Dennis Uy may be a big, business tycoon responsible for more than 50 Filipino enterprises ranging from food and shipping to telecommunications and fuel.
But do you know that deep inside the heart of this emerging business taipan is a sports lover by heart?
Only months after the start of the official term of President Rodrigo Duterte, the Chief Executive assigned Dennis Uy as the government’s Presidential Adviser for Sports.
Uy’s role under the position is to help the President’s vision for the country’s athletes and sports programs be possible and guide the government achieve its sporting goals for the future of Philippine sports.
Uy’s early sporting life
Uy has been a fan of the sport of basketball. During his teen years, his hobby was to play basketball. When he wasn’t playing, he already showed glimpses of his sound business acumen as he used to sell basketball cards to his classmates.
Past forward decades later and Uy is now the owner of the Phoenix Petroleum franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association, the country’s premier sporting entertainment.
Siklab Atleta Foundation
As his empire continuously grew, his passion and commitment for sports also expanded.
Early last year, Uy started the Siklab Atleta Pilipinas Foundation Inc. that will serve as the supporting ground of Filipino athletes training for international tournaments, most notably the Olympic Games.
Uy believes that through the help of this foundation, which has the mission of providing optimum opportunities for professional and aspiring Filipino athletes, the Philippines will finally win that elusive Olympic gold.
“Siklab Atleta Pilipinas Sports Foundation will fuel the Philippines’ best athletes to make the country’s dream of bagging an Olympic gold a reality,” the Siklab Atleta Pilipinas website proudly declares.
Athletes’ needs
Getting into sports is not just about passion and hard work. Athletes need training equipment and facilities, together with the coaching services that will hone and give them proper knowledge about their respective sports. Also, gaining an exposure in international competitions helps the athletes find recognition and start building their names in the field.
Those needs are the focus of the Siklab Atleta for every athlete representing the Philippines.
Valuing the importance of providing their families essential resources, the foundation also offers housing and livelihood programs for the athletes, proving that the foundation is for the betterment of the athlete and as a person.
“We need to provide our athletes the support befitting their stature as our country’s representative to the world,” said Uy.
