SPORTS | September 20, 2024
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| PLDT and Smart First Vice President and Head of Sports Jude R. Turcuato before the exclusive screening of Puso In Paris 2024 (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/Smart Communications Inc.) |
PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications Inc. (Smart), in collaboration with Shangri-La Plaza, exclusively screened ‘Puso In Paris 2024’ last August 30, 2024 at the newly renovated Red Carpet Cinema 1 in Mandaluyong for free. Produced by Smart Sports, the four-part documentary series looks into the training and other preparations of Filipino Olympians for the recently concluded Paris 2024 Olympic Games. “We are grateful for the opportunity to give Filipinos the real behind-the-scenes look at what our national athletes go through, what their mindset is, what they feel. And to be able understand those experiences to the result afterwards is really rewarding. We’re very proud of what our Paris Olympians have done. We would like to thank again Shangri-La Plaza for hosting the special screening of our Puso In Paris 2024 with the same goal of appreciating and honoring our Filipino sports heroes," said PLDT and Smart First Vice President and Head of Sports Jude R. Turcuato who serves as one of the series' executive producers.
‘Puso In Paris 2024’ features Carlos Edriel Yulo, the golden boy of Philippine gymnastics who headlined the country's Paris 2024 Olympic Games campaign with two gold medals. The series also followed Paris bronze medalists Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas together with fellow boxers Carlos Paalam, Eumir Marcial and Hergie Bacyadan in their training a few months before the Olympics. Weightlifters Vanessa Sarno, Elreen Ando and John Ceniza shared their stories as they build on the triumph of Hidilyn Diaz, the country’s first Olympic gold medalist. Asia’s top pole vault champion Ernest John ‘EJ’ Obiena also talked about his beginnings and his dedication to become one of the world’s elite athletes. EJ Obiena's mother Jeanette Obiena attended the screening together with EJ’s sister Emily. She has witnessed her son’s perseverance to compete at the world’s biggest sports event, saying, “With what EJ had done at the Paris Olympics, I know he had given his best and fought the good fight. I’m very, very proud of him for that.”
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| Jeanette and Emily Obiena, mother and sister of top Filipino pole vaulter and Olympian EJ Obiena (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/Smart Communications Inc.) |
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| PLDT High Speed Hitter Kim Kianna Dy addressing the media at the exclusive screening of Puso In Paris 2024 (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/Smart Communications Inc.) |
PLDT High Speed Hitter Kim Kianna Dy, who has donned the national colors in volleyball, was beaming with pride for our Paris Olympians after watching ‘Puso In Paris 2024’. “It’s a big honor to represent the country and it’s a dream of every athlete to be part of the national team or delegation. It’s been very inspiring to see how they prepared especially for something as big as the Olympics which is the highest level of competition. Just being a part of it, win or lose, is such a big achievement already,” said Dy. The Smart Omega Empress eSports team and the Smart Omega management also graced the special screening. Celebrated Filipino designer Francis Libiran, who created the ‘Sinag’ barong that Filipino Olympians wore at the opening ceremony of the Paris games, also watched ‘Puso In Paris 2024’ on the big screen. Smart served as an official broadcast partner of the Paris Olympics. Subscribers of all networks may download the Smart LiveStream App on Google Play Store and App Store to watch ‘Puso In Paris 2024’ as well as highlights of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 for free. ‘Puso In Paris 2024’ can also be viewed on the official YouTube channels and Facebook pages of Smart Sports and Puso Pilipinas.
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| Smart Omega Empress and Smart Omega's John "H2WO" Salonga (extreme right) (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/Smart Communications Inc.) |
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| Smart Omega eSports Management Team (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/Smart Communications Inc.) |
Staunch supporters of sports development, companies led by PLDT and Smart Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan (MVP) comprising the MVP Group of Companies and the MVP Sports Foundation (MVPSF) have launched many initiatives to help discover, develop, and train Filipino athletes and teams from the grassroots to collegiate, amateur, and professional levels. From basketball to boxing to eSports and many others, the MVPSF and the MVP Group have been investing in and empowering 20 National Sports Associations (NSAs), backing hundreds of athletes, and contributing to nation-building through sports development, fueling the Filipino dream of producing more Olympic gold medals for the Philippines.
