TM Sports extends program to Minda

MANILA, Philippines - The TM Sports Para sa Bayan will push through as planned as it has partnered with Dream Big Pilipinas and the Philippine Marines to search for talents not just from the Big City but also in Mindanao.

“We initially have a plan to go to areas like Bukidnon, Zamboanga and Sulu and we decided in the end to hold it in Sulu and Basilan because of our partnership with the Marines and Dream Big,” said Rofil Magto, Globe’s corporate social responsibility manager, in yesterday’s event launch at the Aristocrat in Malate.

“We want to reach as far as Mindanao and we’d love to bring the program there and hopefully before the end of the month we’d be able to select two or three kids there because this is also to promote peace and development,” he added.

For this year, Maui Rabuco, TM brand manager, announced they’ve added volleyball to the list of sports in the program outside of basketball and football.

“There were demands to include volleyball and we’re answering the call this year,” said Rabuco.

TM has also teamed up with Tribe through CEO Iskandar Samad of Malaysia as one of its major sponsors and Green Archers United, represented by assistant manager Deeg Rodriguez, to help train the kids in football.

Apart from its Mindanao visit and the National Capital Region, the event will also go to Vigan, Ilocos Sur, San Carlos and Leyte.

Out of an expected more than 600 participants, only 12 will be selected for the delegation it will send to Malaysia for training.

From the group, Samad said they would select two or three players who will be sent and exposed to FC Barcelona’s youth program.

“We’ve partnered with Globe through our Tribe brand to help these kids experience the training in Malaysia and eventually in FC Barcelona,” said Samad.