The growing interest of Filipinos in football as a sport rages on and is steadily rising.

A few years ago, Philippine Azkals successfully instilled football awareness and captured the attention, hearts and minds of basketball-loving Pinoys. Since then, the success of Azkals propelled football as the fastest growing sport in the country giving birth to football clinics and camps for the youth and community. Similarly, Filipinos also recently caught the “World Cup fever” with enthusiasts staying up in the wee hours of the morning or heading to the nearest sports bar to root for their favorite teams. 

“ Protect the Goal ” kicks off in the Philippines

Global football-based HIV prevention campaign headlined by the Philippine football national team, Azkals, targets youth at risk.

The campaign was officially be launched in the country on June 22, 2014 during the opening of the LoveYourself Anglo, a new free HIV testing community center along Shaw Boulevard near Ortigas.

Protect the Goal, the football-based HIV prevention campaign that has swept the world with its sports-oriented approach to promoting HIV testing and safer sex behavior, has kicked off in the Philippines.

The campaign ultimately seeks to help lower the risk of HIV transmission among the Filipino youth, specifically among young Filipino men. In the Philippines, 71% of new infections since 1984 were in young people and that two-thirds of high risk young people actually do not know their HIV status.

Green Cross provides Anton del Rosario active protection against Dengue

On- and off-field, football hero
Anton del Rosario trusts
Green Cross Insect Repellent Active
Protect to give him 10-hour protection from
day and night dengue mosquitoes.

Athletes don’t leave any stones unturned. Take football hero Anton del Rosario for instance. The booter, who currently plays for Kaya (a team under the United Football League) and used to be one of the more prominent faces in the national football team Azkals, is already on the soccer field even before sunrise. With training that lasts until late in the afternoon six times a week, there is no question with regard to Anton’s commitment in being the best in the game.

But being outdoors for such a lengthy period of time and in various weather conditions—from scorching heat to pounding rain—poses a host of challenges, such as heatstroke and physical injury. Another is being bitten by dengue-lamok and contracting the dreaded disease. The risk inevitably increases when athletes have to compete in various sports venues across the country and Asia. Because of dengue, his ex-teammate from Azkals OJ Porteria missed the AFF Suzuki Cup, the tournament which Anton played in 2010.

AZKALS: Celebrating challenges and inspiring victories!

Hailed by football enthusiasts as the “Saviour of Philippine Football”, the Team Azkals has proven that Filipinos have so much to celebrate about the sport, as they play from one glory to another.

As of June 4, the Azkals had again set forth to take on a number of international challenges in the football arena. Starting with a win at a pitch in Hong Kong, they continue their journey to fulfilling the grandest achievement in the history of the sport – to compete against and level with the best football teams all over the world, as they carry the nation’s flag.

Perceived by its followers as the “beautiful sport”, playing football develops abilities that show agility, strength, speed, and grace – qualities that are inherent in the Azkals. As the local interest for the game rapidly grows, young athletes are realizing that, like the country’s foremost players, they too are made for playing and excelling in this particular sport.

KASIBULAN: Education and Football For More Pinoys

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) launched last Fevruary 2012 its Grassroots Development Program called KASIBULAN. WIth the Philosophy of developing football in every environment in the Philippines for girls and boys between 6 to 12 years old, the program ensures everyone has the opportunity to have fun.

Plans started way back in 2012 with teh FIFA Grassroots Course and Festival conducted by FIFA Instructor Takeshi ONo. Selected coaches from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao were trained on how Grassroots Festival should be implemented. Based on the FIFA Standards and best practices from other countries, the PFF developed the template for its own Grassroots program that which they call the Kasibulan - Grassroots Course and Festival (GCF)

A Gan Tea Opens Its First Store in the Philippines!

The Tea drinking culture is invading the Philippines as many people are going with the tea trend, particularly Milk Teas. Filipinos can  now taste authentic Taiwanese tea experience with the launch of the newest tea cafe in town, A-GANTEA TEA CAFÉ: Your Lifestyle Tea Cafe.  It opened it first store here in the Philippines at Greenbelt 2.

A-Gantea Tea Café, Your Lifestyle Tea Café is conceptualized by the company for the everyone to experience a young and trendy ambiance with free wifi. I was there at the launch and tasted their drinks which I can say is a great balance of fun and sweet.

The Launch

The opening of A Gan Tea in Greenbelt was explosive and star-studded with its store integrated with Qoola which serves Frozen Yogurts. The launch was attended by two of the hottest sports team today, The Philippine Azkals and The Philippine Volcanoes. Also there was also the Youtube Sensation Couple, JAMICH which started the program with an entertaining number. The event was hosted by Grace Lee and co-hosted by the couple.

To spice up the night, there were also fun and games with the audience with the special participation of the Azkals and Volcanoes. The night was capped of with a ceremonial tea toast with the Chairman, Mr. Vincent Ho. After the event, the store got jam-packed with customers and the celebrities who went to have another tall tea drink.