Olongapo runners draw boost, inspiration

MANILA, Philippines — Members of the Olongapo Junior Trackers team have gotten extra boost for their coming 2024 Batang Pinoy campaigns with support and motivation from Paris Olympian Maxine Esteban and 1Pacman party-list first nominee Milka Romero.

Touched by the message of the Olongapo team coach who reached out for help for the young student-athletes, Esteban, through her own Sports Foundation, along with the 1Pacman party-list, responded, in giving away a total 83 pairs of shoes from Anta Philippines.

Esteban and Romero led the simple turnover ceremony on Saturday, with the athletes receiving running shoes plus products from Rebisco and rechargeable fans from Akari.

The student athletes were accompanied by their head coach Samuel Bada and Olongapo City Sports and Youth Development head David Bayarong.

“Nagpapasalamat po tayo. Malaking malaking tulong ito sa mga kabataan natin lalo na’t ang mga kabataan natin some of them don’t really have the means para makakuha ng shoes,” said Bayarong.

“But apart from the things na binigay nila ma’am Maxine and ma’am Milka, it’s also the moral support,” he added.

Romero, who co-owns Capital1 Solar Energy team in the PVL with sister Mandy, said the partnership with Esteban was only fitting, especially as they share the advocacy of giving back to the Philippine sports by helping the grassroots.

Incidentally, both are People Asia women of style and substance awardees.