SM Lifestyle Entertainment lnc. (SMLEI),through SM Skating Rink, took home the bronze award for Best Sports Campaign during Marketing Magazine’s annual PR Awards Night held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore.

Exactly one year ago a young Filipino figure skater named Michael Martinez shook an internationally renowned competition by solely representing the Philippines at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Coming home to a hero’s welcome, Martinez had not only gained attention for his unique technical executions in skating, but had also increased traction as an athlete who proved that Filipinos can do anything they set their mind to-including excelling in a sport outside the country’s usual weather conditions.

SM Skating Rink, being the only Olympic-sized ice rink in the Philippines, was envisioned by Henry Sy Sr.to be a venue where Filipinos can develop their skill in winter-based sports. As home to athletes such as Martinez, SM Skating Rink, through the SM Group, vowed to continue to support skaters-on-ice in their goal to one day represent the country in the global arena.

Starting with the monetary sponsorship of Martinez for his journey to the 2018 Winter Olympics, SM Skating Rink went on to develop other athletes through strengthening its programs for ice hockey and introducing a new sport-speed skating. With the execution of a carefully planned campaign through strategic events a consistent PR plan, enrollment in SM Skating Rink grew from 18 percent to 44 percent in the past year, resulting in the increased awareness of a sport that had been initially viewed as nothing more than a leisurely activity for a niche market.

To date, SM Skating Rink is prime home to athletes excelling in sports on- ice, and offers a wide range of lessons and development programs for figure skaters, ice hockey players and speed skaters that will assist in catapulting them onto an international platform.