MANILA -- Arnis, the country’s national martial arts, and two other sports have been included in the 2019 MILO Summer Sports Clinics, which offers a wide array of activities for kids 7 to 12 years.
The country’s longest-running summer program now has a total of 19 sports --badminton, basketball, chess, fencing, football, futsal, golf, gymnastics, karatedo, lawn tennis, parkour, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, touch rugby, volleyball and new additions arnis, ultimate frisbee, and wushu.
“These sports -- arnis, ultimate frisbee and wushu -- are gaining popularity so we decided to include them in this year’s program,” MILO sports executive Lester Castillo said during the launch held at KidZania in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig on Thursday.
The clinics will be available starting March 31 in more than 700 venues to more than 30,000 children nationwide.
With the theme “Get Your Child into Sports”, the MILO Summer Sports Clinics aims to reinforce the importance of sports in a child’s holistic development.
“Getting children involved in sports would be a more enjoyable and productive way to healthy living. We believe that physical and social development lays the foundation for a child’s growth, which is why our MILO Summer Sports Clinics teaches children the fundamentals of various sports in a unique and scientific way and helps them develop character-forming values,” MILO Philippines business unit manager, Willy de Ocampo, said.
The MILO Summer Sports Clinics, which is endorsed by the Department of Education, Philippine Olympic Committee, and the Philippine Sportswriters Association, started in 1983 with only three sports -- basketball, swimming and lawn tennis.
Among the alumni of the MILO program are BEST Center graduate Chris Tiu, SEA Games medalists Japoy Lizardo (taekwondo), and Kaithlyn de Guzman (gymnastics).
The coaches and instructors of the MILO Summer Sports Clinics use modern and scientific approaches that will help participants appreciate different sports, live a healthy and active lifestyle, and embody the morals of discipline, confidence, teamwork, perseverance and hard work.
“We look forward to nurture more children to be champions not just as athletes but also as individuals. We encourage parents to introduce their kids to a fun, active and healthy lifestyle and make their summer worthwhile with the MILO Summer Sports Clinics,” said MILO Sports executive Luigi Pumaren, who is the son of former pro basketball player Franz Pumaren.
Also present during the launch were Department of Education Undersecretary Tonisito Umali, KidZania chief operating officer Tourino Dilaga, MILO consumer marketing manager Robbie de Vera, and Philippine Taekwondo Association national training director Igor Mella. (PNA)
