Coca Cola kicks-off Youngstars Program Year 2

Atty. Adel Tamano, Vice-President for Public Affairs and Communications for Coca-Cola Philippines (right) with PBA Commissioner Atty. Angelico “Chito” Salud (left) during the second year kick-off of the Coca-Cola PBA Youngstars Basketball League

MANILA, Philippines — Coca-Cola Philippines recently reaffirmed its commitment to promote healthy and active living during the second year kick-off of the Coca-Cola PBA Youngstars Basketball League.

Coca-Cola PBA Youngstars is a nationwide grassroots program, which aims to reach out to more than 7,000 aspiring basketball stars aged 13 to 16 across different cities, provinces, and municipalities in the country.

“We have partnered with the Philippine Basketball Association for this program because leading an active healthy lifestyle has a positive impact on health and wellbeing, delivering a range of physical, mental and social benefits especially for young people,” says Atty. Adel Tamano, Vice-President for Public Affairs and Communications for Coca-Cola Philippines.


The thrust of Coca-Cola Philippines towards Healthy and Active Living is hinged on a global commitment to well-being, women empowerment and water replenishment.

Active and healthy living helps consumers make informed choices about day-to-day food consumption, proper hydration, and the benefits of engaging in various forms of exercise like basketball.

“We want Coca-Cola PBA Youngstars participants to embrace active healthy living. And as the leading beverage company in the Philippines, the three-step action plan of Coca-Cola towards this is to Think, Drink, Move. To Think means to be educated through Coca-Cola programs like our basketball clinics.  To Drink means to carefully consider one’s beverage choices and hydrate properly. Coca-Cola has a wide variety of products that people can choose from, depending on their taste, as well as energy or calorie needs. To Move means to engage in physical activity like basketball to achieve energy balance,” adds Tamano.

Through Youngstars, teen participants get a 360-degree exposure to the Think, Drink, Move concept.

Health experts say a simple way for teens to keep their health in check is to always keep their food intake in moderation – not too much nor too little. A sensible and healthy eating plan should include a mix of carbohydrates, protein, fiber, with a moderate amount of sugar, all within the daily recommended energy and nutrition intake (RENI).

He concludes, “Part of active healthy living is having energy balance. This refers to the concept of balancing calories in with calories out to maintain a healthy weight. As long as you balance the calories you take in with the calories you burn, while also ensuring you‘re meeting your nutrient needs, any food or beverage, including Coke, can be part of an active healthy lifestyle. Regular physical activity helps maintain this equation and is essential for overall fitness and health.”

The Coca-Cola PBA Youngstars is one of many initiatives of Coca-Cola that promotes Healthy Active Living. Globally, Coca-Cola supports over 280 physical activity and nutrition education programs in more than 115 countries.

Provincial tryouts for the Coca-Cola PBA Youngstars Basketball League runs from April 2 – 14, covering Cagayan de Oro, Laoag, Iloilo, Zamboanga, Cavite, Laguna Bacolod, Pangasinan, Davao, Cebu, Pampanga, and Batangas.  Metro Manila tryouts begin April 1 until 13, starting at Valenzuela, Marikina, Caloocan, San Juan, Manila, Taguig, Rizal, Navotas, Muntinlupa, Cainta, Pasig, and Las Pinas.

Kids aged 13-16 are also encouraged to join the basketball clinics with Ronnie Magsanoc as coach. Tryout and clinic schedules can be viewed at the Coca-Cola Facebook fan page (www.facebook.com/presidentforhappiness), www.coca-cola.com.ph, or simply follow @Coke_HappyPrez on Twitter.