea as members of the board.

Aside from these goals, GOAL! Pilipinas will initiate, encourage, promote and undertake programs, plans, projects and enterprises for sports, athletic, educational, livelihood and other socio-civic objectives geared towards the uplift of individuals, groups and communities.

Under its articles of incorporation, the foundation will develop and promote sports programs and athletic projects such as coach and referee trainings, summer camps, medical sports clinic, an athletes academy and a sports complex, among others.

“Sports, to me, is more than just playing games. It is also a powerful catalyst for change. It motivates each one of us to become a better person. It gives us the courage to surmount challenges and can even offer escape from poverty and the answer to our desire to lead better lives,” said Pangilinan.

Pangilinan’s group of companies has actually been supporting sports in the past like basketball through its PBA teams and Smart Gilas Pilipinas, boxing, taekwondo and badminton, among others.

“It’s just consolidating all of our plans and expanding it even more by helping other sports,” said Gregorio, who also heads Smart Sports.

Football was the foundation’s first big beneficiary, given P80 million for its long-term program.

“There would now be 101 million reasons for football to be popular again just like in the past,” said Gregorio, mentioning the total financial support football has got counting the P21 million put in by Air21 through owner Bert Lina.

Members and coaching staff of Smart Gilas, Talk n Text and San Beda graced the event.

Also present were the national boxers, the taekwondo national team and former Asian Gamers Kenny and Kennevic Asuncion.

Philippine Football Federation president Nonong Araneta and players Ali Borromeo and Anton del Rosario represented their sport.

“Just like in all endeavors, we have to be prepared. There will be challenges up ahead. There will be difficulties and heartaches. And I know fully well that setting goals doesn’t guarantee us anything,” said Pangilinan.

“But without setting goals, we simply don’t stand a chance. Through the MVP Sports Foundation, I know we can achieve great things, we can achieve all of our goals,” he concluded.