The Goal Diggers PH, a podcast series by sports marketing organization XMPLR, kicks off another season of sharing life lessons with its newest program, The Goal Diggers YOUTH.
The latest iteration of the series features a diverse lineup of new generation athletes with stories of hope and motivation, to empower the young Filipino audience in realizing their full potential to succeed in life.
“Last year, we had the great privilege of sharing the wonderful stories of different sports personalities and athletes from our two previous seasons of The Goal Diggers. This time around, we’re dedicating a whole new season for the youth and rightfully so, by the youth,” said XMPLR’s Chief Sports Advocate Robbie de Vera.
“We believe in the power of the youth and The Goal Diggers YOUTH is dedicated to helping uncover the potential of our audience, coming from the relevant stories and tips from our conversations, to help inspire and motivate them to #DigIn and succeed. I’m very proud of the work my team has done in order to continue to be proactive and value-adding in these trying times not just to our organization but to our fellow Filipinos and the sports community as well.”
The Goal Diggers YOUTH follows the success of the Goal Diggers’ 2020 campaign that featured inspiring stories of top sports personalities that touched on meaningful topics such as mental health and parenting.
“The pandemic has made it extremely difficult for the younger generation to cope with their mental and social struggles to pursue their aspirations. And this is why we are launching The Goal Diggers YOUTH,” said Raya Villon, one of the Project Managers of The Goal Diggers YOUTH.
“We genuinely believe in the immense potential of every Filipino—that the Filipino is world-class and can achieve that, given the motivation and guidance, Gen Z is at the right moment to make that difference.”
Youth On Spotlight
Proving that new generation athletes can spark positive change through impactful stories, the Goal Diggers YOUTH features a wide roster of athletes. Among them are Agatha Wong, Sacho Ilustre and Kat Tan who have willingly shared their advocacies and experiences in overcoming challenges in today’s pandemic setting.
“I’d like to engage more people in bringing awareness to wushu, the sport I am in.” said Wong, who is driving a personal cause that will put spotlight on the lives of National athletes through her own YouTube Channel, The Athlete Life.
Ilustre, who made waves in the swimming discipline since he was a kid, said that it has been his goal to join the Olympics and eventually leave a mark in Philippine swimming.
“I want to make a mark, and to be the representative of my sport, which I hope will inspire the younger Filipinos,” he said.
Tan, the One-Armed Mamba, meanwhile shared that hope is always on the horizon despite the setbacks in life. “My second chance to live again is my motivation,” she said.
“It means that I still have a story to tell. I hope the kids will see that there is always hope in our lives, and no circumstances stop them from doing what you love.”
The Goal Diggers YOUTH was also headlined by Pauline Lopez who guest starred in the pilot episode, as well as elite athletes Chloe Daos and Seb Wong.
Volleyball superstar Bea de Leon will also form part of the show’s roster of upcoming guests, as well as top athletes Kaizen dela Serna, Meggie Ochoa and Jarvey Gayoso.
Hosted by veteran sports host Vince Velasco, Bey Pinlac, ZanD Bajarias, Louisa Tagulinao, and Goal Diggers’ very own de Vera, every episode captures stories of perseverance and determination by highlighting the passions, advocacies and challenges of the athletes during the pandemic.
“The Goal Diggers YOUTH features an amazing pool of young sports personalities who are the elite in their respective fields and have stories that will truly inspire the younger generation,” said Patee Reyes, Co- Project Manager of The Goal Diggers YOUTH.
“We are proud to have a lineup of guests that can share very diverse perspectives and experiences in their life journeys that, we hope, many young Filipinos will relate to.”
The Goal Diggers YOUTH streams LIVE every Saturday at 8:00pm and will run until December 18.
Pitching In For More
In an effort to drive further its commitment in making positive impact to communities through sports, the Goal Diggers, through its advocacy program, Pitch In PH, will be raising funds for the Mangyan Community in partnership with Likhang Puso, to provide sports kits, which will include equipment for different sports such as basketballs, badminton sets, and volleyballs, as well as tablets and pocket wi-fis for virtual sports clinics.
This initiative aims to provide more children and communities access to equipment and alleviate the lack of holistic learning, specifically in sports.
“As athletes ourselves, we believe in the power of sports in promoting not only physical and mental health but also values such as teamwork and perseverance. Our goal is to give each person an equal opportunity to discover and develop their skills and passions in sports through providing different communities with sports kits,” stressed Keito Ong, Project Manager of Pitch In PH.
Since its launch in 2020, Pitch In PH has been working actively with individuals and organizations to help Filipinos in need. Early on in the pandemic, through the help of generous individuals, Pitch In PH was able to raise funds for Gretchen Ho’s Donate-a-Bike, Save-a-Job Campaign that provided 10 deserving front liners from Novaliches City with brand new bicycles.
For the hard-hit victims of typhoon Ulysses, Pitch In PH worked with an Oakland California-based company, Chunky Butt Ice Creamery to raise 3000 USD, and local brand Bata.ph, in providing complete hygiene kits for 300 families in barangays in Marikina.
Additionally, with the help of RockEd Philippines, the team also provided hygiene kits to the Women’s Correctional Facility in Muntinlupa City Jail.
For more information on the Goal Diggers PH and its advocacy, Pitch In PH, like and follow The Goal Diggers PH page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGoalDiggersPH/, and subscribe to The Goal Diggers PH YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi02to-LukmlRBERrUbZ1Hw. Listen in on Spotify @the Goal Diggers PH.