Ayala Foundation, MVP Sports Foundation partner to bring more Filipino athletes to the global stage
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Ayala Foundation Inc. (AFI) and MVP Sports Foundation Inc. (MVPSF) partnered for a major private sector initiative to develop more Filipino athletes who can compete on the global sporting stage.
The partnership was sealed through a Memorandum of Understanding signed by AFI president Tony Lambino, AFI Senior Director for Development Programs Emil de Quiros, MVPSF President Alfredo Panlilio on September 8, 2025, at the Fairmont Hotel in Makati City, with Ayala Corporation Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala and MVPSF Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan. Also present to witness was Philippine Sports Commission Chairman John Patrick Gregorio.
In their shared goal to uplift Philippine sports, both foundations are committed to providing support for elite athletes, improving grassroots training and development, and collaborating on advocacy initiatives with government agencies supporting national sports development.
It also synergizes efforts of AFI’s sports development arm, Atletang Ayala, and MVPSF to develop world-class Filipino athletes and bring national pride to the country in international sports competitions.
“Right now, our next world champions could be anywhere in the Philippines, dreaming about their first international match but finding themselves with limited or even no opportunities to compete. We have an excellent opportunity to be the bridge between their dreams and reality. Let’s work together and show them what’s possible,” said Zobel de Ayala.
“Sports is a metaphor for life. The kind of virtues and qualities you need in sports are the same ones you need in life: hard work, discipline, focus, and resilience. We're happy to be working with the Ayalas in making sports more accessible to Filipinos,” said Pangilinan.
Under the MOU, Atletang Ayala and MVPSF shall “provide comprehensive support to Filipino athletes” in their respective programs and collaborate to “establish sustainable pathways for athlete discovery and development.”
The two parties will also jointly engage government partners to explore opportunities for sports development and find ways to harness the power of sports in developing future leaders who can make a positive social impact.
The first initiative created through this collaboration was the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge, which occurred on September 20 and 21, 2025, at the Ayala Triangle in Makati City. The event, the brainchild and dream of Filipino champion pole vaulter EJ Obiena, gathered the world’s top pole vaulters in an internationally sanctioned competition.
In staging the event, AFI and MVPSF hit the ground running in their partnership and looked forward to future collaborations to uplift Philippine sports together.
To learn more about the Ayala Foundation, visit www.ayalafoundation.org. Know more about MVPSF via www.mvpsf.ph.
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Editor’s Note: This article was provided by Ayala Foundation.
