Time is passing by so quick. I got hooked by the news on TV yesterday that surprised me with the interviews made by the reporters to the victims of Yolanda. That I became aware that it has been a year then after the typhoon Yolanda hit Tacloban. With the flooded donations extended by other nations, it is sad to know that the percentage of recovery done for Tacloban is very little yet. According to some locals who had interviewed, they get little support from the government and some really didn't get anything help from them. Some NGO's and private sectors extended their help too which highly appreciated by the victims. Some give foods, clean water for drinking, temporary shelter, prayers and counseling to overcome the trauma brought by the tragedy.
I know many of us shared help in our own special ways like Milo Philippines did to cheer on and lighten up the spirits of our little champions in Tacloban.
Send Messages of Hope to Tacloban
Youth
MANILA, Philippines –A year after the typhoon’s destruction, Tacloban,
one of the cities most devastated by Typhoon Yolanda, continues to reconstruct
its industry, its homes, and its infrastructure. Friends and family from all
over the globe are one with the Filipino nation in aiding the victims get back
on their feet. Rehabilitation efforts are being carried outto help build back
lives of the people, but there is still a long way ahead.
While the nation may have recovered from the
initial shock of the catastrophe, victims still struggle to carry on with life
from the rubble.Hundreds of families still live in makeshift tents and temporary
shelters. A large number of children still go about their school and play time
on barefoot.
As Tacloban's children rebuild themselves and
their spirits through play and sports,MILO aims to let them feel that they are
not alone, and encourage them to get active by giving 16,000 pairs of new shoes
to the kids through its Help Give Shoes advocacy. Launched in 2010, Help Give
Shoes is an ongoing campaign which enables every participant of the National
MILO Marathon to donate a part of their registration fee to support the cause.
MILO matches the total amount collected to provide shoes to deserving public
school students. This year, as the leading beverage brand celebrates its 50th
year in the Philippines, MILO will reach its target of turning over a total of
50,000 pairs of shoes for the schoolchildren.
This year, the little champions of Tacloban will
be the recipients. The shoes will come with Messages of Hope which can be sent
to the children of Tacloban in a number of ways. Avid MILO drinkers can write a
message of inspiration on a foot cutout at the Help Give Shoes booth during the
MILO Marathon qualifying races and National Finals. Netizens can get involved
by sharing their inspiring messages, including the
hashtag #MessagesOfHope, via posting on the MILO Philippines Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/milo.ph), tweeting @MILOPH on Twitter,or
tagging @MiloPhilippines on Instagram.
This effort by MILO aims to ease the pain
inflicted by Typhoon Yolanda that remains to be felt by the children. RhanaHomeres,a
12-year-old sixth grader from Tacloban, recounts her personal experience. “I
stopped playing after the storm. I lost my shoes, my ball, and most of my
playthings,” says Rhana. Grade Six
student Gil ChristianBabagay, also 12 years old, shares his fears. “I’m scared
that it might rain hard again, and that something bad will happen to me. I
think I’m even scared of people. Now, I don’t think I know what to do,” says
Gil.
Physical activity is vital in the children’s
road to recovery, stresses Dr. Ma. Lourdes “Honey” A. Carandang, Play Therapy
Pioneer of the MLAC Institute for Psychosocial Services, Inc. “Being active
through play and sport is essential in helping kids overcome trauma,” says Dr.
Carandang. “The children of Tacloban need to enjoy their games and sports once
again. This will enable the children maintain a joyful, youthful and positive outlook
in life.”
Andrew Neri, MILO Sports Marketing Manager,
urges everyone to help the children take the next steps and show them that the
Filipino community is cheering them on.“There is a great need to help the
children of Tacloban take that all-important first step towards winning at
sports and in life,” says Neri. “As we fulfill our aim to help these kids to
heal from the devastation that the typhoon brought in, the messages of hope
will surely raise their spirits, and inspire them to carry on striving for
their dreams.”
Through sheer resilience, the children of Tacloban
have taken the first step to healing. The foot cutouts and messages filled with
inspirationare symbols of hope. What more can thousands of Messages of Hope do
for the little champions of Tacloban?Share your messages of inspiration, help
give hope, and see the difference it can make.
For more
information, log on to the MILO Philippines
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 MILO
The MILO brand is the world’s leading chocolate malt
beverage that can be prepared with hot or cold milk or water. Given its
popularity it is a “must have” product for food service operators particularly
in Asia, Africa and Oceania.
MILO also promotes participation in sports through its
Summer Sports Clinics, MILO-B.E.S.T. Center Training Program, MILO Marathon,
and MILO Little Olympics. The leading beverage brand believes that these
contribute to the holistic development of Filipino champions in sports and in
life. 2014 marks MILO’s 50th year in the country.
About the National MILO Marathon
The National MILO Marathon is an
annual marathon event open to amateur and professional runners. From its humble
beginnings in 1974 as a single marathon race in Metro Manila attended by 747
participants, the National MILO Marathon has grown to be the biggest, longest,
grandest national running event in the country attracting more than hundreds of
thousands of runners across the country.
The National MILO Marathon has grown
into a globally renowned running event having been certified by the Association
of International Marathons (AIMS) and International Association of Athletics
Federations (IAAF), and hosts foreign marathoners from Kenya, Ethiopia, and
other countries across the world. The race is organized by RunRio, Inc.
About Nestle Philippines
Over a hundred years after it first started operations
in the country, Nestle Philippines, Inc. (NPI) today is a robust and stable
organization, proud of its role in bringing the best food and beverage
throughout the stages of the Filipino consumers’ lives. The Company employs
more than 3,200 men and women nationwide, and is now among the country’s Top 10
Corporations.
Driven by its mission to nurture
generations of Filipino families, Nestle today produces and markets products
under some of the country’s well known brands such as NESCAFE, NIDO, MILO,
NESTEA, MAGGI, BEAR BRAND, NESTLE and PURINA, among others. Its product range
has expanded to include coffee, milk, beverages, non-dairy creamer, food,
infant nutrition, ice cream and chilled dairy, breakfast cereals, confectionery
and pet care.
Press contacts:
JinnyJacaria/Clarice Abacan
892-0247 or 50
Group3-b@seinc.com.ph
