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LaLiga, Spanish Pork Celebrate Filipino Athletes

They held the Heroes Off the Pitch Awards Gala Dinner to honor Filipino athletes and organizations and their community projects

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Metro.Style Team

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/15263e82-1aed-495f-a248-c9aa82770ced_copy of img_2929.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The awardees during the Heroes Off the Pitch Gala Dinner. LaLiga and Spanish Pork (Interporc) recognized Filipino athletes and organizations for their invaluable contribution to the community."/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The awardees during the Heroes Off the Pitch Gala Dinner. LaLiga and Spanish Pork (Interporc) recognized Filipino athletes and organizations for their invaluable contribution to the community.</span></span></span></div><div></div><div><br/></div><p>Spain’s professional football league, <strong>LaLiga</strong>, and Spanish Pork sector leader, <strong>Interporc</strong>, joined hands to celebrate and honor Filipino athletes and organizations and their invaluable contribution in the community at the recently held <strong>Heroes Off the Pitch Awards Gala Dinner</strong> at <strong>Fairmont Hotel</strong> in Makati.</p><div><br/></div><p>The Heroes Off the Pitch Awards Gala Dinner brings to life LaLiga and Spanish Pork’s commitment to highlight the positive impact of sports to individuals, families, and communities as they further encourage the growth of football in the Philippines.</p><div><br/></div><p>As a global organization, LaLiga is a leader in the sports and entertainment sectors that focuses on innovation and social responsibility in promoting football across the world.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/234aaa3d-3a7c-44e0-9db1-1367e618979d_copy of 0n5a6557.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Alonso de Aristegui, LaLiga’s Regional Manager for Southeast Asia, Korea, Japan and Australia as he introduces LaLiga."/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Alonso de Aristegui, LaLiga’s Regional Manager for Southeast Asia, Korea, Japan and Australia as he introduces LaLiga.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/a381d22a-38ab-468d-bbd4-a56d531ba7d3_copy of 0n5a6587.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Almudena Gomez, LaLiga Delegate to the Philippines, as she gives insight on the Heroes Off the Pitch Awards"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Almudena Gomez, LaLiga Delegate to the Philippines, as she gives insight on the Heroes Off the Pitch Awards.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/f55b716f-dce3-4a61-85a6-861dcb7a04e3_copy of 0n5a6292 (1).jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The trophies for the Heroes Off the Pitch Awardees"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The trophies for the Heroes Off the Pitch Awardees</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, Interporc and its brand, Spanish Pork, is a non-profit organization representing all sectors in the Spanish Pork value chain which promotes Spanish white pork meat and meat products both in Spain and abroad, and its contribution to economic development. </p><div><br/></div><p>As leaders in their respective fields, LaLiga and Spanish Pork would like to celebrate value of effort, sacrifice, team spirit, and dedication to excel in the sporting industry, most especially by the awardees of Heroes Off the Pitch.</p><div><br/></div><p>“As a sports organization, we see it as our responsibility to promote football, not only as a sport but also an avenue to create a positive impact and give back to the community. Through Heroes Off the Pitch, we recognize the sports teams and individuals and their initiatives to make the world a whole lot better through sports,” says <strong>Almudena Gómez</strong>, LaLiga’s Delegate to the Philippines.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/fa0b51a2-49f6-4a74-9f20-5febd7fbd4bc_dsc08593.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Javier Martin Garcia  Consul General of Spain in the Philippines, Almudena Gómez LaLiga Delegate to the Philippines, Carmela Barcia Bustelo, Deputy Head of Mission Embassy of Spain and Alonso de Arístegui LaLiga’s Regional Manager for Southeast Asia, Korea, Japan and Australia. "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Javier Martin Garcia  Consul General of Spain in the Philippines, Almudena Gómez LaLiga Delegate to the Philippines, Carmela Barcia Bustelo, Deputy Head of Mission Embassy of Spain and Alonso de Arístegui LaLiga’s Regional Manager for Southeast Asia, Korea, Japan and Australia. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/3f4aca3e-6653-4fc0-9fc3-7c65decd2d93_copy of dsc08640.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Mr. Jesus Cham,President of MITA (Meat Importers and Traders Association)  and Ms. Flora Cham together with Almudena Gómez LaLiga Delegate to the Philippines and Alonso de Arístegui LaLiga’s Regional Manager for Southeast Asia, Korea, Japan and Australia."/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Mr. Jesus Cham,President of MITA (Meat Importers and Traders Association)  and Ms. Flora Cham together with Almudena Gómez LaLiga Delegate to the Philippines and Alonso de Arístegui LaLiga’s Regional Manager for Southeast Asia, Korea, Japan and Australia.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/aecd8e97-4b52-4ceb-8048-370d97f8e838_img_2833.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Silvia Torices de la Varga, Economic and commercial counselor of the Spanish Embassy in the Philippines, Almudena Gómez LaLiga Delegate to the Philippines and Emmanuel de Ghellinck, Executive Director of La Cámara (SPanish Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines) "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Silvia Torices de la Varga, Economic and commercial counselor of the Spanish Embassy in the Philippines, Almudena Gómez LaLiga Delegate to the Philippines and Emmanuel de Ghellinck, Executive Director of La Cámara (SPanish Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines) </span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>“Heroes Off the Pitch honors leaders in sports, but more important, leaders also in giving back to the community. Spanish Pork sector also shares those values, and contributes to the economic development, specially of rural areas. In addition, its nutritional values make pork meat ideal to be included in the sportsman diets, thus contributing to a correct performance” says <strong>Daniel de Miguel</strong>, International Director of Interporc. </p><div><br/></div><p>This year, LaLiga and Spanish Pork conferred the <strong>Best Community Project</strong> awards to three Filipino sports programs which clearly illustrated the positive impact of sports in the country.</p><div><br/></div><p>Receiving the Heroes Off the Pitch <strong>Best Community Project for Football</strong> was <strong>Gawad Kalinga &amp; US Embassy in Manila</strong> for their &#x27;<strong>Project SPORTS LEAD: Climate Change Awareness Through Soccer</strong>.&#x27; This recognition highlights a project that utilized football as a tool to educate and spread environmental awareness and relevant social issues in communities across the country.  More than 100 youth from Davao de Oro, Sultan Kudarat, Butuan, Palawan, Bohol and Manila gathered to discuss important topics such as climate change or gender equality.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/42c752ef-0e9f-42f9-846d-7d485b794dab_copy of img_2873.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Representatives from Gawad Kalinga and US Embassy receiving the Heroes Off the Pitch Best Community Project for Football for their project “SPORTS LEAD: Climate Change Awareness Through Soccer.” "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Representatives from Gawad Kalinga and US Embassy receiving the Heroes Off the Pitch Best Community Project for Football for their project “SPORTS LEAD: Climate Change Awareness Through Soccer.” </span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>The <strong>Pinay5</strong> by <strong>Philippine Football Federation</strong>, <strong>Henry V. Moran Foundation</strong>, <strong>Philippine Sports Commission &amp; MVP Sports Foundation</strong> was awarded the Heroes Off the Pitch <strong>Best Community Project for Women’s Football</strong>. The project comes also from the long efforts of &#x27;<strong>Liga Eskwela</strong>,&#x27; which developed futsal in public schools and communities, training teachers in the sport to support the coaching of young players and culminating in the creation of the Pinay5, the national women’s futsal team. </p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/3911d180-a176-49f1-94e8-f273ceab6013_copy of img_2894.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Representatives from Pinay5, Liga Eskwela Philippine Football Federation, Moran Foundation &amp; MVP Group Foundation receiving the award for Heroes Off the Pitch Best Community Project for Women’s Football"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Representatives from Pinay5, Liga Eskwela Philippine Football Federation, Moran Foundation &amp; MVP Group Foundation receiving the award for Heroes Off the Pitch Best Community Project for Women’s Football</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Finally, the <strong>Daungan Cuatro</strong> project of the <strong>Philippine Basketball Association</strong>, <strong>TikTok</strong> and <strong>Rain or Shine</strong> received the Heroes Off the Pitch <strong>Best Community Project in Basketball</strong>. The project benefited the residents of Daungan Cuatro in Navotas City. Turning over a renovated basketball court to the residents with an innovative and artistic approach that now serves as a safe and inspiring place for the community and encourages Filipinos to pursue their passion in sports and in life.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/c7a23f6a-201f-42cd-8464-46ff22b3046c_copy of img_2906.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Representatives from Philippine Basketball Association, TikTok and Team Rain or Shine as they receive the Heroes Off the Pitch Best Community Project for Basketball."/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Representatives from Philippine Basketball Association, TikTok and Team Rain or Shine as they receive the Heroes Off the Pitch Best Community Project for Basketball.</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Filipino sports personalities like former Philippine Azkal <strong>James Younghusband</strong>, Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner <strong>Willie Marcial</strong>, PBA player <strong>Von Pessumal</strong> along with lifestyle personalities and sports enthusiasts <strong>Janeena Chan</strong>, <strong>Laura Lehmann</strong>, and <strong>Andrei Felix</strong> and representatives from the <strong>Spanish Embassy in the Philippines</strong> also graced the gala dinner to showcase their support for these advocacies.</p><div><br/></div><p>The event also featured a delectable four-course dinner prepared by culinary expert <strong>Chef Chele Gonzalez</strong> in partnership with Fairmont Executive <strong>Chef Bela Rieck</strong>. Using world-class quality Spanish Pork, the dishes certainly highlighted why this is considered by foodies among the best around the world. The menu included: Pass around - Truffle-inspired brie with candied walnut, mini fresh vegan spring roll with peanut sauce, smoked salmon tartar on rye bread with dill; sugarcane vinegar marinated tuna loin with ginger, red chili, and coconut cream; slow cooked Spanish pork belly served with prawns, scallops, and cauliflower and cabbage mashed potato; pork jowl risotto with porcini - marinated pork jowl with garlic and olive oil served with mushroom risotto and asparagus; and homemade Crema Catalana with tonka bean.  </p><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CoL6mnMp5ou/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=810&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fpresentation.metro.style&amp;rp=%2Fcmsctx%2Fpv%2F38a326a7-4a96-4fd8-8638-2410a9496ef4%2Fculture%2Fen-US%2Fwg%2F3b184457-f005-4d09-87fb-795c6f8bd0d5%2Freadonly%2F0%2Fpts%2F638112732645203750%2Fea%2F1%2Fh%2F76181eae1c62fee43e17fef94de9ee319f74645509b895a6c51c0debe#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A4437.700000047684%2C%22ls%22%3A4067.2000000476837%2C%22le%22%3A4432.099999904633%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="879" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe> <div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/df5a418a-b14c-4149-b34f-5d7e3baf1123_img_2664 (1).jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The Heroes Off The Pitch Gala Dinner menu"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Heroes Off The Pitch Gala Dinner menu</span></span></span></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/8edd0a70-8be6-4969-ae78-e0a5ae109fbe_copy of dsc08760.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Chef Chele Gonzalez, Owner, Gallery by Chele and Deli by Chele explains the specially curated four-course menu that he made with Spanish Pork, in partnership with Fairmont Executive Chef Bela Rieck."/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Chef Chele Gonzalez, Owner, Gallery by Chele and Deli by Chele explains the specially curated four-course menu that he made with Spanish Pork, in partnership with Fairmont Executive Chef Bela Rieck.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/80baf135-5a76-4baa-b57d-3ddbf516b8f3_dsc08499.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Former Philippine Azkal James Younghusband"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former Philippine Azkal James Younghusband</span></span></span></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/7be3cad1-1d17-44a0-bfa5-a93b3d844bb7_img_2896.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Event host Andrei Felix"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Event host Andrei Felix</span></span></span></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/33b21ff6-fc46-4677-b088-c0aa27a2bc86_lauraa and janeena.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Laura Lehmann and Janeena Chan"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Laura Lehmann and Janeena Chan</span></span></span></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/ab6e998d-a5d4-4966-9402-e9d940bcabc8_0n5a6610.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Laura Lehmann, Von Pesummal, and Janeena Chan"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Laura Lehmann, Von Pesummal, and Janeena Chan</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>LaLiga, together with Spanish Pork, vowed to continue celebrating and supporting Filipino athletes through various initiatives.</p><div><br/></div><p>Photos courtesy of <strong>LaLiga</strong> and <strong>COMCO SEA</strong></p><div><br/></div>