The Philippine Olympic Committee received the PHP 20-M pledges of the MVP Sports Foundation and San Miguel Corporation on Sunday evening. But those were not the only donations received by POC Chairman Ricky Vargas and President Bambol Tolentino.
The PBA also gathered funds from each club team that amounted to PHP 6-M during the ceremony held during the halftime break of the TNT-Ginebra tilt.
“Initiative ng mga governors and doon na nga nagsimula na gusto nila tumulong sa POC. Sa Hong Kong pa ito, napagkasunduan ng mga governors na suportahan ang POC at yun nga, ang presidente, chairman din namin,” shared Marcial, as Vargas is also the league’s chairman.
“Actually, yung budget na ibibigay ng PBA, ganoon lang talaga e. Si Commissioner Willie ang nag-suggest na pwede lakihan namin because we’re supporting our chairman, Mr. Vargas and at the same time, siya yung head namin sa POC, so he’s part of the family,” shared SMC Sports Director Alfrancis Chua.
“So when commissioner Marcial called us na lakihan namin na ibibigay, yun ang ginawa naming lahat, to show na magtutulungan kami dito sa governors.”
Each team contributed at least PHP 500K for this endeavor.
With the MVPSF’s contributions heading to the medalist for the Asian Games, while SMC’s will go directly to the NSAs they want to support, the PBA’s pledge will go directly to the athletes participating in the 2018 Asian Games and 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
“Yung sa PBA will be for Southeast Asian Games training and development as well as the Asian Games and the NSAs’ development.
“I would like to thank with gratitude the PBA for their contribution and San Miguel Corporation and the MVPSF. These are all directed contribution towards athletes, towards NSAs for the program for Southeast Asia and Asian games. We are very thankful for all these contributions,” expressed vARGAS.
“Para sa atleta, para sa bayan, para sa programa.”
Also present in the ceremony were POC secretary-general Pato Gregorio, POC deputy secretary-general Karen Caballero, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio, Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines secretary Ed Picson, and the PBA board of governors.
