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10 things that make Alyssa Valdez phenomenal
Alyssa Valdez has arguably made the biggest impact in Philippine volleyball. Her skills, passion and charisma endeared her to volleyball supporters, purists or casual fans, from all walks of life. She brings energy and leadership to every team that she’s joined. Valdez draws a huge crowd every time she plays. Valdez is the poster girl of the sport that for years struggled to draw mainstream attention in a nation which considers basketball as its biggest sporting event. The 27-year old pride of San Juan, Batangas is the face of local volleyball. So on her birthday today, let’s look at some of the things that makes the Phenom really phenomenal. Two-time UAAP women’s champion Valdez is Ateneo de Manila University’s undisputed Queen Eagle. Talks about the Lady Eagles’ breakthrough championship will not be complete without the mention of her name. After two years of bridesmaid finishes, Ateneo bagged its first-ever UAAP title in 2014 after beating the thrice-to-beat De La Salle University in four games in the Finals despite leading a young band of Lady Eagles playing under the new system of Thai coach Tai Bundit. The following year, Ateneo, with Valdez at the helm, retained its crown in a tournament-sweeping fashion. Three-time UAAP Most Valuable Player Her skills during her collegiate career stood out among her peers. Valdez’s effort was rewarded with three Most Valuable Player awards in Season 76, Season 77 and in her last playing year in Season 78 in 2016. She also pocketed the Season 76 Finals MVP award. Young phenom Valdez didn’t build her reputation overnight. It was her hard work and effort that brought her where she is right now. She was still a diamond in the rough when she was recruited by University of Sto. Tomas in a regional meet. But the Espana-based squad polished Valdez into a real gem of a player. Valdez, backed by a powerful lineup that featured the likes of Kim Fajardo and Jaja Santiago, won three straight UAAP girls’ titles and in the process collected three season MVPs. She was also named UAAP high school athlete of the year twice. National team mainstay With her talents, dedication and good work ethics, Valdez has been a mainstay with the national team. Her first tour of duty was in 2008 when she represented the country in the Asian Youth Championship held in Pasig City. She joined the PHI Team in the 2014 FIVB Southeast Asian Zone qualifier in Vietnam. In 2015, she donned the tricolors for the Asian U-23 Championship and on the same year saw action in the country’s return in the Southeast Asian Games in Singapore after a decade of absence. Since then Valdez participated in the 2017 Kuala Lumpur and 2019 Manila SEA Games. She also took part in the 2017 Asian Senior Women’s Championship and the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games. 2015 SEA Games flagbearer Valdez also carries the honor as being the first-ever volleyball player to become the PHI flag-bearer in the SEA Games. She marched holding the national color in front of Team Philippines during the traditional parade of nations inside the OCBC Arena in the 2015 Singapore SEA Games. Accomplished commercial league star She has been collecting commercial league titles since high school starting from the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball League. Valdez was also successful in the different conferences of the defunct V-League, racking up championships and individual accolades. In the Premier Volleyball League, she powered Creamline to three titles including a sweep of the Season 2 Reinforced and Open Conferences in 2018. She won three conference MVP awards. Import abroad International leagues took notice of Valdez’s talents and charm so it’s not surprising that she landed offers to play abroad. Valdez played as an import in Thailand for 3BB Nakornnont from 2016 to 2017. After her stint in Thailand, Valdez flew to Taiwan to play for Attack Line. Host, Actress, TV personality Valdez is a regular fixture in different sports shows in ABS-CBN S+A. She’s a host, courtside reporter and a game analyst. Valdez also had a few showbiz stints. She appeared in some Kapamilya teleserye including a cameo in ‘And I Love You So’ in 2016 alongside Julia Barretto and Miles Ocampo and in the movie ‘My Letters to Happy’ with by TJ Trinidad and Glaiza De Castro. Aside from her TV and movie career, Valdez is also one of the most recognizable athlete product endorsers. Social media influencer She is also one of the most popular Filipino athlete on social media. As of posting, Valdez has 1.9 million Twitter followers, 1.3 million followers on Instagram and her YouTube channel has more than 76,000 subscribers. Featured in the Olympics Channel website While the likes of Sisi Rondina, Jaja Santiago and Bryan Bagunas were featured in the FIVB website, Valdez’s impact on Philippine Volleyball was highlighted in a feature article in no less than the Olympic Channel website. The article touched about her humble beginnings to her meteoric rise and why she is regarded as the nation’s brightest star in the sport. These are just some of the things take make Valdez a true pride of our nation in the sport Happy birthday, Alyssa!.....»»
Pilmico on World Bread Day: Bread’s transformative impact on communities
Every year on 16 October, the world celebrates “World Bread Day” to honor all kinds of bread around the world. A dietary staple in people’s lives for centuries, bread plays a much more significant role in the lives of those who bake bread as their primary source of livelihood. Pilmico has been a steadfast partner of bakers since 1962. It has given out 108 bakery kits nationwide since it started distributing livelihood kits in 2016. In honor of the “World Bread Day,” Pilmico reflects on how it has helped change the lives of several people through bread. Feeding the future Pilmico’s “Kutitap Feeding Program” was launched as a sustainable initiative to address malnutrition in public schools while at the same time supporting local bakeries. The program was made possible through the help of its partner bakeries, who went through technical training and received equipment from Pilmico. They provided bread to public schools within their communities. The Kutitap Feeding Program started in Iligan City in 2015 and in Tarlac in 2018. Since then, the program has progressively evolved through the years. Due to pandemic restrictions, it was turned into the “Kutitap Care Package,” where students received baked goods and eggs through its partner bakery, Aguila Bakeshop. Now, the program has also started incorporating meats in the meals served to the daycare students in Bamban, Tarlac. Aside from feeding students with nutritional bread, this initiative also contributed to the success of some partner bakeries such as C&G Bakery from Iligan City. Marlon C. Gecale, owner of C&G Bakery, has devoted his life to baking — from when he was a teen working as a baker to an adult owning his bakery. In between, he worked as an OFW and his passion for baking grew stronger, prompting him to have his own bakery. After buying an oven with his first salary, Gecale and his wife spent the next five years building their small bakery while he worked abroad. In 2017, they applied to become a bakery partner for Pilmico’s “Kutitap Feeding Program.” They were determined to prove that their small bakery could fulfill the demands of the program despite their new and small bakery. By partnering with Pilmico for the Kutitap Feeding Program, C&G Bakery, owned by Marlon Gecale, was able to expand to three more branches in Mindanao. Gecale underwent a month-long training with Pilmico where he earned new technical skills in baking and new recipes, which he still uses in his bakery. Since then, their bakery has grown and has been a reliable partner of Pilmico in various programs including the Iligan Community Pantry. Today, C&G Bakery has expanded to three branches in Iligan City, Misamis Oriental and Zamboanga del Sur. 'Tinapay Ti Uno' program Aside from Pilmico’s own initiatives, it has partnered with local government units such as the Department of Agrarian Reform Tarlac for the “Tinapay Ti Uno” program in partnership with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry and the Office of Congressman Jaime Cojuangco from the 1st District of Tarlac province. This program aims to create healthy buns using locally sourced ingredients from Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations and provide them to public school students in the 1st district of Tarlac. A total of 11 ARBOs participated in a bun and special bread competition where the winners will be responsible for the distribution of buns to the students. In the competition held last 24 2023, three ARBOs were hailed as the grand winners: Cabayaoasan Farmer Agriculture Cooperative from Paniqui, Tarlac; Bacabac Farmers Producers Cooperative from Brgy. Bacabac, Camiling, Tarlac; and Sinulatan 1st Agriculture Cooperative from Brgy. Sinulatan 1st, Camiling, Tarlac. Each winner received a bakery livelihood package from Pilmico that included an oven, stainless steel table, bread rack, bread showcase, proofer with cover, spiral mixer and 10 Pilmico flour sacks. In addition to the equipment, the winners were to receive technical assistance and bakery management training from Pilmico as they set up their bakery business. During the winners’ onsite bakery training in Camiling, Tarlac last 3 October, it was revealed that two out of the three ARBOs have already opened their bakeries within their communities. In celebration of “World Bread Day,” Pilmico emphasizes its unwavering commitment to providing high-quality flour that helps create nutritional bread products. “We believe in the transformative power that a simple loaf of bread can bring to people’s lives, especially those who rely on it as their main source of livelihood. Pilmico is dedicated to delivering the finest flour for the community’s bread making needs,” said Ma. Katrina Bayog, Pilmico Corporate Social Responsibility manager. The post Pilmico on World Bread Day: Bread’s transformative impact on communities appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Valenzuela City grants P50K cash incentives to honor 12 centenarian residents
As mandated by Proclamation No. 470, every month of October is the celebration of “Elderly Filipino Week” which aims to recognize the valuable contributions of Filipino senior citizens over the years and extend support to their needs. In observance of this annual celebration, the City Government of Valenzuela distributed P50,000 worth of financial grants to 12 centenarians, as recognized by the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA). Centenarians were set to receive the said incentive once every year, and its distribution to qualified centenarians was by virtue of Ordinance No. 300, series of 2016. It was amended by Ordinance No. 652, series of 2020, which raises the cash incentive from P20,000 to P50,000 due to economic considerations. The 12 centenarian residents of Valenzuela City came from barangays Bagbaguin, Canumay West, Coloong, Karuhatan, Malinta, Mapulang Lupa, Ugong, and Wawang Pulo. Reportedly, there were five 100-year-olds, two 101-year-olds, one 102-year-old, three 103-year-olds, and the oldest senior citizen, a 104-year-old elderly woman named Marta Matus. Aside from financial grants, the City Government also ensured that all benefits and other appropriate measures were given to senior citizens to support their needs and secure their well-being. Treading toward the future, the city continuously upholds the importance of honoring the valuable contributions and legacy of the Pamilyang Valenzuelano elderly, who played a vital role in shaping our community today. The post Valenzuela City grants P50K cash incentives to honor 12 centenarian residents appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US authorities return seven works of art stolen by Nazis
New York authorities announced on Wednesday the return of $9 million in art stolen by the Nazi regime to the family of Fritz Grunbaum, an Austrian Jewish cabaret performer killed in the Holocaust. The seven drawings, all from Austrian artist Egon Schiele, were "voluntarily surrendered by the holding institutions and estates," including New York's famous Museum of Modern Art, "after they were presented with evidence that they were stolen by the Nazis," the Manhattan District Attorney's office said in a statement. The move comes as a victory for Grunbaum's heirs, who have been fighting for the art's return for years. Grunbaum died at the Dachau concentration camp in 1941. "I hope this moment can serve as a reminder that despite the horrific death and destruction caused by the Nazis, it is never too late to recover some of what we lost (and) honor the victims," District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement. Timothy Reif, a judge and one of Grunbaum's relatives, thanked authorities for having "succeeded in solving crimes perpetrated over 80 years ago." "Their righteous and courageous collaboration in the pursuit of justice -- unique among prosecutors and law enforcement in this entire nation, if not the world -- shine a bright light for all to follow." As of June, Bragg's office had returned more than 950 looted or improperly acquired pieces of art worth $165 million, to countries including Cambodia, Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey and Italy. 'Degenerate' The seven Schiele drawings were seized by the office's Antiquities Tracking Unit earlier this year, from the Museum of Modern Art, The Ronald Lauder Collection, The Morgan Library, The Santa Barbara Museum of Art and the Vally Sabarsky Trust in Manhattan. The works by Schiele, an Austrian expressionist artist, are valued between $780,000 and $2.75 million each, with the district attorney's office estimating their total value at more than $9 million. Grunbaum, who was also an art collector and critic of the Nazi regime, possessed hundreds of works of art, including more than 80 by Schiele. Schiele's works, considered "degenerate" by the Nazis, were largely auctioned or sold abroad to finance the Nazi Party, according to the district attorney's office. Arrested by the Nazis in 1938, Grunbaum was forced while at Dachau to sign over his power of attorney to his spouse, who was then made to hand over the family's entire collection before herself being deported to a different concentration camp, in current-day Belarus. The seven works whose restitution was announced Wednesday had reappeared on the art market after World War II in the 1950s, first in Switzerland and then making their way to New York. A judge in 2018 had ruled in favor of the Grunbaum heirs concerning two different Schiele pieces, after a London art dealer argued that a sale of 54 Schiele drawings by Grunbaum's sister-in-law after his death was a valid transfer of the work. But the judge rejected the idea that Grunbaum would have ever given her possession of the works voluntarily, writing that "a signature at gunpoint cannot lead to a valid conveyance." That ruling was one of the first to come after Congress passed the Holocaust Expropriated Recovery Act in 2016, designed to relax the s The post US authorities return seven works of art stolen by Nazis appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
FIBA World Cup experience: Springboard to greater heights
Congratulations are in order for the whole Gilas Pilipinas Team for their monumental win versus China (96-75), ending our FIBA World Cup 2023 campaign on a hopeful note. I have always believed in the capabilities of our athletes who have shown their mettle in international sports competitions. As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Sports, I am rallying all Filipinos to support our long-term roadmap to elevate the standing of our athletes in the global arena in all sporting events. Filipinos have excelled in the global stage not just in basketball, billiards, or boxing which are relatively the more popular sports in the country. Take for example Carlos Yulo in gymnastics, EJ Obiena in pole vaulting, Hidilyn Diaz in weightlifting, the late Lydia de Vega in track and field, and, of course, the Filipinas Football team who made us proud during the recent FIFA Women’s World Cup. Our very own Alex Eala is also a rising star in the world of tennis. We have many talented athletes, and we should support them in their quest to give honor to the country. However, success in any sporting event does not come easily. Any athlete will tell you that sports entails discipline, many hours of hard work, and even years of sacrifices. Hence, our efforts to strengthen our chances on the global stage must start at the grassroots level. This is the rationale behind RA 11470 or the National Academy of Sports or NAS law, which I authored and co-sponsored, and signed into law by former president Rodrigo Duterte in 2020. The NAS System will provide scholarships to qualified student-athletes from all regions and will allow them to balance academics and sports training by utilizing the state-of-the-art facilities at New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac. I am also advocating the approval of Senate Bill No. 423 or the Philippine National Games or PNG Act, to institutionalize the conduct of the PNG every two years as this will allow us to discover those with athletic potential at the grassroots level. We have talented athletes, but the government must invest in providing them with opportunities to compete if we want to produce champions on both the national and international stages. I am pushing for SBN 2116, which will amend Section 8 of RA 10699 or the “National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act.” This will increase the incentives for para-athletes who will win medals in international competitions and make our approach more inclusive to all athletes regardless of their physical limitations. Our efforts to achieve victory in sports must reflect the diversity of our country. The government, together with the private sector and other stakeholders, must consistently provide all the support that our teams need to compete at the global level. Our focus must be on creating opportunities for all aspiring athletes, regardless of geographic or economic background, to excel in their chosen fields. Hence, we should bring our sports development programs closer to those who have the potentials and aspirations to represent our country and bring pride to every Filipino. More importantly, sports is not only a physical game but a means to uplift lives, keep our youth away from vices like illegal drugs, and strengthen camaraderie in our communities. Let us elevate sports as a viable tool in harnessing our citizens into disciplined, productive and patriotic individuals reflective of our Filipino pride. In the same way that we unite to support our athletes, let us also unite to support fellow Filipinos in need. That is why I have continued to engage with various sectors of society to listen to their concerns and help provide solutions to their daily struggles. Filipinos inherently have a “never say die” attitude, especially in sports which is reflective of our resilience as a society. But aside from this commendable trait, our resilience also stems from our inherent compassion for each other. Our “Tapang at Malasakit” must continue so that together, we can uplift the lives of Filipinos. As a Senator and public servant, I remain steadfast in supporting our athletes to reach greater heights while also exerting efforts to help bring government programs and services closer to those in need to provide them with opportunities for a better life. The post FIBA World Cup experience: Springboard to greater heights appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Dirty Linen’ down to its last 2 scorching weeks
Was Dolly de Leon invited to the final media conference on Wednesday afternoon, 16 August, for the ABS-CBN series Dirty Linen, but her schedule of local commitments prevented her from accepting the invite? Or did the production decide not to have her around because she would steal the limelight from all the show’s stars even without trying? [caption id="attachment_172737" align="aligncenter" width="843"] Dolly de Leon. | Photograph Courtesy Of Ig/Dolly De Leon.[/caption] The media huddle was held just two days after De Leon walked off with a Balanghai trophy as Best Supporting Actress at the Cinemalaya 2023 for her portrayal of a loving mother to a speech-deprived son in Iti Mapukpukaw, an Ilocano animated film which also won Best Picture in the festival. It was De Leon’s second Philippine award, but the first ever she received personally. The first one was from the Famas in a digital awards in 2021 for her work in Verdict. It was also for Best Supporting Actress, and the Best Actress winner then was Janine Gutierrez for Babae at Baril, which had also won for her Best Actress from the Urian of the critics group Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino. Gutierrez topbills Dirty Linen. The death of Olivia, the mistress-household help character portrayed by De Leon in the grandiosely and glamorously ruthless series, is what ignited the intensely engaging revenge drama that is slated to end in two weeks. It was a special guest role De Leon breezed through soon after her breakthrough appearance in Triangle of Sadness, which landed her at the Cannes International Film Festival, unarguably the most prestigious film festival in the world. Her character’s death in Dirty Linen became a big deal only because it led to the killing of some other members of the household staff who had the bad luck of seeing Olivia’s corpse in the living room before it was dragged into a nearby pit. They were all servants of the Fierros, an evil wealthy family in some provincial town. The family is headed by fierce matriarch Doña Cielo (Tessie Tomas), with her only son Carlos (John Arcilla) and Carlos’ son Aidan (Zanjoe Marudo). Angel Aquino portrays Feliz, the unwanted and unhappy daughter of the Fieros, while Janice de Belen is Leona, the cold-blooded wife of Carlos and mother of their two children, one of whom is the daughter portrayed by young star Francine Diaz. Epy Quizon portrays Ador, the husband of Feliz whose desire to give her and their two children (Xyriel Manabat and Raven Rigor) a well-off life that could somehow match that of the Fierros led him to keeping a secret pornography business that Mila discovers and exposes during a party meant to honor Doña Cielo. Christian Bables plays a digital expert who can hack any digital system as part of the revenge plot. Changing the landscape De Leon was once quoted in an interview as saying that Dirty Linen is “changing the landscape of Philippine television.” Tomas, who was at the media huddle at Studio 10 of ABS-CBN, declared that Dirty Linen is the best show she has ever been. Though more famous in her younger years as a stand-up comedian who parodied weird well-off women, Tomas is indeed a veteran of TV shows in varying genres. Gutierrez did her best not to cry in gratefulness for the opportunity of topbilling what seems to be ABS-CBN’s most expensive drama series. The Fierro mansion is a triumph in opulent production design, since the location is not a residence but the refashioned clubhouse of Summit Point, a popular golf and country club in Lipa City, Batangas — a project of Sta. Lucia Land Inc. The show’s production designer is Nancy Arcega, who’s been at her work for over 30 years now. It’s hard to argue against claims that Dirty Linen is the best Filipino-produced drama series in the country so far. But for us, personally, it is so far the series that has the most sordid storyline and characters. Practically everyone is evil in varying degrees. And Pinoys love it, for better or for worse. ABS-CBN says the series has gone over a billion views since it was launched on several platforms in January this year. Almost all the major cast members of the series turned up at the media huddle. Only Jenica Garcia, Andrea del Rosario and Soliman Cruz were not there. The post ‘Dirty Linen’ down to its last 2 scorching weeks appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Giuliani: ‘America’s Mayor’ threatened by anti-Mafia law he spearheaded
Forty years ago, Rudy Giuliani was the fearless Mafia-busting prosecutor whose aggressive use of racketeering laws brought down New York's Five Families. On Tuesday, he was fighting for his own freedom after being ensnared by the very legal strategy he had pioneered. The man once feted as "America's Mayor" for steering the US financial hub through the horror of the 11 September 2001 attacks has experienced a stunning fall from grace. Charged with 13 felonies over the help he is alleged to have given his client and longtime friend Donald Trump in trying to subvert the 2020 presidential election, the attorney is threatened with years behind bars as his 80th birthday approaches. "It's just the next chapter in a book of lies with the purpose of framing President Donald Trump and anyone willing to take on the ruling regime," Giuliani said on X, formerly known as Twitter, after he was charged Monday. It was a typically bombastic response from the 107th mayor of New York City, who played a starring role in Trump's post-election push to cling to power through an allegedly criminal campaign of lies about voter fraud. Giuliani was charged Monday under Georgia's Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Practices (RICO) statute, the plaudits he once earned squandered in a series of increasingly bizarre media appearances around the 2020 election. He is one of 18 co-defendants charged alongside Trump. 'Person of the Year' They included an unwitting cameo in a Sacha Baron Cohen movie in which Giuliani was filmed lying on a hotel bed with his hands down his pants and a post-election press conference held outside a landscaping business surrounded by a crematorium and a sex shop. At another press event, Giuliani and his allies claimed mass voter fraud without a shred of evidence as hair dye streamed in dark rivulets down the attorney's cheeks. Born in an Italian American enclave of Brooklyn on 28 May 1944, Rudolph William Louis Giuliani made his name in his 40s as a pioneering US attorney for Manhattan, using RICO to bring down the high command of the New York mob. Giuliani captured the New York mayorship in 1993 and gained national prominence in the wake of the 9/11 attacks by helping salve the shocked city's soul, earning Time Magazine's prestigious "Person of the Year" honor. "We've undergone tremendous losses, and we're going to grieve for them horribly, but New York is going to be here tomorrow morning, and it's going to be here forever," he declared. The Republican suffered his first big setback in 2008 with a disastrous bid for the White House and appeared adrift until Trump eventually brought him back into the fold. Gaffes and walk-backs After Trump was elected, he appointed Giuliani to fight a federal probe into the campaign's extensive ties to Russia, and the lawyer became a constant TV presence. But gaffes and walk-backs were as much a feature of Giuliani's lawyering as his spirited talk show diatribes -- and he led Trump into trouble as often as steering him away. Never the most reliable spokesman, Giuliani proved susceptible to seemingly unforced admissions -- contradicting Trump's denials over hush money payments to a porn star and his pursuit of a business deal in Moscow before the 2016 election. But the effort to reverse Trump's clear election loss in 2020 appears, in the end, to have sealed Giuliani's downfall. One by one, his post-election court challenges were withdrawn or dismissed as groundless. Giuliani's license to practice has been suspended in New York over his "demonstrably false" claims of a stolen election and the Bar in the nation's capital is considering disbarring him. Long before attracting the attention of a legal system that once basked in his reflected glory, Giuliani acknowledged that representing Trump could end up being his legacy. "I am afraid it will be on my gravestone. 'Rudy Giuliani: He lied for Trump,'" he told The New Yorker in 2019. "If it is, so what do I care? I'll be dead. I figure I can explain it to St. Peter." The post Giuliani: ‘America’s Mayor’ threatened by anti-Mafia law he spearheaded appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Beijing ‘repeatedly’ reached out to Manila on Ayungin Shoal issue — Chinese envoy
Beijing reached out to Manila to resolve the issue of Ayungi Shoal, which is currently hosting Filipino military personnel through the grounded BRP Sierra Madre, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines Zhou Zhiyong said Monday. According to Zhou, the Chinese side “repeatedly” reached out to its counterparts on the Philippine side to resolve the matter in a “peaceful” manner. “China has repeatedly expressed its willingness to resolve differences with the Philippines through bilateral dialogues,” he said in a media briefing in Quezon City. He noted that at the end of 2021, several rounds of discussion between the Philippines and China were held to manage the “disputes” over Ayungin Shoal, which they call Ren’ai Reef. "Such discussions have led to consensus on resupply missions to the Ren'ai Reef," he said, adding that the agreement had successfully guaranteed stability and tranquility in the area for the entire previous year. “Unfortunately, beginning early this year, the Philippine Government refused to acknowledge and implement the existing consensus and started to take a series of unilateral actions,” he said. “Despite this, the Chinese side suggested earlier this year that the two sides shall discuss measures to strengthen the management of the situation of Ren’ai Reef as early as possible to ensure peace and tranquility in the relevant waters,” he added. He continued: “We also provided the Philippine side with a draft proposal. We are still waiting for the formal response from the Philippine side.” Zhou also maintained that the Philippine government had repeatedly “promised” to remove the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal. “On May 9th 1999, the Philippine Navy tank-landing ship LT-57 intruded into Ren’ai Reef and illegally ‘grounded’, citing the excuse of dilapidation and being stranded or distressed,” he said. “The Chinese side lodged solemn representations immediately, requesting the Philippine side to tow the vessel away. The Philippine side also made an explicit commitment to do so,” he added. “The representations were put on record and the details were well documented. Regarding this, the Philippine media made extensive coverage then.” Last week, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. denied that the Philippine government made such a promise to China. “I’m not aware of any such arrangement or agreement that the Philippines will remove from its own territory its ship, in this case, the BRP Sierra Madre from the Ayungin Shoal,” Marcos said in a video message. He also asserted that he is rescinding any commitment should there be an agreement between the two countries to remove the vessel. "And let me go further, if there does exist such an agreement, I rescind that agreement now,” Marcos said. ‘Construction materials’ Zhou also defended the Chinese Coast Guard’s actions during its confrontation with vessels of the Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard near Ayungin Shoal last 5 August. He stressed that despite the Philippine government’s failure to honor its alleged commitment, the Chinese side has “always exerted the utmost restraint with a view to maintaining relations with the Philippines and safeguarding regional peace and stability.” “Furthermore, out of humanitarian consideration, the Chinese side has made temporary and special arrangements for the Philippine resupply missions to bring to the ‘grounded’ military vessel food and other daily necessities,” he said. “In those 24 years, the Philippine side has not encountered problems with such humanitarian resupply,” he added. He pointed out that the Philippine move to transport construction materials to the grounded BRP Sierra Madre was the cause of the 5 August incident. “Under such circumstances, the Chinese side was made to react with the necessary actions. China Coast Guard took warning law-enforcement measures and stopped the vessel carrying construction materials,” he said. “I believe you have also noticed that the other Philippine resupply vessel entered the lagoon of Ren’ai Reef and performed its humanitarian resupply mission. This showed the restraint and humanitarian spirit of the Chinese side,” he added. The Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, condemned China’s actions, which included the use of water cannon and dangerous maneuvers against Philippine vessels. The agency reiterated that the routine resupply mission of the Philippine Navy was a legitimate and regular activity of the Philippine government. Likewise, the Philippine government said China’s actions were in violation of the relevant provisions of the 1982 UNCLOS, the Award on the 2016 South China Sea Arbitration, the 1972 COLREGS and the 2002 ASEAN-China DOC. The post Beijing ‘repeatedly’ reached out to Manila on Ayungin Shoal issue — Chinese envoy appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Wickedly wild party!
Ready to hear about a deliciously naughty escape from reality? Welcome to our Wickedly Wild party! We raised the heat with the hottest party in rainy Metro Manila in honor of our birthday trio: me, Cocoy Cordoba, and Irene Montemayor. Our unholy Trinity went the whole nine yards to turn this into one unforgettable affair. [caption id="attachment_166232" align="aligncenter" width="992"] Wickedly wild birthday celebrators Irene Montemayor, Cocoy Cordoba and the columnist. | Photographs Courtesy Of Agile Zamora.[/caption] Dress code? Sexy, sultry, sensual, scandalous. Everything in black. Anything that fits their naughtiest fantasy. Soon, we filled Cove Manila with Manila’s best-dressed, now dressed in their boldest. No typhoon or Friday traffic could stop us from heating up the night. Once the music started, we gave in to our pleasures. We feasted on only the best — sumptuous canapés, overflowing wine and alcoholic concoctions and bottles of Macallan and Patron — while joined by the hottest models. [caption id="attachment_166254" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Marivic Vazquez, Marian Ong and Richie Lerma[/caption] [caption id="attachment_166253" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Marissa Fenton and Nene Leonor[/caption] [caption id="attachment_166252" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Mario Stark and Joel Cruz[/caption] [caption id="attachment_166251" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Malou Martinez, Dra. Elsie Pascua, Jennifer Weigel Sarmiento and Ofelia Wadle[/caption] [caption id="attachment_166250" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Juan Carlo Calma, Gina Mohani and Jerianne Ejercito[/caption] [caption id="attachment_166249" align="aligncenter" width="912"] Jet Fernandez, Karen Ganzon with the model[/caption] [caption id="attachment_166248" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Jean Saburit, Tita Trilio and David Lim[/caption] [caption id="attachment_166247" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Angola Consul, Helen Ong, Consul General of Monaco, Fortune Ledesma and New Zealand Ambassador, Peter Kiel[/caption] [caption id="attachment_166246" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Greece Ambassador, Joannis & Aliki Pediotis[/caption] [caption id="attachment_166245" align="aligncenter" width="888"] Evelyn Fraser and Dra. Jennie Diaz[/caption] [caption id="attachment_166244" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Dana Silverio and Ruby Chua with the models[/caption] [caption id="attachment_166243" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Consul Agnes Huibonhoa and Derek Flores[/caption] [caption id="attachment_166242" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Chris Badiola and Karen Jimeno[/caption] [caption id="attachment_166241" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Cathy Valencia and Joaquin Anaya[/caption] [caption id="attachment_166240" align="aligncenter" width="1191"] Carlo Montemayor, David Ackerman and Philip Dizon[/caption] [caption id="attachment_166238" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Robert Yupangco and Bobby Alvarez[/caption] [caption id="attachment_166237" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Robert Young and Eduardo Lagdameo[/caption] [caption id="attachment_166236" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Ricky Toledo, Nini Licaros and Chito Vijandre[/caption] [caption id="attachment_166235" align="aligncenter" width="1158"] JM Yupangco and Ravi Daryanani with a model[/caption] [caption id="attachment_166234" align="aligncenter" width="675"] Gerry Sunga n George Yano[/caption] [caption id="attachment_166233" align="aligncenter" width="736"] Best Dressed Lady of the Night, Lovelyn Segovia[/caption] [caption id="attachment_166231" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Mayenne Carmona and Becky Garcia with the model[/caption] To ramp up the excitement, I also donated a Home Theatre Sound System worth P120,000 for the Best Dressed of the Night. Happy for the lucky winner who happened to be a fellow Ilonggo, Lovelyn Segovia! After that, the energy stayed on high ‘til 5 a.m. The party people just know how to keep the energy going. Proud of co-hosting such an unforgettable night. Wickedly Wild just gets better and wilder every year, and I can’t wait to top this one next year. We all deserve to escape into our wildest desires for a night, am I right? Cheers! The post Wickedly wild party! appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
The biggest food event of the year
Culinary events such as food bazaars, collab dinners among some of the best Filipino chefs in the metro and a pub crawl highlighted the inaugural Manila Food and Wine Festival held from 14 to 28 July. With activities spread out over a month, the MFWF was a culinary tourism celebration presented by the Department of Tourism and the MFWF Team led by Our Awesome Planet’s Anton Diaz, RestoPH’s Spanky Enriquez and Cebu Food and Wine Festival’s Kate Dychangco-Anzani. Its aim, said the organizers, was to introduce the Philippines and establish it as a culinary destination in Asia and the world, similar and at par with Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok, Thailand. [caption id="attachment_165804" align="aligncenter" width="1440"] Gen Tsi Heritage Dinner Chef Collab (From Left) Kalel Demetrio, Donatella Chua, Spanky Enriquez, Luis Chikiamco, Sharwin Tee, Nina Licad.[/caption] For the duration of the event, food lovers and wine enthusiasts had a number of opportunities to immerse themselves in a gastronomic journey that showcases the country’s vibrant food culture. Opening with grandeur and flair at The Westin Manila, the MFWF saw special guest merchants and innovators from the food and beverage industry, including Luisita Rum, Sebastian’s Ice Cream, Esguerra Kurobuta, Destileria Limtuaco, Karabella Dairy, Macaron Macaron and Mooncakes by the Hungry Chef, joining the grand launch. [gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="165799,165802"] The MFWF offered a plethora of exciting activities, including the festival bazaar at the Grand Atrium of Shangri-La Plaza, a Sunday lunch curation by chef Reggie Aspiras, a Makati Poblacion pub crawl and a food stamping program. One of the highlights of the event was a series of chef collaborations involving some of the best restaurants in Antipolo, Tagaytay, and Metro Manila. Antipolo Evolution, a 12-hands collaboration, took place at Tahanan Bistro. It featured a nine-course dinner prepared by chefs Danilo Botor Puga II of Burrow Cafe, Florence Hässig of Vieux Chalet, Kevin Tuason and Nikki Macaraig of Tahanan Bistro, culinary extraordinaire Editha Singian and Monique Tancongco of Moniquecakesph. Another 12-hands collaboration, Cavite Fresh! was held at My Country House in Tagaytay. It had six talented chefs working together to prepare a meal to remember — Jayjay SyCip of The Fatted Calf, Kalel Chan of Farmer’s Table, Rhea SyCip of Flour Pot Manila, Rhea Rizzo of Mrs. Saldo’s, Anthony Mendoza of Tuny’s and Arnold Gozon of My Country House. Destination dining featuring the freshest produce from Cavite, it turned out a sold-out crowd. [caption id="attachment_165803" align="aligncenter" width="894"] Admiral Hotel Presents The First Ever Collaboration Of Chefs Tatung Sarthou And Sau Del Rosario.[/caption] Gen Tsi, the six-hand collab for Metro Manila, happened at Flame, Discovery Primea and main characters were Chinese-Filipino chefs Luis Chikiamco, Sharwin Tee and Donatella Chua, with cocktails by famous mixologist Kalel Demetrio. Now, this one is different and unique because it puts forward Tsinoy heritage cuisine which, as Chef Sharwin says it, “is rich in culture and history, built on the backs of immigrants scraping by when they were deemed fifth class citizens. It nourished generations of Tsinoys who’ve made their mark on this nation and yet, it’s so undervalued that some Filipinos don’t even recognize it as Filipino. It’s so underrated, that even the ones who were raised on this food don’t dare lift it up. To put this food up on stage, The Manila Food and Wine Festival, a stage that I hope grows to international levels in the future, is an honor and a dream. Yes, people should pay for kiampung and sipo egg the way we do paella and risotto.” [gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="165798,165800"] And then there was the gala dinner finale at the Admiral Hotel, featuring the first ever collaboration between chefs Sau del Rosario and Tatung Sarthou. Manila Iconic took place at Admiral Hotel on 27 July. The eight-course Filipino menu honored the culinary icons of the county — Engracia “Aling Asiang” Reyes, Nora Daza and Larry J. Cruz —and was highlighted by the dessert creations of Admiral Hotel Manila M Gallery’s own executive pastry chef Christian Monera. The post The biggest food event of the year appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl cinema in the first year of BBM
Here, we look back at the state of the Philippine film industry since he took the seat of power 13 months ago. When President Marcos Jr. became the 17th leader of the nation, the country was on the brink of the “new normal.” The campaign elections even saw multitudes of crowds in the streets, the Filipinos’ political passion overpowering the fear of a Covid-19 infection. Covid-pandemic viewing By May 2022, the month of the presidential campaigns, the Department of Health said the country was at “minimal-risk case classification” with an average of only 159 cases per day. By June 2022, when the President took his oath, 69.4 million Filipinos had been fully vaccinated. Along with the country, the Philippine film industry started healing. On the same month, the country went under Covid-19 Alert Level 2, with 50-percent allowed capacity in indoor cinemas. Live film festivals The Marcos administration saw the return of Filipino film festivals in theaters. On Marcos’ fifth month as president, the QCinema International Film Festival, with the theme “in10City,” held hybdrid screenings — in-person and online. The Metro Manila Film Festival in December 2022, six months into the new presidency, went full force in cinemas for the second time during the pandemic. Earlier, in 2020, during the Duterte administration, the festival was held online for the first time, and the following year, in December 2021, after level alert measures in the Philippines were relaxed, the MMFF finally went back to the cinemas. However, only around 300 cinemas (down from the usual 900) were allowed to screen the MMFF entries. Meanwhile, the 18th edition of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival was held from 5 August to 31 October 2022 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, in select mall cinemas and online. But what made a mark during the Marcos administration’s first year was the inaugural edition of the 2023 Summer Metro Manila Film Festival. The SMMFF was held in Metro Manila and throughout the Philippines. Organized by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority in partnership with the Cinema Exhibitors Association of the Philippines, the first MMFF was supposed to be held in 2020, but was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2023, held from 8 to 18 April 2023 with the theme “Tuloy-tuloy ang Saya,” the summer festival featured eight entries and, like its December counterpart, even held a Parade of Stars. About Us But Not About Us by Jun Lana, produced by The IdeaFirst Company, Octobertrain Films and Quantum Films, emerged as the first Best Picture of the summer festival. [caption id="attachment_161372" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] About Us But Not About Us by Jun Lana[/caption] The Film Development Council of the Philippines’ sixth edition of its own mini-film festival, held during the Marcos administration’s third month, headed back to cinemas, offering free access to award-winning classic films of the new National Artists for Film and Broadcast Arts at TriNoma Cinema in Quezon City and in all Cinematheque centers nationwide (Manila, Iloilo, Negros, Davao and Nabunturan). CCP closes for renovations On 1 September 2022, CCP president Margarita Moran-Floirendo announced during a hearing of the Senate committee on cultural communities, that The Cultural Center of the Philippines — home to the Cinemalaya festival — will close its doors starting January 2023 for renovation and structural retrofitting works, and will reopen in March 2025. This marks the first time that Cinemalaya, on its 19th year, which has the theme “ilumiNasyon,” will be held at various venues inside the adjacent Philippine International Convention Center, from 4 to 13 August 2023. The rise of political films With the country deeply driven by polarized political views, the Marcos administration saw a war between political commercial films. [caption id="attachment_161370" align="aligncenter" width="1800"] ‘MAID in Malacanang’ stars Cristine Reyes, Diego Loyzaga and Ella Cruz. | Photograph courtesy of viva[/caption] On 29 July 2022, Darryl Yap’s period drama Maid in Malacañang, touted as “the most controversial film of the year,” was released to packed cinemas. The movie, about the Marcos family’s last three days in Malacañang Palace before they were forced into exile, premiered at SM North EDSA and was released nationwide on 3 August 2022. Yap, who passionately campaigned for Marcos, became a controversial filmmaker with the release of his Marcos film. Leni Robredo supporters tried to boycott the film, with some Filipino movie critics exposing themselves as heavily political and non-neutral with their reviews, accusing the film of propaganda and historical revisionism. The attempt to quash the movie’s release failed and it became a box-office hit, with producer Viva Films releasing a statement that it earned a whopping P21 million on its opening day and P63 million three days after its release. It was the first time in Philippine cinema history that local theaters nationwide saw a deluge of moviegoers lining up to watch a movie on the big screen, mostly driven by political affiliation. Another unsuccessful political attempt to diminish the film’s release was Vince Tañada’s re-release of his Martial Law film Katips to counter Maid in Malacañang. Tañada’s film eventually won Best Picture at the Famas Awards. MIM actress Ella Cruz’s remark during a press conference, that “history is like tsismis,” further fanned the flames of political debate online. Eight months later, in March 2022, Viva released Yap’s second installment in his Marcos trilogy, Martyr or Murderer, which now focused on Ferdinand Marcos and the assassination of Ninoy Aquino. Two anti-Marcos movies rose to combat the film — Joel Lamangan’s Oras de Peligro, released on the same day, and Tañada’s movie adaptation of his musical play Ako Si Ninoy, released one week earlier. Movie buffs, political analysts, film critics, the press and social media influencers dove into feverish commentaries on the three films, and Philippine cinemas were ignited and, for a while, became alive with social discourse. New FDCP head On 21 July 2022, Tirso S. Cruz III officially assumed his position as the head of the country’s national film agency, the Film Development Council of the Philippines. He replaced Liza Diño, who was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as FDCP chairperson on 12 August 2016. [caption id="attachment_161368" align="aligncenter" width="736"] FDCP chair Tirso Cruz III. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF FDCP[/caption] Cruz, a veteran actor, said that the target of the FDCP under the Marcos administration was to support local films, not just in Metro Manila, but also from regional filmmakers. He also professed support for film students and highlighted archiving as part of the FDCP’s agenda, with 42,000 materials in its archives to be salvaged. MTRCB In September 2022, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board released a statement addressing the controversy about its proposal to expand its jurisdiction to online streaming services like Netflix, Vivamax, Amazon Prime and other streaming platforms. The MTRCB said it was responding to multitudes of complaints from parents and other concerned groups demanding that the agency regulate movie and TV online platforms to protect children from harmful viewing. The Marcos administration has seen a continuous boom in streamers, which began during the pandemic, with Vivamax becoming one of the leading local streamers due to the popularity of Filipino sexploitation films. On 23 February 2023, MTRCB chairperson Lala Sotto-Antonio expressed her gratitude to Senators Francis “Tol” Tolentino, Grace Poe and Sherwin Gatchalian for the separate bills they filed that would amend and expand the board’s mandate. “We welcome the move to amend the charter of the MTRCB as it will allow the agency to adequately adapt to changes in technology and the ever-evolving needs of the viewing public and our other stakeholders,” Sotto-Antonio said before the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media chaired by Senator Robinhood C. Padilla. Eddie Garcia Act In January 2023, the chamber passed through voice voting House Bill 1270, or the proposed Eddie Garcia Act, at the House plenary session. [caption id="attachment_161367" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] HOUSE Bill 1270 has been proposed in honor of the late actor Eddie Garcia. | Photograph courtesy of gma-7[/caption] Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte authored the bill, which aims to provide workers in the movie, television and radio entertainment industry opportunities for well-paid employment and protect them from economic exploitation, abuse and harassment, as well as hazardous working conditions. The bill was named after the late veteran actor Eddie Garcia, who died in 2019 after suffering a neck injury while shooting the television series Rosang Agimat, produced by GMA Network. According to Villafuerte, productions would go from 16 to 24 continuous work hours per set and would rush productions to save costs. The proposed law mandates that normal work hours of the worker or talent shall be eight hours a day; overtime work should not exceed more than 12 hours in a 24-hour period; and the total number of work hours shall not exceed 60 hours in a week. Paul Soriano Relatively unknown to most Pinoy moviegoers, filmmaker Paul Soriano was put on the limelight as the man behind the President’s advertisements — way back from campaigns since Marcos started out as vice governor, and then, governor of Ilocos Norte, up until his senatorial campaign, and eventually his campaign for the vice presidency and presidency. [caption id="attachment_161371" align="aligncenter" width="781"] PRESIDENTIAL Adviser on Creative Communications Paul Soriano. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF ig/PAUL SORIANO[/caption] Of course, the opposition in the film industry predictably canceled Soriano, the blood nephew of First Lady Liza Cacho Araneta-Marcos. Dolly de Leon It was also during the BBM era that Filipina actress Dolly de Leon gained international fame for her performance in the 2022 Cannes Palme d’Or winner Triangle of Sadness. [caption id="attachment_161366" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Dolly de Leon gained international fame for her performance in the 2022 Cannes Palme d’Or winner ‘Triangle of Sadness.’ | Photograph courtesy ofig/dolly de leon[/caption] The 54-year old film, television and theater actress made history by becoming the first Filipino actor to be nominated at the British Academy Film Awards and Golden Globe Awards. Filipino movie fans and critics, having been exposed to global content since the rise of the streamers, plus the proliferation of self-published movie reviews, are generally still disappointed with the output and system of the Philippine film industry, but filled with hope that, with full support from the government, Philippine cinema will finally become truly internationally competitive, sustainable and recognized. The post Phl cinema in the first year of BBM appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hero or villain? Mexicans remember revolutionary Pancho Villa
Thousands of Mexicans on horseback parade through the town where Francisco "Pancho" Villa, the outlaw turned revolutionary who inspired countless myths and legends, was killed 100 years ago. Wearing leather boots and cowboy hats to shield from the blazing sun, riders filled the streets of Parral in the northern state of Chihuahua on Wednesday for commemorations marking the centenary of his death. Shouting "Viva Villa! Viva Mexico!" (Long live Villa! Long live Mexico!), the procession paused next to a statue of the mustachioed icon before filing through the town where bands played and crowds lined the streets. It was the culmination of a journey in the saddle that for some participants began more than two weeks earlier -- and around 600 kilometers (370 miles) to the north -- near the Mexican-US border. Others joined along the way as the procession crossed the vast plains of Chihuahua -- once a hotbed of the revolution -- to honor the man known as the "Centaur of the North." "He was a hero. Others consider him a villain and others a murderer. But he wasn't like that," said Javier Baca, a 55-year-old resident of Parral who came dressed as Villa, with his trademark brimmed hat and bullet belts strung across his chest. "I feel very proud to be present on this day," he told AFP. Great military leader Villa was one of the leading forces of the 1910 revolution, which began as an uprising against dictator Porfirio Diaz and led to the drafting of a new constitution. "His contribution to the revolution is without doubt. Villa was the great military leader of the revolution in the second stage," Spanish-Mexican writer and historian Paco Ignacio Taibo II told AFP. Villa generated among historians "a combination of admiration, repulsion, fascination, fear, love and hate" he wrote in his biography of the man who "married, or maintained close quasi-marital relationships, 27 times and had at least 26 children." To his admirers, Villa was a Mexican version of Robin Hood who robbed the rich to give to the poor, before becoming a social-minded revolutionary and talented military general. Other accounts portray Villa, the son of sharecroppers whose real name was Doroteo Arango, as a bandit, cattle rustler and cold-blooded murderer who fell in with revolutionaries despite having no real ideology. "There are legends of Villa the Robin Hood, Villa the Napoleon of Mexico, Villa the ruthless killer, Villa the womanizer, and Villa as the only foreigner who has attacked the mainland of the United States since the war of 1812 and gotten away with it," the Austrian-born historian Friedrich Katz wrote in his book "The Life and Times of Pancho Villa." "There is widespread agreement among friend and foe that Villa was capable both of great acts of generosity and of equally great acts of cruelty," he added. Helped the poor Villa's life and death inspired a host of popular ballads as well as Mexican and Hollywood movies. In the United States, Villa is known for his brazen attack on Columbus, New Mexico in 1916. In response, the US government sent troops under the command of General John J. Pershing on a fruitless mission to capture Villa. "He's a hero here in Mexico, because no one else has managed to stop the gringos in war," said Ruben Palma, a 25-year-old engineer. Villa's luck eventually ran out on July 20, 1923 when at the age of 45 he was ambushed while driving to a baptism -- an event reenacted on Thursday in front of hundreds of spectators. As the revolutionary drove along Gabino Barreda street -- today home to a museum in his honor -- an accomplice of the assassins pretending to be drunk shouted "Viva Villa!" as a signal to the gunmen lying in wait. The car came under a hail of bullets, leaving a blood-covered Villa slumped in the driver's seat and his men sprawled out dead or wounded in the street. According to Katz, there appears little doubt that the government of then president Alvaro Obregon "was not only implicated in but probably organized the assassination of Villa" because it feared he might take part in another uprising. Villa was buried in a graveyard in Parral. In 1976, his remains were exhumed and deposited in the Monument to the Revolution in Mexico City, leaving a mixed legacy in Parral. "For some people he was a very good person and for others he was bad," said Gaby Armendariz, a 45-year-old housewife who came to watch the parade. The post Hero or villain? Mexicans remember revolutionary Pancho Villa appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Star gymnast Biles poised for August return to competition
Gymnastics superstar Simone Biles is poised to compete in August for the first time since mental health and safety concerns cut short her Tokyo Olympics campaign, entering the August US Classic near Chicago. USA Gymnastics announced Wednesday that the four-time Olympic gold medallist was entered in the August 4-5 event, which would be her first since she withdrew from most of her events in Tokyo in 2021. "Registration...does not guarantee participation," USA Gymnastics warned in the statement. "Every athlete is at a different place in their season and career, and we will support each of them, wherever they are in their journey," said USA Gymnastics chief programs officer Stefanie Korepin. Biles electrified the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, where she won gold in team, all-around, vault and floor exercise as well as a balance beam bronze. She entered the Covid-delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021 as a heavy favorite to win as many as five gold medals. She hadn't lost an all-around competition since 2013 and her build up to the Games included mastery of a daring Yurchenko double pike vault that had never before been seen in women's competition. However, she would depart Tokyo with only team silver and a balance beam bronze, however, her campaign cut short after she experienced the "twisties" -- the phenomenon in which gymnasts lose the ability to orientate themselves in mid-air. Biles withdrew from the team event after performing on one apparatus and later withdrew from the all-around competition and the finals for vault, uneven bars and floor exercise, saying at the time she needed to prioritze her mental health. Biles said in a video released after Tokyo that her problems had been building for a while. "I wouldn't even say it started in Tokyo. I feel like it was probably a little bit deeper-rooted than that," Biles said. "I think it was just the stress factor. It kind of built up over time, and my body and my mind just said no. But even I didn't know I was going through it until it just happened." "It just sucks," Biles said in the video. "But I know that I helped a lot of people and athletes speak out about mental health and saying no. Because I knew I couldn't go out there and compete. I knew I was going to get hurt." After the Tokyo Games, in September 2021, Biles testified before a U.S. Senate committee looking into FBI failures in investigating sexual abuse by former gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar. Nassar received a life sentence after pleading guilty in late 2017 and early 2018 to sexually assaulting women and girls while working as a sports medicine doctor at USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University. - Another Olympics? - In recent months Biles's popular social media feeds have featured not gymnastics but news of her personal life, including her marriage to NFL Safety Jonathan Owens, then with the Houston Texans, in April. When Owens signed with the Green Bay Packers in May she endeared herself to Green Bay fans by soliciting suggestions on what to see and do in the couple's new town. Biles has won 25 world championships medals, 19 of them gold, and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Joe Biden in 2022. Although she hasn't outlined her plans, the US Classic is roughly a year out from the 2024 Paris Olympics, and Biles has used the event to launch a comeback before. She returned to competition at the meeting in 2018, having taken a break after her stunning Rio Games campaign. bb/pb/nr © Agence France-Presse The post Star gymnast Biles poised for August return to competition appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
A Rose at the ‘Tertulia’ in Intramuros
After the successful staging in 2022 of a fabulous ball and an awards night, the Philippine Heritage Society held a tertulia as it continues its support for local arts and culture, as well as the creative soul of Filipinos. Britannica defines tertulia as a “type of Spanish literary salon that was popular in Spain from at least the 17th century and that eventually replaced the more formal academies. Tertulias were held in private homes at first, but from the early 19th century they met in clubs and cafés.” The Philippine Heritage Society Casa Blanca in Intramuros was the setting for Tertulia Flores de Mayo: A Celebration of Fashion, Arts Music on 30 May. It was directed by Nathan de Leon, who founded the society together with Sherwin Sozon, a businessman and opera singer who leads LyrOpera; and Tess Castro, a former bank executive who is now a philanthropist and heritage advocate. “Lubos akong nagagalak na naka-unang anibersaryo pa lamang ang The Philippine Heritage Society pero tumitibay na ang ating pundasyon, at tayo ay nakagagawa na ng mga kongkretong hakbang upang itaguyod ang mga pamanang sining sa ating lahi. At ngayong gabi nga, ating ipinagdiriwang ang Flores de Mayo sa pamamagitan ng fashion, arts at music (I am delighted that The Philippine Heritage Society, just on its first anniversary, is growing stronger, and we have been able to take concrete steps to promote our cultural heritage. And tonight, we celebrate Flores de Mayo through fashion, arts and music),” Castro said in her welcome speech. [caption id="attachment_142323" align="aligncenter" width="525"] The Philippine Heritage Society with co-founder Nathan de Leon (extreme left) and members serving as models at the Tertulia.[/caption] She continued: “Marami mang pagbabago sa panahon ngayon at sa ating mga Filipino, dahil sa modernisasyon at bagong teknolohiya, nanatiling buhay at matibay ang tradisyon na ito, na patuloy na sumasalamin sa ating malalim na pananampalataya, mayamang kasaysayan at makulay na kultura (Despite the many changes in today’s time and in our Filipino society, due to modernization and new technology, this tradition remains alive and resilient, continuing to reflect our deep faith, rich history and vibrant culture).” An entertaining and elegant night Hosted by JM Salamat, the night was a showcase of the best of Filipino creativity. World-class entertainment was provided by Ana Feleo of the LyrOpera of the Philippines, who performed Agot Espino’s “Kundiman sa Langit” and “Bituing Marikit” by Nicanor Abelardo. The UP Filipiniana Dance Group swayed to “Binoyugan” and “Maria Clara Dance Pitik Mingaw.” There was the Marcy Band and Prinsipe Makata. Tenor Randy Gilongo sang “Kundi Man Mahalin” by National Artists Ernani Cuenco and Levi Celerio, and “Madaling Araw.” Co-founder Sozon sang “Kalesa” by Cuenco and “Ikaw ang Mahal Ko” by George Hernandez. The highlight of the night was when the glamorous members of the group offered flowers to the Virgin Mary during the Flores de Mayo Fashion Walk segment. Led by this year’s “hermana,” Mache Torres-Ackerman, the awesome women were Chanel Sun, Sophia Yara, Jennifer Tipton Angeles, Minerva Racuya, Isabel Tiqui Dunn, Maricris Callo, Charo Laude, Ruby Chua, Loubelle Gardiola, Isabel Dennise Garcia and Aileen Geralde. They were the muses of designers Frankie de Leon, Oskar Peralta, Ronaldo Arnaldo, Ole Morabe, Peri Diaz and jewelry god Gerry Sunga. The night also attracted such fashion luminaries as Oscar Atendido, Zardo Austria, George Yano, Raymond Villanueva and Pando Manipon. Designer and muse as cultural protectors A compelling designer-muse collaboration on that elegant night was between Lito Perez and entrepreneur and philanthropist Rose Tolentino Santiago. “Pink Rose became a valued client even before the pandemic. Her favorite color is pink, thus Pink Rose is her nickname,” Perez explained. “She wore a fully embroidered terno reminiscent of the carnival queens of the 1920s. It is a baro’t saya and matching panuelo and long-train tapiz. The gown is made of embroidered American tulle and lace.” [caption id="attachment_142326" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Radiant in pink, Rose in a Lloyd Arceo terno ensemble[/caption] Within the realm of fashion and design, Pink Rose admires the works of Perez, considering him one of the finest Filipino designers. “Lito’s designs reflect his deep love for Philippine heritage, showcasing the rich tapestry of Filipino culture through his creations. I appreciate Lito’s dedication to preserving and incorporating elements of Philippine traditions and aesthetics into his designs, as it serves as a testament to the beauty and uniqueness of Filipino artistry,” she enthused. Alongside her spiritual devotion, Santiago is committed to preserving Filipino culture and traditions, ensuring that the younger generation never forgets their roots. In her admiration for Perez, she finds inspiration in his designs that celebrate the rich heritage of the Philippines. As a proud Filipina, Santiago holds her cultural heritage dear to her heart. She cherishes the traditions and values instilled in her by her ancestors and believes it is essential for young Filipinos not to forget their roots. She emphasizes the importance of preserving Filipino culture, traditions, and historical sites. Through this safeguarding, she believes that future generations will be able to appreciate their heritage and maintain a strong connection to their identity as Filipinos. In honor of the Mother Pink Rose stands as a testament to the power of unwavering faith, deep cultural appreciation, and the enduring spirit of the Filipino people. She was excited to participate in the “Tertulia Flores de Mayo,” as the Blessed Virgin Mary plays a pivotal part in her life. When her mother left her at a young age, she was overwhelmed with sadness and longing for maternal care. She sought solace in her faith and became a devoted follower of the Blessed Mother. In her belief, she found the comforting presence of a mother figure who would listen to her and understand the deepest thoughts and emotions of her heart. In her expression of devotion, Santiago has embraced a selfless approach. She believes that her acts of charity and kindness are not contingent on counting donations or material offerings. Instead, she believes that her good deeds should come from the pure intentions of her heart. She sees Mary as the ultimate example of a loving and caring mother, who extends her protection and guidance to all, regardless of material wealth or status. “The reverence and devotion I hold for the Blessed Mother stems from my acknowledgment of her divine role as the Mother of God,” Santiago professed. “For me, Mary is more than just a figure in religious teachings; she is the epitome of love, compassion, and nurturing. Through my devotion to Mary, I find solace and strength, believing that the Blessed Mother can take care of me in ways that no one else can.” The post A Rose at the ‘Tertulia’ in Intramuros appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Elreen Ando targets SEAG gold
Settling for silver medal the last time in Hanoi, Elreen Ando feels she will get the gold when she competes in next months’ 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh. Saying she already feels comfortable in the 59-kilogram event, Ando swears she has “adjusted” and “adapted in her new weight class after her stint in the 64-kg division in Vietnam. With Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz skipping this year’s SEA Games for the 2023 Asian Weightlifting Championships that will run from May 3 to 13 in South Korea, Ando will banner the nine-man team to Cambodia. “I hope I can get the gold medal this time in Cambodia and improve my lifts. It was a big help for me playing in the Olympics because I saw things that I didn’t back then. After the Olympics, I became more inspired to play and I hope I can play there again.” Also joining Ando in Phnom Penh are SEA Games gold medalist Vanessa Sarno (women's 71kg), Kristel Macrohon (women's +71kg), Angeline Colonia (women's 45kg), Lovely Inan (women's 49kg), Rosalinda Faustino (women's 55kg), John Febuar Ceniza (men's 61kg), Dave Lloyd Pacaldo (men's 67kg) and John Dexter Tabique (men's 89kg). The Philippines won two gold, one silver and one bronze to place fourth place overall in Hanoi. Ando insists she sees something similar with her current condition and Diaz’s. Diaz started competing in the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics in the women’s 58kg before going down to 53kg for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, where she bagged the silver medal. National team coach Edmundo Cardano wants the delegation to surpass the two golds won in Hanoi. “More gold medals than the last SEA Games and I expect a good, clean fight. Just follow the coaches, they know how to guide you,” Cardano said. “We’d like to see them improve and get three or four gold medals,” he added. The post Elreen Ando targets SEAG gold appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
K-pop star Moonbin dead at 25: music label
K-pop star Moonbin, a member of the boy band Astro, has died at the age of 25, his music label Fantagio announced Thursday. Local media, citing the police, reported that Moonbin had been found unresponsive on Wednesday evening in his apartment in the upscale Gangnam neighborhood of Seoul. "On April 19, Astro member Moon Bin unexpectedly left our world and became a star in the sky," said a statement posted in Korean early Thursday on Fantagio's official Twitter page. It did not provide any suspected cause of death. The statement asked that everyone "refrain from speculative and malicious reports" so that his family can pay their respects and honor him in peace. Moon Bin -- who performed as Moonbin -- was a member of the group Astro and also performed with a sub-group called Moonbin & Sanha. He joined the Fantagio label's trainee program at an early age and was an actor and model before debuting with Astro in February 2016. The group was originally six performers, but one member left in February 2023. Moonbin's sister Moon Sua is also a K-pop singer, performing as part of the girl group Billlie. "So sorry for the loss of one of the most beautiful souls I've meet through music! Prayers to his family and friends and employers and fans!" one user responded on Twitter to Fantagio's post. Several other young K-pop stars have died in recent years, including Goo Hara in November 2019. She had been abused by an ex-boyfriend who, after they split, blackmailed her over their sex videos. The suspected suicide occurred a month after her close friend, K-pop star Sulli, took her own life after a long struggle with online bullying, prompting demands in South Korea of stronger punishments for cybercrimes and abusive online comments. In 2018, 33-year-old Minwoo of boy band 100% died at home, with his label only saying he had suffered cardiac arrest. Just over three months earlier, the group SHINee's lead singer Jonghyun died by a suspected suicide. He was 27. K-pop stars are picked up by agencies at a young age -- usually in their early or mid teens -- and live under tight control, with their days taken over by grueling musical and dance training. South Korea has one of the world's highest rates of suicide which, according to recent government figures, is among the top causes of death for those under 40. The post K-pop star Moonbin dead at 25: music label appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bad Bunny, BLACKPINK, Frank Ocean headlining historic Coachella
Hundreds of thousands of revelers were descending on California's Coachella Valley for the premier desert arts festival that kicks off Friday, which for the first time won't feature a white headliner. Reggaeton titan Bad Bunny, K-pop superstars BLACKPINK and the influential but reclusive R&B artist Frank Ocean will top the 2023 edition of Coachella, the mammoth event that takes place over two three-day weekends and traditionally kicks off the year's summer concert circuit. It's set to be a history-making weekend, with Bad Bunny -- the globe's most-streamed artist -- as the first Spanish-language and first Latin American act to headline. And K-pop group BLACKPINK of South Korea is the first Asian act to receive a top billing at the festival. Both acts debuted at Coachella in 2019 to great fanfare, teeing up an eventual headlining slot. Ocean -- thought to be the first out queer man to headline the festival -- was originally booked as a top-billed act for the 2020 edition, which organizers postponed and eventually scrapped due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The acclaimed R&B artist, who hasn't released an album since 2016's "Blonde," is anticipated to debut new work at this year's festival. The headliners -- in particular Puerto Rico's Bad Bunny, who is by most measures the world's biggest contemporary artist -- are some of the buzziest in years, since Beyonce shut down the stage in 2018 with her revered "Homecoming" show. But despite their undeniable star power there was some surprise among industry-watchers and fans that Bad Bunny or BLACKPINK nabbed the top slots. That take is misguided according to Vanessa Diaz, a professor at Loyola Marymount University who teaches the course "Bad Bunny and Resistance in Puerto Rico." "They're surprised because they don't view this as mainstream American culture," she said. "People were in disbelief because this seems so not a representation of mainstream American popular music in the way that Coachella has represented that before." 'Public demand' The weekend is set to host perhaps the most international lineup Coachella has ever booked, including Spanish phenomenon Rosalia, Iceland's Bjork and Nigeria's Burna Boy. Belgium's Angele is slated to make her Coachella debut, as France's Christine and the Queens, who has been performing under the name Redcar, will also return after wowing audiences in 2019. And the elusive electronic producer Jai Paul will play his first public performance ever. Domi and JD Beck, the rising jazz duo comprised of a French keyboardist and American drummer, will also take the stage, months after they made a splash in Los Angeles as Grammy nominees. Diljit Dosanjh will become the first Punjabi singer to perform at Coachella, as Pakistani singer, songwriter and composer Ali Sethi will also play a set. For CedarBough Saeji, a professor of Korean and East Asian studies who specializes in K-pop, the festival lineup emphasizing the hottest acts from across the globe is long overdue. "The American music industry, the American decision-makers, are not necessarily the biggest risk-takers," she told AFP. "They want to follow clear indication of public demand, as opposed to sticking their necks out." English virtual band Gorillaz will also perform, as will New Wave pioneers Blondie and the American indie rock supergroup boygenius, which includes Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker. Beyond the supernova that is Bad Bunny, the weekend will once again see a strong showing from Latinos, including but not limited to Los Angeles native Becky G, rapper Eladio Carrion, Argentina's Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, and the Grammy-winning Kali Uchis. Coachella will take place over two three-day weekends, from April 14-16 and 21-23. And OG rock fans will get a special treat: Blink-182 announced just this week it will play a set Friday, the first time the pop punk group will perform with its original lineup in nearly a decade. The post Bad Bunny, BLACKPINK, Frank Ocean headlining historic Coachella appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Diaz equals Pacman’s mark as 4-time PSA best athlete
Hidilyn Diaz, with a breakthrough championship in the IWF World Weightlifting Championships in Bogota, Colombia late last year, will be the recipient of the Athlete of the Year trophy in the San Miguel Corp.-PSA Awards Night on March 6 at the Diamond Hotel......»»
Hidilyn leads bets for Athlete of the Year
Philippine sports’ cream of the crop who made 2022 a truly memorable one for the country crowd each other out in a tight race for the Athlete of the Year honor of the Philippine Sportswriters Association ......»»
Outstanding athlete, Filipina : World champ Hidilyn Diaz boosts 2024 Olympics bid
Delivering a tour de force performance, the 31-year-old Olympic champion blew away the field in sweeping all three mints in the IWF Worlds in Bogota, Colombia......»»