All about freedom

There’s a big event slated this weekend in the air-conditioned activity center of Market! Market! in the Fort and it’s all about freedom, empowerment and self-expression.

Waffle Marketing movers Auty Villarama and Rely San Agustin are organizing the affair which, by the way, isn’t a political demonstration. They’re jumpstarting summer with a two-day Freedom Camp where participants will experience the freedom to move by joining five activities–freestyle basketball, freestyle football, free climbing, zipping and freestyle dance.

Levi’s is making it happen and Auty says the popular jeans brand is going all out to promote "freedom of movement" with the focus of empowering the youth to engage in an active lifestyle.

"It’s Levi’s way of bonding with the consumers and expressing that Levi’s Engineered Jeans is the product for them when it comes to being an active, sporty and outgoing individual," explains Auty. "It also means Levi’s commitment to good styling and functionality. The ergonomic design keeps the person wearing the jeans, comfortable and gives that important freedom of movement." Auty says Levi’s management has gone the extra mile to provide the participants two days of fun, excitement, prizes and unforgettable memories. He singles out Levi’s country manager Monch Martelino (whose father Moying was once Asian Basketball Confederation secretary-general), consumer marketing manager Michelle Borromeo and brand leader Ronnie Celestial as the prime backers of the Levi’s Engineered Jeans Freedom Camp.

Registration is now going on for individuals and school teams and Auty says the list is growing. So far, the schools that are confirmed to join the free dance competitions are St. Francis, Emilio Aguinaldo College, Letran, Xavier, UP Los Baños, Lyceum and UP High School. Expected to sign up are Lourdes, Adamson, St. Scholastica’s College and St. Anthony, among others. At least 18 schools have committed to send participants to the individual and team events.

The fun begins this Saturday at 10 a.m. Camps are scheduled from 1 to 5 p.m. after which the competitions in basketball, football and dance will commence. The camps and competitions continue on Sunday with the finals in the three events to cap the weekend festivities.

Participants must wear jeans during the camp and specifically, Levi’s jeans during the competitions. Pre-registered individual participants must attend the camps to be eligible for the qualifying rounds of the Saturday and Sunday competitions. Participants may join one, two or all of the camp activities. Those joining at least three will take home a Levi’s loot bag if they’re able to complete the camps.

Cash prizes amounting to P20,000 will be up for grabs in the individual freestyle dance competition for 15 to 25 year olds and a whopping P100,000 will be in the pool for dance teams with five to eight members for 15 to 20 year olds. Aside from the cash, winners in each competition will receive gift certificates from Levi’s jeans and sponsors Levi’s eyewear, Levi’s timing, Mizuno, And 1 and Snickers chocolate bars. Special prizes will be given to those in the best Levi’s gear.

Tapped to handle the freestyle basketball camp are Flipballaz streetball phenoms Nino Ventura and Dedick Manansala. Pete Amores and Friday Camaclang will take care of freestyle football, Ken Jhons and Sheena freestyle dance, Jeena and Miguel Lopez free climbing and Tals Diaz and Cat Juan zipping.

"It’s going to be a two-day event that will be talked about for a long, long time," says Auty whose outfit Waffle Marketing was recently involved in the Home and Away Invitational Basketball League, the Sports for Peace football tournament and LTime Studio’s awarding of watches to Filipino medalists in the Southeast Asian Games. "The camps will hone the skills of the participants while at the same time, give them the chance to interact with each other and enjoy the camaraderie."

To register, grab a Levi’s Engineered Jeans Freedom Cup registration form at selected Levi’s stores in Metro Manila or get it by e-mail by texting REG LEJ your e-mail address and send to 0917-856-6323. You may also call the Levi’s Freedom Camp hotline 894-5425 or 813-5283 for questions.

Registration forms may be deposited in the Levi’s Freedom Camp drop boxes at any participating Levi’s store in Metro Manila or you may fax your forms to the Levi’s Freedom Camp hotline 894-5425 or deliver personally to Waffle Marketing at Room 212, Narra Bldg., 2276 Pasong Tamo extension, Makati.

There’s no better way to welcome summer by having fun, playing sports, winning prizes, making new friends, enjoying the freedom of movement and wearing the jeans of choice.