Two Smokey Mountain booters earn FC Barcelona camp stint

TWO Smokey Mountain kids recently attended a five-day soccer camp with FC Barcelona, one of the world’s top football clubs.

Caltex, marketed by Chevron Philippines Inc., in partnership with Gawad Kalinga and the Junior Chamber International-Manila, selected Arnel Britania, 10, and Jay-E Vhien Sabalza, 11, from the annual summer Caltex Supa Strikas Cup Football tournament held at Field of Dreams for indigent kids from the Smokey Mountain and Tondo areas.

Britania and Sabalza were selected to attend the camp, held April 17 to 21, based on several criteria, such as athletic ability, team adaptability, and behavior exhibited during the games.

“Through this partnership, we hope that we will be able to entice children from indigent families to get into sports and become more active,” Caltex brand manager Veronica Pangilinan said.

“Sports do not merely aid in developing motor skills. Children learn life skills when they play sports. Through sports, children learn to become resourceful, patient, and goal-oriented,” added Pangilinan.

The sponsorship is part of the Caltex Energy for Learning initiative which invests in projects that provide disadvantaged people with skills and learning to give them better opportunities in life. Cedelf P. Tupas