Rexona gives sports a shot in the arm

MANILA, Philippines - There’s a new boxing ring at the top floor of the five-story school building of the Rajah Soliman Science and Technology High School in Binondo, one of five Rexona Sports Centers in Manila. The boxing ring was turned over recently to the school in simple ceremonies, together with four other Rexona Sports equipment and improved facilities in their respective schools, namely, J. Abad National High School for gymnastics; CP Garcia High School for archery; A. Maceda Integrated School for arnis; and A. Villegas High School for softball.

“We are very thankful for the support,” says Dr. Ponciano A. Menguito, school division superintendent, Division of City Schools, Manila. “We have good boxers in our school, but we don’t have our own boxing ring where they can train. It’s different if they can train in an actual boxing ring.” With the new facility, even students from other schools can come to train, although they do not necessarily have to study there. The same is true for the Rexona sports centers in the other schools.

“We have good teachers and coaches in these schools,” Dr. Menguito notes, “but we lack equipment and facilities.”

The Jose Abad National High School, for example, has shown its excellence in gymnastics in the Palarong Pambansa competitions. “Our youth are fond of sports,” Dr. Menguito observes. “Naroon ang hilig. (The interest is there.) We just need to help them develop their potential, not only mentally but also physically, through sports.”

The student athletes with Akiko Thomson, Rexona’s Rainalyn Chan, Rio de la Cruz, Unilever external communications manager Liza Vengco, Rexona brand manager Anne Remulla, and Unilever PR and events manager Nikka Abella

“Sports excellence is an advocacy that Rexona has continuously supported over the years,” says Anne Remulla, brand manager for Rexona, a leading deodorant in the country and the world. “The Rexona Sports Center is envisioned to be a hub where students and athletes from different schools can learn and train in a particular sport. We hope they would be able to fulfill their dreams here of becoming the next world-class athletes of tomorrow.”

The Rexona Run 2010 was held in August last year together with the launch of its latest variant, Rexona Sport Defense. The successful fund-raising marathon benefited the establishment of the sports centers in the five public high schools in Manila. Rexona donated new sports equipment, which each school needed as well as completely refurbished the area where the sports center was built. Special guests during the turnover were swimming champion and Olympian Akiko Thomson and sports coach and marathon runner Rio de la Cruz who shared his inspiring story.

Rio spoke about the importance of discipline and determination, and of having a goal. His was to be able to finish school. He was the only one of seven children in his family who was able to do so. He related how he strove to keep a balance between his studies and training in his sport. “Study hard. Work hard. Dream big,” he said. “This is the key to success.”

We can expect student athletes from J Abad National High School to become the next Bea Lucero with their new gymnastics equipment.