MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) and sports drink brand Gatorade launched recently the “Fuel Tomorrow Academy,” a nationwide program aimed at strengthening school sports and student wellness through better hydration, movement, and access to athletic activities.
The initiative, which will run in junior high schools across five regions, supports DepEd’s efforts to build a stronger and more inclusive school sports ecosystem. It is anchored on three learning pillars—Fueling the Mind, Fueling the Body, and Fueling the Soul—and aligns with PepsiCo’s global youth development agenda under PepsiCo Positive (pep+).
Designed as a three-phase program, the Fuel Tomorrow Academy will scale, motivate, and elevate school communities:
• Scale: More than 6,650 schools will receive learning tools such as the Fuel Tomorrow Academy Playbook and a dance-fitness routine called Fuel Up Move, developed with the UP College of Human Kinetics to encourage daily physical activity and teamwork.
• Motivate: Five hundred schools will be provided basic sports equipment to help create School Sports Clubs and promote active, balanced lifestyles.
• Elevate: A nationwide school caravan covering 91 campuses will bring fitness activities, workshops, and wellness education directly to students and teachers.
Gatorade Regional General Manager for Beverages Aditya Sheoran said the program reflects the brand’s goal of “fueling potential” and helping young athletes cultivate discipline, strength, and perseverance. The company also announced two complementary efforts: a Player of the Year Award for exemplary student-athletes and the rollout of a new 237ml Gatorade bottle formulated to meet DepEd’s nutrition guidelines for beverages sold in schools.
DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said the partnership reinforces the agency’s push for holistic student development through its institutionalized School Sports Clubs. “With partners like Gatorade, we can ensure our learners stay healthy, active, and grounded in the values that sports promote: discipline, sportsmanship, and competitiveness,” he said.
The program’s launch — led by DepEd and Gatorade officials alongside partners from PepsiCo and Redscope Communications — marks a significant step toward strengthening student wellness and building a generation of Filipinos who see sports not just as competition, but as a pathway to confidence, community, and lifelong well-being.
MAIN PHOTO: (From L-R): Francisco Diaz, Associate Professor, UP College of Human Kinetics; Christopher Ilagan, Corporate Affairs Head – Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and North Asia, PepsiCo; Cristina Sim, Senior Brand Manager, PepsiCo; Aditya Sheoran, General Manager – Philippines, Malaysia & Singapore (Beverages), PepsiCo; Georgina Ann Yang, Assistant Secretary, DepEd; Rafael Baradas, Marketing Manager, PepsiCo; Dr. Jerome Buenviaje, Assistant Secretary, DepEd; Nicole Villarojo, Chief Marketing Officer, PepsiCo; Assistant Secretaries Cilette Liboro Co and Janir Datukan, DepEd; and Sarah Coe, CEO, Red Scope.