Cone’s all-around guy
Coach Tim Cone expects young gun Kevin Quiambao to blossom fully as he joins Gilas Pilipinas in its four-year journey......»»
Do You Have the Qualities to be an Entrepreneur? Read this First
Are you thinking of stepping into the dynamic world of entrepreneurship? Maybe you have a business concept that could soon blossom into a successful venture. Before you take the first steps, it’s important to consider certain qualities that often set successful entrepreneurs apart. The stories of successful entrepreneurs are what inspire us — like everything […].....»»
An enchanted evening with the JSSP
Any party with the Johann Strauss Society of the Philippines is sure to blossom into something meaningful yet fun! We recently got together for an enchanted evening of music, culture and friendship at the South Pacific Night Fellowship Event. Inspired by the beloved book-turned-Broadway musical, the night paid homage to it from the invitation inspired by the musical’s poster, the tropical colors and decor, floral dress code, down to the performances. Those who showed up in the most authentic and best costumes won a special prize, too — congratulations, Chuck Gueco and Joy Melendres! US Ambassador, MaryKay Carlson Singapore Ambassador, Constance See Roselle Del Rosario and Rosalinda Wee Norman Jison and Lovelyn Segovia Monaco Consul, RJ Ledesma and India Ambassador, Shambhu Kumaran. Laos Ambassador, Sonexay Vannaxay, Cambodia Ambassador, Phan Peuv, Thailand Ambassador, Tull Traisorat. Seated- Egypt Ambassador, Ahmed Shehabeldin. Joy Melendres and Amelia Ting Gerry and Virginia Lane Fanny Blanco Dr. Elton See Tan n Carolyn Tan Dana Silverio, Ruby Chua, Manolyn Taylor and Michael Rosero Consul. Agnes Huibonhoa and Mayenne Carmona Chuck Gueco and Aiza Sun Bong Prada Lim and Mags Cue Bo and Hans Hauri Lilibeth Campos, Marissa Fenton, Consul General of Monaco, Fortune Ledesma and the author But all the fun aside, this is really all about JSSP’s mission to make a significant impact on our local community through art and music. South Pacific Night perfectly captured the enchantment the arts has over us, and the vibrant spirit the organization wishes to share with the community in whatever ways it can. JSSP has extended its support to talented music students and notable initiatives like the Arts for the People Program of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Philippine National Red Cross, and more in the education and arts spaces. It’s always fulfilling getting together with JSSP members. As you can see, we’re all smiles ‘til midnight! I raise a toast to JSSP, especially its devoted members who are tirelessly contributing their time to keep the organization’s mission alive. I raise my glass to the co-chairs of the event, Marissa Fenton and Lilibeth Campos, and to the entire JSSP. Cheers! The post An enchanted evening with the JSSP appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cherry Blossoms Park to rise in former Mandaue City dumpsite
MANDAUE CITY, Philippines – Mandaue City will soon have its own Cherry Blossom Park as the city plants at least 1,000 Palawan Cherry Blossoms at the Eco Learning Park in Barangay Umapad on Saturday, September 16. On Friday, Sept. 15, the Department of General Services (DGS) had already prepared everything from the area where the.....»»
Smell divine with new UK body mist
In humid weather, the best scents to wear come in the form of body mists. These are light fragrances that don’t overwhelm the senses. So…? Fragrances, a body mist brand from the UK, has brought its line of scents to the Philippines. From rich and bold, to sweet, fruity and floral, So…? is a maker of quality fragrances that suit all preferences and lifestyles since 1994. Wanderlust Uncover scents that will take you around the world. Choose from: Ibiza Dreams — sun-kissed notes of sweet red apple, raspberry and pear Bali Breeze — mellow aroma of coconut, pineapple and pretty orange blossoms Mykonos Nights — combines sweet vanilla and tonka bean scent, zesty lemon and sweet mandarin Miami Vibes — mixes sweet pear, green melon and apple blossom Quick refresh Looking for an easy to wear scent? Search no further with: Candy Floss — features notes of vanilla, caramel, praline, lemon, and raspberry Vanilla — timeless classic of vanilla with hints of sweetness and fruitiness Strawberries and Cream — scents of strawberry and vanilla Fresh Floral — smells of peach blossom and peony Cherry Blossom — bask in cherry blossoms and rose combination Sweet Pea — bergamot, peony and violet [gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="172188,172189"] So…? is cruelty-free and sustainable as its bottles are made from recycled materials. It continues to work with some of the best names in the perfumery industry to offer more fine scents at costs that won’t break the bank. In the Philippines, So…? is available exclusively in all Watsons and SM Beauty Stores nationwide and online. It is currently available in 30 more countries. The post Smell divine with new UK body mist appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Malaysia offers halal, banking help
MALAYSIA — Filipino officials will soon get a helping hand from their Malaysian counterparts in terms of running the halal industry and Islamic banking. In his statement during his meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said, “Malaysia has warmly offered its expertise to train Philippine personnel and officials to strengthen our capabilities in these increasingly important sectors.” “Cooperation in this sector would mutually benefit the growth of our respective halal ecosystems,” Marcos said. “Malaysia has warmly offered its expertise to train Philippine personnel and officials to strengthen our capabilities in these increasingly important sectors.” Halal is a dietary law derived from Islamic teachings, meaning “lawful or permitted. Of the 110 million Filipinos, Muslims in the Philippines make up about 6 percent of the population. The two leaders also agreed to enhance their trade and investment ties, with Marcos noting that Malaysia is one of the leading halal economies in the world. The Philippines and Malaysia, he said, have “longstanding relations and strong economic linkages” and “commonalities between our peoples which make our friendship easy.” Both leaders affirmed they would fortify further the bilateral ties between the two nations, geared toward the post-pandemic transformation. As he thanked the Malaysian government for its assistance in the development of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Marcos said it is time to examine and strengthen the relationship between both Southeast Asian countries. Plans for joint meeting He added that he and the Prime Minister agreed to convene the next Philippines-Malaysia Joint Commission Meeting in the near future. “We do this so that our government agencies will have an avenue to discuss priority cooperation in detail, most especially in the areas of transnational crimes, agriculture, the halal industry, Islamic banking, education, tourism and culture, sports and the digital economy,” Marcos said. Ibrahim, for his part, welcomed Marcos to Malaysia and said the two countries have a long history of close ties. Meanwhile, Marcos and Malaysian King Al-Sultan Abdullah expressed hope the warm relationship enjoyed by Malaysia and the Philippines will continue to blossom for the mutual benefit of their people and nations. In his remarks during the state banquet in honor of Marcos and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, the Malaysian King said the Philippines is an essential partner to Malaysia, given the Philippines’ proximity and active involvement in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. “Bound by our shared aspirations of progress, peace, and prosperity, our two countries share many commonalities and strong people-to-people ties to this day. We have faced many common challenges, but we have also achieved much more together,” the King said. [caption id="attachment_162690" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Warm welcome President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (seated) and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos (right) are graciously received in a State Welcoming Ceremony at the Istana Negara on Wednesday. Honored by the presence of His Majesty Al-Sultan Abdullah (2nd from left), the King of Malaysia and Queen Azizah (left), the visit signifies the strengthening of diplomatic ties. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF PCO[/caption] Re-strengthened ties The Philippines and Malaysia “re-strengthened” their relationship as the two Southeast Asian nations prepare for a post-pandemic recovery where they will play an important role in the region, Marcos Jr. Marcos made the statement in a meeting with Malaysia’s King Al-Sultan Abdullah and Queen Azizah, where he and First Lady Marie Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos received a State welcome, including a 21-gun salute, on their arrival at Istana Negara, Malaysia’s National Palace. The King and Queen of Malaysia, as well as Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife, Dato’ Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, welcomed the Philippine President and the First Lady. “It is time for us to really examine that relationship and re-strengthen that relationship, and that, for me, is the most important aspect of this visit that I have made to Kuala Lumpur, to Malaysia,” Marcos said in the meeting. “I believe that it is the way for us to refocus our efforts together to mutually beneficial initiatives for our two countries and to see how we can help one another as we face the post-pandemic future,” he added. The post-pandemic scenario is a very different road that the two nations face compared to what we had before the pandemic. According to Marcos, their membership in ASEAN and BIMP-EAGA continue to strengthen their relationship as they come back and start to emerge from the difficult period of the last two and a half years of the pandemic. The two countries must recreate and transform themselves to be competitive and to be part of a new world order as it is happening and changing now, he said. “We will play a huge part in that transformation. And that transformation is going to strengthen and be made more stable by this partnership that we make with each other,” Marcos asserted. “And so it becomes more and more important for me that these partnerships we will foster on a cultural level and people-to-people (diplomacy) will continue to be expanded and gain stature in the way that we promote that relationship between our two countries,” he said. This partnership is essential not only for Malaysia, the Philippines, and ASEAN but also for the rest of the world, Marcos pointed out. Whatever beginnings they have made, they all proved to be of importance to the continuing relationship between Malaysia and the Philippines, he added. The President arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday afternoon for a state visit that include meetings with the Malaysian king, government officials, as well as business leaders to strengthen the relationship between the Philippines and Malaysia. The post Malaysia offers halal, banking help appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM: Phl-Malaysia partnership ‘important to ASEAN, world’
MALAYSIA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Malaysian King Al-Sultan Abdullah expressed hope that the warm relationship enjoyed by Malaysia and the Philippines will continue to blossom for the mutual benefit of the people and nations. In his remarks during the state banquet in honor of visiting Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, the Malaysian King said the Philippines is an essential partner to Malaysia, given the Philippines' proximity and active involvement in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. "Bound by our shared aspirations of progress, peace and prosperity, our two countries share many commonalities and strong people-to-people ties to this day, we have faced many common challenges, but we have also achieved much more together. "Mutual efforts and understanding are vital to further elevate our close relations and good cooperation to new heights. I hope that Malaysia and the Philippines can expand their collaborations and partnership in new and emerging areas such as agriculture, digital economy and halal food industry," said His Majesty. Marcos, for his part, said that he believes the Philippines and Malaysia can work together to "recreate ourselves" and "transform ourselves" in the post-pandemic world. He added that these partnerships will be strengthened by the close people-to-people ties between the two countries. "It is important not only to Malaysia, it is not only important to the Philippines, it is not only important to (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), but it is important to the rest of the world," Marcos said. "And that we hope is the part that we will play as partners, Malaysia and the Philippines, in the years to come," he added. The President received a State Welcome Ceremony, complete with a 21-gun salute, when he arrived at the Istana Negara, also referred to as the National Palace, earlier on Wednesday. The King and Queen of Malaysia, along with Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife, Dato' Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, personally greeted him. The President is currently in a three-day official trip to the nearby Southeast Asian nation after making a stop in Manila last March. The Philippines holds the 15th position among Malaysia's trading partners in terms of global trade and ranks as the fifth largest among the ASEAN member states. The total trade between the two countries reached $9.42 billion in 2022, marking a significant growth of 20.1 percent compared to the previous year's recorded value in 2021. The post PBBM: Phl-Malaysia partnership ‘important to ASEAN, world’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Liza Araneta- Marcos: A refreshing perspective on the First Lady’s role
When Liza Araneta-Marcos’ husband, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, was elected President of the Philippines, many wondered how the incoming First Lady would play her role, given that the first Mrs. Marcos, First Lady from 31 December 1965 to 25 February 1986, had, for ages, loomed large on the Filipino consciousness. Imelda had been described as Ferdinand Marcos’ secret weapon whose popularity contributed immensely to his winning the presidential election. Whether true or not, Imelda Marcos went on to capture the hearts and imagination of the Filipino people as she wowed them with her numerous projects, including the mammoth Cultural Center of the Philippines, even as it also served as fodder for the critics of her husband’s administration. Fast forward to the presidential election of 2022 — what people saw was a Bongbong who chose to fight his detractors by ignoring them. He focused instead on rebuilding a nation that needed to be united if it must overcome the challenges brought by the recent pandemic, not yet totally eradicated despite the wonders of immunization at the time he was about to take his oath of office. It was the right campaign strategy, for it promised renewal and, more importantly, a break from the past. That Ferdinand Marcos Jr. won the presidency, despite losing in his bid for the vice presidency in the previous national elections, confirms that a large segment of the voting population saw in him the answer to the many ills of our nation. Beautiful and fragrant First Lady On the day of the inauguration, Imelda Marcos sat quietly, almost stoically, on the stage, her face showing hints of a smile, and obviously preferring to be a low-key mother, and not as the fabulous Imeldific that had been her trademark because, as she claimed in her heyday as a Human Settlements Minister, “The Filipinos want their First Lady to be beautiful,” which also meant fragrant and, well, bejeweled and dressed to the nines. [caption id="attachment_161345" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] MELDA Marcos, the quietly proud mother at her son Bongbong’s presidential inauguration. With them is First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos. | ted aljibe/agence france-presse[/caption] Her detractors would say there was so much hunger and poverty, and here she was as though oblivious to the realities of Filipino life. Imelda Marcos was a voice culture student and an education graduate, the president of the student council of her college, the Rose of Tacloban and a Miss Manila wannabe who, when she came crying to the swashbuckling mayor, was given the title of Muse of Manila. Imelda Marcos, from day one, was a great beauty and was fated to live her life in an aquarium for neighbors and the public to ogle. Interestingly, amidst the simplicity and humility of circumstances that she experienced in her childhood, she lived close to Malacañang, the stately presidential home which, she did not know then, would become her home for 20 years. In the meantime, her father, distraught by the loss of his second wife, Imelda’s mother, and financially strapped, brought his family home to Tacloban. Here, the young Meldy would blossom into such an attractive lass, one rich Chinese businessman wanted to marry the young girl who he thought was old enough to be his wife. Imelda, early on, could sing like a nightingale and, as she herself related, impressed General Douglas MacArthur with her voice. And because of her, Irving Berlin composed the song, “Heaven Watch the Philippines,” after he heard her sing “God Bless the Philippines” to the tune of his composition, “God Bless America.” Feisty and no-nonsense lawyer Now comes a feisty, no-nonsense lawyer, who is related to the very rich Aranetas, owners of the vast Cubao commercial center. The daughter of a handsome “crush ng bayan” basketball player known in his heyday as “twinkle toes” because he pranced around the court like a good dancer, she grew up sheltered, in a manner of speaking. She attended the Ateneo de Manila for both her undergraduate and law studies. Since she preferred to be low-key, she was not as well-known as her Araneta cousins, including the more famous Mar Roxas and Gaita Fores. Her mother being a Cacho makes her “royal” on both sides of her family and somehow related to the Cojuangcos, her mother’s sister, Sari, having married Pedro, the eldest brother of Corazon Cojuangco Aquino. How exactly does one regard Liza Marcos-Araneta? And how does she differ from Mrs. Marcos who impressed me while she was on the dance floor tripping the light fantastic and oh so gracefully and astoundingly, doing the tango and chacha with an equally magnificent Pepe Oledan, who later became our ambassador to Spain? [caption id="attachment_161347" align="aligncenter" width="1520"] ‘Liza knows how to put a group, a team together, find good people, put them in the right place, motivate them properly, and she’s always been good at that.’ | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESYOF FB.COM/LIZA MARCOS[/caption] Like an old friend The first time I met Imelda Marcos face to face, I had been sent to her Pacific Plaza home by my boss, socialite and future legislator Baby Arenas. As soon as I was ushered into Mrs. Marcos’ living room, she stood up and said, “Oh, Jojo, it’s nice of you to come.” It was all that she needed to say to make me glow and feel important. It was said that Imelda remembered names, but meeting her for the first time up close and here she was speaking like she had missed an old friend, wow, I felt like I was on top of the world. When I was a teenager, in 1973, Renata Tebaldi and Franco Correli, opera singers of world-renowned, had flown into the country to perform. I attended their concert at the Araneta Coliseum which shook to the rafters when their voices reached their highest crescendo. I was mesmerized by this electrifying performance when, all of a sudden, as I was seated in the back row of the orchestra, flashbulbs popped at my back, making everyone turn around, and lo, there was Imelda Marcos, radiant, beautiful and glowing, smiling charmingly and looking straight at the stage. She had the whole world at that moment to herself. How, tell me, could I forget my first sighting of the iron butterfly? [caption id="attachment_161344" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] THE First Family at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland held in January this year. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF FB.COM/LIZA MARCOS[/caption] Voice of reason Fast forward to 2022, Bongbong Marcos took to the hustings and easily won over his opponent by an overwhelming majority of 58.77 percent or more than 31.6 million votes, and in the election that brought in the fastest result in all of the nation’s political history. How exactly did Liza contribute to her husband’s win, the victor himself shared, “Liza knows how to put a group, a team together, find good people, put them in the right place, motivate them properly, and she’s always been good at that.” Not surprisingly, given her credentials or qualifications, if that may be said of the First Lady of the land. A lawyer who took her post graduate studies in Criminal Procedure at New York University, a professor at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, St. Louis University and Mariano Marcos State University, media described her as “a significant voice of reason in the campaign.” If Ferdinand Marcos Sr. had a “secret weapon who sang and wept before crowds” in Imelda Romualdez Marcos, President BBM had an “expert lawyer with extraordinary skills in organization and logistics management” in Liza Araneta-Marcos. (More on Wednesday, 26 July) The post Liza Araneta- Marcos: A refreshing perspective on the First Lady’s role appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
God’s restoring ways
People will dwell again in his shade; they will flourish like the grain, they will blossom like the vine. — Hosea 14:7.....»»
Beauty beyond the brush
Nix Soriano, a well-known makeup artist in the Philippines, described her amazing career transition from being a nursing graduate to pursuing her genuine passion for makeup artistry. The chief hair and makeup artist of Nix Institute of Beauty, in an interview with the Daily Tribune, disclosed that after finishing her nursing degree and passing the board examinations, she found herself at a crossroads. When the recession was at its worst in 2010, her grandma encouraged her to put off her travel plans to the United States and suggested that she stay in the Philippines until things got better economically. This is when Nix’s interest in makeup really began to blossom. As she and her business partners worked on commercials and other audiovisual projects, Soriano became interested in putting on makeup. She often found herself stepping in as a last-minute makeup artist when emergencies or cancellations occurred. Recognizing her talent and passion for the craft, she decided to pursue formal training in makeup artistry. “Sometimes I would step in at the last minute like your makeup artist or last-minute cancel makeup. So, from there I took up classes.” Nix went to classes to improve her abilities after realizing how much she loved beauty and makeup. She witnessed a growing demand for makeup services, not only among celebrities and beauty queens but also individuals attending parties and weddings. Observing the delight and confidence it gave, Soriano’s excitement for makeup artistry intensified. [caption id="attachment_136766" align="aligncenter" width="525"] NIX Soriano, chief hair and makeup artist of Nix Institute of Beauty.[/caption] She set out to provide budding beauty artists in the Philippines access to reasonable but thorough training after seeing the large expenses needed for cosmetics workshops overseas. Transitioning from nursing to makeup artistry wasn’t without its challenges. Initially, Nix faced skepticism from her loved ones, including her then-boyfriend, now husband. They questioned her decision, pointing out alternative companies that would have generated greater profits. But it was obvious that she had found her real purpose because of her consistent joy and enthusiasm for makeup artistry. “I can’t imagine myself doing something I’m not happy with. It’s not that I’m not happy with nursing but this makes me more happy,” she said. As her career was established, renowned pageants and productions were drawn to her talent and commitment. She rose to prominence as the preferred makeup artist for illustrious occasions like Miss Universe Philippines. Nix’s talent went beyond pageantry; in addition, she catered to weddings and worked on side jobs for advertising and commercial shoots. She founded the Nix Institute of Beauty to broaden the reach of her expertise and provide accessibility to cosmetics courses. She set out to provide budding beauty artists in the Philippines access to reasonable but thorough training after seeing the large expenses connected with cosmetics workshops overseas. Nix believes that creating a solid foundation for makeup artistry requires starting with the fundamentals. “We start with the fundamentals of makeup because I’m a firm believer that if you know the fundamentals, if you know the basics kahit paikot-ikutin ka, kaya mo ayusin (even if you get turned around and around, you can handle it),” she explained. The Nix Institute of Beauty has seen a diverse range of students, including both females and males. Even photographers enroll to enhance their skills in makeup for editorial shoots. It takes pride in fostering a supportive learning environment that encourages creativity and helps students understand the theory behind their art. Even though Soriano’s path has had its fair share of lessons learned and minor setbacks, she is still passionate about what she does. She wants to continuously grow and deliver outstanding results while acknowledging that mistakes do occur as a real professional. She reflected on how it all began with Global Asian Models, and shared her journey, starting as the makeup team for Rabiya Mateo, Beatrice Gomez, Celeste Cortesi, and finally the newly-minted Miss Universe Philippines Michelle Dee. “It’s a rollercoaster talaga, but it’s a proud moment for me.” The Nix Institute of Beauty is a team of skilled hair and makeup professionals who are dedicated to empowering individuals to embrace their individuality and their own sense of beauty. They provide lessons and hair and makeup services all around the Philippines. The team’s mission is to give clients treasured experiences and memories while also acting as mentors for rising business professionals. The post Beauty beyond the brush appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Im-Mitchell bromance continues to blossom as they lie one back at Zurich Classic of New Orleans
Im and Mitchell clicked superbly in the more difficult alternate shot format at TPC Louisiana, trading seven birdies against a double bogey to reach the halfway stage of the PGA Tour tournament on 15-under 129, tying for the second place alongside Doc Redman and Sam Ryder, who posted a 66......»»
Record early start again for Tokyo’s cherry blossoms
TOKYO — Japan announced the official start of Tokyo’s cherry blossom season on Tuesday, 10 days earlier than usual and tied with a record early start seen only twice before. In past years the country’s meteorologists have linked the increasingly early blooms to climate change, and temperatures in Tokyo have been unseasonably mild in recent […] The post Record early start again for Tokyo’s cherry blossoms appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
The ultimate cherry blossom trip: 3 ways to experience
After much of the pandemic has somehow let up, it is now time to travel again......»»
‘Gulay bouquets’ blossom in time for Valentine’s Day, courtesy of community pantry organizers
MANILA, Philippines — With February 14th fast-approaching, a creative gift-giving solution for lovers – and a practical help for farmers amidst the economic crunch – has been proposed: vegetable bouquets. Ana Patricia Non, the founder of the Maginhawa Street Community Pantry in Quezon City, made the announcement on Tuesday that organizers will be selling gulay […] The post ‘Gulay bouquets’ blossom in time for Valentine’s Day, courtesy of community pantry organizers appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Wil Dasovich, Esnyr hopeful for content creators future despite vlogger wars
There is budding hope and optimism for the future of content creators in the Philippines, as fuelled by the current crop of creatives helping industry blossom at this very moment......»»
Brenda Mage, BF, mga katropa nalagay sa panganib habang patungong Benguet: Nanaginip ako ng masama, nakakatakot!
NALAGAY pala sa panganib ang buhay ng komedyanteng si Brenda Mage pati na ng kanyang mga kasamahan habang patungo sa isang lugar sa Benguet. Ayon kay Brenda, tila may nagbigay ng warning sa kanya na maaaring may masamang mangyari sa kanilang grupo sa pagpunta nila sa Atok, Benguet para bisitahin ang Northern Blossom Flower Farm. […] The post Brenda Mage, BF, mga katropa nalagay sa panganib habang patungong Benguet: Nanaginip ako ng masama, nakakatakot! appeared first on Bandera......»»
Matty Ice sets up MVP Chabi in Aldin Ayo s UAAP First 5
Aldin Ayo has been calling the shots for University of Sto. Tomas from 2018 to present. Before this, the always amiable mentor was at the helm of De La Salle University from 2016 to 2017. Through all of that, he has had a hand in the discovery and the development of young talent for his teams as well as the game planning for the opposing rising stars. Among all of those, who are the best of the best for him? Here is Aldin Ayo's UAAP First 5, as he told ABS-CBN Sports: SOULEMANE CHABI YO Of course, coach Aldin will have the UAAP 82 MVP as one of his main men. Chabi Yo is far from the traditional foreign student-athlete in that he could wield weapons from the outside just as well as he could will his way inside. The Beninese ball of energy could be slotted anywhere from the 3 to 5 positions - and sometimes, at the 2 in jumbo lineups - and is the perfect do-it-all player for Ayo's do-it-all philosophy. DAVE ANDO Asked to expound on his selection of Chabi Yo, coach Aldin bundled him together with Ando as players of interest. "I will tell you the reasons why I chose them after Season 83 - regardless of the result of our campaign," he said. Looks like UST has high hopes for its starting center as he enters his second season in black and gold. Already a solid contributor with an uncanny ability for knocking down one-handed shots from inside the arc, Ando may very well take the leap before our very eyes next year. MATT NIETO Remember Mcjour Luib's iconic free throw lane violation that sealed the deal in Colegio de San Juan de Letran's NCAA 91 championship? That is the sort of smart play that could also be expected from Nieto. "If you have a point guard like him, as a coach, you can really do your job well," coach Aldin said of the lead guard of the Ateneo de Manila University side that had downed UST for the UAAP 82 title. "One of the best point guards (in college) in terms of character and decision-making." Indeed, character and decision-making have long been the defining characteristics of "Matty Ice." JERRICK AHANMISI What coach Aldin knows, everybody else does too. "One of the best shooters in college," he said of Adamson University's top gun. What escapes the notice of many, however, is that Ahanmisi is much more than a shooter. "He reads the defense really well and he has improved his defense a lot," the UST tactician said. That two-way impact is, no doubt, a must in any Aldin Ayo team. ZACH HUANG In the renaissance of UST, names such as Chabi Yo, Rhenz Abando, CJ Cansino, and Mark Nonoy have made noise - but not without all-important contributions from their workhorse in Huang. A no-nonsense player, the 6-foot-3 forward just does whatever is asked of him - whether it be getting points, getting rebounds, or getting defensive stops. "The guy can play the 2, 3, and 4 spots. Aside from his versatility, he has improved his skills a lot," coach Aldin said. And Huang would only be better now he would be moving forward from the Growling Tigers. "I wish he had one more playing year so he can blossom to the player we want him to be, but I believe he can achieve that as he plays in the commercial leagues," his mentor said. --- Follow this writer on Twitter, @riegogogo......»»