Ayala, MVP join forces to uplift Philippines sports

MANILA, Philippines — Business titans Manuel V. Pangilinan and Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala are forming a powerhouse tandem to uplift Philippine sports.

The tycoons, through Ayala Foundation Inc. (AFI) and the MVP Sports Foundation Inc. (MVPSF), have entered into a partnership to undertake a major private sector initiative aimed at developing more Filipino athletes who can compete on the global sporting stage.

Both foundations are set to provide support for elite athletes, improve grassroots training and development as well as collaborate on advocacy initiatives with government agencies supporting national sports development.

“Right now, our next world champions could be anywhere in the Philippines, dreaming about their first international match but finding themselves with limited or even no opportunities to compete. We have an excellent opportunity to be the bridge between their dreams and reality. Let’s work together and show them what’s possible,” Zobel said.

“Sports is a metaphor for life. The kind of virtues and qualities you need in sports are the same ones you need in life: hard work, discipline, focus, resilience. We’re happy to be working with the Ayalas in making sports more accessible to Filipinos,” Pangilinan said.

As part of the partnership, AFI’s sports development arm Atletang Ayala and MVPSF will provide comprehensive support to Filipino athletes in their respective programs.

The will also collaborate to establish sustainable pathways for athlete discovery and development.

In addition, both parties will jointly engage government partners to explore opportunities for sports development and find ways to harness the power of sports in developing future leaders who can make a positive social impact.

The Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge, set on Sept. 20 and 21 at the Ayala Triangle in Makati, will serve as the?first initiative created through the?collaboration.

The event,?the brainchild and dream of?Filipino champion pole vaulter EJ Obiena,?will gather the world’s top pole vaulters in an internationally sanctioned competition.