At least 80,000 global tech leaders will converge in Barcelona this week for the Mobile World Congress (MWC) with the roster of speakers featuring admired chief executives like Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell, Accenture Chair and CEO Julie Sweet, and HP Enterprise CEO and President Antonio Neri. Among the hottest topics in this year’s conference are artificial intelligence, 5G (and even 5.5G), and sustainability among telecommunications companies.
Converge CEO and Co-Founder Dennis Anthony Uy joins the well-respected list of speakers to talk about how fiber technology helped uplift broadband connectivity in the Philippines at the forum of optical fiber company Yangtze Optical Fiber and Cable (YOFC), entitled “All-Optical Connectivity with New Value”.
The global tech and connectivity event kicks off today, February 26, Monday, and will see the largest congregation of the titans of the tech industry worldwide, as well as the heads of government authorities and regulating bodies. MWC will serve as a week-long, wide-ranging platform for dialogue on emerging trends and issues impacting the global technology landscape.
Uy, nicknamed ‘The Fiber Master’ for his pioneering effort to bring fiber technology to the Philippines, expresses his excitement at the discussions to be had at the MWC: “It’s an exciting time to take part in international conferences such as this, where prominent voices in the tech industry are heard and ideas are the ultimate currency. Especially now that AI is such a topical issue, I’m sure a lot of innovative views will be shared and we will get a good pulse of where the industry is going.”
On Wednesday (February 28), Uy will take the stage at the forum of YOFC and impart the Philippines’ fiber journey from its introduction in the 1990s to the present, and the rise of broadband use and penetration in the Philippines, especially during the market-disrupting entry of Converge at the height of the pandemic.
“Apart from the industry talk, I’m also excited to share a snapshot of the Philippines’ connectivity landscape at the forum. The pandemic truly changed the picture of the entire market, not just with the growth of Converge; the Philippines was forced to embrace technology and it presented us with as many opportunities as challenges,” Uy added.
(L to R) - MILO Philippines – MR. LESTER CASTILLO, Sports Executive; MILO Philippines – MR. WILLY DE OCAMPO, Vice President ; MILO Philippines – MR. ROBBIE DE VERA, Consumer Marketing Manager; ; Cebu Football Association Federation – MR. RICO NAVARRO, Vice President; Ignite Sports, Inc. – MR. MICHAEL REYES, Assistant Organizer
MILO Philippines opened year two of Road to Barcelona, the brand’s values-driven program in partnership with globally-renowned football club, FC Barcelona (FCB) during the recent press launch held in the MILO Stadium of Kidzania Manila.
Coming from a successful run last year, MILO and FCB will hold this year’s local invitational camp in football hotbed, Cebu City on September 8-9 at the Cebu City Sports Center. Over 160 girls and boys ages 10 to 12 from around the country will participate in the world-class football camp for a chance to join the life-changing champion experience in Spain, the home of FC Barcelona.
MILO and FC Barcelona believe in the shared HEART values (humility, effort, ambition, respect, and teamwork), equipped with a healthy and active lifestyle that are essential in every child’s
overall development. The global partnership aims to bring world-class opportunities to nourish ambitions and build a nation of champions through sports. Participants of the program are chosen via a nomination from their coaches who will vouch for both their character and talent.
Asisting MILO in the facilitation of the invitational camp are the Cebu Football Association (CFA), a regional body under the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) and two coaches from the FCB Youth Academy, FC Barcelona’s flagship youth development program. The two-day training camp which features theoretical and practical sessions on how to play the Barca way is free of charge—a privilege for the qualified young players. It will give them the kind of training that only FCB can offer to aid in their continued development, progress Philippine football, and further inspire Filipinos to be champions on and off the field.
(L to R) - MILO Philippines – MR. LESTER CASTILLO, Sports Executive; MILO Philippines – MR. ROBBIE DE VERA, Consumer Marketing Manager; MILO Philippines – MR. WILLY DE OCAMPO, Vice President; Cebu Football Association Federation – MR. RICO NAVARRO, Vice President; Ignite Sports, Inc. – MR. MICHAEL REYES, Assistant Organizer
One with MILO and FCB’s vision is the local organizer of this year’s invitational, the Cebu Football Association (CFA). CFA Vice President Rico Navarro exclaims, “We warmly welcome this momentous collaboration with two iconic sports brands, MILO and FC Barcelona. Our region has some of the most passionate and talented young players in the country, and we hope that this Road to Barcelona camp can foster the right values and grow their appreciation for the sport and everything they learn from it.”
KEVIN HADAP, 2017 participant/GK FC
“Every kid dreams of becoming a champ. That’s why the MILO-FCB Road to Barcelona Philippines Camp is back to provide kids the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to train with youth coaches from FC Barcelona. We’ve taken this year’s invitational camp to the Visayas to share the program with even more children in the region, because we believe that these experiences can encourage them to pursue their passion for the sport and nourish their ambitions,” said Willy de Ocampo, Vice President, Nestle Philippines, Inc.
The expert panel composed of PFF representatives and FCB coaches will be in charge in shortlisting the most deserving athletes who will fly to Spain, where one slot in the delegation will be all-expense paid by MILO Philippines.
Similar to the maiden program, the 2018 delegation will take part in a nine-day training camp and ultimate experience in FCB’s hallowed grounds in Camp Nou, Barcelona. The Philippine team will be among their peers from other MILO markets which incude Australia, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Jamaica, New Zealand, Panama, Singapore, Tahiti, Thailand, and Vietnam. Their stay will be filled with special activities that will hone their skills, encourage them to make new friends, explore scenic heritage locations, most importantly, learn how to play with HEART—the Barca way.
MILO Philippines Consumer Marketing Manager Robbie de Vera shares his excitement for year two of the four-year partnership, “MILO is very excited and honored to continue its advocacy to get more kids into sports and help advance Philippine football with FC Barcelona. Our goal for this year is to further enrich the ‘Road to Barcelona’ experience by reaching more Filipino kids and
reinforcing the values that encourage more kids to dream big and become champions in life.”
(L to R) - MILO Philippines – MR. LESTER CASTILLO, Sports Executive; MILO Philippines – MR. ROBBIE DE VERA, Consumer Marketing Manager; AMANDA FERNANDEZ, ANTON DEL ROSARIO, MILO Philippines – MR. WILLY DE OCAMPO, Vice President; Cebu Football Association Federation – MR. RICO NAVARRO, Vice President; Ignite Sports, Inc. – MR. MICHAEL REYES, Assistant Organizer
