Legacy of Light Village Basketball Court Made Possible Through Sun Life and Beyond Sport with a Special Appearance by Donny Pangilinan

A community in Calauan, Laguna called Legacy of Light Village became the beneficiary of a partnership project of Sun Life Philippines, Sun Life Financial-Philippines Foundation, Inc., and Beyond Sport which is a refurbished basketball court for the community. The village was developed by Sun Life Foundation years ago as a relocation project together with ABS-CBN Foundation and has become a great candidate for the development projects by Sun Life as part of the “Hoops + Health” program. 

The program aims to leverage the power of basketball to encourage physical activity and promote healthier lifestyles by renovating basketball courts across Asia. This PHP 40 million partnership with Beyond Sport will continue to build/renovate facilities like these to provide quality sport centers to different communities in the country.

The inauguration event, held on February 28, 2024, was attended by Sun Life executives, Sun Life brand ambassador Donny Pangilinan, Beyond Sport representatives, residents of Calauan, and media. Children from the community also performed showcasing their talents and excitement with the leveled-up basketball court and community center.

The court upgrades include fresh paint jobs, state-of-the-art basketball hoops, and padded court floor which elevates the experience of basketball beyond usual renovation projects do. Beyond the physical renovation, this initiative represents Sun Life’s commitment to fostering healthier communities by improving access to physical activity. The revitalized court provides a safe and accessible space for individuals of all ages to engage in basketball and other physical activities, promoting overall health and well-being.

In addition, the “Hoops + Health” program will deliver an educational program for local coaches to learn about nutrition, physical activity, and protecting mental well-being. These coaches will then develop a basketball program to engage the youth in the community.

This initiative builds on Sun Life’s 3x3 Charity Challenge, held in August 2023, which raised funds for capacity-building support, program development grants, and infrastructure revitalization projects, including the basketball court renovation in Calauan.

“At Sun Life, we are dedicated to empowering individuals and communities to achieve holistic health and wellness,” said Carla Gonzalez-Chong, Chief Client Experience and Marketing Officer of Sun Life Philippines. “By partnering with Beyond Sport, we are harnessing the unique power of basketball to not only encourage physical activity but also to foster community spirit and contribute to a healthier future for Filipinos.”

“Sport serves as a powerful instrument for positive social change,” added Beyond Sport Executive Director, Fred Turner. “We are proud to partner with Sun Life on this impactful project, as we transformed this basketball court into a vibrant space where the youth can develop their skills and lead healthier lives.”

The surprise for the event was the appearance of Sun Life Ambassador Donny Pangilinan who is very active in many sport disciplines, yet very competitive in terms of Basketball which he also made some shots also leading to the official inauguration with Community leaders, Sun Life Executives and representative of Beyond Sport.

This is just the start of many projects Sun Life will make together with their partners that shows that they are not only focused on building insurance and investments but also works with partners to make people's lives better with active lifestyle through sports custom-fit with what the communities need which invests in their future as well.