Tacloban, Philippines – As part of its commitment to help the children affected by Typhoon Yolanda rebuild their spirits through play and sports, MILO has recently donated 16,000 pairs of new running shoes to selected recipients in Tacloban, Ormoc and Samar last January 26 to 28.
Along with the shoes, foot cutouts bearing Messages of Hope were also passed on to the children. The inspiring messages came from those who answered MILO’s call to help the kids take the next steps and show them that the Filipino community is cheering them on. During the 38th National MILO Marathon season, avid MILO drinkers wrote on foot cutouts at the Help Give Shoes booth at the qualifying races and National Finals, while netizens posted nuggets of encouragement via the MILO Philippines Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram social media accounts. Celebrities and notable personalities also helped give hope to the recipients, including Jim Paredes who said, “A step at a time will get you there!” Christine Bersola Babao rallied the children on with her message, “Huwag kang mawawalan ng pag-asa. Kaya mo yan. Unti-unting humakbang muli! One step at a time until you reach your destination… your dream!”
Launched in 2010, MILO’s Help Give Shoes advocacy is an ongoing campaign which enables every participant of the National MILO Marathon to donate a part of their registration fee to support the cause. MILO matches the total amount collected to provide shoes to deserving public school students. Last year, on its 50th year anniversary in the Philippines, MILO has turned over a total of 50,000 pairs of shoes for the schoolchildren.
With the invaluable support of the Department of Education and the National MILO Marathon runners, MILO delivered the pairs of shoes to students of Calibaan Elementary School, Don Vicente Quintero Memorial School, Sto. Niño SPED School, City Central School, San Fernando Central School and V&G Dela Cruz Memorial School, Dr. A. P. Banez Memorial Elementary School, Tigbao Diit Elementary School, Sta. Elena Elementary School, San Jose Central School, Scandinavian Elementary School, Bagacay Elementary School, Fisherman Village Elementary School in Tacloban City, Liberty Elementary School, Cabintaan Elementary School, Licoma Elementary School, Mahayahay Elementary School, Catmon Elementary School, Dona Feliza Mejia Elementary School, Green Valley Elementary School, Lao Elementary School, Villacencio Elementary School, San Juan Elementary School, Lake Danao elementary School, Alta Vista Elementary School, Can – Untog Elementary School, Ormoc City Speed Center School, Naglahug Elementary School in Ormoc, and Cagdara-o Elementary School, Mayana Elementary School, Timala Elementary School, Bitaog Lawaan Elementary School, Paco Elementary School, San Vicente Elementary School, Salug Elementary School, and Lupok Elementary School in Guiuan, Eastern Samar.
With delight, the recipients performed presentations in their classrooms, as a gesture of gratitude to those who have contributed to the advocacy. “Seeing the big smiles on their faces after this encounter with the children truly makes us happy, knowing that somehow, we were able to uplift their spirits,” said MILO Sports Marketing Manager Andrew Neri. “We at MILO would like to thank the Filipino community for participating in this advocacy. Through our efforts, we hope to inspire them to continue to overcome the roadblocks the typhoon brought in, and strive for their dreams.”
For more information on MILO Philippines and the Help Give Shoes advocacy, log on to the official website (http://www.milo.com.ph) or the MILO Philippines Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/milo.ph). Follow MILO on Twitter (@MiloPH) and Instagram (@MiloPhilippines).
About MILO
The MILO brand is the world’s leading chocolate malt beverage that can be prepared with hot or cold milk or water. Given its popularity it is a “must have” product for food service operators particularly in Asia, Africa and Oceania.
MILO also promotes participation in sports through its Summer Sports Clinics, MILO-B.E.S.T. Center Training Program, MILO Marathon, and MILO Little Olympics. The leading beverage brand believes that these contribute to the holistic development of Filipino champions in sports and in life. 2014 marks MILO’s 50th year in the country.
About the National MILO Marathon
The National MILO Marathon is an annual marathon event open to amateur and professional runners. From its humble beginnings in 1974 as a single marathon race in Metro Manila attended by 747 participants, the National MILO Marathon has grown to be the biggest, longest, grandest national running event in the country attracting more than hundreds of thousands of runners across the country.
The National MILO Marathon has grown into a globally renowned running event having been certified by the Association of International Marathons (AIMS) and International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), and hosts foreign marathoners from Kenya, Ethiopia, and other countries across the world. The race is organized by RunRio, Inc.
About Nestle Philippines
Over a hundred years after it first started operations in the country, Nestle Philippines, Inc. (NPI) today is a robust and stable organization, proud of its role in bringing the best food and beverage throughout the stages of the Filipino consumers’ lives. The Company employs more than 3,200 men and women nationwide, and is now among the country’s Top 10 Corporations.
Driven by its mission to nurture generations of Filipino families, Nestle today produces and markets products under some of the country’s well known brands such as NESCAFE, NIDO, MILO, NESTEA, MAGGI, BEAR BRAND, NESTLE and PURINA, among others. Its product range has expanded to include coffee, milk, beverages, non-dairy creamer, food, infant nutrition, ice cream and chilled dairy, breakfast cereals, confectionery and pet care.
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