Martinez gives back to Filipino kids, sets up ice skating camps

Filipino Olympian figure skater Michael Martinez is scheduled to hold a two-city skating camp in Manila and Cebu after spending a year training and competing abroad.

Martinez, the first figure skater from Southeast Asia to take part in the Winter Olympics, will be at SM Mall of Asia skating rink from June 15 to 17 before wrapping up his camp at SM Seaside City Cebu from June 30 to July 1.

“I just want to impart my knowledge and experience to Filipino kids,” Martinez told reporters during a press conference Tuesday at Aristocrat Malate.

“We at SM Skating would like nothing more than to support Michael in his dream to develop budding skaters into Olympic athletes,” CJ Suarez, sports and development head of SM Lifestyle Entertainment Inc., said. “We hope to have this camp in place annually during Michael’s off-ice seasons.”

Apart from the camp itself where Martinez will teach aspiring skaters the basics that led him to become one of the region’s best figure skaters, the teen sensation will also perform ice shows and do meet and greet with his fans.

The ice show and meet and greet will be held in SM Megamall on June 18 and in SM Seaside City Cebu on July 2.

The 19-year-old Martinez, who last competed in the World Championship in Boston last March, will go back to the US sometime in July.