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GTA 6 Delay Possible as Rockstar Pushes Staff Back to Office
One of the most highly anticipated games in history, Grand Theft Auto VI, may face delays in its release, potentially pushing its launch from 2025.....»»
Pia Wurtzbach, Jeremy Jauncey list 8 things to do in Hong Kong
Pia Wurtzbach discovered more about what makes Hong Kong special when she recently went back to the popular Asian destination with her husband Jeremy Jauncey......»»
Welcome back, JB
Justin Brownlee is returning home to his adopted country after a four-month wait in Los Angeles wondering when FIBA would hand out its decision on his suspension for testing positive in a drug test after the Asian Games final in Hangzhou last October......»»
Cone takes charge at Gilas
Coach Tim Cone, the chief architect of Gilas Pilipinas’ gutsy rise back to the Asian Games summit after 61 long years, will be in charge of the Nationals’ program moving forward......»»
Quiban fights back, pulls within 3 after 70
Justin Quiban blew an early two-under card with a spate of bogeys but birdied two of the last seven holes to salvage a 70 and remain at joint fifth in the third round of the Asian Tour Qualifying School Final Stage......»»
China slams Germany for meddling in South China Sea row
Insisting anew on its claim of owning almost the entire South China Sea China has lashed back at other non-Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries allegedly meddling in the maritime disputes of the region......»»
Tenorio makes PBA comeback after beating Big C
Barangay Ginebra's LA Tenorio will be making his long-awaited comeback to the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) after successfully beating colon cancer. Tenorio, who underwent a six-month treatment in Singapore, is now in remission and ready to step back onto the court. The 39-year-old point guard expressed his excitement and high spirits ahead of his first game in 10 months. Despite acknowledging the challenge of readjusting to competitive basketball, Tenorio is determined to fit in seamlessly with his teammates. He also expressed his gratitude to his family, friends, management, coaches, and the entire sports community for their support during his recovery. Tenorio, known as the Iron Man for his impressive streak of 744 consecutive games in the PBA, had his streak interrupted due to a groin injury and subsequent cancer diagnosis. During his time away from the game, he served as an assistant coach for Gilas Pilipinas in the 19th China Asian Games, where the Philippines emerged victorious......»»
China spending plan buoys Asia stocks
Most Asian markets rose yesterday after China unveiled plans for $137 billion in extra debt to boost infrastructure spending, while oil extended losses on hopes that Israel will scale back its plans for a Gaza ground invasion......»»
Japan, U.S.: ‘We got your back’
Key allies of the country expressed their unwavering support after a Chinese Coast Guard ship intentionally collided with a Philippine Navy boat to stop a resupply mission to the grounded BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal. Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. described the maneuver as an escalation of China’s aggression within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines. Japan issued a statement expressing support after the incident. “Japan expresses serious concern for actions which increase regional tensions, including a dangerous action that caused a collision between Chinese and Filipino ships on 22 October,” the Japanese Foreign Ministry said. It added that Japan believes the issue of the South China Sea is directly related to the peace and stability in the region and is a legitimate concern of the international community, including Japan. “Thus, Japan opposes any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force as well as any actions that increase tensions in the South China Sea,” it said. Citing the Japan-Philippines Joint Statement last February, the Foreign Ministry said the “government of Japan concurs with the Philippines’ long-standing objections to unlawful maritime claims, militarization, coercive activities, and threat or use of force in the South China Sea.” “Furthermore, Japan highly appreciates the government of the Philippines for having consistently complied with the arbitral tribunal’s award as to the disputes between the Republic of the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China regarding the South China Sea, and has shown its commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes in the (West Philippine Sea), as stated in the statement by the Foreign Minister of Japan issued on the occasion of the seventh anniversary of the issuance of the award,” it said. Japan said it would continue to cooperate with the international community, such as the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the United States, to “protect free, open and peaceful seas.” ‘Ironclad’ vow The United States, meanwhile, reiterated its “ironclad” commitment to the Philippines. According to a White House statement, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan assured National Security Adviser Eduardo Año of US support in safeguarding its sovereign rights in the WPS under the Mutual Defense Treaty between both nations. “Sullivan reiterated US support for our Philippine allies following the PRC Coast Guard and maritime militia’s dangerous and unlawful actions on 22 October, obstructing a routine Philippine resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal,” the statement read. “Sullivan emphasized the ironclad US commitments to the Philippines under theUS-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, which extends to armed attacks on Philippine public vessels, aircraft and armed forces — to include those of its Coast Guard — in the Pacific, including in the West Philippine Sea,” it added. Signed in 1951, the Philippines and the United States agreed that an armed attack in the Pacific area on either of the parties would be dangerous to its own peace and safety and declared that it would act to meet the common dangers by its constitutional processes. The White House said Sullivan and Año “reaffirmed the enduring alliance and friendship between our nations and discussed upcoming US-Philippine engagements and ways to further strengthen our close partnership.” Manila vs Beijing Both Manila and Beijing condemned the incident, which they said violated their sovereign rights over Ayungin Shoal, a low-tide elevation in the WPS. The two countries traded blame for the incident, which also sparked concern from Australia, Canada and South Korea. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration rejected Beijing’s historical nine-dash line claim to the WPS. Militia boats utilized Teodoro labeled the Chinese actions near the shoal as deliberate. “Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels, in blatant violation of international law, harassed and intentionally hit the Unaiza May 2 and Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Cabra,” Teodoro said. “We are here to decry in the strongest terms this egregious violation and illegal act within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone and the obfuscation of the truth by China’s distorting of the story to fit its own ends.” His comments came hours after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met with security officials and ordered the Coast Guard to investigate the incident, which was “being taken seriously at the highest levels of government,” Malacañang said. The military monitored “a large number of Chinese maritime militia vessels” swarming in the West Philippine Sea, National Security Council spokesperson, Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya, said. In a television interview, Malaya said these vessels were spotted “not only in the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal and Bajo de Masinloc but also in other features, including (Scarborough Shoal) and Sabina (Escoda) Shoal.” “We are alarmed by the environmental degradation our Coast Guard ships were able to monitor in these areas,” he told the ANC. Malaya noted that environmental degradation or coral destruction would directly impact the livelihood of the fishermen in the WPS. “Sometimes we forget the reasons why we are pushing our rights in the WPS. Some critics say this is just posturing on the part of the Philippines or a tug-of-war between China and the Philippines. No, this is not,” he stressed. “This is a battle for the resources of our country, particularly for our fishermen, so that when we monitor coral destruction in parts of the WPS, it alarms the government because it directly impacts the livelihood of our fishermen,” he said. Malaya also slammed China’s “maligned information operation” and sharing of “false narratives” in its sweeping claims on the WPS. “Definitely, there’s a maligned information operation going on nowadays that is shared to the public and we are just happy it is not just the Philippine government that is sharing our side here — we have allies, if we may call them witnesses, from the media,” he said. The post Japan, U.S.: ‘We got your back’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
POUND-FOR-POUND — Good guy Gibbons gives Filipino boxers the chance to shine
If you’re a talented fighter nursing dreams of becoming a world champion, there is one guy you need to get in touch with. If you’re a promoter who has got a bevy of promising fighters but with no strong connections to the guys who matter in the world of big-time boxing, you have to meet the fellow who makes things happen. That dude is no other than Sean Gibbons, who heads MP Promotions and a sprinkling of other influential outfits in the United States that gives boxers from all over the opportunity they deserve. Having trouble with your boxer’s stagnant world rating? Call Sean Gibbons. Can’t seem to get the big breaks? Call Sean Gibbons. Being given the run-around by a scammer, give Sean Gibbons a call. You see, Gibbons is a do-it-all boxing man who is a big daddy to just about any major Filipino fighter. He has got a deep knowledge of the fight game since he used to fight during his heyday. But before you start conjuring up images of Gibbons battling it out with boxing’s marquee names, pinch yourself first. Gibbons never achieved greatness as a boxer. He was more of a pretender than a contender, having racked up a 14-7-3 win-loss-draw record with seven knockouts before finally calling it a day in 1996. He never even fought in Las Vegas and instead showcased his wares in obscurity, hopping into one small town and city after another. After spending his first five pro bouts in Oklahoma City, Gibbons brought his act elsewhere and in places he never knew existed: Hugo, Purcell, Waubeek. A year before he retired in 1995, Gibbons, now 56, even traveled to Germany and fought and lost by knockout to local boy Ruediger May. Two more bouts on American soil — the first in Des Moines, Iowa, and the second in Miles City, Montana — paved the way for one final stop in Denmark against Peter Madsen. Gibbons would lose that by stoppage again and decided that enough was enough. Pretty soon, Gibbons got himself doing odd jobs in boxing through a relative — uncle Pat O’ Grady — father to former world lightweight champion Sean O’Grady. “I got the boxing bug from him. I would set up the ring, help sell tickets and train fighters… I started from the bottom,” Gibbons, born in Long Beach, California, said, noting that the first fighter he trained was heavyweight Wimpy Halstead. Oftentimes, Gibbons “would jump in as one of the fighters in the card and I was able to travel the world.” He also got aligned with Top Rank and credits Hall of Fame Bruce Trampler and fight coordinator Pete Susens as his mentors and takes great pride in his close association with eight-division legend Manny Pacquiao. Gibbons actually came to the Pacquiao show rather late. But his seven-year stint working for Pacquiao was the most memorable, saying it doesn’t compare with the 35 other years of involvement with boxing. “Seven years I spent with him were better than the other 35 years,” Gibbons, who graduated from Simi Valley High, said. Gibbons revealed that after Australian banger Jeff Horn elbowed and butted and wrestled his way in carving out a controversial points win in Brisbane in July 2018, “Pacquiao had pretty much been left for dead by some people.” It was right at this time when Gibbons entered the scene as Pacquiao’s go-to-guy for meaningful fights while also providing other Filipino boxers the break they need to become successful. Gibbons didn’t disappoint and was instrumental in striking a deal for fights involving Adrien Broner and Keith Thurman that resulted in a “tremendous run.” The victory over Thurman would go down as an epic as it made Pacquiao the oldest to win a world welterweight crown in July 2019 in Las Vegas. Now that Pacquiao has sailed into the sunset, Gibbons is dedicating his time and effort to the betterment of the other talents under MP Promotions, the Pacquiao-owned company that has majority of the country’s top ring talent under contract. And this is where Gibbons wields his expertise and proof of his savvy can be seen on Jerwin Ancajas, Pedro Taduran, Rene Cuarto, Mark Magsayo and current two-belt world super-bantamweight titleholder Marlon Tapales. Also under Gibbons’ care are Jonas Sultan, Vincent Astrolabio, Jade Bornea and Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist and Asian Games silver medalist Eumir Marcial. Though not every one of them managed to win a world title, Gibbons draws utmost satisfaction from the helping hand that he had extended to them. “The most satisfying thing is to change lives of the fighters and take fighters who wouldn’t normally get these opportunities.” Also, Gibbons points to Pacquiao as a reason why he was able to pull it off. “I had the name Manny Pacquiao promotions and Manny Pacquiao was behind me but the biggest, biggest key was Al Haymon and he took my word for guys like Jerwin Ancajas, Mark Magsayo, Jonas Sultan and many, many others.” And there is no stopping Gibbons from doing the same thing especially when his clients’ welfare is on the line. A few months ago, Gibbons earned the ire of a state commission and got slapped with a ban. Still, Gibbons swears it is his way of showing that he always got his clients’ back. So how does he want people to remember him? “I would like to be remembered as someone who gave his all, no regrets. Just you know, when I work with someone, I put all my heart and soul into it. I got suspended for five for screaming at referees but I would like to be remembered for a guy who always had his client, fighters and boxers’ back and that when we went at it, we gave it our all.” If you end up going to war, you’d certainly want somebody like Sean Gibbons right by your side. The post POUND-FOR-POUND — Good guy Gibbons gives Filipino boxers the chance to shine appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marcos back in Philippines after ‘successful’ Saudi trip
It was a “short but successful” visit, President Marcos said yesterday after arriving from Saudi Arabia where he attended the first summit of leaders of Southeast Asian nations and the Gulf states......»»
Hotel’s all-day dining outlet offers vegan, lactose-free and gluten-free options
Spectrum, Fairmont Makati’s all-day dining outlet, reopened its doors last month, featuring an upgraded and elegant look with an array of gastronomic delights. Spectrum continues to provide high-quality international buffet complemented with fresh additions and a green dining experience. [caption id="attachment_200866" align="aligncenter" width="548"] CRISPY Pork Belly.[/caption] Explore and rediscover Spectrum’s interactive buffet which brings back the favorites, such as the Australian Prime Beef and Crispy Pork Belly at the carving station, delightful varieties of sushi and sashimi and the much-celebrated Western Station featuring roasted snapper and baked Barramundi. The Seafood corner, Shawarma corner and ice cream teppanyaki are ready to captivate the senses once more. [caption id="attachment_200883" align="aligncenter" width="438"] BBQ Ribs.[/caption] Spectrum also offers as ala minute brick oven pizzas, a new Daily Highlights corner with Philly Cheesesteak and BBQ ribs, an enhanced Asian corner introducing Vietnamese spring roll, Beef Rendang and Laksa soup, plus a dedicated Korean corner with Kimchi rice, Japchae and Bulgogi. The BBQ station now offers a selection of marinates including the Smoky Adventure flavor, Thai-spiced and Italian. Spectrum also introduces the Wellbeing corner, a thoughtful inclusion offering vegan, lactose-free and gluten-free options. Fairmont Makati’s Spectrum all-day dining is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The weekend upgraded buffet has live music entertainment. Sunday lunch features Sabroso Lechon and an extensive charcuterie. For reservations, call 8555 9840 or email dining.makati@fairmont.com. The post Hotel’s all-day dining outlet offers vegan, lactose-free and gluten-free options appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Brownlee formula
The issue surrounding Justin Brownlee is a major blackeye to Philippine basketball. It is yet another heartbreaker for Filipinos, who were hoping and praying to see the national team reassert its dominance in the international arena. For the longest time, the Filipinos had struggled internationally. In the Asian Games, for instance, the Philippines emerged victorious in its first four editions — 1951 in New Delhi, 1954 in Manila, 1958 in Tokyo, and 1962 in Jakarta before suffering a string of frustrating finishes. The closest we got to the gold medal was in 1990 when the Basketball Association of the Philippines tasked the Philippine Basketball Association with assembling a team that would reclaim our Asian glory. It was a tall order at the time as the Philippines was coming off a bitter setback at the hands of Malaysia in the 1989 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur. The BAP knew that only an Asian crown would soothe the pain of a nation craving revenge. But it didn’t happen. Coached by Robert “Sonny” Jaworski, the team bannered by Allan Caidic, Benjie Paras, Ramon Fernandez, Samboy Lim, and Chito Loyzaga surrendered to powerhouse China featuring Shan Tao and Ma Jian in the gold medal match. Eight years later, Tim Cone was given the marching orders to assemble another star-studded squad to represent the country in the Bangkok Asian Games in 1998. But like Jaworski, his bitter coaching nemesis at the time, Cone was also unsuccessful as his Centennial Team had to settle for bronze behind China and South Korea. In the next edition in Busan in 2002, hopes were high. Despite a sudden coaching change after American mentor Ron Jacobs suffered a stroke in the final stretch of preparations, Jong Uichico was still able to form a solid team that had a mix of Filipino-foreign stars like Asi Taulava, Eric Menk, and Rudy Hatfield, as well as homegrown stars like Olsen Racela, Kenneth Duremdes, and Danny Ildefonso. But fate wrote a cruel script. The Philippines was ahead, 68-66, in the final 23.9 seconds of the semifinal clash against South Korea. A victory would have sent the Filipinos to the gold medal match against China, while a setback would relegate them to a battle for bronze against Kazakhstan. Racela was at the charity stripe for a chance to ice the game and seal the victory. But he missed both free shots. In a shocking — and heartbreaking — turn of events, Korean gunner Lee Sang Min buried a long three-pointer off a broken play at the buzzer that sent the host country to the finals. The players were crushed while a river of tears flowed through the streets of Manila as the entire country couldn’t believe how merciless the basketball gods could be. Since then, Philippine basketball has been reduced to a mere footnote in Asian basketball. We bombed out of the medal podium in Doha in 2006 and Guangzhou in 2010. We even suffered international embarrassment when head coach Chot Reyes instructed naturalized player Marcus Douthit to shoot at our own basket in Incheon in 2014. In 2018, a legitimate National Basketball Association campaigner, Jordan Clarkson, came along and was billed as the hero who would save Philippine basketball. But he was unsuccessful. The Filipinos’ string of misfortunes continued as Gilas Pilipinas settled for fifth place. Then here came Brownlee, tapped to see action as a naturalized player in the Hangzhou Asian Games. The 35-year-old American was tasked to power a team already familiar to him — guys he had been playing with for more than five years. The coach — Cone — had been his mentor since he arrived in Manila in 2016 and led Barangay Ginebra San Miguel to six PBA titles while winning three Best Import honors. There was no honeymoon period to speak of. He hit the ground running. The result was impressive as Brownlee dropped 36 points to lead Gilas Pilipinas to a razor-thin 84-83 win over Iran in the quarterfinals, before dropping back-to-back three-point bombs in their miraculous 77-76 victory over host China in the semifinals. The Filipinos won their first gold medal in 61 years following a 70-60 victory over Jordan in the final, but an asterisk was attached to the victory after Brownlee tested positive for Carboxy-THC, a banned substance linked to the use of cannabis. At this point, it is unknown whether Brownlee will contest the findings or how long his possible suspension will be. What is clear is that Brownlee made a tremendous impact on Philippine basketball as he proved that the best way to win an international title is to field a naturalized player who is very familiar with the Filipinos’ style of play. Brownlee may not be as exciting and flashy as Clarkson or as tall as Douthit and Blatche, but he knows Philippine basketball like the back of his hand. It’s time for the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to create more Justin Brownlees by recruiting young foreign players who are willing to stay in the country for a longer period — not just to earn and play as imports in the PBA — but to win the hearts and minds of these basketball-crazy Filipinos. Brownlee’s professional career is in great peril, and we may not see him don the Gilas or Ginebra jerseys again. But we should always remember his most significant contribution to Philippine basketball. Nope, it wasn’t the incredible play he delivered against China or how he stood his ground against Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and the powerful Jordanians that led to the country’s first Asian Games title in 61 years. His most important contribution was the idea that to gain international success, the federation must recruit a naturalized player not based on skills, height, or popularity but on his love, respect, and dedication to the country he wishes to represent. The post Brownlee formula appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Oil prices jump as Hamas attack on Israel fuels supply fears
Oil prices rallied while the dollar and yen advanced Monday after Hamas launched a shock attack on Israel at the weekend, sparking fresh concerns about tensions in the Middle East. The crisis fanned concerns about supplies of crude from the region at a time when supply worries are already high owing to Saudi Arabia and Russia's output cuts. It has also renewed fears about the impact on inflation, with energy costs a key driver of spiking prices, giving a fresh headache to central banks as they try to ease up on interest rate hikes to avoid recessions. The surprise attack and Israel's declaration of war in response to it have left more than 1,000 dead and raised concerns that a potential broadening of the conflict could draw in the United States and Iran. "Key for markets is whether the conflict remains contained or spreads to involve other regions, particularly Saudi Arabia," said ANZ Group's Brian Martin and Daniel Hynes. "Initially at least, it seems markets will assume the situation will remain limited in scope, duration, and oil-price consequences. But higher volatility can be expected." Both main contracts surged more than five percent in early Asian business before easing back as the day wore on. However, SPI Asset Management's Stephen Innes warned: "Historical analysis suggests that oil prices tend to experience sustained gains after the Middle East crises. "Meanwhile, stocks tend to eventually recover and trend higher after an initial period of volatility. Safe-haven assets like gold and Treasurys, which initially see gains during such crises, tend to fade from their initial price spikes as the situation stabilizes. "But with Middle East analysts considering this to be a pivotal moment for Israel, the view looks incendiary in any current scenario." A decidedly risk-off mood also saw investors push into the safety of the dollar, which was up against the pound and euro, as well as the Australian and New Zealand dollars. The yen, considered one of the safest currencies, strengthened against the greenback, though it still remains locked around 11-month lows. Gold, another key haven, gained more than one percent. Equity markets were mixed, with Shanghai dropping on its first day back after a week-long holiday as investors continue to fret over the stuttering Chinese economy. There were also losses in Mumbai, Singapore, Manila, Bangkok and Wellington, though Hong Kong rose as it opened in the afternoon, having been closed in the morning owing to a typhoon. Sydney and Jakarta eked out gains. Tokyo was closed for a holiday. London edged up at the open while Paris and Frankfurt were lower. The tepid performance came despite a rally on Wall Street, where traders welcomed data showing a forecast-busting jump in new jobs but wage growth slowing. The "Goldilocks" figures -- neither too strong nor too weak -- lifted optimism the world's top economy can avoid a recession even as the Federal Reserve keeps rates elevated. Still, there are worries the bank will hike one more time before the end of the year, with officials determined to bring inflation to heel and keep it at their two percent target. Key figures around 0715 GMT West Texas Intermediate: UP 3.5 percent at $85.69 per barrel Brent North Sea crude: UP 3.1 percent at $87.23 per barrel Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.4 percent at 17,552.01 Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.4 percent at 3,096.92 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.3 percent at 7,518.16 Tokyo - Nikkei 225: Closed for a holiday Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0540 from $1.0588 on Friday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2195 from $1.2234 Dollar/yen: DOWN at 149.15 yen from 149.30 yen Euro/pound: DOWN at 86.49 pence from 86.52 pence New York - Dow: UP 0.9 percent at 33,407.58 (close) (Bloomberg News contributed to this story) The post Oil prices jump as Hamas attack on Israel fuels supply fears appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Villanueva files reso commending Gilas Pilipinas for its victory in Asian Games
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva on Monday filed a resolution urging the Senate to commend the Philippine men’s national basketball team Gilas Pilipinas for winning the gold medal in the recently concluded 19th Asian Games. In filing Proposed Resolution No. 822, Villanueva congratulated Gilas Pilipinas for their victory in the 5x5 basketball event of the 19th Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China from 25 September to 6 October 2023. “[T]his is the country’s fifth gold medal in the basketball tournament of the quadrennial regional games and the first since the 1962 Asian Games, ending the country’s 61-year title drought,” he said. “Gilas Pilipinas brought great pride and honor to the country, delighting millions of Filipino basketball followers around the world as they once again ruled Asian basketball after more than six decades,” he added. He continued: “Gilas Pilipinas displayed determination, discipline, resilience, and perseverance and their outstanding performance deserves the highest praise, recognition, and commendation as they showed the world the indefatigable spirit of Filipino basketball excellence.” The 12-man Gilas Pilipinas won the 19th Asian Games basketball championship, bringing the title back to the Philippines after more than 60 years since its last victory in 1962. The basketball team is composed of Japeth Aguilar, Kevin Louie Alas, Justin Brownlee, Junemar Fajardo, Angelo Kouame, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, Christian Jaymar “CJ” Perez, Christopher Ross, Earl Scottie Thompson, and Arvin Tolentino. Gilas Pilipinas was led by head coach Earl Timothy Cone and assistant coaches Richard del Rosario, Jong Uichico, Josh Reyes, and LA Tenorio. The post Villanueva files reso commending Gilas Pilipinas for its victory in Asian Games appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
WADA warns of ‘consequences’ over North Korean flag at Asian Games
The World Anti-Doping Agency warned the Olympic Council of Asia of "consequences" on Friday for allowing the North Korean flag to be repeatedly flown at the Asian Games, saying they were treating it "extremely seriously". WADA declared North Korea's national anti-doping body "non-compliant" in 2021 and imposed sanctions that remain today. They include not being able to fly its flag at any regional, continental, or world sports event, excluding the Olympics and Paralympics. Despite this North Korea carried the flag at the Asian Games opening ceremony and it has been routinely hoisted in Hangzhou when their athletes won medals. OCA chief Raja Randhir Singh last week defended allowing the North Korean flag to be flown, saying the governing body of the sport in Asia had written to WADA "explaining their position". In a statement to AFP, WADA said the OCA had breached its obligations as a signatory to its anti-doping code. "WADA takes this matter extremely seriously and has written to the OCA on several occasions before and after the opening ceremony of the Games, explaining in clear terms the possible consequences that could arise for the OCA if this matter is ignored," it said. "WADA is disappointed that the OCA has to date not taken steps to comply with the terms of the DPRK's non-compliance," it added, using an acronym for North Korea. "WADA will follow due process to ensure that the appropriate consequences are imposed for the OCA's refusal to meet its signatory obligations." There are a range of punishments WADA could impose on the Kuwait-based OCA. They include having International Olympic Committee (IOC) funding withdrawn, OCA events losing their status as qualifying events for the Olympic or Paralympic Games, and the imposition of fines. OCA declined to comment when approached by AFP. 'Protecting athletes' The Montreal-based WADA sanctioned North Korea while its already tight borders were shut following the outbreak of COVID-19, which prevented international testing authorities from being able to enter. North Korea recently began slowly reopening and WADA said it had started to allow them back in to collect samples. "However, the broader political status of the country means verification and quality control activities are not straightforward," it added. "WADA will continue to work to strengthen the anti-doping system in DPRK in order to protect all athletes." Despite its years-long isolation from the global sporting arena, North Korea has produced some eye-opening results on its return, notably in weightlifting, where its competitors have smashed six world records. Several rival lifters said they were "shocked" or "surprised" at the results. No North Korean weightlifters will participate in next year's Paris Olympics because they failed to take part in mandatory qualifying events earlier this year. The International Weightlifting Federation said all athletes in the sport had been tested at least once at the Hangzhou Games. While the IWF does not hold jurisdiction over the Asian Games, it does have responsibility for verifying athlete whereabouts submissions under anti-doping rules. That rule required information to be provided for a minimum of three months before any competition. Two North Koreans failed to comply and were barred, the IWF said. The post WADA warns of ‘consequences’ over North Korean flag at Asian Games appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Lester Pimentel Ong: The ‘Iron Heart’ director is also a restaurateur
When action films came to a screeching halt around year 2000 because of piracy, then stuntman Lester Pimentel Ong bravely ventured into the food business. For him, it was like wading into untested waters. “Nagsimula ako sa (I started in) Rice-In-A box 23 years ago. I started in the film industry as a stuntman. Nakatrabaho ko si Victor Neri, sa mga films ni direk Toto Natividad. Nawala ‘yung raket namin sa stunts kasi nauso ‘yung piracy sa film. Humina ‘yung action film so wala kaming raket. (I worked with Victor Neri, in the films of director Toto Natividad. We lost our stunt jobs because film piracy became prevalent. Action films slowed down, so we didn’t have a job). With his P80,000 savings, he started his rice-in-a-box business at Masagana City Mall, in Pasay, recalled Ong during the opening of the ninth branch of Wangfu, his Chinese-Singaporean restaurant that’s been up for 11 years now. That small rice-in-a-box business now has more than 100 stores consisting of food carts and food stalls. “That business financed all of our other businesses, all our other restaurants,” said Ong proudly. A foodie, Ong was exposed to street food when he was a wushu athlete who represented the country in many competitions abroad. He reveled in the street foods of China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Thailand. “I would go around to different places and tuwing may break kami, we would explore the street food market ng different countries. I fell in love with different kind of food, Asian food,” he said. Wangfu came about because, after shoots, “kapag late night, wala kaming makakainan. Nasa food business naman ako, so nagtayo kami ng restaurant sa Tomas Morato. Iyon ang first branch (of Wangfu),” he said. He was joined in the venture by business partner Ace Wang. Wangfu serves Singaporean cuisine like laksa, Hainanese chicken and salted egg fried chicken. From Sir Chief to Sir Chef Actor Richard Yap is also one of Ong’s partners in Wangfu. Yap disclosed that when he was young, he “used to cook at home because my mom cooks very well.” It was his love for food that drove him to study culinary arts. But he discovered along the way that cooking was not for him. “When I took up a culinary course, I found out na hindi pala para sa akin ang pagluluto (that cooking is not for me). Ang hirap ng preparations. It takes a long time. Kung ako ang magluluto (If I will do the cooking), it will take three to four hours if you do it by yourself,” he said. In college, Yap took up a pre-Med course, Medical Technology, for two years, and then stopped because his father asked him to take up Business Management instead. When he applied for Med studies at UST, he was told that he had to go back to first year again. “I said never mind. I’ll just finish my Business Management course at La Salle,” he recalled. Getting into showbiz 12 years ago was something that Yap didn’t see coming. “When I started out with “My Binondo Girl”, after that nagdadalawang isip ako (I had second thoughts). So, I had to ask around. One of my directors, direk Jeffrey Jeturian, said, ‘You know, you have to make a choice kasi it’s either you go full-time sa showbiz or not.’” Yap’s apprehensions were not without basis, since not a lot of people would make it at his age then, around 40. “Ako, sabi ko, late na ako (I’m late), wala pa akong experience. It would take me a lot of time to catch up with veteran actors and actresses,” he said. Fortunately, those around him told him he had a future in showbiz for as long as he persevered. And that he did — and now he’s Richard Yap, a popular actor and household name, forever remembered by many as Sir Chief of the blockbuster TV series Be Careful With My Heart. The post Lester Pimentel Ong: The ‘Iron Heart’ director is also a restaurateur appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
S. Korean migrant’s tale to open Asia’s biggest film festival
The world premiere of Jang Kun-jae's "Because I Hate Korea" will open Asia's largest film festival Wednesday night as it looks to rally from a year marked by scandal and budget cutbacks. The South Korean director's tale of a disillusioned young woman who relocates to New Zealand is among 209 official entries from 69 countries set to unspool at the Busan International Film Festival, which runs until 13 October. Eighty will be making their world premieres in the southern port city. This year's edition comes as organizers grapple with the fallout from former festival director Huh Moon-yung's resignation in May amid accusations of sexual misconduct. The scandal saw BIFF's 2023 budget reduced by about 10 percent as sponsors withdrew in the wake of the allegations, according to organizers. Kang Seung-ah, now serving as acting deputy director, acknowledged they had endured a "difficult phase" before assembling a lineup she said was "more substantial than ever before". Opening night director Jang, who noted he'd attended BIFF far more as an audience member than a filmmaker, told a late afternoon news conference he had sought to address serious questions with his film. "I believe it's necessary to pay attention to the fact that many young people are finding it difficult to navigate through Korean society. I started questioning whether our society is providing a fair and equitable foundation for young people to pursue their dreams," he told reporters after a preview screening. Based on the best-selling Chang Kang-myoung novel, "Because I Hate Korea" received support from BIFF's Asia Project Market back in 2016. South Korea has transformed itself into a cultural powerhouse since then thanks to the explosive success of the Oscar-winning "Parasite" and the Netflix series "Squid Game". "Many people are now showing great interest in Korean content such as K-pop, K-movies, and K-dramas. Living in such an era, they might develop a certain fantasy about South Korea, I think," Nam Dong-chul, the festival's acting interim director, told reporters. But "I thought it might be good to consider these views from the perspective of people living in Korea and especially the youth in South Korea", he said of the opening night choice. "They might have different thoughts and experiences." Frequent Bong Joon-ho collaborator Go Ah-sung, who delivered a memorable performance as the protagonist of "Because I Hate Korea", was unable to attend the festival due to a back injury. 'Dear Jinri' Despite Go's absence, the festival will still feature serious star power, with acclaimed Hong Kong actor Chow Yun Fat scheduled to receive the Asian Filmmaker of the Year award. Three of Chow's films -- "A Better Tomorrow" (1986), "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" (2000) and 2023's "One More Chance" -- will be screened in his honour. Other highly anticipated screenings include "Dear Jinri", a documentary that features late K-pop star Sulli's last and incomplete project. Sulli, born Choi Jin-ri, took her own life in 2019 after a long struggle with online bullying. The film includes her final media interview, which has not been disclosed previously. Korea's filmmaking diaspora will also be showcased with a special series of screenings that includes "Searching" (2018), starring John Cho, and director Celine Song's Sundance favorite "Past Lives". Netflix's highly anticipated "Yellow Door: 90s Lo-fi Film Club" will also have its world premiere at BIFF. The documentary spotlights South Korea's renowned cinephile generation of the 1990s, acclaimed "Parasite" director Bong among them. "The Movie Emperor", director Ning Hao's satirical take on the Chinese film industry starring Hong Kong actor Andy Lau, is set to close the festival. Ning's comedy "deftly captures the fine line between the film industries in Hong Kong and mainland China", as well as the "delicate relationship between Western film festivals and Asian filmmakers", according to the program notes. The post S. Korean migrant’s tale to open Asia’s biggest film festival appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Biggest franchise expo rides on growth
Franchising is expected to earn an unprecedented P30 billion by the end of the year, based on industry projections. During the Franchise Asia Philippines 2023 International Expo briefing on Monday, Philippine Franchise Association chairperson Sherill Quintana said that franchising revenues has reached P27 billion in the year to date, already surpassing the pre-pandemic 2019 revenues of P25 billion. With the growing local market, Quintana said global franchise brands should consider the Philippines as their “launching pad” in Asia. “The future is Asia, and the Philippines will be the launch pad for what the Asian economy will be able to seize for the global market,” Quintana said in a press conference in Quezon City. In the next five years, she said her group is expecting to reap 10 to 13 percent revenues for the industry over the next five years. PFA president Chris Lim said the exposition will be the biggest franchise show that the country hosted in the past 10 years. Franchise Asia Philippines 2023 International Franchise Expo will run from 27 to 29 October and the meetings of the World Franchise Council and the Asia Pacific Franchise Confederation from 24 to 30 October 2023. “More than a decade ago was the last time that a similar event was held in the Philippines, so it is really a very momentous occasion. And what a great way to really celebrate and to really show that we’re back in business, that the franchise industry in the Philippines is as vibrant as ever,” Lim added. SMX Convention Center taken up Franchise Asia Philippines 2023 overall co-chair Richard Sanz said this will be the first time for a franchise event to occupy the entire SMX Convention Center in Pasay City to showcase 1,000 local and global franchise brands from 26 countries. Further, he said 39 percent of the expo participants are new exhibitors with new concepts such as breastfeeding center, agriculture supplies, automated retail and convenience store, vape store and kickboxing gym. “This speaks of the vibrancy of the franchise sector with new players joining the market,” he said. Sanz mentioned that also 20 percent of the participants are international brands from Australia, China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Sinapore, Taiwan, Thailand and the United States. More than 50,000 exhibitors are expected to attend the expo. “This highlights the continued interest among Filipinos in franchising as an investment option,” Sanz said. The post Biggest franchise expo rides on growth appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Regional economies slowing down — WB
The World Bank expects East Asia and Pacific economies, excluding China, to grow by 4.6 percent this year as the Philippines catches up with digitalization. The WB prediction is slower than the previous 4.9 percent estimate announced by the multinational financial institution in April. If China is included, economic growth in the region is projected to settle at five percent, the World Bank’s report from Washington said last Sunday. “This is higher than average growth projected for all other emerging market and developing economies but lower than previously projected,” the World Bank said. “The East Asia and Pacific region remains one of the fastest growing and most dynamic regions in the world, even if growth is moderating,” World Bank East Asia and Pacific vice president Manuela Ferro said. The multinational financial institution said the region might continue to face challenges in supplies of goods as more typhoons hit the region in the fourth quarter this year and climate change persists. Geopolitical tensions The World Bank added geopolitical tensions aside from the Russia-Ukraine war threatens to further hamper trade. China, the world’s second largest economy, and the US have been exchanging export bans, especially on electronic and technology products. Meanwhile, the Philippines and other Southeast Asian states are protesting against China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea. For these reasons, the World Bank said prices of goods and services might rise, forcing central banks in the region’s developing countries to raise interest rates to prevent inflation from accelerating further. However, this means consumers might cut back spending on certain goods and services, while businesses slow operations. Borrowing costs to remain high “Therefore, borrowing costs will likely remain high, constraining room for spending and raising the risk of debt distress in some countries. Furthermore, high indebtedness, combined with rising costs of servicing debt, will weigh on private investments,” the World Bank said. For its 2024 forecast, the bank is more optimistic that the region’s economy excluding China’s will expand from 4.6 percent to 4.7 percent. “Growth in the rest of the region is expected to edge up, as recovery in global growth and easing of financial conditions offsets the impact of slowing growth in China and trade policy measures in other countries,” the World Bank said. Philippine economic growth is seen to improve to 5.9 percent next year from a 5.6 percent forecast for this year. Meanwhile, China’s economy could shrink by 4.4 percent next year from a 4.8 percent estimate for 2023 due to persisting elevated debt, tamer demand for real estate, and aging population. Sustaining high growth to require reforms “Over the medium term, sustaining high growth will require reforms to maintain industrial competitiveness, diversify trading partners, and unleash the productivity-enhancing and job-creating potential of the services sector,” Ferro said. The World Bank reported digitalization and other reforms in government services in the Philippines increased productivity of firms by 1.5 percent from 2010 to 2019. Digital technologies, for example, can spread education and health services in the provinces to ensure a bigger pool of high-skilled and energetic workers. The post Regional economies slowing down — WB appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»