Ayala, MVP Foundations Join Forces to Develop World-Class Filipino Athletes

Two of the country’s most prominent business-led foundations have joined forces to create stronger pathways for Filipino athletes to reach the global stage.

Ayala Foundation Inc. (AFI) and the MVP Sports Foundation Inc. (MVPSF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on September 8, 2025, at the Fairmont Hotel in Makati City. The agreement was formalized by AFI President Tony Lambino, AFI Senior Director for Development Programs Emil de Quiros, and MVPSF President Alfredo Panlilio, with Ayala Corporation Chair Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala and MVPSF Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan leading the partnership. Philippine Sports Commission Chairman John Patrick Gregorio witnessed the signing.

The collaboration aims to bolster grassroots development, provide support for elite athletes, and work with government partners in advancing national sports initiatives. It also aligns the efforts of AFI’s sports arm, Atletang Ayala, with MVPSF’s longstanding programs in supporting world-class Filipino talent.

Zobel de Ayala emphasized the need to give young Filipino athletes more opportunities.
“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.”

For Pangilinan, sports is not only about competition but also about values.
“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, resilience. We’re happy to be working with the Ayalas in making sports more accessible to Filipinos,” he said.

The MOU commits both foundations to establish sustainable pathways for athlete discovery and development and create collaborative initiatives to harness sports as a tool for leadership and social impact.

Their first joint project will be the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge, set for September 20 and 21 at the Ayala Triangle in Makati City. The event, envisioned by champion pole vaulter EJ Obiena, will bring together top international athletes in a competition sanctioned by global athletics bodies.

Through this flagship event and future initiatives, AFI and MVPSF hope to demonstrate how private sector partnerships can help nurture the next generation of Filipino champions.