Propan boosts SMS sports program

CEBU, Philippines — The ever growing grassroots sports program at the Sisters of Mary School Boystown and Girlstown got another big boost with the entry of Zuellig Pharma, an established healthcare pharmaceutical company that offers a broad range of innovative services.

To start the ball rolling, Zuellig Pharma, the producers of Propan multivitamins, spearheaded the Proppee's Summer Basketball Clinic which kicked off last Thursday at the SMS-Boystown Campus in Barangay Tungkop, Minglanilla.

A total of 200 young aspiring cagers are joining the five-day clinic that will run until May 27.

"I am a believer of grassroots sports development but what I've seen here at Boystown is something different. I did not expect this," said Zuellig Pharma Corp. senior marketing manager Sherwin Arceo. "Honestly, I'm pleasantly surprised and overwhelmed not much by the huge turnout of participants but by the kind of environment they have here."

Like those who came at the Sisters of Mary long before them particularly the Cebu Provincial Sports Commission and Chooks to Go, Arceo sees the institution that caters to poor but deserving students across the country as a mining ground of potential athletes and champions in the sporting field.

"I think we can make this bigger in the future," said Arceo in assuring their support to the sports development program at Sisters of Mary.

Arceo noted that what's more inspiring is the help thrown by kind-hearted people to their maiden sports venture.

Sisters of Mary athletic director Van Halen Parmis said some parents of the players of Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles and generous individuals from Well Family Midwife Clinic have sponsored at least a hundred kids to take part in their training camp.

"Because of their help, some out of school youths and poor kids were able to join in our clinic for free," said Parmis, also a well-known coach and league organizer. "I'm really very thankful to Zuellig Pharma for taking notice of, and supporting what we have been doing here."

Parmis said their next plan is to establish a Guinness world record for the biggest 3x3 event by a single school this October.

"In partnership with Zuellig Pharma, we aim to set a world record for the biggest 3x3 tournament by a school this October. I checked the Guinness record and no one has ever done that. Combining the forces of Boystown and Girlstown with the SMS-Cavite Campus, I believe we can easily achieve that feat," said Parmis.

Meanwhile, Zuellig Pharma Corp. district sales supervisor Fariza Indin Ortiz reiterated that their activity at Boystown is their own way of giving back to the community especially to the needy ones.

"More than being part of our social corporate responsibility, this is a wonderful opportunity for us to help others," said Ortiz. — EBV