During a special PHILTA meeting on Thursday, August 28, 2008 at the Philippine Columbian Association Clubhouse complex at Plaza Dilao in Paco, Manila, Julito "Lito" R. Villanueva, PHILTA President, and German "Gerry" P. Palabyab, PhilTennis publisher (and PHILTA VP for Special Events and Special Projects), sign the memorandum of agreement regarding PhilTennis.com development as official portal of the national sports association.

Attending this landmark event, seated from left in above photo, are: Col. Salvador "Buddy" H. Andrada, EVP for Administration; Manuel D. Misa, Chairman, Board of Governors; Villanueva, Palabyab; and Romeo "Romy" S. Magat, Secretary General. Standing are Ajay M. Pathak, VP for Northern Manila (and VP for International Affairs & VP for Officiating) and Atty. Juan O. Marfil, Jr., Legal Counsel.

Pertinent provisions of the PHILTA-PhilTennis.com MOA follow:

"Project Description: Both PHILTA and the Publisher agree to organize and operate an independent publishing organization to work side by side with PHILTA in producing regularly a tennis magazine. Both PHILTA and the Publisher are independent private entities or organizations but are bonded by their common desire to develop tennis as a competitive and recreational sport in the Philippines.

"Project Concept and Rationale: PHILTA needs an official media outlet that will help it achieve its vision and mission of developing and sustaining the game of Tennis as both an internationally competitive and recreational sport in the Philippines, PHILTA as the official sports organization for Tennis in the Philippines need not directly use its limited financial and manpower resources to publish a quality tennis magazine by giving the project to professionals who are willing to invest in the project and run the magazine as a commercially viable operation. PHILTA and the Publisher will team up to undertake this tennis magazine project with each one achieving its own common and individual goals as separate and independent organizations.

"The Publisher's Role and Objective: The Publisher shall take the responsibility of producing in print and in the worldwide web, a quality Tennis magazine for the reading enjoyment of all tennis players, aficionados, supporters, sponsors, tennis and sports product manufacturers and the general public. The magazine to be produced has to be commercially viable at the same time relevant and supportive of the PHILTA vision, mission and objectives. The organization will be the official media and PR arm of PHILTA. The Publisher shall be administratively and financially independent of PHILTA. Its objective to operate a commercially viable publishing operation is its sole responsibility and shall hold PHILTA free of any financial liability arising from its publishing operations.

"PHILTA's Role and Objective: PHILTA shall support the Tennis magazine both as a client and a stakeholder of the Tennis Magazine. As a client, it will receive the PR, media and public information services from the Publisher in the course of its publishing operations of the tennis magazine. As stakeholder, PHILTA shall be represented in the editorial board of the Tennis Magazine and shall see to it that the magazine supports PHILTA official activities and events. PHILTA shall issue official accreditation, and support of the Tennis magazine by authorizing the use of its logo in the magazine, and sharing its official membership information for the purpose of reaching every PHILTA member organization. For this Editorial responsibility, the President of PHILTA or his representative shall act as the Honorary Chairman of the Editorial Board of the Tennis Magazine. PHILTA shall hold the Publishing Partner free of any financial liability arising from its operations as an Official Sport Organization for Tennis in the Philippines.

"When warranted, PHILTA shall issue official policies that will contribute to the success of the tennis magazine." -RMM