DepEd, Rappler partner anew for Palaro 2013

MANILA, Philippines — For the second straight year, the Department of Education teams up with Rappler as its official social media partner for the 2013 Palarong Pambansa set this April in Negros Oriental.

In the signing of the memorandum of agreement between the two organizations, DepEd secretary Br. Armin Luistro noted the importance of Rappler’s involvement in the annual athletic meet — the largest in the country.

“This partnership is a way of institutionalizing what we’re trying to do in Palarong Pambansa,” said Luistro. “To tell stories of individual athletes and engage people in their sacrifices and triumphs. How Rappler brings in the news provides new perspectives to athletics and this is where we want to bring our student-athletes.”

Rappler CEO and Executive Editor Maria Ressa shared that the news organization’s experience in the 2012 Palarong Pambansa made them want to get involved more.

“Palarong Pambansa was an amazing experience for us,” Ressa said. “It encapsulates what we think the future would be — stories of victory, defeat, tragedy.”

Likewise, Ressa described the Palaro as formative for athletes who want to make it to the national and international sports arena, saying that Rappler will try its best to bring the most comprehensive coverage of the event that is expected to gather around 10,000 athletes from all over the Philippines.

Also present in the MOA signing were Rappler’s Rupert Ambil, DepEd Assistant Secretary Reynaldo Laguda and DepEd Communications Director Tina Ganzon. – Rappler.com