It’s year 2 for MILO Philippines Road to Barcelona. Partnering with FC Barcelona (FCB), a globally-renowned football club, the successful launch was held at the MILO Stadium of Kidzania Manila. The values-driven program’s local invitational camp was recently done at the Cebu City Sports Center last September 8-9 and more than 160 girls and boys ages 10 to 12 from around the country participated in the world-class football camp.
MILO and FC Barcelona believe in the shared HEART values (humility, effort, ambition, respect, and teamwork), equipped with a healthy and active lifestyle that is essential in every child’s overall development. The global partnership aimed to bring world-class opportunities to nourish ambitions and build a nation of champions through sports. Participants of the program were chosen via a nomination from their coaches who vouched for both their character and talent.
Assisting MILO in the facilitation of the invitational camp is the Cebu Football Association (CFA), a regional body under the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) and two coaches from the FCB Youth Academy, FC Barcelona’s flagship youth development program. The two-day training camp which features theoretical and practical sessions on how to play the Barca way is free of charge—a privilege for the qualified young players. It will give them the kind of training that only FCB can offer to aid in their continued development, progress Philippine football, and further inspire Filipinos to be champions on and off the field.
One with MILO and FCB’s vision is the local , rganizer of this year’s invitational, the Cebu Football Association (CFA). CFA Vice President Rico Navarro exclaims, “We warmly welcome this momentous collaboration with two iconic sports brands, MILO and FC Barcelona. Our region has some of the most passionate and talented young players in the country, and we hope that this Road to Barcelona camp can foster the right values and grow their appreciation for the sport and everything they learn from it.”
“Every kid dreams of becoming a champ. That’s why the MILO-FCB Road to Barcelona Philippines Camp is back to provide kids the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to train with youth coaches from FC Barcelona. We’ve taken this year’s invitational camp to the Visayas to share the program with even more children in the region, because we believe that these experiences can encourage them to pursue their passion for the sport and nourish their ambitions,” said Willy de Ocampo, Vice President, Nestle Philippines, Inc.
The expert panel composed of PFF representatives and FCB coaches will be in charge in shortlisting the most deserving athletes who will fly to Spain, where one slot in the delegation will be all-expenses paid by MILO Philippines.
Similar to the maiden program, the 2018 delegation will take part in a nine-day training camp and ultimate experience in FCB’s hallowed grounds in Camp Nou, Barcelona. The Philippine team will be among their peers from other MILO markets which includes Australia, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Jamaica, New Zealand, Panama, Singapore, Tahiti, Thailand, and Vietnam. Their stay will be filled with special activities that will hone their skills, encourage them to make new friends, explore scenic heritage locations, most importantly, learn how to play with HEART—the Barca way.
MILO Philippines Consumer Marketing Manager Robbie de Vera shares his excitement for year two of the four-year partnership, “MILO is very excited and honored to continue its advocacy to get more kids into sports and help advance Philippine football with FC Barcelona. Our goal for this year is to further enrich the ‘Road to Barcelona’ experience by reaching more Filipino kids and reinforcing the values that encourage more kids to dream big and become champions in life.”
About Nestlé MILO
MILO is the world’s leading chocolate malt beverage. Loved and trusted by parents and kids alike, MILO products offer essentials vitamins and minerals that promote the holistic development of children around the world. For more information on MILO Philippines, 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 FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona was founded on November 29, 1899 through the initiative of a Swiss gentleman named Hans Maximilian Gamper, popularly known as Joan Gamper. Since it was founded, the Club has had 44 different presidents. From Walter Wild to the current President, Josep Maria Bartomeu, Barça has grown into a massive social phenomenon that reaches far beyond the bounds of mere sport.
The Club has grown along with the city around it, and has come to represent Barcelona and Catalonia all around the world. The Club is now a global brand and a giant in the sports world.
FC Barcelona has one of largest memberships among football clubs worldwide and its achievements have also made it one of the most successful. The many famous victories and the Club’s all-time greats (Kubala, Cruyff, Maradona, Romário, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Messi, and so many more) form an important part of the Barça legacy.