GSK launches the Search for Winners Against Asthma 2015

GSK recently launched The Search for Winners Against Asthma last February 5, 2015 at Makati Shangri-la. The event was hosted by Samantha Purvor with Guest Ambassador Ms. Kim Chiu and doctor panelists from GSK led by Dr. Nep Ordonez, Dr. Carmela Kasala, Dr. Badette Arcilla and Dr. Ma. Bella Siasoco.

Kim Chiu with Dr. Nep Ordonez and Dr. Carmela Kasala

Do you know someone who have asthma, and what triggers the disease? Asthma has been associated with shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing because of some allergies to pollen, dust, perfume or your pets. The key is to breath normally, moves around and work freely.  If you know someone who suffers from the disease and yet lives a normal life, then its time to vote for them online.


Its anyone you know, your parents, siblings, friends, classmates or neighbors. If they are winning against asthma and accomplished in their respective fields. Its time for them to be recognized.


 The Search for Winners Against Asthma 2015 campaign aims to choose and recognize 10 young asthmatic achievers from different walks of life.

The advocacy likewise introduces Olympic figure skater Michael Christian Martinez as the new face of the campaign. Martinez, an asthmatic, began experiencing asthmatic bronchitis when he was just two months old.


He recalls being in the hospital frequently and says the cold rink actually helped improve his health. “Year after year my health keeps improving, so my mother fully supported me to continue skating saying it's better to spend the money on skating than in the hospital.”

The program is a nationwide search for young asthmatic achievers aged 30 years and younger who are outstanding in their respective fields despite having asthma and inspire asthma sufferers that they, too, can win against asthma.


The rationale for the target age group is driven by the fact that asthma is one of the most important chronic disease during childhood causing substantial morbidity 1.  Uncontrolled asthma is associated with a reduced lung function, impaired performance in physical exercise, and impaired quality of
life.  More severe asthma leads to more frequent school absenteeism which may negatively affect
an individual’s level of education and, possibly, choice of career.  People within this age group are in the process of developing the necessary knowledge and skills that will enable them to achieve
their goals in life and asthma should not deter them from realizing their full potential. Thus it is
necessary at this early stage to raise their awareness on asthma and how they can win against it.

The Search for Winners Against Asthma will run from February until May 2015 and will be touring different schools and drugstore outlets to spread the advocacy and invite more people to join the campaign.

The deadline for submission of entries is on March 31, 2015.  All entries will be screened during the first week of April. As we celebrate World Asthma Day on May 5, the top 20 finalists will be announced and will be immediately followed by online voting.  The top 10 Winners Against Asthma will be announced and awarded by the 3rd week of May 2015.

This advocacy campaign is supported by the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP), Philippine Academy of Family Physicians (PAFP), Philippine Society of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (PSAAI), Huawei and Folded & Hung.


To prove that the disease should not be a deterrent from living one’s life to the fullest, real asthma patients were invited to provide testimonies of their experiences and how won against the illness. Celebrity asthmatics, Kim Chiu and Arnel Pineda became the featured ambassadors for the first wave of the campaign. Joining the 2015 campaign is Michael Christian Martinez, the Olympic figure skater.

For more information please visit http://www.facebook.com/winagainstasthma

You can be the next Philippine Olympian Michael Christian Martinez

As the first ever South East Asian figure skater to enter the 2013 World Junior Championship and giving an impressive performance at the recently held Soichi Winter Olympics, there’s no stopping Michael Christian Martinez in reaping honors for the Philippines as he recently bagged the much coveted gold medal from the Triglav Trophy International Figure Skating Competition in Jesenice, Slovenia.

Inspired by skaters spinning and jumping at the SM Skating Rink in SM Southmall, Martinez took up figure skating when he was eight and began training in 2010 in the United States.  Since then, he has been transformed into a world-class athlete and has garnered over 190 medals and trophies from various international and local competitions.

Martinez’s success is not an overnight thing but the simple decision of his mother and himself to get into the sports changed his life.  His achievement is indeed phenomenal but the good news is if you’re open-minded and committed to learn the skill, you too can be like him!



SM Skating Rink operated by SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc. makes this possible as it provides the facilities and programs for the young people who want to develop and hone their skating talents, and who aspire to be the next Philippine Olympian like Michael Christian Martinez.  SM Skating Rink offers various skating lessons in its premier branches in SM Mall of Asia, SM Southmall and SM Megamall.

For only P 300 on weekdays and P 390 during weekends and holidays, you can learn different skating moves by availing open or unlimited skating service offered in both SM Mall of Asia and SM Megamall.  You can learn and havefun in the SM Skating Rink with your friends by enrolling to one of the Freestyle skating courses available in the three SM branches that come in both four and six sessions

You can also skate your way to being a professional skater by enrolling to Speed Skating, the newest course offering in SM Mall of Asia. Top local coaches who were also trained by international skating coaches like Kelvin Nicolle, an international referee from New Zealand who teaches short track speed skating in Singapore,will provide the lesson and training to the enrolees.

SM Skating Rink which once served as a training ground for Michael Christian Martinez still provides a house for discovering new young talents. Be part of this and fulfil your dreams in the country’s world-class and only skating rink. For more information, visit www.smiceskating.com or call 556-0471.

Filipino Figure Skater Michael Christian Martinez Wins Gold in Slovenia

Homegrown Olympian Bags Gold in Slovenia Tourney

Michael Christian Martinez (center) (Photo from Martinez’s Facebook Page)

Homegrown Olympian Michael Christian Martinez bagged the gold in the recently held Triglav Trophy International Figure Skating Competition in Jesenice, Slovenia. The 18-year old Martinez finished the free skate finals in the Senior Men’s category with a score of 195.13 points, besting Japan, United Kingdom, Korea, Austria and Norway.

“I thank God for this blessing, another gold medal in the senior event. I’m very happy I made it to first place,” Martinez said on his Facebook page.
With the Triglav Trophy, Martinez now has three gold medals in the senior level which includes the recent Skate Helena in Serbia and the Crystal Skate in 2012 in Romania.

Filipino American Samantha Cabiles finished 6th in the Junior Ladies’ category out of 21 skaters with a score of 100.04 points.
The Philippine Skating Union (PhSU), which is a member of the International Skating Union (ISU) named  Martinez and Cabiles as the country’s representatives to the Triglav Trophy.

Every year since 1992, the Triglav Trophy gathers over 100 of the best young figure skaters from all over the world. The competition is hosted in Jesenice ice hall Podmežakla and has its roots in 1992.
Martinez took up figure skating when he was eight, inspired by skaters spinning and jumping while shopping with his mother at SM Southmall. He began training in 2010 in the United States and since then his lifelong dream has been to win an Olympic medal. Martinez has garnered over 190 medals and trophies from various international and local competitions.

Samantha Cabiles  (Photo from Cabiles' Facebook Page)

Cabiles, who was born in Hawaii and is now based in Michigan started skating since she was 11. Of Filipino decent, Cabiles also competes in the Philippine Nationals and recently ranked second in the 2013 Philippine National Figure Skating Championships held at SM Mall of Asia every year. Cabiles also placed 10th in the Junior category of the recent Dragon Trophy competition in Ljubjana, Slovenia in February 2014. She trains in Toronto, Canada.  Due to her high and powerful jumps, she earned the moniker, “The Skating Gazelle”.

SM has been the primary supporter of the PhSU since the latter was established in 2005. SM also provides a venue for the events of PhSU for the promotion of ice skating in the Philippines. PhSU received accreditation from the ISU in 2006, coinciding with the opening of the SM Mall of Asia skating rink that year.  In turn, PhSU, as the sole governing body for Figure and Speed Skating provides SM and its ice skating rinks with marketing tools such as local and international skating events and its network of skating athletes.

Through the years, SM and the PhSU have conducted several figure skating competitions that have given birth to international champions such as Martinez.
The PhSU is the governing body in the country for figure skating and speed skating. It is a member of the ISU which is the exclusive international sports federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee. The ISU administers speed and figure skating throughout the world. It is composed of a number of national organizations called ISU members who administer ISU sports at the national level.

The excellence demonstrated by skaters especially during competitions is a mark of quality that the SM Skating Rink can provide with its world-class venue and facilities. Property conglomerate SM Prime Holdings, Inc. operates skating rinks through SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc. at the SM Mega Fashion Hall in Mandaluyong, SM Mall of Asia in Pasay, and SM Southmall in Las Pinas.

Nothing but Praises for Filipino Figure Skater Michael Martinez

Warm Welcome Awaits Winter Olympian Michael Martinez at MOA on Feb 23 

SM Prime Holdings Inc., the property conglomerate of the SM Group of Companies, is all set to give a warm welcome for winter Olympian and homegrown skating rink talent Michael Martinez as he comes home on February 23, 2014 from a sensational performance at the Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia. 

“We are very proud of Michael. He is indeed a shining example for the youth as someone who saw no limits to what he can achieve. He has already inspired millions by following his dreams and by competing in the Winter Olympics and will continue to inspire us all as he works towards earning more medals in the future Olympic competitions,” SM Prime Holdings President Hans T. Sy said.   

To honor Martinez, SM has surprise gifts when he arrives where he will be given a motorcade at the Mall of Asia grounds starting at 4 PM which will culminate in an awarding ceremony inside the mall. During his formative years as a figure skater, Martinez frequented SM Southmall in Las Pinas and much later on SM Mall of Asia for figure skating competitions despite frequent bouts of asthma. Since skating at 8 years old, Martinez has garnered 194 medals and trophies from various international and local competitions. He is currently ranked 19th in the world based on his recent performance at the Winter Olympics. Martinez clinched 7th place at the 2013 Nebelhorn Trophy in Germany that qualified him for the 2014 Winter Olympics.   Through the years, SM and the Philippine Skating Union have conducted several figure skating competitions that have given birth to international champions such as Martinez.  

The excellence demonstrated by skaters especially during competitions is a mark of quality that the SM Ice Skating Rink can provide with its world-class venue and facilities.    

Property conglomerate SM Prime Holdings, Inc. operates ice skating rinks through SM Lifestyle and Entertainment, INc. at the SM Megamall’s Mega Fashion Hall in Mandaluyong, SM Mall of Asia in Pasay, SM Southmall in Las Pinas and SM Clark in Pampanga.   

To thank his fans for their unwavering support, Michael Martinez will be at the SM Southmall Ice Skating Rink for a meet and greet on February 24 at 4-5 PM, SM Mall of Asia Ice Skating Rink on February 25 at 12- 1 PM, and at the SM Skating Rink in Megamall’s Mega Fashion Hall on February 25 at 4-5 PM.   

For information, please visit SM Skating Rink’s website at www.smiceskating.com or visit an SM Skating Rink near you.

Michael Martinez Filipino Figure Skater Road to Olympics 2014

PH's Olympic Winter Bet on Thin Ice

Figure skater Michael Martinez is the Philippines’ first athlete to qualify for the Winter Olympics ever. In this year’s games held in Sochi, Russia, he is our lone representative.
Entering his final two months of preparation for the games, the young phenom admitted he was already feeling the heat.

“My training is not yet complete,” said Michael in an interview after a training session at the skating rink of the SM Mall of Asia. “I need four hours with a coach, but we can only afford one hour. We lack the budget.”
At 17 years old, Michael is up against 29 other top figure skaters in the Sochi games. Despite his youth and frequent asthma attacks, Michael managed to rank 28th among the best senior-level figure skaters in the planet!
Early in 2013, he landed 7th at the 2013 Nebelhorn Trophy in Germany that qualified him for this year’s Winter Olympics. To reach the finals, he needs to be part of the top 24 competitors in his category.
The absence of government support compelled Michael to seek sponsors elsewhere. One of his biggest supporters is SM, which donated Php 1 million for his training and other expenses related to his Olympic participation. He was actually “discovered” in SM Southmall in Las Piñas when he was still in his formative years as a figure skater.

Michael’s main supporter is his mother, Teresa, who accompanies him in his training and competitions abroad. She also knows first-hand how much the pursuit of Olympic gold can cost. “It will cost you half-a-million pesos per competition. You also pay for the airfare and hotel of the coach who charges $400 a day,” Teresa recounted, adding that Michael has already competed five times in 2013.
“One of his coaches in the US charges $100 an hour, he has an Olympic coach that charges $150 an hour, and a choreographer that charges $130.” She said that adding ice time, the daily cost of training could easily amount to $500-600.

The need for the coaches could not be stressed enough as Michael is yet to learn a crucial skill – quad jumps – a jumping technique with four revolutions. His Filipino coach Ted Domingo underscored the necessity of training abroad. “We’re talking about high level competition. In the Philippines, we still don’t have that kind of training,” he said.

The Philippines has yet to win an Olympic gold, and winning one in figure skating, in Winter Olympics at that, would be sweeter. But Michael needs more than just a dream. SM has broken the ice, so to speak, and that is enough to help him make history – for now.

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