MILO, and the Department of Education (DepEd), its long-standing partner in grassroots sports development, today announced stronger collaboration and new sports programs through MILO Active Pilipinas.

Representatives from MILO® Philippines, Department of Education, Philippine Sports Commission, and the Philippine Olympic Committee joined students and teachers of Mandaue City Central School to launch the nationwide movement promoting active lifestyles and sports participation among Filipino youth.

MILO Active Pilipinas is a nationwide campaign designed to energize and inspire Filipino families to lead an active lifestyle. Under this campaign is a wide variety of on-ground and online sports programs, such as the National MILO® Marathon, MILO® Sports Clinics, and MILO® Barangay Liga, which encourage learners to participate in sports and enhance their physical literacy. Many of these programs are strongly supported by DepEd, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), and local government units.

At a high-energy sports day held at Mandaue City Central School, more than 4,000 students, parents, teachers and representatives from key sports stakeholders came together to experience the excitement of MILO Active Pilipinas through sports clinics, sports demonstrations, and meet and greet with MILO ambassadors such as six-time MILO Marathon Queen and homegrown talent Mary Joy Tabal and Southeast Asian Games Gold Medalist and MILO Sports Clinics graduate Jamie Lim.

The event also highlighted the strong partnership between MILO and its partners from DepEd, PSC, and POC, with key figures in attendance, including DepEd Regional Director VII Dr. Salustiano Jimenez, School Division Office Mandaue Superintendent Dr. Bianito Dagatan, DepEd Bureau of Learner Support Services Director IV Dr. Miguel Angelo Mantaring, Palarong Pambansa Secretariat Marivic Tolitol, DepEd External Partnership Services Project Manager III Davedinah Cometa, PSC Commissioner Edward Hayco, and POC Marketing Head Nikko Huelgas.

Students of Mandaue City Central School engage in a fun and energetic football drill during the MILO Active Pilipinas launch. The initiative aims to encourage Filipino children to embrace an active lifestyle through sports, reinforcing MILO’s commitment to grassroots sports development.

“MILO believes that sport is a great teacher. We recognize that accelerating sports participation among Filipino school children is an important part of raising a nation of champions,” said Veronica Cruz, SVP and Business Executive Officer, Beverages & Confectionery, Nestlé Philippines. “Together with our longstanding partners, we aim to foster a community of active kids and equip them with the values such as grit, discipline and teamwork to succeed in sports and in life.”

With the support of DepEd, MILO aims to bring sports clinics, grassroots programs, and inclusive activities closer to more communities, aligned with the DepEd “Sports for All” policy, which targets to make physical fitness and sports accessible to all, regardless of age, gender, talent, and capabilities, in all organized sports competitions. MILO will support DepEd in its mandate to organize sports clubs, and is committed to remain as its partner in the Palarong Pambansa.

“Every child deserves the opportunity to run, to play and to thrive through structured school sports programs, inclusive policies and strong partnerships,” said Dr. Miguel Angelo S. Mantaring, Director VI of the Bureau of Learner Support Services of the Department of Education. “That is why we are incredibly grateful to our partners from MILO for their years of continuous advocacy in expanding sports to every learner. We share the value of commitment to championing an active and healthy nation. And together, we making a large impact and a difference in the lives of the Filipino.”

Students from Mandaue City Central School enthusiastically participate in the launch of MILO Active Pilipinas, a nationwide movement promoting active lifestyles among Filipino youth. The event featured engaging fitness activities, highlighting MILO’s commitment to fostering health and wellness through sports.

By 2025, MILO intends to reach three million Filipino children to show the benefits of sports and an active lifestyle by expanding the scale of its programs. The National MILO Marathon will grow to 25 legs, tapping more provinces and cities nationwide to participate in the country’s longest-running footrace. The MILO Sports Clinics will grow from 800 to over 1,000 clinics to offer access to a wide range of sports disciplines and skilled coaches. The number of MILO Barangay Ligas will increase to 400 nationwide, fostering camaraderie, teamwork, and community spirit among kids at the grassroots level.

In addition to scaling up existing programs, MILO will introduce exciting new initiatives that tackle real challenges while celebrating the power of sports. MILO Safe Swim, in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross, will be rolled out to more areas in the country to help address the critical issue of drowning among Filipino children. This life-saving program is designed to teach water safety and swimming skills while giving kids the confidence to enjoy water activities. MILO will continue to recognize and celebrate exceptional Filipinos who embody these values in their careers and communities through the Champions in Life initiative. The search for more MILO Champions in Life in regional areas aims to inspire a new generation to see how the lessons from sports can lead to greatness in any field.

MILO reinforces its partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd), the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) in its launch of the MILO® Active Pilipinas. From left, SEA Games Karate Medalist and MILO Ambassador Jamie Lim, POC Marketing Head Nikko Huelgas, DepEd Bureau of Learner Support Services Director IV Miguel Angelo Mantaring, Nestlé Philippines SVP and Business Executive Officer for Beverages & Confectionary Veronica Cruz, PSC Commissioner Edward Hayco and MILO Philippines Head of Sports Carlo Sampan.

Beyond promoting an active lifestyle, MILO remains committed to advocating for nutrition and wellness through its beloved drink, expertly formulated with the right balance of milk and energy-giving nutrients that kids need to stay active. 

 “By expanding the scale and reach of sports programs across more provinces, particularly in Visayas and Mindanao, MILO gives Filipino children – even those in remote or far-flung areas – the opportunity to participate, grow, and dream big,” said Carlo Sampan, Head of Sports, MILO Philippines. “MILO remains steadfast in its mission to make sports accessible, inclusive, and impactful. Whether through the National MILO Marathon, our sports clinics, or initiatives like Safe Swim and Champions in Life, we are empowering Filipino children to dream bigger, aim higher, and achieve more.”

For 60 years, MILO has been working with partners to impart values like grit, discipline and teamwork to Filipino children in a fun and engaging way. MILO believes that sports is a great teacher, instilling essential life skills that drive kids to reach for their goals and overcome challenges. Today and beyond, MILO Philippines reinforces its commitment to deliver compelling sports programs that give every Filipino a chance to bring out their inner champion.