In partnership with Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, AIA Philippines recently brought world-class football training to 100 students from eight elementary schools in Baguio City.
The top-ranking team in the English Premier League in partnership with AIA Philippines held the football clinic as a special initiative of the AIA Healthiest Schools (AHS) program that aims to raise awareness of the importance of building healthy habits among young Filipinos.
Formerly Philam Life and now the local arm of Hong Kong-based AIA Group, AIA Philippines teamed with Tottenham Hotspur’s International Football Development Manager Shannon Moloney and International Football Development Coach Lily Jervis, in collaboration with Baguio City local football coaches
The two-day training featured exciting football drills and skill-building exercises for local coaches and kids, which focused on effective play, enhanced agility and footwork, and breaking tackles and gaining yardage.
“We were thrilled to partner with Tottenham Hotspur to bring the lessons from our AIA Healthiest Schools program to life through this football clinic in Baguio, a city that has great love for football, and other outdoor sports and activities that encourage holistic well-being,” said Melissa Henson,Chief Marketing Officer, AIA Philippines.
Participants are from Pinsao Elementary School, Jose P. Laurel Elementary School, Cristal Cave Integrated School, Doña Aurora Elementary School, Baguio Central School, Bonifacio Elementary School, Bakakeng Elementary School, and Manuel Roxas Elementary School.
“This initiative underscores our commitment to empowering young people to make healthy choices, and get them started on their journeys to healthier, longer and better lives at an early age,” added Henson.
Launched in the Philippines in August 2024, the AIA Healthiest Schools program is a pioneering initiative designed to boost health literacy among students aged 5 to 16 and teach them the importance of healthy eating, active lifestyle and overall well-being.
Following successful implementations across Asia and Australia, the program has so far reached over 7,200 students and trained 139 teachers across five regions in the Philippines. AIA Healthiest Schools provides free, curriculum-linked resources and materials based on four pillars of well-being: healthy eating, physical activity, mental health, and sustainability.
“Being involved in AHS is such a great honor and I love being able to share my knowledge and experience, both in the education and football space. The coaches, educators and students from Baguio were such an energetic, enthusiastic and fun group who embraced all the activations and delivered so well,” shared Moloney, who used to be an educator and played midfielder for the Tottenham Hotspur Women’s team.
In the Philippines, the program is implemented in partnership with the Corazon S. Atayde Memorial Foundation (CSAMF), which serves grassroots communities to promote reading, learning and financial literacy to underserved communities.
“I loved seeing all the smiling faces and enthusiasm for football in Baguio. It is always very special for us to see the love for the game in Asia,” added Jervis, who played for theNorthern Regional Football in the National Women’s League in New Zealand:
AIA Philippines plans to expand the AIA Healthiest Schools program to reach even more students across the country, ensuring that future generations are more empowered to live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives.
“AIA Healthiest Schools helps us amplify our efforts to create long-term positive impact on students’ learning journeys, by also improving their health literacy and community well-being,” added Margaux Atayde, Executive Director, Corazon Sanchez Atayde Memorial Foundation.
“Through the AIA Football Clinic, we can encourage more students to translate the lessons of the football field into real-life success, as their own captains of a healthier, happier future.” NLMonitor
