Imagine this for a moment: Amanda Fernandez, the football star, host, media personality, and model is standing in front of men in suits, a CEO in the making. She is explaining a business plan to create a one-stop sports, lifestyle and wellness center. It’s almost a scene straight out of a movie where we’re sure our heroine, the bright and charming young lady, wins over the roomful of grumpy old men not because of her good looks but because of her brilliant idea. In real life, however, it didn’t play out so easily.
“It was nerve-wracking! I was a small fish in a large pool of sharks,” Amanda says. “The board was so used to receiving proposals so I really had to make sure that mine would stand out.” She had to convince the MF Development Corporation’s Board of Directors to not only invest in her company but to also allow her to convert its old warehouse in Mandaluyong into the multi-sports facility of her dreams.
Despite her nerves, our Calyxta Girl was confident that her idea would work. Amanda talks about her gruelling day presenting to investment bankers, which included her father, Enrique, who happened to be the chairman of the board of the investment holding company that was founded by her grandfather, the former Central Bank Governor, José B. Fernandez. She says, “What made the presentation not too easy was that my dad’s on the board. I was so nervous, thinking my dad would be the hardest on me. I also was so scared to get rejected because it’s really my life-long dream to build this sports center.”
Steeling herself for rejection, she couldn’t forget her reaction the exact moment when she received the board’s nods. She says, “I tried to keep the straightest face in the world. But as all of my friends know about me, I cannot hide my emotions. So I’m pretty sure that I had the biggest, biggest, smile on my face when they said yes!”
With MF Development Corporation’s 20% stake and her father’s financing (a loan she needs to pay), the Sports and Recreational Training Arena, or SPARTA, was born. As a football player, her dream of having her own indoor football field was realized. As an athlete, she made sure SPARTA had the first athletic training gym developed by 360 Fitness Club, hence 360Pro. Finally, as a total fitness enthusiast, Amanda wanted to offer activities for any and every Juan and Juana so SPARTA also has Zumba, martial arts, candlelit yoga, ballet, dance classes, Pilates, boxing, rugby, calisthenics, sports clinics, and even Frisbee, making it the ultimate active living and wellness hub.
“Two years after that day with the board, here I am,” Amanda says. “I admit that although the business is doing great, the past two years hadn’t been a walk in the park. But I’d rather experience those kinds of challenges, seated down in SPARTA than anywhere else.” So concludes the gorgeous queen who fought for SPARTA, the field of her dreams.
All about SPARTA
Located along Pioneer Street in Mandaluyong, SPARTA serves as a one-stop sports, lifestyle and wellness center built for encouraging a high quality of living through fitness and sports. It houses a 250 sqm. full-service fitness center, an outdoor competition arena, as well as a separate facility for specialty fitness classes (e.g. Yoga, Zumba, Salsa, Kendo, Karate, Capoeira, Ballet Fitness etc.). The star of the complex is the first ever FIFA 1-Star, indoor seven-a-side football pitch in the Philippines.
Text by: SHERRY TENORIO
Photography: DIX PEREZ
Videography: TWO FOLD MEDIA
Makeup: JEFFREY CABRAL
Hair: RON ROS
Special Thanks to: FATWAVE SURF RESORT LA UNION & PINK SUGAR MAKEUP
Meet The Crew: Two Fold Media
TRINA RAZON is a Manila-based Executive Producer. Trina found her true passion in producing, screenwriting, styling fashion shoots,
and studying interior design. Her knack for creating stories and bringing them to life serves as one half of her production company, Two Fold Media. Together with her co-founder, Raymond Dacones, Trina strives for creativity and collaboration in all the projects they do at Two Fold. She believes that the best way to sell something is to tap into human experience and emotions. When Trina is not in front of a storyboard, she goes out for coffee and dinner dates with Raymond, discussing food, ads, and films.
Artist Stats:
Skin: Normal to Dry
Hair: Fine
Can’t live without: A good moisturizer
Favorite Calyxta Find: Batiste Dry Shampoo in Tropical
RAYMOND DACONES is a Manila-based director. He has a massive interest in filming and videography. He finished a Multimedia 
Arts degree at College of Saint Benilde where he also graduated with an award for his thesis film. He also completed a two-year course on cinematography in Tokyo, Japan. Having been fascinated with the many ways how advertising can be presented through films, Raymond pursued his dream and set up the production company, Two Fold Media. With his co-founder Trina Razon, he creates cinematic ads that evoke human emotions. When not running or surfing with his subjects, Raymond can still be found with his laptop—watching movies, of course.
Artist Stats:
Skin: Normal
Hair: Thick
Can’t live without: A good hair product
Favorite Calyxta Find: Toni & Guy Hair Styling Men Pomade