1Pacman party-list strikes clear actions for Pinoy youth, families

This May, young Filipinos have a powerful choice for their future in education and healthcare.

In making their choice, many Millennials and Gen Z voters will continue to consult their families with their choices. This is so telling of the Filipino way, this consideration for family and unity.

The 1Pacman party-list mirrors this deep regard for family with its plans to strengthen Filipino families, be they in Luzon, Visayas, or Mindanao. This is a crucial step onward to 1Pacman’s grassroots advocacy for sports and youth development.

Milka Romero, 1Pacman’s first nominee, says that reaching families to attain proper nutrition, most especially for children, healthcare, education, and opportunities for livelihood is a primary goal.

“Ang mga esensyal na bagay ang kailangang pagtuunan ng pansin. (Essential things are what we need to focus on),” said Milka, who takes on the leadership of 1Pacman with her father, Rep. Mikee Romero, concluding his third term in Congress in June.

Romero, chairman of the House committee on poverty alleviation, marks a sterling legacy of legislative action, topbilled by the sponsorship of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), free tuition for state colleges and universities, universal health care, armed forces modernization, and the Eddie Garcia law. These are among 151 laws under his name.

Alongside these are the aggressive community outreach programs to feed needy children, to put to school some 30,000 scholars, provide medical assistance to 75,000 families, and to fund surgery and care for some 2000 children with life-threatening heart ailments.

“This election is not just about the next three years. It’s about building a Philippines where the youth can dream big and achieve even bigger. I’m ready to fight for that future for our youth,” said Milka, who started her food business at the age of 19 and carved a sports career from playing with the national women’s football team while finishing her college degree.

Like her father, who is referred to as the godfather of Philippine amateur basketball, Milka is now a successful sports patron, owning two professional women’s sports teams.

As of this writing, 1Pacman continues with sports clinics and spearheads basketball leagues in Laguna and Bohol, as well as medical missions in Palawan, Bulacan, Iloilo, among others.

It’s time to continue the momentum of service with 1Pacman, said Milka, a new generation leader who understands the dreams, struggles, and hopes of today’s youth.