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Leaving luxury for a cause
In a world where extravagance and opulence were the norm, Vicky Wieneke chose a different path — one that led her to have a significant impact on the lives of those who were less fortunate. After enjoying three decades of success in fashion manufacturing business, Wieneke’s life took an amazing turn. This is the story of her transformation from a business mogul to a dedicated advocate for community empowerment. Wieneke, a University of the Philippines alumna, established a successful production company for well-known designers’ fashion lines. She lived in the lap of luxury, surrounded by the wealthy and the influential. Yet, despite her success, she felt that something was missing in her life, a higher purpose waiting to be fulfilled. “I would consider this a calling from our Lord because I also became very spiritual,” she said. In a recent interview with the DAILY TRIBUNE, Wieneke shared the pivotal moment that led her to redirect her life’s journey. She recounted watching the news about the hostility at the Malacañang Palace while she was abroad. Witnessing the struggles and injustices faced by her fellow countrymen deeply moved her. Instead of adding to the noise of complaints, she decided to be part of the solution. Driven by a desire to bring about positive change, Wieneke set out on a mission of community building and working with marginalized sectors. She founded Kabisig ng Kalahi in the year 2000, during the tenure of Dinky Soliman as the secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. This organization would become her vehicle for making a difference in the lives of those who needed it most. One of the motivating factors behind Kabisig ng Kalahi was Wieneke’s concern for malnourished children, whom she saw as the nation’s future. “I was more concerned about the future of the malnourished children, they are the future of the country,” she highlighted. She worked with Soliman and other partners to build a complete program that placed a strong emphasis on community involvement and self-sufficiency. She envisioned an organized program with tangible results instead of giving them “limos.” This program, which spans six months and 120 days, not only addresses nutrition but also incorporates values formation. The project was promoted throughout local government units, boosting cooperation between Kabisig ng Kalahi and several LGUs. The initiative was successful because it helped communities develop better civic values and problem-solving abilities. One of the key features of Kabisig ng Kalahi’s approach is that it does not simply provide assistance, it empowers the community members to take charge of their own development. Mothers and parents actively participate in the program, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility within the community. Wieneke’s dedication to this cause has led to significant growth and expansion. Beyond Metro Manila, Kabisig ng Kalahi has reached places like Calabarzon, Mimaropa and even conflict-affected areas like Basilan. For its remarkable efforts to enhance human resources and community development, the organization has won various accolades and citations. Today, Wieneke’s life revolves around her mission to uplift communities and promote self-sufficiency. She has given up the flash and glamour of the fashion industry for the joy of witnessing the success and independence of those without a voice. Wieneke remains unwavering in her commitment to making a difference in the world. Her message to all is clear: “Let’s all do what we can for our country and for humanity. Good deeds are worth it.” Wieneke’s story serves as a potent reminder that true fulfillment comes from having a positive impact on other people’s lives in a time when success is frequently determined by financial prosperity. Her experience motivates all of us to answer the call to compassion and service. The post Leaving luxury for a cause appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Of China’s ‘One Belt One Road’
Sometime in August 2016, I attended the formal media launch of One Belt One Road, or OBOR, in Beijing, China. I thought then that OBOR, also referred to later as Belt and Road Initiative, must be one of the most, if not the most, significant programs of President Xi Jinping, as it was attended by hundreds of print and broadcast journalists from around the world, the Philippines included. OBOR was to revive the “Silk Road” economic belt of ancient China, a land trade route carrying its finest silk and other goods to its neighboring Central Asian countries and later to as far as Europe; whereas today’s Road refers to the 21st Century land and maritime silk route to Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa. The land route was launched, I think in 2013, while the maritime route was given a big push in 2017. Early on, China set up the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank as part of the OBOR mechanism. China sank in the initial capital and was joined later by other member countries. The Philippines was the last country to join AIIB when the late President Noynoy Aquino signed its Charter in the last few minutes of 31 December 2015, and this was ratified a year later during Duterte’s term. In sum, AIIB had 106 members to start. The Philippines, if we look at the records, derived from loans and infrastructure projects, was quite slow in availing of cheap money from this BRI initiative. Indonesia, Singapore, and other ASEAN and African countries had done so for various infra projects, among these railways, dams, and ports. The small loan amount we obtained was later topped up by China in terms of gifts which came in the form of bridges, schools, medical supplies, and vaccines when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out. Add to that are the much-needed arms for our armed forces to get rid of the marauding Maute ISIS terrorist group in Marawi City and additional help to rehabilitate it later. Alarmed by the inroads China was making with the BRI through the land and marine infrastructure built with the billions of dollars it loaned to countries along the silk routes, the West was quick to make a big issue of it when Sri Lanka defaulted, calling China’s loans a “debt trap.” Of course, not a few of those struggling economies defaulted as the impact of the new infrastructure on their development had yet to gain traction. However, President Xi Jinping waived the interest dues. How is it for China midway to the Road’s target completion date of 2049? The BRI has covered more than 68 countries with an estimated 65 percent of the world’s population. All told, the largesse from China resulted in the reduction of dependency on the US and it created new markets for Chinese products. The US of A is fast losing its dominance. China, once wallowing in the quagmire of poverty, is now the second-largest economy in the world and growing. Will China then go beyond firing water cannons at Philippine Coast Guard vessels? This could only be answered by another set of questions. Is China willing to cut the marine silk route that passes through or close to the West Philippine Sea? Will its land route suffice to bring its products to its export markets in the event the sea lane is altogether cut off? Will the Chinese people relish going back to poverty and isolation? The answers are a big NO. So why EDCA? Why not pursue the Philippines-China joint oil exploration in the WPS as the offer stands at a 60/40 sharing agreement in favor of the Philippines? Why build more military bases when these are veritable beckons to war which we as a policy abhor? Why not take advantage of the short maritime link between China and the Philippines to enhance our economy? The price of fuel is skyrocketing. Our peso is depreciating as in a free fall. We have solutions and yet these, too have become problems. The post Of China’s ‘One Belt One Road’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Encierro: Run for your life
PAMPLONA, Spain — Shards of glass, bits of broken containers, cut up and shredded pieces of hard plastic cups and the acidic and nauseating smell of urine and puke could not stop primer encierro (first bull run) Friday morning to celebrate the nine-day San Fermin Festival. [caption id="attachment_158153" align="aligncenter" width="525"] the author at the primer encierro (first bull run).[/caption] Barely 12 hours before the first run, heavy rain poured for hours, leaving the cobbled and narrow streets wet and sometimes slippery, but failing to dissuade the hundreds of mozos (runners) from showing up hours before the 8 a.m. start of the 875-meter sprint. Known all over the world as the Running of the Bulls, whose origins stretch back to the 14th century, the event is Spain’s grandest fiesta. In the last 100 years, about 12 runners have been killed. Still, many locals and even those from other regions have shied away from seeing how far they can go. “I have little kids,” said a fiesta attendee, pointing to a boy of about five and a little girl seated on his lap while his wife listened to the conversation between a vacationing journalist from Manila who had endured a 16-hour bus ride from the Galician city of Vigo just to see what the encierro is all about. [caption id="attachment_158149" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Ernest Hemingway remains a popular and revered figure in Pamplona.[/caption] “It’s not the bulls that will put you in trouble, but the people who will be running with you,” he said. “Yes, the bulls are dangerous but it’s the people that will make it even more dangerous,” the man said, stressing that while the nine-day run usually passes without any serious incident, “the danger is always there.” He was right. The herd that was released got inside the Plaza de Toros without sending anyone to the hospital, ICU or even the morgue although about half a dozen got hurt, including one who miraculously survived after being tossed like a rag doll by one raging bull. All the bulls were later killed during a bullfight and another batch will suffer the same fate in the next several days. [caption id="attachment_158150" align="aligncenter" width="525"] REVELERS get ready to celebrate the San Fermin Festival in Pamplona, Spain.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_158146" align="aligncenter" width="525"] PAMPLONA fiesta attendees enjoy their brunch.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_158147" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Spanish culinary treats.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_158154" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Pamplona Church, built for the city’s patron saintSan Fermin.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_158148" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Tired tourists take a break at Pamplona’s city center.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_158152" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Spanish policemen make sure the first bull run goes underway smoothly.[/caption] During the day, local tourists and many foreigners partied for hours, eating, singing, dancing, and drinking to excessive levels. The trail of destruction could be seen in the final hours before the morning run as broken beer and wine bottles littered the cobbles of this city that goes upside down for nine straight days every July. “The economic impact is huge,” one guy from the Oficina Internacional de Prensa (International Press Office). A typical bed in a basic hostel goes for more than a staggering €150 a night. “The busiest and most expensive days to come is during the Chupinazo (formal start of the festival on 6 July) and the first bull run the following day,” he said. Indeed, a check on the website showed that the ‘cheap’ €150 the previous day was selling for €180 less than 24 hours later. Outside the San Fermin Festival, Pamplona also has countless other fiestas to look forward to each year. But nothing compares to what San Fermin and the Running of the Bulls bring. You could just imagine the availability of luscious Spanish food and savory cerveza 24 hours a day from mere alimentation (small grocery stores) and restaurants and eateries that line up the ancient and picturesque streets. No wonder this event is among the most popular on the bucket lists of thrill-seekers and serial travelers. A few days soaking up the electric atmosphere will leave every visitor longing to come back again and again provided he or she doesn’t end up being gored by the bulls. “It’s dangerous,” said the Pamplona-born security staff assigned at the vast complex that houses the press office. “One mistake and you (could) die.” You had better heed his advice. The post Encierro: Run for your life appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
High-rise turns into ‘village’ of the departed
With its white marble foyer and lavish chandeliers, the 12-story tower could be mistaken for one of Hong Kong's newest hotels, but it offers a longer stay: a final resting place for thousands in one of the world’s most crowded cities. The Shan Sum columbarium opened last month with plans to eventually offer 23,000 niches for funeral urns, part of the government’s decade-long effort to bring in private companies to ease pressure on the deathcare sector. “It’s an apartment building for the dead... It feels more like a close-knit neighborhood,” German architect Ulrich Kirchhoff, 52, said. Kirchhoff designed the building, blending elements of nature into a high-density space to create a “neighborhood village feel.” He said his design was inspired by traditional Chinese graveyards, which are often perched on mountainsides. His columbarium carried over those undulating lines, greenery and textures of hewn rock. Ashes are stored in ornate compartments, some as small as 26 by 34 centimeters, that line the walls of air-conditioned chambers. Kirchhoff said he designed rooms on each floor to provide intimacy, in contrast to the cramped confines of public columbariums, which he said feel like being in a “warehouse.” Around 95 percent of Hong Kong’s dead are cremated each year. Much like apartments in Hong Kong, rent for the units is not cheap, putting them beyond the reach of most people. A basic two-person option at Shan Sum is sold for $58,000 while the top-tier package, meant for a whole family, costs nearly $3 million. The median monthly household income in Hong Kong is currently around $3,800, according to government data. Urn space shortage Hong Kong’s 7.3 million residents share some of the most densely populated neighborhoods on earth, and in the past, mourning families had to wait years to secure a spot for their loved ones’ ashes. Places like Shan Sum were created in response to Hong Kong’s shortage of urn spaces a decade ago. At the time, cremated remains were often stored in drawers at funeral parlours for years while waiting for spots to open up, or were housed in unlicensed columbariums in temples or refurbished factory buildings. Historian Chau Chi-fung, who wrote a book on Hong Kong’s funeral practices, said the seeds of the crisis were sown decades prior by the British colonial administration, before the city was handed over to China in 1997. “Laws at the time were strict about how to treat dead bodies, but once they were turned to ash, the government did not have a comprehensive policy for them,” he told AFP. The ethnic Chinese population in Hong Kong historically preferred burials, but the government popularized cremation in the 1960s — a shift seen in dense urban centres across Asia. Now around 95 percent of Hong Kong’s dead are cremated each year, which Chau attributed to changing social mores. The government estimates that deaths will increase by 14 percent to 61,100 per year by 2031. Officials say that the city is prepared for the uptick, with about 25 percent vacancy among the current 425,000 public columbarium spots and more public and private supply in the pipeline. “The situation has improved compared to a few years ago... The problem has been eased, but not solved,” Chau said. The post High-rise turns into ‘village’ of the departed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
StareX: Failure, beginning of success
StareX was the first-ever NASA-led space program with a private sector component, namely Elon Musk. And it started with three consecutive failures. The first three pilot launches, Falcon 1, 2, and 3 were total disasters. Elon was bleeding with a total of about half a billion dollars down the drain. Elon and NASA wanted a reusable rocket like the Space Shuttle which was shelved after many years of success due to old age. Without a reusable rocket, any space program relying on “throw-away” rockets, would not be economically feasible. But it seemed “archaic” to resort to cheap simple “splash down” of the command module plus a smooth horizontal runway touchdown. The new ambitious goal of the Elon-NASA tandem was to bring down the entire rocket vertically and slowly, which had never been done before, and which required a lot of trial-and-error and plenty of funds. But Elon kept on going. He just did not care. Fear of failure, which haunts all great men, was not in his dictionary. He looked at the target and forgot about the hole in his pocket. The NASA staff regarded him with both fear that he would give up and awe that he would not. It was a combination of money and perseverance that kept Elon Musk going. But destiny had a way of rewarding bull-headed men of history, like Churchill facing the German V2 rockets in London, Stalin facing the invincible Panzer at Stalingrad, and the Ottoman emperor laying siege to the Byzantine fortress that had never been breached. And so, Elon was ‘rewarded’. After Falcon 4, he won a $1.5 billion contract for Falcon 5 and 6. It was not until Falcon 9 that the impossible was finally achieved, the historic first-ever vertical landing of a spaceship. (Please watch NETFLIX ‘Return to Space’ for more highlights). Stalingrad They named it Stalingrad (renamed later as Volgograd) in honor of Stalin whose Red Army defeated the invincible German Panzer Division at the gates of this strategic passage to the east in World War II. If Stalingrad fell, the whole of Russia would soon follow. Stalin knew this do-or-die situation. He poured men and machinery at all costs because the survival of the entire nation was at stake. Millions died for the motherland, including tens of thousands of women soldiers. Stalin knew that the Russian winter stopped the invincible army of Napoleon Bonaparte a century or so ago at the very gates now held by the Germans. He wanted to do the same and succeeded. In preparation for the German invasion, Stalingrad was reduced to rubble with intense bombardment and artillery by the Germans that would rival the total bombs used in World War II so far. Ironically, the German tanks could not maneuver in the rubble and became an effective defense for the beleaguered Russians. Stalin held on, resorting to a sniper war, street by street, building by building. He became the master of urban guerrilla warfare that many revolutions would later adopt. Seeing the Germans dying from lack of food and ammunition, Stalin launched a vicious counter-offensive which would gather momentum towards the final German defeat in Berlin. He used a giant pincer to surround the Germans. Efforts for massive airlifting of food for 350,000 failed. Indeed, Stalingrad was a David and Goliath story. Success needs initial failure There is a theory which says success cannot be achieved without initial failure. If you look back through history, the failure of Copernicus in the theory of the Universe was followed by future successes. In other words, failure in the 17th century could lead to success in the 19th century. The endless evolution of Cosmic theory was slowly refined from the time we thought the sun revolved around the Earth to the thought that we are a mere speck in a Known Universe 93 billion light years in diameter. The entire evolution of technology through the centuries, with its failures and successes, prepared America for the first and second Industrial Revolutions that would propel it to a superpower. History tells us that without failures, there will be no successes. eastwindreplyctr@gmail.com The post StareX: Failure, beginning of success appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Red, yellow debacles (2)
In search of energy sources that would provide the country with a stable supply of energy, particularly during the peak dry season when yellow and red alerts are prevalent, a sustainable source may just lie around the corner. Thus, turning waste into energy has become in vogue because it will hit two birds with one stone as it contributes to the production of power while also helping clean up the environment. Industry experts, however, consider the current laws do not support the development of a waste-to-energy industry. The Clean Air Act, for instance, sets rigid standards for incineration, the primary waste-to-energy technology. The House of Representatives already passed a bill allowing the use of waste-to-energy and redefining the incineration ban in the Clean Air Act. The next step, however, is stuck in the Senate which, as with other bills transmitted from the House, has not even started public hearings. Opportunities in the use of waste By 2025, the Philippines would have generated up to 92 million tons of waste, the equivalent of 500,000 blue whales, the largest animals to ever live on Earth. Then the country need not worry about a garbage crisis since it becomes the feedstock to generate power. The amount of waste that could end up in landfills, street corners, empty lots, or bodies of water will grow in direct proportion to population and urban centers. Landfills have limited capacities. A large volume of plastics that now clog the world’s oceans come from the Philippines, which is ranked one of the biggest contributors to plastic pollution in the seas. A law that could stop the waste-to-energy thrust dead on its track is the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act or ESWMA which mandated the use of landfills for waste disposal. ESWMA clashes head-on with the Renewable Energy Act, which mandated the government to prescribe policies and programs promoting and enhancing the development of biomass waste-to-energy facilities. The push for waste-to-energy as alternative fossil fuels lacks clarity in policies. First, the government through the DoE would have to list waste-to-energy as a priority power source as it did other renewable energy technologies—solar, wind, etc. To bring waste-to-energy production into the energy mix, there should be guaranteed and long-term power purchase agreements which would allow private companies to at least recoup their investments. The technology, nonetheless, is not cheap. Facilities that would turn heat from burning waste into energy would require substantial capital and technical expertise. Public-private partnerships would be ideal for such projects. Waste-to-energy facilities would require higher fees that would be charged against waste generators, including local governments. But who would end up bearing the added costs? Not the local governments with their commonly inadequate revenues. Consumers will have to bear the additional costs of waste-to-energy facilities if the government fails to provide support in the form of funding and incentives which are done in successful waste-to-energy systems like Singapore and Japan. Filtering facilities are part of state-of-the-art technologies to prevent waste-to-energy facilities from contributing to the toxic mix in the air. Environmental advocates have been campaigning against burning trash which they said is dirtier than burning coal. Incinerators release unimaginable volumes of minute pollutants into the air that could eventually affect the health of nearby residents. Waste-to-energy facilities need waste, they would need more and more trash to ramp up the production of energy, encouraging a steady and growing stream of waste. In some areas where local governments are starting to embrace waste-to-energy technology, unrest becomes prevalent among local folks. In the search for sustainable and clean sources of energy, the government should have an active part since proper use of technology will help mitigate the periodic lack of power while ending the trash problem that has defied solutions for ages. The post Red, yellow debacles (2) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PhilHealth urged: Expand medical packages
A partylist representative has urged state-run Philippine Health Insurance Corporation to expand its packages to include dental care under the Universal Health Care law, as access to it does not come cheap. This comes after the Anakalusugan Partylist conducted dental missions in Antique as part of its initiatives to bring healthcare services to people in far-flung areas, where they discovered many have shrugged off the need to visit dentists because of its expense. “If there is any takeaway from our dental missions, it is that there is a need for Philhealth and local government units to focus on the expansion of their regular services and seriously move towards the coverage of the dental needs of our constituents,” said Anakalusugan Partylist Representative Ray Reyes. Venus de Jesus, who recently paid through the nose for tooth extraction, has asked for dental services to be included in PhilHealth’s packages. “It should be included. Prices of dental services right now are too high. Imagine, in a private clinic, extraction costs from P1,500 to P2,500? And those aesthetic procedures range from P25,000 to P60,000,” said De Jesus. As an average employee, De Jesus likewise stressed that the money spent on oral care is no joke and adding dental services to PhilHealth will be extremely beneficial. Currently, PhilHealth does not cover dental procedures or check-ups. In the case of optical services, it only covers screening, consultation fees, and the cost of surgery for eye problems such as cataracts and glaucoma. Meantime, the lawmaker elaborated that people in remote areas often avoid addressing their oral health problems for fear of incurring a hefty bill, which he believes must be addressed if the government is serious about economic recovery and rural development. “Dental complaints have serious ramifications on productivity. It cannot be ignored, set aside for later or swept under the rug,” said Reyes. The UHC Act was signed into law by then-President Rodrigo Duterte in February 2019, which guarantees all Filipinos equal access to quality and affordable healthcare goods and services. The post PhilHealth urged: Expand medical packages appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sell cheap the sugar seized in Batangas
Malacañang would do well to retail the sugar brought into Batangas piers. Its Kadiwa rolling stores for poor consumers would be the best outlets. That will bring down sweetener prices......»»
FIBA: Mighty Jimmy and the shot that introduced Gilas to the World
This story was originally published on Feb. 24, 2019 It’s Saturday night at Mall of Asia and the arena is absolutely rocking. Eternal basketball rivals in the Philippines and South Korea are delivering another classic. Gilas Pilipinas is down to the final minute of regulation against its longtime tormentor in the second of two semifinal games. The national team is up by two, 81-79. The Philippines is hosting the 2013 FIBA-Asia Championships where three tickets to the 2014 World Cup are at stake and the winner of this particular game gets one of those tickets. Given the rich history of both teams and what it would mean to the winner, this pivotal game has gone down the wire as everyone pretty much expected. Also knowing the history of both teams in international play, Gilas’ precarious two-point lead was not safe at all. A ghost was lurking in the background and a dreaded curse felt almost inevitable. Down to the final minute of the crucial grudge match between the Philippines and South Korea, guard Jimmy Alapag has the ball and a two-point lead. What he will do will help define not only his career but the legacy of the Gilas name as a national team. WAKE-UP CALL Even before the Philippines-Korea game, Gilas Pilipinas already had to go through one emotional game early in its homestand for the Asian Championships. In a preliminary round showdown against Chinese Taipei, the Filipinos collapsed in the fourth quarter, allowing the Taiwanese to steal a morale-boosting 84-79 win. In 2013, the relationship between the two countries hit a rough patch over the death of one Taiwanese fisherman. In an updated May 17 report by CNN’s Jethro Mullen, “Taiwan has reacted angrily after one of its fishermen was killed by a Philippine coast guard vessel.” Taiwan had frozen applications from OFWs seeking jobs in its territory and the government of then President Ma Ying-jeou demanded an apology, among other things, from the Philippines. While the national basketball teams of both countries never really had any prior animosity with each other, tension was naturally present as both teams squared off in Group A action. Gilas Pilipinas and Chinese-Taipei both entered the showdown with identical 2-0 records and the winner would take control of solo Group A lead heading into round 2. Taking a good lead into the fourth quarter, the Philippines was outscored by 18 in the last 10 minutes and the national team took its worst home loss in quite some time. “At the time, it was a huge game for us. We understood what was happening in Taipei during that particular time. We really wanted to win for what our kababayans were going through at that time,” guard Jimmy Alapag said on that first home loss in the 2013 Asian Championships. “We didn’t get the job done, and it was tough especially to lose a game like that, it was a very emotional and it was a game that we knew we needed,” he added. The crushing loss meant that the Philippines had little room for error in round 2. While Gilas didn’t have any world beaters lined up in the second round, anything less than a perfect run would have meant an early clash with Asia’s established powerhouse teams in the knockout stages. On the other side of the bracket, defending champion China, Iran, and South Korea were battling for position and were expected to finish in the top-3. That means if Gilas Pilipinas failed to finish no. 1 in its group, the national team would have faced one of those teams in the quarterfinals. Gilas picked up a crucial win over Qatar in the 6th of August and the day after, the Philippines got some help from those same Qataris as they beat Taipei in a close decision. At the end of round 2, all teams finished with identical win-loss records but Gilas Pilipinas would take over first place after all tiebreaks were considered, barely edging out Taipei. The Philippines ended up avoiding defending champion China, Iran, and South Korea and instead got Kazakhstan in the quarterfinals. No. 2 Taipei drew China and the third-running Qataris were matched up with the South Koreans. “I think that was the moment we grew up and grew closer. I think that was the lowest of the lows, just because of the atmosphere and what was going on between both countries. It kind of felt that we let our end of the bargain down, you know what I mean? We’re on our home soil and we didn’t take care of business. I think that was one of those moments where we had to really check ourselves and find a way to make it right,” forward Gabe Norwood said of the Taipei loss. “But it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. In tournaments like FIBA-Asia it’s important that you have short-term memory whether it was a win or a loss. We needed to let go of that game and continue to stay the course, keep our focus in the tournament,” Alapag added. On August 7, four days after Gilas lost to Taipei, the rift between the Philippines and Taiwan would reach a resolution and the latter country lifted its freeze hiring and other sanctions on the former. The Philippines also did issue on official apology over the death of the Taiwanese fisherman a couple of months prior and the National Bureau of Investigation in Manila recommended the pressing of homicide charges to erring members of the Philippine Coast Guard. DARK HISTORY If the word “rival” is to be defined as a, “person or group that tries to defeat or be more successful than another person or group” then sure, the Philippines and South Korea are rivals. Both countries are rivals in the Asian basketball scene and they have been going at it for a very long time. But if the word rival can also mean “equal” or “peer,” is the Philippines really a worthy basketball rival to South Korea? The Philippines’ history with South Korea in terms of basketball is dark. Very dark. Consider the most high-profile matches between the two countries and you’ll see that the Philippine national team is just not at the level of South Korea. Or at the very least, Koreans always seem to reach 120 percent of their potential when they play Filipinos and we barely bring out 80 percent of our abilities when matched up against our East Asian neighbors. The 1998 PBA Centennial team, arguably the greatest Philippine team ever assembled, was demolished by South Korea in the Asian Games. A national team set up for gold only settled for bronze. Speaking of a bronze medal game, the original Gilas Pilipinas team lost a podium finish to South Korea in the 2011 FIBA-Asia Championships. That team squandered a double-digit lead and collapsed late. Of course, who can forget the semifinals of the 2002 Asian Games in Busan when Olsen Racela had the chance to put the Philippines up four but missed two free throws. South Korea would win with a booming triple at the buzzer off a broken play and would later take down China to capture the gold medal. South Korea is the Philippines’ basketball nemesis for all intents and purposes. A worthy adversary that always seem to emerge victorious at our expense. Still, all that previous disappointment didn’t seem to bother Gilas Pilipinas six years ago. The team was not scared and instead, they were excited even. One factor to greatly consider was that fact that the game was in Manila. It makes all the difference to play at home. “We understood the bad history that we had with Korea. We haven’t been very successful with them in quite some time but we knew from Day 1 that if ever we got an opportunity to play them at home, then we have a great chance,” Alapag said. “Man, pre-game, it was just the focus. Everybody was up for the challenge, I don’t think anybody was really nervous, I think it was just the anxiety... we wanted to get out there and do it already,” Norwood added. Playing at home had its perks for sure, but it also had its drawbacks. For all the painful losses the Philippines suffered at the hands of South Korea, it would have been devastating if Gilas actually took a beating in Manila. Stakes were extra high in this particular chapter of this long, ongoing saga. “There was always pressure, it was something that we acknowledged early. Playing at home, it’s great having that support but at the same time, there is some added pressure because you wanna make sure that you make our home crowd proud of the team that they watch and ultimately, win games,” Alapag said, making sure to note that the national team knew of the disadvantages of playing at home even before the Korea game. “It was there but it was something that we acknowledged and we wanted to make sure that we took advantage of the opportunity playing at home,” he added. ALL FILIPINO, ALL HEART Once it was go time, the Philippines-South Korea game went about pretty normal, as you would expect any game from these two national teams. But even before halftime, an injury to Gilas center Marcus Douthit changed the complexion of the semifinals showdown. All of a sudden, the Philippines was without its anchor, without its best player. Sure, there were players on the Gilas bench that can come in and replace Douthit’s size but there was simply no one on the Gilas bench that can come in and replace his talent, production, and just overall presence. June Mar Fajardo was in that Gilas bench but it 2013, the would-be five-time PBA Most Valuable Player was just not at that level yet. It would have been easy for Gilas Pilipinas to fold like cheap furniture and succumb to the overwhelming pressure of trying to overcome South Korea to reach a stage very few Filipinos have reached before. Gilas didn’t fold and instead, the Douthit injury rallied the team even further. “Alam mo sa totoo lang, puso na lang yun eh. Nung nawala si Marcus talaga, sabi ni coach kailangan doble kayod tayo. Dahil sobrang dehado tayo kumbaga, wala na tayong import, wala tayong malaki,” forward Marc Pingris said. With Douthit gone, Ping ate up all of his minutes and worked by committee with guys like Ranidel De Ocampo and Japeth Aguilar to fill in the gaps. “As a player naman, kami nagusap-usap kami na kahit anong mangyari, lalaban kami. Yung time na yun, talagang patay kung patay,” Ping added. Despite losing its best player to an untimely injury, Gilas Pilipinas’ confidence in winning never wavered. With their collective backs against the wall, the Philippine national team played even better. Unlike the later iterations of Gilas Pilipinas, the 2013 team, aptly called Gilas 2.0, had the luxury of having actual preparation before the FIBA-Asia Championships. The amount of work that came before the tournament and the Korea game, the bond built over countless hours of training, all of that helped the national team avoid a monumental meltdown in front of a rabid Manila crowd. “We were such a close-knit team in terms of our chemistry, in terms of the talent that we had, so we felt confident even when Marcus went down early in the game. If you looked at our huddle, you had 11 more very confident guys, not just in themselves but more importantly, in each other,” Alapag said. “That just boiled down to the chemistry that we had. I don’t think any of us panicked, we were all confident in each other. We’ve all been into that situation with our PBA teams, having the ball in our hands and making a play. Knowing that we had five weapons on the floor that could make the winning play, I think it made us very confident and we were able to sustain our composure,” the former Gilas captain added. THE GHOST AND ITS CURSE Shin Dong Pa, Hur Jae, Lee Sang-min, Oh Se-Keun, TJ Moon, and Cho Sung-min are just some players from the South Korean national team that inflicted incredible damage to the Philippines over the course of decades. The dreaded Ghost of South Korea takes form in these players and its curse is to give Filipinos the most heart-crushing loss possible. In 2013, the Ghost was Kim Min-goo and his curse was to beat Gilas Pilipinas in Manila. Despite losing Marcus Douthit and trailing by three points at the break, the Philippines started to turn the tables in the second half. Gilas Pilipinas unleashed Jayson Castro and the Blur led a blazing offense in the third quarter, finding a way to take a 10-point lead over South Korea, the Philippines’ largest of the night. But as the dust settled and Gilas holding a 65-56 lead entering the final period, an ominous figure would make his presence felt. The Korean Ghost has arrived and his name was Kim Min-goo. His curse? Beat Gilas Pilipinas in Manila. Kim was 22 and a senior in college when he made the South Korean national basketball team as a backup shooter in 2013. In nine games in Manila, Kim would play well enough to make the tournament’s All-Star team, averaging 12.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. He led Asian Championships with 25 three-point field goals, 10 came in the last two games and five came against Gilas Pilipinas. Kim drilled back-to-back triples to open the fourth quarter against the Philippines. Later, his fifth triple — a four-point play at that — pushed the Koreans to within a point, 72-73. South Korea would take over soon after as Lee Seung-jun dunked the basketball on a fastbreak. The Ghost has arrived and his curse is in effect. “Ako pumasok sa isip ko yun nung lumamang Korea, na putek ito na naman,” Pingris said. “Pero ang sabi ko, sayang yung opportunity, kaya naman eh. So sabi ni Jimmy samin, no matter what happens wag kami gi-give up. Pinaghirapan natin to at may goal tayo, this year aalis tayo,” he added, noting the team’s goal to get into Spain and compete with the world’s best national teams. Faced with the possibility of dealing with a devastating defeat, Gilas had enough mental fortitude to keep things going. Trust your system, trust your preparation, trust your crowd, trust your teammates, and more importantly, trust yourselves. “You’re never out of the game if you’re playing at home,” Norwood said as they stared a deficit late against their destined rivals. “I think that was our mindset, keep it close and just find a way,” he added. Jimmy Alapag found a way. BORN READY Down 73-75, Jimmy Alapag was under heavy duress when he let go of a three-pointer from the left wing just in front of his bench. It was good to go. The Philippines was back on top by one as Alapag somehow managed to get his team to snap out of an initial shock following Korea’s strong fourth-quarter rally. The stage is now set for a wild finish and Jimmy will star in the final act of what has been an incredible show by Gilas and South Korea. “In situations like that, as an athlete and as a pro, that’s the situations that you dream about,” Alapag said. “Those are shots that you practice when you were a kid. When the shot clock is winding down, to have an opportunity to knock down a shot. It’s a shot that I practiced thousands of times,” he added. After the Philippines and South Korea traded baskets for the lead, Alapag made perhaps the most underrated play in this crazy and emotional encounter between two basketball rivals. Tasked with inbounding the ball just near underneath his own basket, Alapag found his Talk ‘N Text teammate Ranidel De Ocampo for an open look at three. Swish. Gilas leads, 81-77, with 91 seconds to go. “Ranidel was my favorite target for a very, very long time in my career,” Alapag said on the play that most people probably don’t even remember. “Once I saw that he got open, I wanted to make sure that I gave him as great a pass as possible and Ranidel has been known for a long time to take care of the rest,” he added. THE EXORCIST “Yeah, I was right under the basket,” Gabe Norwood says with a laugh when asked if he remembers the shot that changed the course of Gilas Pilipinas as a national team. Late in the fourth quarter of what was essentially a heavyweight bout, the Philippines just landed two strong haymakers but South Korea would refuse to go down without a fight, beating the count of 10 each time. Down to the final minute of a crucial grudge match with a World Cup berth on the line, Jimmy Alapag had his hands on the basketball as Gilas would go to its halfcourt set. Jimmy will never let go of said basketball. Up two, Jimmy did what Olsen wished he could 11 years prior. Up two against South Korea in a pivotal semifinal game, Alapag received a screen from Marc Pingris, which was enough to momentarily shake off Kim Tae-sul. With some room, Alapag drifted to his left and let a three-point shot fly. Boom. Gilas leads, 84-79, with 54 seconds to go. The shot would later be remembered as the one that ended the Korean Curse, the one that finally exorcised the Ghost. “The first thought that came to my mind was don’t miss,” Jimmy said of the clutch jumper. “That last one, Ping sets a good screen and I got a clean look. It’s a shot that myself, and Jayson [Castro], and Larry [Fonacier], and Gary [David], and Jeff [Chan], all of us, we practice that shot time and time again after practice. So you know, it was a shot that I was confident in but in that moment, all you’re thinking about was don’t miss,” he added. It’s one thing to be confident in yourself and to be confidednt in your preparation. It’s a different thing to actually perform under such pressure. As soon as Alapag managed to shoot his shot, Gabe Norwood did what any other good teammate would do and got in position to get the offensive rebound. You know, just in case. Gabe got the ball alright, but he got it after it swished through the rim. “When he put the shot up, I tried to crash for the rebound but I basically knew that it was going in,” he said. “I had probably the best view, I was right under the basket. I think caught it after it went through too,” Norwood added. Alapag checked out moments later as the Philippines went to its defensive lineup in order to stop another Korean comeback. South Korea turned to its most effective shooter in Kim and as he rose up to try and answer Alapag’s triple, Norwood met him at the apex for the game’s most dramatic stop. Gabe blocked Kim and Gilas would finish things off with a final Marc Pingris basket on the other end. A historic 86-79 win was complete. “I still get chills thinking about it, to look up and see grown men just breaking down. My wife was trying to hold my kids and she was holding back tears. It was just an awesome moment, the bond that we had on that team, the stuff that we did to get prepare, I think we poured it all out in that game,” Norwood said on the monumental victory. “I think it probably didn’t hit me until the final buzzer sounded. Not just for me but for the entire team, when that final buzzer sounded, it was such a special group of guys and the fact that we could share that moment with not just with each other but the entire country, it’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” Alapag added, savoring the moment of a Philippine win over Korea 28 years in the making. THE INTRODUCTION Gilas Pilipinas would lose to Iran the next day in the Finals of the 2013 FIBA-Asia Championships. The Philippines put up a fight but Hamed Haddadi would prove to be too powerful to stop. It would take another two years for Gilas to beat Iran but that didn’t really matter in the moment. The Philippines is headed to the World Championships for the first time in three decades. The Philippines has beaten South Korea and one singular shot has allowed the Gilas name to be known around the world. Jimmy wouldn’t say that though. At least not directly in that way. “For me, that shot was the biggest for my career. But really, it was our entire team. We’ve gone through so much and that was just one particular play that really culminated the entire game and all the contributions from other guys from Gabe’s defense, to Ping’s rebounding, to Japeth’s rim protecting, to Jayson and LA doing a lot of the legwork,” Alapag said. “Everybody had their part in contribution to the game. After the shot, after the buzzer sounded, it was just a very special moment for us as a team and for Philippine basketball to show that all of the sacrifices, all of the hard work, now it’s given an opportunity to re-introduce ourselves to the world,” he added. Jimmy wouldn’t say it, but his teammates would. That shot of his that beat South Korea in the 2013 FIBA-Asia Championships introduced the Gilas name to the world. It announced that the Philippines has finally arrived. Gilas’ breakthrough overtime win a year later in Spain against Senegal — a game Jimmy pretty much decided late as well — made it known that Filipinos are here to stay on the World stage. “I would say so, it got us to where we wanted to be in the World Cup. I think we shocked some people there as well. But just the work that went in, I think it showed the country that we can get back to where we want to be as long as you work together,” Norwood said. “Yung puso ni Jimmy, grabe naman. Makikita mo maliit pero gusto lang niya talaga manalo. Ang liit pero parang lion pag nagalit eh, nandoon yung tiwala namin sa kanya. Ano pa ba masasabi mo, Jimmy is Jimmy Alapag,” Pingris would add. [NOTES: At the time of original publishing, Gilas Pilipinas was fighting to make a return trip to the FIBA World Cup, this time in China in 2019. To secure its slot, the the Philippine national team needed to beat Kazakhstan in Astana plus a loss from Japan, Jordan, and/or Lebanon. One of the teams that can help Gilas is South Korea... ironically. Jimmy Alapag retired from national team play in 2014 and retired playing for good in 2016. He has since made himself a champion basketball coach in the ABL. Marc Pingris suffered an ACL injury in 2018 and is in the process of returning for his PBA team in the current 2019 season. Gabe Norwood is still in Gilas. He’s still an effective two-way weapon. 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