Cebuana Lhuillier improving lives through tennis
SUBMITTING to the ability of sports to make a positive impact, micro-financial company Cebuana Lhuillier has been active in using it as an avenue to do its share in improving the lives of Filipinos.
Through its Cebuana Lhuillier Age Group tennis program, PJ Lhuillier, Inc., led by its Chief Executive Officer Jean Henri Lhuillier, has been making strides in its dual goal of discovering talents for national team duties as well as helping underprivileged Filipinos through scholarship grants to support their dreams to lead better lives.
Established in 2006, Cebuana Lhuillier Age Group tennis in 10 years has hosted numerous nationwide tournaments in support of the grassroots development program of the Philippine Tennis Association (PhilTa) where Mr. Lhuillier serves as chairman.
In the same time span, it has endorsed over 50 scholars who were given access to better education — both here and abroad — and more support for their tennis training.
One of the most promising athletes that the tennis program has produced is Roxanne Resma, who is currently under a tennis scholarship in the University of Hawaii. Other program standouts are Davis Cup team member Jeson Patrombon, and Kim Iglupas, who often represents the country in international tournaments.
The year 2016 proved to be a big one for Cebuana Lhuillier’s tennis program as it held 51 tennis tournament legs — 21 in Luzon and 30 for Visayas and Mindanao — while reaching new areas such as Iloilo City, Dumalag, Capiz, Dipolog City, Pulacan, Zamboanga del Sur, Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte, Tuguegarao, Cagayan, Iriga City, Naga City, Baguio City, Solano, Nueva Vizcaya, and Tarlac, among others.
It has also successfully produced three new sports scholars, two from University of the PhilippinesDiliman and one from National University.
Another 2016 milestone for the age group tennis program was organizing the Cebuana Lhuillier Girls’ Tennis Challenge — a pre-qualifying tournament for the WTA Future Stars Asia- Pacific leg. The contest gave way for Alexandra Eala and Melanie Faye Dizon, champions of the U-14 and U-16 divisions, respectively, to compete in the Asia- Pacific finals in Singapore in October.
The latest leg of the Cebuana Lhuillier Age Group tennis program happened at the weekend at the Philam Tennis Club & Philippine Veterans Tennis Club in Quezon City where a new batch of winners was crowned.
The winners circle includes Sherwin Nuguit from Las Piñas City ( 10 under unisex); Samuel Nuguit from Las Piñas City ( 12- under boys); Daniel Estanislao from Metro Manila (14-under boys); Nio Tria from Quezon City ( 16- under boys); Jeremiah Macias III from Las Piñas City (18-under boys); Alyssa Rosales from Quezon City ( 12- under girls); Gaby Zoleta from Lucena City ( 14- under girls); and Mikaela Vicencio from Bulacan (16-under girls).
“With the Cebuana Lhuillier Age Group tennis program, we are giving the underdog Filipino athletes a chance to shine and develop their potential to be at par with the world’s best,” said Mr. Lhuillier, who was part of the group that built the Philippine Mavericks team which competed in the International Premier Tennis League in 2014 and 2015.
“We are helping them succeed, not only in sports, but in life, as they develop important skills that can contribute to their personal growth and in nation building,” Mr. Lhuillier added in reaffirming his group’s commitment to the cause they started a decade ago. —