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MOST people think that a champion is someone who consistently wins a
given competition. But a true champion is somebody who wins not just
based on pure talent but on the strength and integrity of his
character. These descriptions perfectly fit the winners of the Most
Outstanding Athlete award in the just concluded 2007 MILO Little
Olympics of the national capital region.
Twenty-two athletes, 11 each from both the grade
school and high school divisions received the highly coveted award
after displaying exceptional character in their respective events,
like athletics, badminton, chess, football, gymnastics, lawn tennis,
sepak takraw, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo and volleyball.
“Our awardees have proven that they have
what it takes to really be a true champion and make a difference.”
She adds that she’s proud of the awardees and exhorted them to
“practice and spread the timeless values of teamwork, discipline,
hard work, respect and patience,” says Michelle Calo-Alvarillo,
Nestlé AVP and MILO consumer marketing manager. MILO sports events
executive Pat Goc-ong adds that the awardees show what true
champions are made of. “This year’s awardees fought fairly,
showed respect to their peers and officials, persevered until the
finish line and believed in themselves.”
Among this year’s awardees are Jill Boragay
(athletics), Jericho Conducta (gymnastics) and Diego Montes (taekwondo).
A scholar at the Sisters of Mary Girl’s Town in Cavite, Jill only
began playing athletics last year but has already made quick
strides. She won 3 gold medals in the 1,000-, 800- and 500-meter
events, breaking the record in the 800-meter race.
Like Jill, Mandaluyong Elementary School’s
Jericho Conducta also competed in his first Little Olympics and won
gold medals in the floor exercises and vault categories of
gymnastics and was hailed as the individual overall champion.
Jericho says that he trains five times each week, and balances
gymnastics with his homeworks.
Taekwondo champ Diego Montes is from Marist
School and started learning the basics of his favorite sports since
he was 4 years old. He immediately showed great promise that’s why
his parents Rolen and Shiela decided to immerse Diego in taekwondo,
adding that the event helped their son develop tremendously. “The
MILO Little Olympics exposes kids to all sorts of challenges that
teaches them to be disciplined and respectful. Their character is
molded and the exposure that they get from competitions like this
one certainly helps them a lot,” says Rolen.
Coach Brenda Abelgos of Sisters of Mary Girl’s
Town agrees. “Children who are into sports are more determined,
disciplined and they learn about character-forming values that will
eventually help them tackle life’s challenges and become good and
productive individuals.”
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