Beloved nutritious beverage brand MILO® Philippines and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) celebrated the success of its annual youth sports program Batang Pinoy Championship returning after 2 years of the pandemic. The 6-day championship took place from December 17 to 21, 2022 in the Heritage City, Vigan, Ilocos Sur where thousands of student-athletes joined different sports competitions and earned their respective medals. The City of Baguio emerged victorious as the overall champion with 100 medals, followed by Pasig City and Quezon City with 48 and 46 wins respectively.
MILO® Philippines also presented the MILO® Batang Pursigido Awards to deserving athletes and Batang Pinoy teams who showed exemplary grit, perseverance, and dedication to sports. The recipients of the MILO® Batang Pinoy Pursigido Awards include Adrian Jessie Magbojos of the City of Sta. Rosa (most bemedaled female athlete), Miguel Adrian Carlos of the City of Puerto Princesa (most bemedaled male athlete), City Pangasinan (with the biggest delegation), six-year-olds Art Joe Cabatan of Davao de Oro and Hailey Bolico of Pasig City (youngest male and female athletes).
Batang Pinoy is known as the Philippine Sports Commission’s grassroots development program that student-athletes and other kids from around the country may join. After being forced to a halt because of the pandemic, Batang Pinoy has finally returned to a hybrid of online and on-ground events. There are a total of 9 on-ground events conducted in Vigan, Ilocos Sur with athletics and swimming garnering the most number of participants. “The Batang Pinoy has become an integral part of our national sports program, and now one of the flagship programs of the country, especially for the grassroots. From the tracks to the courts and other fields of play, dreams of young athletes began, dreams of waving our flag, wearing our colors, and bringing pride to our country in international sports competitions. These dreams were offered through the Batang Pinoy platform,” said PSC Commissioner Emmanuel “Noli” Eala. MILO® Ambassadors, Olympic medalist and world champion Hidilyn Diaz and Carlos Yulo were once participants of Batang Pinoy.
In order to make this happen, Batang Pinoy 2022 was also supported by the Provincial Government of Ilocos Sur. “WOur province warmly welcomes our athletes, coaches, parents and guests to Vigan, and we are honored to be part of your sports journeys. One thing is for sure, we all are winners in our own ways, and may this triumph be the perpetual success of Batang Pinoy,” said Gov. Jerry Singson.
“We are very happy to be back on ground with kids from different parts of the country! We’ve worked hard with PSC over the last years to work on making sure that kids are continuously active throughout the pandemic and it’s amazing to see them in person again doing what they love in person and with their peers,” said Carlo Sampan, MILO® Sports Executive.
MILO® Philippines continues to show parents across the country that it is consistent in finding ways for kids to continue their Champion journey whether they are at home or outside adjusting back to face-to-face classes and activities. Batang Pinoy 2022 is an exciting welcome to kids back to in-person competitions with more to come in 2023.