By REYNALD MAGALLON
Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao stressed the importance of sustaining the support to the national athletes and sports development in the country and the former senator is glad to see young and fresh sports leaders are up for the daunting task.
Milka Romero, the co-owner of PVL team Capital1, is ready to continue the legacy of his father and long-time sports patron, Mikee, in sustaining the growth of PH sports especially following the success of the country’s campaign in the Paris Olympics.
“Kailangan talaga nating tutukan ang laban para sa pag-unlad ng sports. Kitang-kita natin ngayon na ang magagaling nating mga atleta ang umaani ng karangalan para sa bayan,” said Pacquiao when Milka visited the former senator in General Santos City.
Being an athlete herself – a former co-captain of Ateneo football team in the UAAP – Milka is the perfect choice to carry on the job that will be left by her father next year.
She is the first nominee of 1Pacman and she is excited and ready to give back whatever she has, being a successful entrepreneur.
“Sobrang excited po ako na ngayon, I’m in a position to help other athletes, our children, the youth to promote yung direction ng discipline and teamwork through sports. Ito po ay mga values na pwede gamitin hindi lang sa pag compete but also sa buhay, yung mga natutunan natin bilang isang atleta,” said the younger Romero.
“Our biggest advocacy is sports. We have grassroots programs where we want to support children in their journey na maging isang atleta. We have already created laws and projects such as the National Academy for Sports and tinutuloy din natin yung mga programs natin,” she added.
Alongside Romero in pushing for sports development as well as the fight against poverty and other issues are former boxer-turned-civic and political leader Bobby Pacquiao and youth leader Sheila May “Shey” Sakaluran Mohammad.
The elder Romero has been a staunch supporter of PH sports, even rewarding weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz P3 million for becoming the country’s first ever Olympic gold medalist during the Tokyo Games.
Silver medalist Nesthy Petecio and bronze winner Eumir Marcial also received substantial financial rewards from Romero.
Milka, on her own, has already started supporting the grassroots, providing support to hundreds of athletes and underprivileged youth in Cebu, Olongapo, Bulacan and other parts of the country by helping them in various ways.
