Doce Pares Eskrima-Kali-Arnis welcomes 7 new GMs
CEBU CITY, Philippines—The world renowned Doce Pares Eskrima-Kali-Arnis international federation welcomed seven new Grand Masters (GMs) to its fold. The new GMs are Elmer Mosqueda, Ashley Lee, Abet Cañete, Scott Slezak, Jose Marquez, Felix Roiles, and, Antonio Oñas, Jr. GM Mosqueda was the highest-ranked GM installed by Doce Pares after being promoted to the 10th […] The post Doce Pares Eskrima-Kali-Arnis welcomes 7 new GMs appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Sarangani Writers League welcomes 11 new members, all women
ALABEL, Sarangani (MindaNews / 24 March) – The Sarangani Writers League (SWL) recently welcomed its new members, all of them women, for helping develop the literary community in the province of Sarangani. The new members successfully navigated the application process, fulfilled all requirements, and surpassed the evaluation criteria: Catherine R. Discorson, Mariele M. Gallego, and Eva […].....»»
Davao City Police Office welcomes new director
Davao City Police Office welcomes new director.....»»
Bianca Umali to star in ‘Encantadia’ spin-off series ‘Sang’gre’
Bianca Umali is currently “booked and busy,” especially now that she is confirmed to be a part of the highly-anticipated spin-off series Sang’gre. On 23 October, Umali confirmed in a televised interview that she would play Terra, the daughter of the major character Danaya, in the spin-off. “Hindi ko hiniling pero pinagkaloob pa rin sakin (I didn’t ask for it but it was given to me), that’s why I’m very, very thankful... I assure [you] that they will not be disappointed; I will not fail anyone,” Umali said, thanking her supporters and her home network for trusting her with this big project. The 23-year-old actress added that she has been working hard on her character as if she were preparing for a Marvel movie. She is currently undergoing training in arnis, the same weapon used by Danaya in the 2005 and 2016 versions of Encantadia. “I am preparing my physique for it, I am preparing my skills for it, and I have been studying everything about Encantadia,” she said. The actress revealed that she dreamt of being a part of the 2016 reboot, but she wasn’t called in for an audition nor she was considered for a role. “Na-realize ko na kaya pala, hindi pala dapat ako nalungkot nung mga oras na ‘yon na akala ko hindi ako kasali kasi meron palang ganito, meron palang para sa akin” (I realized that I needn’t have been sad that I wasn’t able to join, because eventually there was something also for me). During the San Diego Comic-con in July, resident GMA director Mark Reyes revealed the series concept art, to which Umali commented with a leaf emoji that hinted at her upcoming role in the series. Encantadia’s spin-off series has been officially in the works for a long time. In January 2022, Reyes posted a screenshot of a Zoom meeting with the show’s creative team on Instagram. Based on Reyes’ Instagram post, Encantadia’s creative team is composed of seasoned and talented individuals in the industry, including Encantadia creator Suzette Doctolero, screenwriter and National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee, creative heads RJ Nuevas and AliNokom-Dedicatoria, and writers Anna Aleta, Ays de Guzman and Jake Somera. Encantadia is a 2005 classic fantasy television series that revolves around four sisters or sang’gres tasked to be the new keepers of powerful gemstones. It starred Iza Calzado, Sunshine Dizon, Karylle and Diana Zubiri. A reboot was released in 2016, featuring Kylie Padilla, Glaiza de Castro, Gabbi Garcia and Sanya Lopez. The post Bianca Umali to star in ‘Encantadia’ spin-off series ‘Sang’gre’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Barrio boy Pedro Penduko becomes an urban warrior
The original Pedro Penduko was a comic book character created by the posthumously awarded National Artist for Literature Francisco V. Coching. Serialized in Liwayway, the Filipino magazine of choice in the mid-‘50s to ‘70s, Coching’s Penduko is an ordinary young man from the barrio who is bumbling and cowardly but also resourceful, quick-witted and pure-hearted. Lamentably, no prints are known to exist of the first Pedro Penduko film made by the great Gerry de Leon, National Artist for Film, who directed from a screenplay by Coching himself. Efren Reyes Sr. was the original actor who played Penduko on the silver screen. The second motion picture incarnation of Coching’s comic book character happened in the late ’70s, with the Philippines’ Bruce Lee counterpart Ramon Zamora as lead under Celso Ad Castillo’s direction. More recent incarnations include remakes that starred Janno Gibbs, plus the successful ABS-CBN series that catapulted Matt Evans to teen stardom. Pedro Penduko will once again be reborn this December with the Metro Manila Film Festival entry Penduko, starring Matteo Guidicelli as the iconic character and Jason Paul Laxamana writing and directing the film. Laxamana said he has uprooted Pedro Penduko from the barrio and made him an urban daily survivor. Guidicelli’s Penduko is now an everyday Juan in the city struggling to make ends meet because he does not want to follow the footsteps of his arbularyo father, Apo Tisot (John Arcilla), offering a millennial story of the main character journeying to find one’s self and the hero within. “Majority of people now have seen so many superheroes from Marvel, DC, Disney and the like. So, in this Penduko, we have expanded his story. The common threads in all the Penduko movies and TV show are its folklore and mythical elements. That is what we maintained in this film, but we added a fuller story to strengthen the folklore and magical elements.” Guidicelli, who said he was “overwhelmed and grateful” to be doing the role, trained hard to be physically fit, undergoing extensive arnis, eskrima and kali sessions with a Philippine martial arts master. He also worked closely with his acting coach Ruby Ruiz to get the character right, especially his feelings and sense of truth. “When I was presented the screenplay by direk Jason Paul, I was blown away,” recalled Guidicelli. “Anything and everything about Penduko, how he envisioned him to be and the world we are presenting in the movie, was in the script. And it was written in the old style, almost lyrical Tagalog. Nakaka-intimidate! As an actor, pag ganun ka-kumpleto na ‘yung ibinigay sa iyo (if you were given something that complete), you really need to bring your A-game.” Guidicelli is bullish about thebox-office prospects of his film. “It has been quite some time for an action-fantasy movie to be part of the annual MMFF. Aside from that, we have a gripping and relatable narrative. There are twists to the folklore and mythical creatures. Its sensibilities, passion and heart are truly Filipino.” Penduko is the first MMFF venture of Epik Studios and Sari-Sari Network Inc., in collaboration with Viva Films. It opens in cinemas this 25 December as an official MMFF entry. The post Barrio boy Pedro Penduko becomes an urban warrior appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Philippines stands ground in Phnom Penh
Filipino bets in the country’s very own arnis, Olympic sports and the stronghold of obstacle course race did the heavy lifting for Team Philippines in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games that ended yesterday......»»
POC chief expects more SEA Games wins
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — More medals are expected by Team Philippines in the last two days of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games. Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham Tolentino said as the Filipinos got ready to further improve their running tally of 46 golds, 72 silvers and 88 bronze medals early Monday. “We will surpass our medal tally in Vietnam,” said Tolentino. “It's achievable, God-willing it might (even) reach 60 (golds).” During the 31st SEA Games in Vietnam last year, Filipino athletes hauled 52 golds, 70 silvers and 105 bronzes. Tolentino feels that sports where Filipinos will still see action, like kickboxing, taekwondo, arnis, weightlifting, judo, wrestling, dragonboat, beach volleyball, jet ski and sepak takraw, can still contribute to the Philippine cause. “If you get one each (gold) on these sports, definitely we will surpass the 52 golds in Vietnam. We already surpassed the silver. We only have 70 (silvers) in Vietnam, we have now 72,” said Tolentino. “There could be surprises out there,” added Tolentino, making special mention of the Philippines’ soft tennis, team which became the games’ unofficial champion after delivering three gold, one silver and a bronze medal, to improve on its 3-0-1 finish in the 2019 SEA Games. The POC chief also lauded the taekwondo team, which bagged 6 golds (led by the title triumph of Kurt Barbosa), a silver and 4 bronze medals. The post POC chief expects more SEA Games wins appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mayor Chan : Lapu-Lapu as PH’s ‘arnis capital’
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Philippines — Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan wants the city to be known as the “Arnis Capital” in the country. During the celebration of the “Kadaugan sa Mactan” on Thursday, April 27, 2023, the city even featured 1,000 eskrimadors that had performed after the reenactment. To honor Datu Lapulapu Chan said that […] The post Mayor Chan : Lapu-Lapu as PH’s ‘arnis capital’ appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Go graces Panay SHC groundbreaking
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go attended the groundbreaking of the Panay Super Health Center in Capiz last Monday, following a monitoring visit of the Malasakit Center at the Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital in Roxas City earlier that day. The facility, through the efforts of the Department of Health and the local government of Panay, will offer basic health services to the people of the town and even neighboring areas, such as database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: X-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat service; oncology centers; physical therapy and rehabilitation center; and telemedicine, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done. Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds were allocated under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program of the Department of Health for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023. The DoH, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where they will be constructed. In his speech during the event, Go emphasized the importance of investing in healthcare infrastructure to ensure that Filipinos, especially those in rural areas, have access to quality medical care. He also praised the government’s efforts, led by Governor Fredenil Castro, Vice Governor Jaime “Mitang” Magbanua, Board Member Thea Reyes, Panay Mayor Vicente Bermejo and Vice Mayor Arminda Asis-Bermejo, among others, for their collective efforts to support the construction of the new center. Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, personally checked on the operations of the Malasakit Center at the Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital. In his speech, the senator reiterated his commitment to supporting efforts to enhance the delivery of public health services in communities. The senator expressed hopes that the services of the Malasakit Centers will continue, acknowledging the program’s tremendous impact in providing much needed assistance to millions of poor and indigent patients across the country. A brainchild of Go, the Malasakit Centers program was institutionalized in 2019 under Republic Act No. 11463, which he principally authored and sponsored in the Senate during his first few months after being elected as senator. Also in Capiz, Go lauded the local government for successfully holding its Capiztahan Swimfest from April 14 to 16 at the Villareal Stadium in Roxas City. The swimfest is just one out of the 14 sporting events featured in Capiztahan 2023 which also include jujitsu, windsurfing, taekwondo, arnis, lawn tennis, invitational motocross, chess, boxing, mixed martial arts, table tennis, bodybuilding, skimboard, and criterium race. The post Go graces Panay SHC groundbreaking appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Go lauds Capiztahan Swimfest, sends out aid to indigents
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, congratulated the provincial government of Capiz, led by Governor Fredenil Castro, for successfully holding its Capiztahan Swimfest from 14 to 16 April at the Villareal Stadium in Roxas City. “Nais ko po sanang batiin lahat ng mga manlalaro na nagmula sa iba't ibang panig ng rehiyon upang makilahok sa kompetisyon na ito. Ang inyong dedikasyon at pagsisikap ang nagdala sa inyo dito, at tiyak na ibibigay ninyo ang inyong buong puso sa inyong laban,” expressed Go through a message delivered by his representative present during the event. Go was scheduled to personally join the event that day but due to technical issues with the aircraft, his visit was rescheduled to Monday in Capiz where he visited the Malasakit Center in Roxas City. He also joined the groundbreaking of two Super Health Centers and provided assistance to indigents in Panit-an and Panay towns. “As we all know, sports play an essential role in our lives. They not only keep us physically fit but also help us develop important values like discipline, perseverance, and teamwork. They also teach us to face challenges and overcome them with determination, which is a valuable lesson that we can apply in all aspects of our lives,” he continued. The Swimfest is just one out of the 14 sporting events featured in Capiztahan 2023 as there will also be jujitsu, windsurfing, taekwondo, arnis, lawn tennis, invitational motocross, chess, boxing, mixed martial arts, table tennis, bodybuilding, skimboard, and criterium race. The sports festival aims to promote physical fitness, healthy competition, and camaraderie among the residents of Capiz, particularly the youth. It also provides a platform for local athletes to showcase their skills and talents in various sports and to represent their respective towns and cities in friendly competitions. “Sa lahat ng mga magulang at guardians na naririto ngayon, nais kong pasalamatan kayo sa inyong pagsuporta sa mga pangarap ng inyong mga anak na mahilig sa sports,” cited Go. “Ang inyong pagmamahal at suporta ang nagtulak sa kanila upang magpatuloy sa kanilang mga pangarap, at hindi nila makakamit ito ngayon kung hindi sa inyong walang-sawang suporta,” he added. Go’s team also raffled off a pair of shoes and a bike for the participants of the swimfest. Board Member Thea Faith Reyes was present during the event and expressed gratitude to Go for his continuing support of the province. Meanwhile, Go’s team led a relief operation for 1,000 indigents at the Civic Center. They gave away grocery packs, vitamins, snacks, masks, and shirts to the residents. They also provided bicycles, cellular phones, shoes, umbrellas, and balls for basketball and volleyball to select beneficiaries. Representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development were also in attendance and extended financial assistance. “I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the organizers of this event, including the local government, for their hard work in putting together this wonderful competition. It takes a lot of effort and dedication to organize such an event, and I commend you for your tireless efforts,” Go highlighted. “Let us all enjoy this day of healthy competition and camaraderie. To all the swimmers, I wish you the best of luck, and may the best person win. Patuloy nating itaguyod ang sports upang maitaguyod ang ating pagkakaisa at magandang kinabukasan para sa ating bansa,” he concluded. On the same day, Go sent his outreach teams to Panay and Panitan towns to likewise assist struggling residents. Go, as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, was instrumental in pushing an additional budget for the Philippine Sports Commission in order to support the preparation, training, and participation of Filipino athletes in upcoming sports competitions and to implement effective programs to hone the skills of more young and aspiring athletes. Particularly, the increase in the PSC's 2023 budget reflected in the General Appropriations Act is intended to support Filipino athletes in the 2023 Asian Games, 2023 Southeast Asian Games, and 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. It can also be recalled that Go has successfully authored and co-sponsored a bill in the Senate which became Republic Act No. 11470 in 2020. The Act mandated the establishment of the National Academy of Sports System and Main Campus in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac. The NAS is a government-run academy aimed at developing the country’s future athletes by offering quality secondary education with a special curriculum on sports for gifted young Filipinos who want to enhance their physical and mental capabilities in sports. “Simula sa grassroots level, d’yan talaga nag-uumpisa ang mga atleta natin. Kaya rin po naisabatas na ang National Academy for Sports, isa pong eskwelahan kung saan po nakakapag-aral at the same time nakakapag-training ang mga kabataan. Pag-aaral at the same time training, training at the same time pag-aaral. Walang naisasakripisyo,” said Go. The lawmaker also introduced Senate Bill No. 423 or the proposed Philippine National Games Act of 2022. The proposed measure aims to institutionalize “a truly comprehensive national grassroots sports program, which will harness the vast potential of the citizenry in discovering and developing champion athletes who could excel in international sports competition, thus giving the country pride and international goodwill and addressing the long-standing problems of Philippine sports in general.” Furthermore, the bill seeks to ensure a more inclusive system of promoting promising Filipino athletes who possess potential in various fields of sports to be given an equal opportunity of becoming future contenders in international sporting competitions and cement the country’s status as a "Sports Powerhouse in Asia." The post Go lauds Capiztahan Swimfest, sends out aid to indigents appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Internationally applauded eskrimador to play role of Lapulapu in Kadaugan sa Mactan 2023
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Philippines – The Lapu-Lapu City government is giving priority to local talents in the Kadaugan sa Mactan reenactment scheduled this April 27. Jonel Espinosa Pepito, an internationally applauded eskrimador and the father of the Lapu-Lapu Arnis de Abanico, would play the role of Datu Lapulapu, said Rep. Cindi King-Chan of the lone district […] The post Internationally applauded eskrimador to play role of Lapulapu in Kadaugan sa Mactan 2023 appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Minglanilla to host PEKAF Visayas leg qualifying tournament
CEBU, Philippines—The town of Minglanilla in southern Cebu will host the upcoming Philippine Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (PEKAF) Visayas leg qualifying tournament on January 6-8, 2023, at the Minglanilla sports complex, south Cebu. The three-day major arnis tournament will field 455 eskrimadors from all over the Visayas as part of PEKAF’s selection for the Philippine […] The post Minglanilla to host PEKAF Visayas leg qualifying tournament appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Doce Pares Eskrima-Kali-Arnis welcomes 7 new GMs
CEBU CITY, Philippines—The world renowned Doce Pares Eskrima-Kali-Arnis international federation welcomed seven new Grand Masters (GMs) to its fold. The new GMs are Elmer Mosqueda, Ashley Lee, Abet Cañete, Scott Slezak, Jose Marquez, Felix Roiles, and, Antonio Oñas, Jr. GM Mosqueda was the highest-ranked GM installed by Doce Pares after being promoted to the 10th […] The post Doce Pares Eskrima-Kali-Arnis welcomes 7 new GMs appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Women arnis medalists share life stories in PSC web series
Sixteen women gold medalists from the virtual Women’s Martial Arts Festival, will be featured on the Philippine Sports Commission’s web series “Rise Up, Shape Up” this Saturday......»»
Arnis coach to play Lapulapu in Victory at Mactan reenactment
CEBU CITY, Philippines — A local arnis team coach and a local freelance host will play the roles of Datu Lapulapu and Ferdinand Magellan respectively in the reenactment of the Victory in Mactan on April 27, 2021. Jonel Espinosa Pepito, 31, who is also a public school teacher for nine years, would take on the […] The post Arnis coach to play Lapulapu in Victory at Mactan reenactment appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Online arnis tourney in the works
CEBU CITY, Philippines—- Milo and the Philippine Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (Pekaf) are brewing a major online arnis tournament in the country this year. One of the organizers, Ricky Ballesteros, who happens to be also the organizer of the Milo Little Olympics and National Milo Marathon, told CDN Digital that they were on the planning […] The post Online arnis tourney in the works appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
& lsquo;Rebirth of the Rebellion Sport& rsquo; docu looks into Arnis& rsquo; past, future
At the 30th Southeast Asian Games held in Clark, Pampanga, last December 2019, the Philippine National Arnis Team made history, bagging 14 out of the 20 gold medals, plus four silver and two bronze medals in the Arnis competitions—an exceptional feat for a team of young athletes, who joined a competition of such magnitude for the first time......»»
Meet Onassis Parungao, the first Filipino to compete in the UFC
Most Filipino mixed martial arts fans know of Mark Muñoz and Brandon Vera, arguably the two most popular Pinoy-blooded fighters to compete in the UFC. More avid fans will know of the likes of Dave Galera, Roldan Sangcha-an, and Mark Eddiva, a trio of Team Lakay standouts who all made it onto the Octagon. More recently, local stars like Rolando Dy, Jenel Lausa, and CJ De Tomas all proudly wore the Philippines’ colors on their UFC kits. The distinction of being the first-ever Filipino blooded fighter to compete in the UFC however, belongs to one Onassis Parungao. Born in Spain to a father from Baliuag, Bulacan and a mother from Spain, Parungao grew up in the United States and competed at UFC 7 back in 1995, defeating Francesco Maturi by strikes in the first round. Speaking on The Hitlist vodcast, Parungao shed some light on how he got on to the UFC during the early days of MMA. Parungao, who was 24 years old at the time, studied Tung Kung Kalan or Arnis de Mano before taking up Judo, wrestling, and Kung Fu. “I was watching it and you know back then, because of the rules and no weight classes, no gloves, I was doing- you know got in a lot of street fights being a Navy kid,” Parungao explained. “So I have that sill here (motions to chest), I wanna get out and I wanna do it, and then I realized ‘Hey maybe I can try that.’” Parungao also admitted that he was hoping that his heritage could somehow help him earn a spot in the tournament. “To tell you the truth, I knew that there wasn’t a Filipino guy there so I was banking on that they would let me in there, and just all the stars aligned and they just worked. It wasn’t like I had all this fame, they didn’t just have one to apply, so I saw an opportunity, we wrote a letter and I took it.” In his lone UFC appearance, Parungao took to the Octagon wearing a white shirt that had “Philippines” on the back. Back then, when the UFC was still starting, one of the things that they did to hype up the competitors was to “exaggerate” their records and accomplishments, so to speak. Parungao was billed as a “Pintakasi champion”. “I’m not a Pintakasi champion, my teacher was,” Parungao clarified. “But I think they said certain things to hype the fighters up. I wanna get that on record, that I never claimed to be that.” Following his UFC win, Parungao went on to compete two more times, before retiring quite early in his career. Parungao explained that he had received offers to compete in Japan for the legendary Pancrase promotion, but the distractions outside of competition ultimately dissuaded him from doing so. “I just got married and then there was this guy named Takeya Oitate, the guy was offering me contracts and money to come and fight in Pancrase and all that stuff, and I’m like I kinda wanna do it, but in Japan, you have bathhouses, there’s girls there and I’ll be fighting and stuff like that, and in my early 20s, all these testosterone, I just got married you know, you’re gonna put me around other fighters and girls and all this other stuff? Like, no way. I didn’t wanna do that.” Parungao continued to compete in kickboxing tournaments, but admits to having regrets over calling it a career after just three professional MMA bouts. “Yes, I have some regrets, I do,” he said. “I’m 50 now, but I still feel really strong, you know. I mean, put me in a match against another 50-year-old, that would be fair.” “But to answer your question, I’ve done all these Filipino martial arts, I’ve done all this fighting, I’ve done all this sparring, I was a fighter first and then my Sifu for Chinese martial arts turned me into a martial artist. I don’t wanna say that made me lesser, it just turned me into someone that didn’t need to prove it as much. But I do have some regrets like I feel like I could, you know I never stop training, I still will go to a gym and spar and roll with guys and just like MMA has evolved and improved, so have I,” Parungao added. Parungao remains a martial artist to this day, as he owns and operates the Cheng Yee Kung Fu School in Southeastern Connecticut......»»