FIBA WORLD CUP ORGANIZERS, DOT JOIN HANDS TO TAKE FANS ‘FROM COURTSIDE TO PARADISE’

THE Philippines will wear its Puso on its proverbial sleeve, as it hosts the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 with the backing of the national government, through the Department of Tourism (DOT).

The DOT will give fans reasons to love the Philippines by marrying world-class basketball with world-class experiences in 15 destinations through travel packages available from August 1 to September 30.

“We see the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 as an opportunity to, rst and foremost, re-introduce the Philippines to the world on the strength of its natural assets, award-winning destinations, and cities on the rise,” said DOT Sec. Christina Frasco at the o cial launch on Tuesday.

“This is also the time for Filipinos to come together to support the Philippine team, as well as a chance for citizens of the world to remember their sense of nationhood.”

While the action gets going in the world meet to be played at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City and SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, tourism experiences to Bacolod, Batangas, Bohol, Boracay, Cavite, Cebu, Davao, Ilocos Norte and Sur, Iloilo, La Union, Manila, Palawan, Pampanga, and Tagaytay promise to give a taste of colorful and wonderful Filipino culture.

Several travel packages to go “from courtside to paradise” are already available at discoverphilippines.travel with credit cards, GCash, Maya, and GrabPay as payment options.

This is very much in line with both the FIBA LOC and DOT’s aim of sharing the Philippines’ love for basketball and for life to the whole world.

According to foodpanda Philippines Growth and Marketing Director Patricia Jacinto, the partnership is one of the concrete examples of how one can “Live Like a Panda,” the company’s overarching brand philosophy, which encourages people to free up their time and energy to pursue what matters to them. “This partnership truly makes for a dream team, and we are happy to let people experience the engaging activities we have prepared,”said Jacinto.

“As Filipinos are known to be huge basketball fans, we want to leverage on the fiery passion local consumers have for the sport and position foodpanda as the preferred online food delivery choice in the country,” she added.

Score to Soar

Last March, foodpanda commenced the Ball Like a Panda ra e, where app users can enjoy the wide range of services foodpanda has, whether it’s food, grocery, shops, or pick-up, and get entries to qualify for a chance to win an NBA League Pass and watch an NBA Playo s game live. JP Alejandro was the lucky winner who won an all-expense paid trip to the USA and ful lled his dream of watching a live NBA game last May. “I was super excited when I learned I won because I’ve always been a huge fan of the NBA. Good thing, I’m also an avid foodpanda user so it’s a win-win for me. Thank you so much to foodpanda. This is a dream come true,” said JP.

NBA Finals Watch Pau-rty

To further promote the partnership, foodpanda hosted an NBA Finals Watch Party in line with the “Live Like a Panda” campaign to invite basketball fans and foodies alike to enjoy the game together.

The watch party featured the pivotal match-up between the Denver Nuggets and the Miami Heat during the NBA Finals Game 4. The event was held last June 10 to 11, 2023, at Eastwood Central Plaza, which offered a variety of fan activities and treats for viewers. While watching the game, attendees enjoyed free meals, popcorn, pink cocktails, customizable NBA co-branded shirts for pandapro subscribers, and assorted Pau-Pau merchandise.

The event was also attended by celebrities and in uencers, including JV De Vera, Prince Carlos, Gab Lagman, and Ayn Bernos taking part in showing what it means to “Live like a panda.” Ball Like a Panda 3x3 Basketball Tournament

Lastly, foodpanda launched its rst ever 3-on-3 basketball tournament with special participation from celebrities (Rayver Cruz, Gab Lagman, Eric “Eruption”Tai, Mikee Reyes, Wilbert Ross, Juancho Triviño, Prince Carlos, and Prince Clemente) and Ka-pandas (John Rene Alcanzo, Leonnel Clint Baldo, Je rey Diaz, Jason Carl Baldo) who put their game faces on and heightened everyone’s spirits.

Fostering Family Values In The