Chieffy Caligdong holds Globe ‘Football Para Sa Bayan’

WITH the desire to train potential football players and raise funds to build new classrooms, Globe Telecom through its sports ambassador Emelio “Chieffy” Caligdong held a football festival in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo last February 22 to 24, 2013.

Dubbed as “Globe Football Para Sa Bayan,” the annual football competition was participated in by more than 1,000 students, ages 6-16, from at least 10 public and private schools in Iloilo.

Another component of the festival is the football clinics conducted by Chieffy, who aside from being the left winger for Green Archers United Globe is also considered a Philippine football hero. Proceeds of the football clinics and tournament will benefit Ten Moves.

Globe Sports Ambassador Chieffy Caligdong (middle) together with Fernando Esguerra of Globe Telecom and Rodellyn Manalac of Ayala Foundation Inc. (Contributed photo)

Ten Moves is a social mobilization campaign of Bayanihang Pampaaralan that aims to raise enough resources to help build 10,000 classrooms in public schools nationwide. It is being spearheaded by the League of Corporate Foundations and the Philippine Business for Social Progress in partnership with the Department of Education to address the classroom backlog in the country.

“In lieu of tuition fees for those who will enroll their kids in the football clinics, we asked the parents for pledges to Ten Moves. Hopefully, this program will snowball into a replication in other cities. We are very proud to have Chieffy to drive the company’s advocacy on sports development and advancement, specifically in leading and conducting football clinics in the grassroots level,” said Rob I. Nazal, Globe head for Corporate Social Responsibility.

Chieffy said: “This is a very significant and noble cause which I really want to be part of and I’m glad for the opportunity to help in providing classrooms for our school children.”

Globe Football sa Bayan also serves as the training ground for up and coming local football players, as well as for those set to compete at the Palarong Pambansa.

“We see a lot of potential in our young players who if given proper training and encouragement, have the potential to excel in football. Being a native of Barotac Nuevo, conducting football clinics is my way of giving back to the province where I was born,” said Chieffy, a homegrown talent himself who now figures prominently in the international sports arena. (PR)