TCL, one of the world’s leading players in the global TV industry, 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 the 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 Plays it Forward
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Simone Rota of the Philippine Azkals
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Abandoned in an orphanage called Buklod Kalinga by his birthparents, Simone Rota was adopted by an Italian couple when he was just six months old and moved to Milan with his new family.
His love for football manifested at an early age and at 17, he received his first professional contract and he would go on to play for teams in Italy and Switzerland for the next 12 years.
Though he lived a happy life in Italy, he never forgot this birth country and parents. He decided to return to the Philippines when he was 29 to search for them. He also continued to play football, this time in the United Football League and later on as a member of the Philippine team, the Azkals.
In 2014, he was reunited with Sister May of the Buklod Kalinga orphanage, who tried to help him find his parents but they were unsuccessful. Yet Simone has found another home and family in Sister May and the orphans as he decided to return to Buklod Kalinga. He now runs a food program with them and teaches the kids football.
“I try to inspire the children, teaching them 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.”
Sharing Life through Sports
According to TCL’s Brand Marketing Manager, Amor Joaquin-Golifardo, the web series aims to “connect people through inspiring sports stories.”
“TCL stands for The Creative Life and we believe that technology can and should be used to bring people together. We are showing people another side of these athletes and sharing very personal stories about love, loss and giving back, that everyone can relate to and be inspired by,” explained Ms. Joaquin-Golifardo.
As part of its 35th anniversary celebration, TCL is also playing it forward as it donates sporting equipment to the orphans of Buklod Kalinga.
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| Simone Rota accepting the basketball, as a symbol of TCL’s donation, on behalf of Buklod Kalinga. L-R: Mr. Mr. Eason Cai, TCL Philippines CEO, Simone Rota, Philippine Azkals, Ms. Amor Joaquin-Golifardo, Brand Marketing Manager |
“Like Simone, we want to encourage the youth to develop their talent in sport. Aside from catching their favourite 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.
To catch more of the “Inspiring Bonding Moments” web series, visit https://www.facebook.com/tclphilippines/videos
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