TCL is inviting families to share life through sports as it launches online videos highlighting inspiring stories of athletes. Created in partnership with ESPN, the four-part web series called “Inspiring Bonding Moments” shares the untold stories in sports, featuring athletes from Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. The first video focuses on Philippines-born football player Simone Rota and his journey back home to seek his biological parents.
Simone has been abandoned in an orphanage called Buklod Kalinga by his birthparents. He was eventually adopted by an Italian couple when he was just six months old and moved to Milan with his new family. His passion for football started at an early age of 17, when he received his first professional contract and he would go on to play for teams in Italy and Switzerland for the next 12 years.
He never forgot his birthparents and country. He decied to go back to the Philippines at the age of 29 to search for his roots. He continued to play football, this time in the United Football League and later on, a member of the Philippine team, the Azkals.
In the year 2014, he was finally reunited with Sister May of the Buklod Kalinga orphanage. She tried to help him find his parents but unfortunately, they were unsuccessful. Instead, Simone found another home and family in Sister MAy and the orphans. He decided to return home to Buklod Kalinga, running a food program and teaching the kids football.
“I try to inspire the children, teaching the that sports can be a new way of life,” shared Simone. “But at the same time, they have inspired me because they teach me how to live the simple life and the importance of simple things.”
The web series aims to connect people through inspiring sports stories. I believe that there is a lot of interesting stories behind these athletes. I have always admired the athletes. Besides the amazing time-management stories of athletes, their life is so much interesting and inspiring.
“Like Simone, we want to encourage the youth to develop their talent in sport. Aside from catching their favorite sports heroes on TV, we hope that the equipment we gave them can help shape the next generation of Filipino footballers,” said Ms. Joaquin-Golifardo.
Check out the “Inspiring Bonding Moments” web series at: http://facebook.com/tclphilippines/videos
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