Robinsons Retail Group / Universal Robina Corporation Agro Industrial Group reaffirm UP commitment

(Standing L-R: TGP AVP-Supply Chain Abet Liuson, TGP General Manager Agnes Rafinan, UP Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan, UP MBT Head Coach Bo Perasol, UP President Danilo Concepcion, Daiso General Manager Katherine Yu)
(Sitting L-R: Robinsons Supermarket Managing Director Jody Gadia, Handyman Vice Chairman Willy Co, Robinsons Retail Group President & CEO Robina Gokongwei-Pe, nowheretogobutUP Chairman and UP MBT Manager Atty. Agaton Uvero, Handyman Group General Manager Stanley Co)

Student-athletes from the University of the Philippines will still get to enjoy valuable support and commitment from one of their biggest and most loyal supporters.

The Robinsons Retail Group and Universal Robina Corporation's Agro Industrial Group (URC-AIG) renewed their partnership with the school recently, in line with the build-up for the upcoming 82nd season of the UAAP and beyond.

Officials from both organizations as well as from the school and the Nowhere to Go but UP Foundation were also present for the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement at the UP Executive House in Diliman, Quezon City. Representing RRG and URC-AIG as signatories are Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. President and CEO Robina Gokongwei-Pe and URC-AIG Group Business Unit General Manager Vincent Henry Go, alongside NTGBUP's Agaton Uvero and UP Men's Basketball Team Head Coach Bo Perasol. The ceremony took place while the team was fresh from claiming the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) Cup in Taiwan.

Other officials who witnessed the ceremony include: Handyman Group Vice Chairman Willy Co and General Manager Stanley Co, Robinsons Supermarket Managing Director Jody Gadia, Daiso General Manager Katherine Yu, TGP General Manager Agnes Rafinan and AVP - Supply Chain Abet Liuson, and Robina Farms Farm Operations Director Dr. Florante Palabrica.

Gokongwei-Pe is one of the longest backers of the Fighting Maroons, having supported them since 2010. She and her group have stuck it out this decade with the lows and the highs of UP's quest for sporting relevancy.

(Standing L-R: UP CHK Dean Francis Diaz, UP Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan, UP MBT Head Coach Bo Perasol, Robina Farms Marketing Director Jonathan Dino)
(Sitting L-R: nowheretogobutUP Chairman and UP MBT Manager Atty. Agaton Uvero, Robina Farms Business Unit General Manager Vincent Henry Go, UP President Danilo Concepcion, Robina Farms Farm Directo Dr. Dante Palabric, Robinsons Retail Group President & CEO Robina Gokongwei-Pe)

Among the units within URC-AIG is its premium farm products unit Robina Farms, which only recently became one of the newer supporters. In line with their backing, Go says, "We firmly believe that the UP Fighting Maroons shares the same values as us, such as passion for excellence and loyalty to our stakeholders. As we renew our official support for the men’s basketball team, we want them to continue to imbibe the same things that our company lives by as they seek to surpass last year’s achievement. This upcoming UAAP Season 82, it would be another great privilege to stand by this team together with the whole UP community. Hoping to exemplify ISKOs values of honor and excellence in every endeavor."

URC-AIG Marketing Director Jonathan Diño adds, "UP’s run last year is proof that everything is possible. Hopefully, this year’s team will build on what Batch 81 started and bring home the UAAP Championship for the first time since ’86. It’s UP’s time! They should take it. They deserve it."

Perasol shares, "We’re always grateful for all the support we have received from our alumni, especially from Ms. Gokongwei and her group of companies, who have been with us through our ups and downs. This team knows what it’s like to be at the bottom, to lack basic necessities like food and allowances. We are thankful for the faith and loyalty of the Robinsons Retail Group."

The Fighting Maroons are currently in Japan for the final phase of their overseas preparations for the upcoming campaign.