Rebisco on supporting the Philippine national team “SAMBANSA” in this year’s SEA Games

The Volley Hall of Fame
The Philippine National Volleyball training pools are currently working hard to bring their A-game in this year’s Southeast Asian Games to be held in the Philippines this coming November. Whatever the final line-ups will be, the men’s and women’s teams will continue a storied tradition of volleyball excellence when they step on the court to represent our country.

Current volleyball fans may be familiar with today’s collegiate and professional stars, but did you know that the Philippines has produced top players for decades? Philippine volleyball has had quite the glorious history, thanks to the contributions of these five legendary volleybelles:

Nene Ybanez-Chavez

(Photo courtesy of Arvin Lim)
The Philippines has been a superpower in volleyball, especially on the women’s side, ever since it was introduced to the SEA Games in 1977, with the Women’s National Volleyball team ranking second behind Thailand in gold medals won.

Those powerhouse teams were fronted by the likes of Nene Ybanez-Chavez, the 6’1” legend from Southwestern University in Cebu who helped the Philippines dominate the SEA Games in the early ‘90s. She’s best known for leading the women’s team to its last SEA gold in the 1993 games in Singapore, earning the MVP and Best Spiker honors along the way. Possessing extraordinary endurance in the sport, Ybanez-Chavez played competitively until 2013, and now continues to make her mark in Philippine volleyball by coaching a team in the Philippine Super Liga professional league.

Mozzy Ravena

The mother of the famous Ravena phenoms in Philippine basketball is a former volleyball champion in her own right. Mozzy Crisologo-Ravena, the volleyball analyst/sportscaster and University of Santo Tomas alumna, was a two-time UAAP volleyball champion from 1988 to 1992. She also represented the country as a part of the Philippine Youth team in 1988 and the seniors’ team from 1988 to 1989. Today, her legacy lives on through her daughter Dani Ravena, who plays volleyball for the Ateneo Lady Eagles.

Mary Jean Balse-Pabayo

Before Philippine volleyball went mainstream via the collegiate scene, there was Mary Jean Balse-Pabayo, holding up the sport in the country. Balse-Pabayo, from Tagum City, Davao del Norte, is another champion UST alumna and one of the players who carried the Philippines to a bronze medal in the 2005 SEA Games. Balse-Pabayo is still going strong today, currently playing for the Philippine Army Lady Troopers in the Philippine Super Liga and also the Premier Volleyball League, where she is a two-time champion.

Tina Salak

(Photo courtesy of Tina Salak)
One of the sport’s most successful players, Tina Salak has a storied career representing the country as part of the national team for many years, with huge wins such as the silver finish in Jakarta, Indonesia in 1995 and bronze in Manila in 2005. She also competed in the 2015 SEA Games held in Singapore.
Salak also has a rich professional career, with 10 seasons logged in the Shakey’s V-League and the Philippine Super Liga, where she won five championships and six medals with the Philippine Army Lady Troopers. She’s since retired, going on to work as a coach in the PSL.

One of Philippine volleyball’s contemporary stars, Angeli Tabaquero is a renowned collegiate champion, having won titles as part of the UST Golden Tigresses. Tabaquero also represented the country as a member of the Philippine National Team in the 2013 Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship, and as part of the PLDT Home Tvolution national team in another stint in the 2014 Asian Club Championship. An unfortunate injury forced her to retire in 2016 and become a coach for the Adamson Lady Falcons.

The road to the 2019 SEA Games continues
The Philippine Men’s and Women’s National Volleyball Team will compete against the rest of the region from November 28 to December 10 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, Manila. The athletic firepower of current volleyball stars like Alyssa Valdez and Aby Marano brings bright prospects in making the Philippines a regional powerhouse in the international volleyball scene once again.

With the steadfast support of organizations and companies like Rebisco, the national teams will be looking to bring pride and glory to the Philippines when they give their all on the court. Together, Filipinos will again cheer for the national team fighting as Sambansa – or one nation – under the colors of our flag.

Rebisco has been a proponent of Philippine volleyball and various organizations and leagues that comprise it. Aside from supporting the Philippine national team in this year’s SEA Games, Rebisco has also backed the Philippine Women’s Volleyball Team in the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia. The company is also committed to developing the future of the sport with the newly-launched 18-and-under Rebisco Volleyball League.

For more info and updates on the Philippine National Volleyball Team, follow Rebisco Pilipinas on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @RebiscoSambansa.

Rebisco awards 55 sari-sari store owners with store makeover and products

Homegrown snack giant Rebisco is spreading the anniversary joy to its grassroots business partners.

As part of its 55th year celebration, Rebisco awarded 55 lucky sari-sari store owners with store makeover and products for each. The winners were selected among hundreds of small business proprietors who shared their stories detailing how the snack food giant has made an impact on their lives and businesses.

According to Rebisco President Jonathan C. Ng, the project was borne out of a simple yet poignant motivation: to express gratitude. “Sari-sari stores are crucial to our business model,” he said. “These entrepreneurs are our loyal and hardworking community partners who help nourish Rebisco’s continued growth and success. This project is one of many ways we want to give back, by empowering them and their businesses.”

Shining the spotlight 

Of the 55 winners, three were featured in an online video recently released by Rebisco.

Ester Recinto, a 66-year-old sari-sari store owner from Batangas, runs a strategically located store near an elementary school. She started selling in 1974, with a P300 capital. Over the years, she was able to grow her business from a cabinet display of Rebisco products to an actual store.

Twenty-two-year-old Naname Dahoya from Cebu started a sari-sari store to help augment her parents’ meager income and support her six siblings. She calls Rebisco her “superhero” because the company’s popular snacks helped her small business grow, thus providing her and her family a more stable income.

The third featured winner is Sally Angulo from Zamboanga del Norte. At first, Sally only sold condiments and vegetables but eventually realized that there was a market for snacks. After researching her options, she decided to sell Rebisco products because of its high-quality products at more affordable prices.

“We hope that their stories inspire others to persevere amid adversities,” Rebisco Trade Marketing Head Michelle Ceniza said. “We are grateful to our partner sari-sari store owners for their loyalty and patronage these past five decades. It truly is an honor for Rebisco to be an instrument to the success of their business.”

Stronger partnership 

After a momentous year-long anniversary celebration, Rebisco looks to the future with optimism.

 “We look forward to sharing more successful years with our sari-sari store partners,” Ng added.

To watch the video, check out Rebisco Snackademy Facebook page.