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2 teams forge ahead in Southwoods Invitational golf tilt
An in-form Shinichi Suzuki fueled another potential title charge at the Southwoods Invitational, teaming up with new partner Yoshikazu Hino to produce 90 points and tie Rolly Tolores and Faustito Caballero Jr. after the completion of the first round......»»
Isabel Oli balik-showbiz na; umabot na sa 185 ang talent ng Cornerstone
HALOS magkasing-level na pagdating sa pagma-manage ng artists ang talent management ng ABS-CBN na Star Magic at ang Cornerstone Entertainment. Kaya namin ito nasabi ay dahil umabot na pala sa 185 artists ang mina-manage ni Erickson Raymudo, Presidente at CEO ng Cornerstone katuwang sina Jeff Vadillo (Vice President), Mac Merla, Caress Caballero at Cynthia Roque.....»»
Guns, ammo seized in Maguindanao del Sur
Four caliber .45 pistols and bullets for various guns were seized from a suspected gunrunner in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur on Friday......»»
Illegal firearms, ammunition dealer in Maguindanao del Sur busted
The police seized hundreds of rounds of ammunition of various calibers and four .45 caliber pistols from an illegal dealer, said to have peddled his merchandise to local terrorists, entrapped in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur on Friday......»»
Benjie Paras co-hosts business-oriented show
From the basketball world to the acting scene, Benjie Paras is venturing into another field, co-hosting the business-oriented show “Negosyo Goals,” now in its third season......»»
5 dead as MILF groups clash in Maguindanao del Sur
Five persons were killed in a gunfight between two rival groups of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur on Monday......»»
4 more dead in another Moro vs Moro gunfight in Maguindanao del Sur
Four more members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front were killed in another gunfight with companions in the same group in Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao on Monday morning......»»
Troops kill 11 extremists in clash in southern Philippines
MANILA, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Philippine troops have killed 11 alleged members of Dawlah Islamiya, an Islamic militant group, in a 20-minute clash in southern Philippines, a military spokesperson said on Saturday. Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Almorato of the Philippine Army's Sixth Infantry Division said the troops killed the 11 suspected extremists in a clash after noontime on Friday in Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, a town i.....»»
Troops kill 11 extremists in clash in southern Philippines
MANILA, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Philippine troops have killed 11 alleged members of Dawlah Islamiya, an Islamic militant group, in a 20-minute clash in southern Philippines, a military spokesperson said on Saturday. Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Almorato of the Philippine Army's Sixth Infantry Division said the troops killed the 11 suspected extremists in a clash after noontime on Friday in Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, a town i.....»»
Paras attacking challenges
Two-time PBA Most Valuable Player Benjie Paras has a natural impulse to take on difficult challenges......»»
Luisita regains lead versus Southwoods
Luisita banked on the pair of 30 points from Abe Rosal and Benjie Sumulong to wrest the lead against Manila Southwoods in the Fil-Championship division of the 73rd Fil Am Golf Invitational at the Baguio Country Club yesterday......»»
Luisita leads Southwoods by five
Abe Rosal scored 38 points while Rodel Mangulabnan and Benjie Sumulong each added 34 to lead Luisita to a slim five-point lead over rival and defending champion Manila Southwoods in the premier Fil-Championship division of the 73rd Januarius Fil-Am Golf Invitational yesterday......»»
News in Pictures | 14th year of Ampatuan Massacre mark with protest, candle lighting
Progressive media groups and campus journalists commemorate the 14th year of the Ampatuan massacre at the University of the Philippines, College of Mass Communication. The post News in Pictures | 14th year of Ampatuan Massacre mark with protest, candle lighting appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
Andal Ampatuan Jr. gets 210 years for graft
Convicted murderer Andal Ampatuan Jr. has been sentenced to a total of up to 210 years in prison for graft charges over a P238.3-million fuel supply deal. The ruling coincided with the 14th anniversary of the Maguindanao massacre that left 58 people, including 32 journalists, dead......»»
EDITORIAL - 200 years for graft
Fourteen years to the day 58 people were massacred in Maguindanao, the ringleader and mastermind, Andal Ampatuan Jr. was convicted yesterday, this time for 21 counts of graft, and sentenced to a total of up to 201 years in prison......»»
Young stars shine at SM Little Stars 2023 Grand Finals
Representatives from SM City San Pablo and SM City Dasmarinas were hailed as boy and girl Grand Prize winners of the recently concluded SM Little Stars 2023 Grand Finals held at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall on 14 October 2023. [caption id="attachment_202093" align="aligncenter" width="935"] Grand Prize winners Aljon Christoff Banaira from SM City San Pablo (2nd from left) and Jourdanne Baldonido from SM City Dasmarinas (center) with, from left to right, 1st runner-up Eduardo Joson II from SM Megacenter Cabanatuan, 3rd runner-up Joachim Gale Olpindo from SM Center Muntinlupa, and 2nd runner-up Mara Hestia Caballero from SM City Cebu. Back row, left to right: National University Senior Director for Admissions Dr. Christina Corpuz, Goldilocks Bakeshop Head of Corporate Communications Ley Laksamana, Goldilocks Bakeshop Public Relations and Partnerships Associate Kyleth Paralejas, GMA Consulting Head for Talent Imaging and Marketing Lawrence Tan, SM Supermalls’ Senior Vice President for Marketing Joaquin San Agustin, SM Supermalls’ Assistant Vice President for Marketing Hanna Carinna Sy, and SM Supermalls’ President Steven Tan[/caption] [caption id="attachment_202094" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Grand Prize winners Aljon Christoff Banaira from SM City San Pablo (2nd from left) and Jourdanne Baldonido from SM City Dasmarinas (center) with, from left to right, 1st runner-up Eduardo Joson II from SM Megacenter Cabanatuan, 3rd runner-up Joachim Gale Olpindo from SM Center Muntinlupa, and 2nd runner-up Mara Hestia Caballero from SM City Cebu. Back row, left to right: Hosts Xian Lim and 2017 Girl Grand Winner Gaea Mischa, judges Teacher Georcelle Dapat-Sy of G-Force, Direk Joey Reyes, Sam Concepcion, 2013 3rd runner-up Esang de Torres, and 2013 Boy Grand Winner Nhikzy Calma[/caption] It was a night to remember for seven-year-olds Aljon Christoff Banaira and Jourdanne Baldonido, who emerged as winners among the 28 grand finalists in the competition. It was a fierce battle of talent, confidence, and personality, with every participant showcasing their skills in dancing, singing, acting, declaiming and playing instruments. With over P9 Million worth of prizes up for grabs, the two Grand Winners went home with a brand-new Suzuki S-presso Special Edition MT MC worth over P600,000, a one-year talent contract at Sparkle GMA Artist Center, a full college scholarship at National University, and a five-day and four-night trip for two to Hong Kong. Additional prizes include a total of P100,000 in cash and SM gift certificates (P50,000 in cash and P50,000 worth of SM gift certificates), P30,000 worth of Toy Kingdom gift cards, an annual pass certificate for unlimited bowling and skating valid for one year, 30 regular ride tickets at SM by the Bay Amusement Park / Sky Ranch, and gift vouchers for a two-night stay with breakfast for two at Radisson Blu Cebu. Completing the list of winners were SM Megacenter Cabanatuan's Eduardo Joson II (1st runner-up), SM City Cebu's Mara Hestia Caballero (2nd runner-up), SM Center Muntinlupa's Joachim Gale Olpindo (3rd runner-up), SM City Clark's Hayley Cairee Miclat (Top 6), SM City Masinag's Jayson De Paz, Jr. (Top 7), SM City Bicutan's Graciella Zahzih Flojo (Top 8), SM City Cebu's Karlyle Miguel Corbeta (Top 9), and SM City Batangas' Marrem Angel Martinez (Top 10). [caption id="attachment_202095" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] 2013 Boy Grand Winner Nhikzy Calma[/caption] [caption id="attachment_202096" align="aligncenter" width="400"] 2013 3rd runner-up Esang de Torres[/caption] [caption id="attachment_202097" align="aligncenter" width="394"] SM City Clark’s Hayley Cairee Miclat[/caption] [caption id="attachment_202098" align="aligncenter" width="342"] SM City Masinag’s Jayson De Paz Jr.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_202099" align="aligncenter" width="377"] SM City Bicutan’s Graciella Zahzih Flojo[/caption] [caption id="attachment_202100" align="aligncenter" width="367"] SM City Cebu's Karlyle Miguel Corbeta[/caption] [caption id="attachment_202101" align="aligncenter" width="633"] SM City Batangas’ Marrem Angel Martinez[/caption] Now on its 14th year, the SM Little Stars is a celebration of young talent and a testament to the outstanding platform that SM provides for these budding stars. This year alone, the competition saw over 33,000 young individuals who shared their talents from 70 SM malls nationwide. [caption id="attachment_202102" align="aligncenter" width="1430"] The 28 grand finalists showcase their skills and talents.[/caption] To know more about SM Little Stars 2023, visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow SM Supermalls on social media. .....»»
Brownlee formula
The issue surrounding Justin Brownlee is a major blackeye to Philippine basketball. It is yet another heartbreaker for Filipinos, who were hoping and praying to see the national team reassert its dominance in the international arena. For the longest time, the Filipinos had struggled internationally. In the Asian Games, for instance, the Philippines emerged victorious in its first four editions — 1951 in New Delhi, 1954 in Manila, 1958 in Tokyo, and 1962 in Jakarta before suffering a string of frustrating finishes. The closest we got to the gold medal was in 1990 when the Basketball Association of the Philippines tasked the Philippine Basketball Association with assembling a team that would reclaim our Asian glory. It was a tall order at the time as the Philippines was coming off a bitter setback at the hands of Malaysia in the 1989 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur. The BAP knew that only an Asian crown would soothe the pain of a nation craving revenge. But it didn’t happen. Coached by Robert “Sonny” Jaworski, the team bannered by Allan Caidic, Benjie Paras, Ramon Fernandez, Samboy Lim, and Chito Loyzaga surrendered to powerhouse China featuring Shan Tao and Ma Jian in the gold medal match. Eight years later, Tim Cone was given the marching orders to assemble another star-studded squad to represent the country in the Bangkok Asian Games in 1998. But like Jaworski, his bitter coaching nemesis at the time, Cone was also unsuccessful as his Centennial Team had to settle for bronze behind China and South Korea. In the next edition in Busan in 2002, hopes were high. Despite a sudden coaching change after American mentor Ron Jacobs suffered a stroke in the final stretch of preparations, Jong Uichico was still able to form a solid team that had a mix of Filipino-foreign stars like Asi Taulava, Eric Menk, and Rudy Hatfield, as well as homegrown stars like Olsen Racela, Kenneth Duremdes, and Danny Ildefonso. But fate wrote a cruel script. The Philippines was ahead, 68-66, in the final 23.9 seconds of the semifinal clash against South Korea. A victory would have sent the Filipinos to the gold medal match against China, while a setback would relegate them to a battle for bronze against Kazakhstan. Racela was at the charity stripe for a chance to ice the game and seal the victory. But he missed both free shots. In a shocking — and heartbreaking — turn of events, Korean gunner Lee Sang Min buried a long three-pointer off a broken play at the buzzer that sent the host country to the finals. The players were crushed while a river of tears flowed through the streets of Manila as the entire country couldn’t believe how merciless the basketball gods could be. Since then, Philippine basketball has been reduced to a mere footnote in Asian basketball. We bombed out of the medal podium in Doha in 2006 and Guangzhou in 2010. We even suffered international embarrassment when head coach Chot Reyes instructed naturalized player Marcus Douthit to shoot at our own basket in Incheon in 2014. In 2018, a legitimate National Basketball Association campaigner, Jordan Clarkson, came along and was billed as the hero who would save Philippine basketball. But he was unsuccessful. The Filipinos’ string of misfortunes continued as Gilas Pilipinas settled for fifth place. Then here came Brownlee, tapped to see action as a naturalized player in the Hangzhou Asian Games. The 35-year-old American was tasked to power a team already familiar to him — guys he had been playing with for more than five years. The coach — Cone — had been his mentor since he arrived in Manila in 2016 and led Barangay Ginebra San Miguel to six PBA titles while winning three Best Import honors. There was no honeymoon period to speak of. He hit the ground running. The result was impressive as Brownlee dropped 36 points to lead Gilas Pilipinas to a razor-thin 84-83 win over Iran in the quarterfinals, before dropping back-to-back three-point bombs in their miraculous 77-76 victory over host China in the semifinals. The Filipinos won their first gold medal in 61 years following a 70-60 victory over Jordan in the final, but an asterisk was attached to the victory after Brownlee tested positive for Carboxy-THC, a banned substance linked to the use of cannabis. At this point, it is unknown whether Brownlee will contest the findings or how long his possible suspension will be. What is clear is that Brownlee made a tremendous impact on Philippine basketball as he proved that the best way to win an international title is to field a naturalized player who is very familiar with the Filipinos’ style of play. Brownlee may not be as exciting and flashy as Clarkson or as tall as Douthit and Blatche, but he knows Philippine basketball like the back of his hand. It’s time for the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to create more Justin Brownlees by recruiting young foreign players who are willing to stay in the country for a longer period — not just to earn and play as imports in the PBA — but to win the hearts and minds of these basketball-crazy Filipinos. Brownlee’s professional career is in great peril, and we may not see him don the Gilas or Ginebra jerseys again. But we should always remember his most significant contribution to Philippine basketball. Nope, it wasn’t the incredible play he delivered against China or how he stood his ground against Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and the powerful Jordanians that led to the country’s first Asian Games title in 61 years. His most important contribution was the idea that to gain international success, the federation must recruit a naturalized player not based on skills, height, or popularity but on his love, respect, and dedication to the country he wishes to represent. The post Brownlee formula appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Young Cubans spurn role as guardians of the revolution
In Cuba, thousands of neighborhood cells set up as the eyes and ears of Fidel Castro's communist revolution are trying to find ways to lure young people who have little interest in the cause. It has been six decades since Castro created the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution to keep watch for his then-shaky government, and the 138,000 CDR remain an enduring symbol of communism on the island. However, enthusiasm for the neighborhood associations has waned in recent years, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic, the boosting of American sanctions, and a severe economic crisis that has eroded purchasing power. "The new generation wants nothing to do with all that," a female student told AFP, asking not to be named. Every citizen automatically becomes a member at 14, but getting them to engage is a challenge. "Today, young people sleep with their phone in their pocket, and as soon as they turn it on, there is a media bombardment against our (socialist) process," CDR national coordinator Gerardo Hernandez, 58, told AFP. He was one of the "Cuban Five" spies who were imprisoned in the United States in 1998, and whose release helped pave the way for a 2014 thaw in ties between the Cold War foes. A local hero, he has been given the tricky task of revitalizing the CDRs, at a time when the island is undergoing a transformation, opening up to private small businesses, allowing citizens to buy and sell houses, and the arrival of internet access. At the same time, hundreds of thousands of Cubans have fled the economic crisis. "We are trying to reverse this situation and make young people understand that the CDRs offer them an extraordinary opportunity to develop their vocation and to have an influence on their community," said Hernandez, as the CDR held its tenth annual congress in September, at which it held a debate on how to make the cells "attractive to young people". 'More pragmatic' Initially set up as a surveillance network to denounce "counter-revolutionaries," the CDRs organize community projects and coordinate services like vaccination campaigns and blood drives. The defense committees are particularly visible during elections, presiding over neighborhood meetings and scrupulously controlling citizens' participation. Surveillance is still a key part of their work, and they keep a lookout for drug trafficking, tax evasion, and other crimes. Cells exist in every neighborhood and village, and the government counts around eight million members -- more than three-quarters of the island's population -- including those who are not active. Manuel Cuesta Morua is a dissident who suffered "acts of repudiation" in the 2000s, when large groups of CDR members would verbally and physically abuse opponents. "Young people today are much more pragmatic, much more transactional," Cuesta Morua told AFP. "They participate when it is to their advantage." "The youth are apolitical, they don't identify with the government, which they associate with the CDR." He said no-one in his family had taken over from his mother, who he described as a "CDR activist". Seated at a cafe in Old Havana, Lazaro, 43, who did not want to give his last name, criticizes the association: "The CDR has never helped me. I always had to get by on my own." Every year, on the night of September 27, CDR members get together in their neighborhood for a party around a stew cooked on an open fire. Everyone brings what they can. Ernesto Lemus, 56, president of a CDR in Old Havana, said the party was an important "continuity" of the 1959 revolution which saw a radical shift to communism, heightening tensions with the United States during the Cold War. "A few years ago, it was a party, but not anymore. Today there is nothing and everything is expensive, there is no more unity in this regard," said gardener Rafael Caballero Lopez, 35, who is planning to emigrate to Colombia. The post Young Cubans spurn role as guardians of the revolution appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Man on a mission
He has been to hell and back since entering the country’s premier military school, the Philippine Military Academy, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1982, to seeing action as a police officer, and lately to waltzing into the ring of fire by entering politics. Much has been written about the exploits of former police general Benjamin “Benjie” Magalong, Baguio City Mayor, since 2019, with the positive usually outweighing the negative. Love him, hate him, but believe me, Magalong is no lone ranger. He can sustain the hard yards of fighting criminality and corruption that one wonders where he gets all the energy and focus in addressing the challenges that come his way. Last month, Magalong and a few local chief executives launched “Mayors for Good Governance,” a campaign for responsible leadership and anti-corruption in local governments. They signed A2, a manifesto committing local executives to transparency and the rule of law. The movement has already received support from more than 150 city and municipal mayors nationwide, a testament to how much rests on his stewardship. Corruption is like a “communicable” disease that can easily transmit the evils that go with it from the lowest strata to the highest echelon of society. It has many forms and strains — from petty graft to large-scale kickbacks — and affects people from all walks of life, generations, and races. People get used to it until it becomes a way of life, and in the process, they lose their independence of thought because their eyes are shut. Pope Francis described it best: “Some people behave in relation to corruption as they would with drugs. They think they can take it and leave it as they please. They start with something minor: a kickback here, a bribe there. And between this and that, they gradually lose their freedom.” Fighting corruption is like fighting drugs; it is never one-sided. There are hits and misses along the way. Anything is fair game when you put a face into a noble cause. I was a field operative of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency assigned in Region 8 when Magalong was director of PDEA’s Special Enforcement Service, which was responsible for dismantling numerous drug laboratories and causing the dismissal of several police scalawags. Magalong is one straight arrow. He never compromises his name when it comes to fighting drugs and crime. However, he is also a caring leader who always looks after his men like he would his children. He never tolerates shenanigans but lavishes praise and support for a well-done job. That’s why it did not come as a surprise when he was made chairman of the Mamasapano Board of Inquiry in 2015, which investigated the carnage of 44 Special Action Forces in Maguindanao. I have seen firsthand Magalong’s sincerity when it comes to public service. A public servant who goes beyond his comfort zone to give timely and proper assistance to the public, Magalong has the integrity and bravery to stand by his ideals to the detriment of his career because he wants the country to succeed. Like Magalong, I also had my share of fighting the tentacles of corruption in PDEA and later at the Bureau of Customs, once touted as the most corrupt government agency, during my seven-month stint as a commissioner despite the brickbats and the Sword of Damocles hanging above me. It was a lonely battle indeed, especially since I came to the bureau all alone. Tormentors coming from opposite directions were having a field day — from the not-so-harmless Marites (Mare, ano ang latest?) and Mariposa (Mare, post mo na) to greedy politicians and industry shenanigans. I have no moral qualms regarding Magalong’s mission — to take the arduous and lifelong task of making a difference in people’s lives, especially the poor, who are most hurt by corruption. Taking the high road is never easy, and I am sure that knowing Magalong, he could surmount all the hurdles, including the legal ones, that come in the end. The post Man on a mission appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Terrorist’ slain in encounter
An alleged terrorist was killed in an encounter with government security forces in Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur over the weekend......»»