Max Esteban and Milka Romero partner up to turn over 83 pairs of shoes to the Olongapo Junior Trackers team seeing action at this year's Batang Pinoy.
Paris 2024 Olympian Maxine Esteban and Capital1 team owner Milka Romero have joined hands to bring Christmas early for the Olongapo Junior Trackers team, who will see action in the 2024 Batang Pinoy in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan this week.
Olongapo Junior trackers coach Samuel Bada reached out to Esteban for help in providing the young student-athletes their gear for the competition.
Through her very own sports foundation along with the 1Pacman Partylist, the Fil-Ivorian fencer gave away a total 83 pairs of shoes from Anta Philippines, with products from Rebisco and rechargeable fans from Akari. Esteban and Romero led the simple turnover ceremony on Saturday, November 16.
“Kaming dalawa magkasing age more or less kami and bilang women in sports, at a young age parang nakita ko na she’s willing to help,” said Romero, who herself was once a student-athlete when she was still playing football.
“Doon na nagkaroon ng fruition, nag-start ‘yung idea to give back to different communities and different teams across the Philippines,” added Romero, who along with her sister Mandy co-owns Capital1 in the PVL.
“It’s really my advocacy kasi kahit naman di ako pinalad na ma-represent yung Pilipinas sa Olympics, ipinangako ko talaga sa sarili ko na I want to be relevant in Philippine sports and really to help athletes here in the Philippines,” said Esteban.
The student-athletes were accompanied by Bada and Olongapo City Sports and Youth Development head David Bayarong.
"Nagpapasalamat po tayo. Malaking tulong ito sa mga kabataan natin lalo na't ang mga kabataan natin some of them don't really have the means para makakuha ng shoes," said Bayarong.
"But apart from the things na binigay nila ma'am Maxine and ma'am Milka, it's also the moral support na nakukuha ng mga bata na 'uy once in their life pala they are also in my shoes'. So nakikita ng mga bata na in the future, as long as I be good in what I do now, pwede rin pala akong maging si ms. Maxine and ms. Milka," he added.