The Royal Game of Polo

The Royal Game of Polo

When it comes to sports, particularly the royal game of Polo, Manila Polo Club‘s Enrique Zobel Field is where the happening is; not merely on the field itself, but in the exciting production themes of the Fila Cup, not to mention the crowd of fashionistas, celebrities and polo enthusiasts that mingle for champagne cocktails and more. Recently, the 12th Fila Polo Cup offered innumerable delights with three Polo exhibition matches, combined with the stylish and innovative Isportslife collection, made even more sprightly with a live band.  Indulging in his love of polo, Fila Philippines chairman Butch Albert said:  “We have been sponsoring the Cup for years before I played. We’ve always found it to be a great event to help promote the FILA brand, and the advocacy it supports.”

Fila owner and CEO Cris Albert formally opened the high goal game with the ceremonial ball toss, with Globe’s first lady Arlene Cu and Tatler Philippines’ Irene Martel Francisco. The stylish crowd cheered the three exhibition matches. The high goal game was won by the Blue Team composed of Tommy Bitong, Vince Bitong, Alfonso Araneta and Manot Montilla. The Red team of Fila’s Butch Albert, Nicole Eusebio, Jose Constantino and Jun Juban won the second low goal game. Butch said that despite the late age and great challenge, he decided to give it a try in 2006, and as they say, the rest is history.

Tim Yap and Tessa Valdes, Fila’s long-time hosts enlivened the raffle – the Masserati out-of-this world experience, where lucky winners Javier and Lexi Berenguer, Ernest Cu and Cristalle Belo won the prize of driving a Maserati for a day. Music from the Filipino rock band The Chocolate Factory and DJ Owen Cortez performed aboard a foliaged themed truck, designed by Robert Blancaflor.  Cocktails were provided by Ralph’s Wines and Spirits.

Especially laudable is the couple’s exuberance and optimism on their projects. Butch and Cris have set their five year plan for the growth of footwear and active lifestyle apparel.  Fila is preparing for a new partnership with a multinational company.  The dynamic president Cris proudly stated:  “A new corporate model will be the backbone of our distribution and marketing, and the most luxurious of collaboration aims to embody the depth of our brand equity.”  Models of the Fila X D-ANTIDOTE wowed the guests with their entrance riding four Maserati cars. There was an exclusive preview of Fila Summer Collection for their new target market Generation Fila X D-ANTIDOTE Fila staple collaborations.  South Korea’s D-ANTIDOTE hip-hop, street-smart styles merged with the classic Fila color lines. Manhattan-based STAPLE fashion was also presented at the event.

The couple’s advocacy of adoption and fostering abandoned or neglected children promises to be more epic than ever, as the 21st Fila Polo Cup Fila will be supporting ”Operation Compassion Philippines – iFoster Movers.  President Butch Albert and the always-fab Cris said:  “Instead of placing the child under institutional care, fostering has been found to provide a better quality of nurturing, as the child enjoys the sense of family.”  Fireworks blazed the sky which climaxed the fun-filled day.

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