Philippine College of Physicians-CV: Upcasing charge vs AHC staff ‘disheartening’
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Medical personnel of the Adventist Hospital-Cebu (AHC), who were accused of upcasing by the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7), received the needed support from the Philippine College of Physicians – Central Visayas (PCP-CV). In a statement released on Sunday, July 4, PCP-CV said, going to court would […] The post Philippine College of Physicians-CV: Upcasing charge vs AHC staff ‘disheartening’ appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Valdez tows Pirates to Final 4
Enoch Valdez took charge in the final half as Lyceum of the Philippines University overcame San Sebastian College’s gutsy stand and escaped with an 83-80 victory yesterday to advance to the NCAA Season 99 Final Four at the Filoil EcoOil Arena......»»
Former Bataan gov off the hook
The Sandiganbayan announced on Sunday that it has cleared former Bataan Governor Leonardo Roman of a P3.66-million graft charge stemming from the anomalous construction of a mini-theater at the Bataan State College in 2004. Citing the prosecution’s failure to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, the anti-graft court’s Second Division acquitted Roman of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act or RA 3019 in a 41-page ruling. “As the prosecution, in this case, failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt all the elements of Section 3(e) of RA 3019 under which the accused was charged, accused Roman should be entitled to an acquittal,” said the Sandiganbayan. To recall, the case against Roman involved the alleged awarding of a P3.66-million mini-theater project of the Bataan State College in 2004 in favor of V.F. Construction despite no allocated budget or appropriation for the project. He was also accused of colluding with his co-accused executive assistant Romeo Mendiola, treasurer Pastor Vichauco, budget officer Aurora Tiambeng, and accountant Numeriano Medina by giving unwarranted benefits to V.F. Construction for the release of the sum. Filed before the Ombudsman, the case stemmed from a complaint-affidavit dated 1 September 2004 accusing Roman and his cohorts of the crime of malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents. Roman served as the governor of Bataan from 1986 to 2004. In 2006, the Ombudsman dismissed the complaint for lack of probable cause. The Supreme Court affirmed the Ombudsman’s decision to drop the criminal charge. The Ombudsman, however, filed the case before the Sandiganbayan in 2015 following the SC’s ruling to reverse the criminal charge of graft. Based on the prosecution’s probe, Roman entered a contract with V.F. Construction to construct a mini-theater and rendered his authorizations, approvals, and certifications for the P3.66-million payment. Investigation revealed that Roman certified the project as fully completed and issued the payment to the construction firm in two installments. However, more than five months after the final payment was made to the construction company, the CoA discovered that the mini-theater, contrary to Roman’s declaration, was incomplete. The structure, it said, was only 50.7 percent complete. In clearing Roman, the Sandiganbayan stressed that it was “not convinced” by the prosecution’s theory that the erstwhile governor’s execution of a contract and approval of the payment with the V.F. Construction despite the lapses was tantamount to graft. “The evidence on record is insufficient to prove beyond reasonable doubt that there was bad faith, manifest partially, or gross inexcusable negligence on the part of the accused when he committed the questioned acts,” the Sandiganbayan said. According to the Sandiganbayan, while Roman may have committed mistakes in the performance of his duty, the fact remains that the evidence is insufficient to prove a serious breach of duty that was committed flagrantly, palpably, and with willful indifference or blatant and extremely careless manner. The post Former Bataan gov off the hook appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
How ‘Here Lies Love’ co-producer found his mark on Broadway
When Here Lies Love, the hit musical about former First Lady Imelda Marcos, made history by debuting on Broadway debut with an all-Filipino last July, one of its co-producers, Don Michael H. Mendoza, also reached a career milestone. His goal of putting his name on a Broadway show before turning 40 came true now that he’s 34. [caption id="attachment_172743" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Don Michael Mendoza with Daily Tribune’s (from left) Dinah Ventura, Jojo G. Silvestre, Gigie Arcilla, Vangie Reyes, Marc Reyes, Raffy Ayeng, Gibbs Cadiz and Nick Giongco.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_172742" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘Always ask for what you want because the worst that can come back is a no.’ | Photographs Courtesy of Daily Tribune.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_172741" align="aligncenter" width="525"] DON Mike Mendoza with Daily Tribune’s Jojo G. Silvestre and Dinah Ventura.[/caption] It happened, and it’s not just any show. It’s the first Filipino musical on Broadway,” he tells Daily Tribune’s Dinah Ventura and Jojo Silvestre in an interview on their online show Pairfect. “It’s very important to me because a lot of my career is based on the idea of D,E & I — diversity, equity and inclusion — especially in a country like America that’s a melting pot. “It’s very important to make sure that unrepresented voices and communities are brought to the front. To be part of that, for me personally, is an incredible honor because it’s exactly aligned with how I live my professional life every day, every year.” “For the Fil-Am community,” he adds, “I think it’s important for people to see themselves in that arena, whether be as a producer, an actor, or a stagehand, or on the creative team as an assistant director. You know, it says a lot when someone tries to reach that can see themselves in a role that they want to achieve. “Because for a long time, my role models were very few. They’re mostly Americans, they’re white people. And I wanted to be an actor and my only acting influences in the media was Paolo Montalban. He was in Cinderella, American Adobo… He’s now a friend — which is amazing! But I didn’t really have many role models. So, to our community, both Filipino and Fil-Am, they can now look at this production and say, whatever they feel is their career path, ‘I can do it, too.’ So, it’s very powerful.” Beginnings Don Michael Hodreal Mendoza, nicknamed Don Mike, was born in Washington D.C., the capital city of the United States, to immigrant parents. His father Donald Mendoza’s family hails from Cavite and is involved in local politics. His mother Maria Leonila Hodreal has families in Marinduque (maternal side) and Bicol (paternal side). His grandfather Querubin Hodreal created what is now known as the Easy Rock Manila radio station. “My mom, who’s part of that legacy, says even though we’re in the States I somehow ended up doing what our family does, in entertainment and media,” he says, beaming. From Washington D.C., Mendoza’s nuclear family moved to the city of Pittsburgh in the Pennsylvania state, where he grew up. “But I was also raised here in Manila, in Ayala Alabang, for a couple of years,” he points out. He was then between the ages of six and eight, also starting his education at Montessori Manila in BF Homes. “We’re lucky we’re able to come home a lot, so even though I grew up on majority in America, we’d come home every other year.” That explains why he also has exposure and gets inspiration from Filipino movies and entertainment. Mendoza started performing in school plays and high school musicals “for fun.” For college, though, he “needed to study that wasn’t the arts because immigrant families want you to do something that makes money in their eyes.” So he took up broadcast journalism and political science at the American University in D.C. But he didn’t like political science, so he dropped it and added musical theater to his studies without telling his parents until he got into the program. After graduation, he was torn between two goals: becoming a Broadway actor like Jose Llana, who currently plays the late President Ferdinand Marcos in Here Lies Love, and becoming the “Filipino Anderson Cooper.” He ended up staying in D.C with a job in marketing, which eventually became his master’s degree. Mendoza started auditioning and trying to get into shows. “But I wasn’t getting cast the way I wanted to,” he recalls, “because it’s very hard for a Filipino, an Asian male actor to get parts, unless you decided to be in Miss Saigon, which was one of the only very few shows that hire Asian people. So, I kinda fell into producing.” That was when he met a fellow Fil-Am, Regie Cabico, who’s 20 years older than him and became his mentor. He remembers Cabico telling him, “The way to be successful for someone like us in the arts is to start your own opportunities.” Thus, the birth, in 2012, of their company, La Ti Do, which is into production of cabarets and concerts. “I met so many people and worked with so many actors and performers without knowing it’s producing,” he says, smiling at the memory. “I just realized producing means organizing. It means you’re in charge, you’re putting things together and hire people. In those 10 years, I was able to produce small musicals and concerts and special events.” He then put up his own DMH Mendoza Productions, which has La Ti Do as its cabaret-concert arm, to allow him to “produce bigger and more incredible things.” For starters, he produced the off-Broadway play Hazing U that tackles violence in fraternities. Around that time, February 2023, he heard about Here Lies Love being restaged, this time on Broadway. The musical created by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim originally premiered off-Broadway in 2013 at The Public Theater in New York City. A year later, it moved to the Royal National Theater in London, England, and then was restaged at Seattle Repertory Theater in the US in 2017. Mendoza admits with regret that he missed seeing Here Lies Love’s off-Broadway premiere and thought he’d never see it ever again “just because Filipino things don’t usually last very long in America.” So when he heard it was coming to Broadway, he basically called everybody he knew who’s involved in the production to ask how he could help. “I wasn’t really looking for a producer stature,” he says. “I said to many people I’m willing to sell t-shirts in the lobby just to support this show.” It turned out his good friend Lora Nicolas Olaes, who he stayed with in New York, was in the first workshop of the show in 2011, and she personally knows one of the lead producers, Clint Ramos. Olaes then connected Mendoza and Ramos via email, which led to Mendoza joining the Here Lies Love production team. “I’m still having trouble today saying I’m a co-producer. I’m so used to just doing rather than labeling,” he says. “It’s been a wild ride from then till now. I don’t regret any of it. It’s been the best experience so far.” He then shares that having an all-Filipino cast and a predominantly Filipino production team is very important for the lead producers. Two of the five are Filipino: Clint Ramos, a Tony award-winning costume designer, and Jose Antonio Vargas, a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist. This extends to other producers, such as Hal Luftig, Diana DiMenna and Patrick Catullo, as well as to musical writers David Byrne and Fatboy Slim. “They wanted to reach beyond the cast and make sure that the show is escorted into Broadway by Filipinos because it’s a Filipino story,” Mendoza points out. Aside from Llana, the main cast is made up of Arielle Jacobs (as Imelda) and Conrad Ricamora as (Ninoy Aquino), with Lea Salonga (as Ninoy’s mother Aurora) in a limited run until 19 August. “It’s beyond the cast. So our creative team, our production team, our stagehands, everybody. Even our house staff, some of them are Filipinos. We really wanted to make a mark on Broadway. That’s how it came about. So that was an early decision. Because the off-Broadway production was mixed. It was not all-Filipino. It had Ruthie Ann Miles as Imelda. She’s not Filipino. It was hard to move from her and bring in Arielle Jacobs, who is just as amazing, but, you know, it was very important for the team to be culturally accurate. Because it’s our story.” “It’s our show,” he reiterates. “Let’s bring it to the world. Our people are playing themselves. I’ve said this in an interview: The general public is trained to love Filipino as other ethnicities. This is the first time we’re training them to love us, Filipinos, as ourselves.” Musical textbook Mendoza’s fellow co-producers include Salonga and Fil-Am celebrities like comedian Jo Koy, musical artist H.E.R. and rapper Apl.de.ap. “Our show is a musical textbook,” he explains. “It’s a musical built around facts, what happened historically during her lifetime. Our whole goal for the show is to present to you what happened with, of course, entertainment attached to it. There’s a misconception that it’s a documentary. It is not. It’s musical theater. It’s supposed to be fun. You see what happened. “We empower our audience to make their own decision. We don’t tell them, ‘This was a bad person. This was a good person.’ Here’s what this person did in their life and how she was affected by her surroundings, and go home and do the research. You figure it out. We liken it to giving someone a Zip file of Philippine history in the 21th century and you go home and unzip the Zip file to get into the details. “But we give you an overview. It’s really up to the audience when they leave the show. I know it’s the goal of our writers and directors to not impose an opinion. We’re just here to entertain and make you learn. When you leave, it’s up to you.” Mendoza happily reports that Here Lies Love is being received “very well.” He adds, “The critics have come and said really wonderful about the show, especially the ones we’re nervous about, like the New York Times, or The Washington Post, or the Wall Street Journal. It trickles down to everyone who’s seen the show. I think we’re so proud and excited that it’s well-received. Audience members love it, they keep coming back.” He also notes that audiences are “pretty diverse. You see Filipinos, you see Americans, you see visitors. It’s really a big hodge-podge of different people. We’re happy about that, too. It’s not biased to just one community.” Indeed, Mendoza is living his dream and he has this piece of audience for the younger generation who also hopes to break into theater or arts in general: “Always ask for what you want because the worst that can come back is a no.” He then shares what she’s picked up from Kris Jenner: “If somebody says no to you, you’re asking the wrong person. Keeping asking for what you want. Not just manifesting, but really it’s just speaking up. Nobody can read your mind. Nobody can see what’s happening in your mind and in your heart. So if you express it, you ask and you’ll get there. It may not happen in the timing that you want, but it will happen if you keep pushing.” The post How ‘Here Lies Love’ co-producer found his mark on Broadway appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Metrobank rewards 10 outstanding Pinoys P1-M each
Ten Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos, comprised of four teachers, three soldiers, and three police officers, are recognized for going beyond their duty and making a difference in the community. Recipients of this year’s career-service award for Filipino exemplars in the academe, military, and police sectors were presented to the public on Thursday, 3 August. Each of them will receive a cash prize of P1 million each (net of tax), a golden medallion, and “The Flame” trophy in a conferment ceremony on 29 August, ahead of the Metrobank’s anniversary celebration in September. Outstanding Filipinos embody the true meaning of “Beyond Excellence” as they go the extra mile in their chosen profession and selflessly extend a helping hand to those in need through their various service and community involvements while overcoming adversities and challenges. Bagging the 2023 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipino Award for Teachers are (1) Mr. Rex M. Sario, MAT, Master Teacher I/Teacher-in-Charge of Balogo Elementary School (Pangantucan, Bukidnon); (2) June Elias V. Patalinghug, EdD, Master Teacher II, Catalunan Grande Elementary School (Davao City); (3) Edgar R. Durana, MAEd, Master Teacher I/SPED Coordinator, Don Jose Ynares Memorial National High School (Binangonan, Rizal); and (4) Jovelyn G. Delosa, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Northern Bukidnon State College (Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon). To be conferred with the 2023 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipino Award for Soldiers are (5) Staff Sergeant Danilo S. Banquiao PA, Civil-Military Officer — Non-Commissioned Officer, 103rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Philippine Army (Marawi City, Lanao del Sur); (6) Lieutenant Colonel Joseph J. Bitancur PAF, Assistant Commandant, Basic Military School, Air Education, Training, and Doctrine Command, Philippine Air Force (Lipa City, Batangas); and (7) Colonel Joseph Jeremias Cirilo C. Dator PA, Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations (G3), Presidential Security Group (City of Manila) (formerly Commanding Officer, 10th Military Intelligence Battalion, 10th Infantry Division in Mawab, Davao de Oro). Meanwhile, recipients of the 2023 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipino Award for Police Officers are (8) Police Chief Master Sergeant Dennis D. Bendo, Section Team Leader, District Mobile Force Battalion, Manila Police District (City of Manila); (9) Police Major Mae Ann R. Cunanan, Chief, Police Community Relations, Criminal Investigation, and Detection Group, Camp Crame (Quezon City) (formerly Chief, Case Monitoring Section, Regional Investigation and Detection Management Division, PRO 9 in Zamboanga City); and (10) Police Colonel Renell R. Sabaldica, Chief, Morale and Welfare Division, Directorate for Personnel and Records Management, Camp Crame (Quezon City) (formerly Provincial Director of Cagayan Police Provincial Office in Tuguegarao City). “Outstanding Filipinos inspire us to go beyond excellence and pursue a mission that is bigger than ourselves. This year’s batch proved to us how the competence of Filipinos combined with character and compassion can positively impact other people’s lives,” said Metrobank Foundation president Aniceto M. Sobrepeña. “Educators, peacekeepers, and defenders have chosen to render selfless service to the community and the country despite many adversities. We hope their examples and contributions to society create a ripple effect transcending generations,” he added. The post Metrobank rewards 10 outstanding Pinoys P1-M each appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marcos appoints CHEd execs
The Commission on Higher Education announced on Wednesday that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed three new officials of the agency, which included a former president of a state university in Iloilo. The President appointed Iloilo Science and Technology University President Raul Muyong, Corinna Frances Cabanilla and Dr. Christine Ferrer as Directors IV of CHEd. “I congratulate and welcome our three new CHEd officials. They all come with impressive academic credentials and expertise that will help CHEd implement its mandates and priorities under the Marcos administration,” said CHEd chairperson Prospero de Vera III. Muyong earned his Doctor of Education degree major in Educational Management from the West Visayas State University in March 1997; Master of Science in Industrial Education major in Educational Management from Western Visayas College of Science and Technology in April 1991; and his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Education degree from the same institution in April 1986 where he graduated as Magna Cum Laude. He is a two-term President of ISAT U and is responsible for the rapid improvement of ISAT U particularly in science and technology programs, including impressive performance in the licensure examination in Electronics Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. Cabanilla, on the other hand, serves as director-in-charge of the local graduate scholarship programs of CHEd that provides opportunities for faculty members to finish their masters and doctoral degrees. She is also the Representative of the CHEd chairman in the Philippine-American Educational Foundation which sets the policy direction and implementation of Fulbright Scholarships for Filipinos, CHEd representative for the Department of Science and Technology National Technical and Selection Committee on Science and Technology Scholarships. She was originally connected with the UP NCPAG Center for Policy and Executive Development. The post Marcos appoints CHEd execs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Herbosa pushes healthcare reforms
Dr. Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa took his oath on Tuesday as secretary of the Department of Health, a position that had been vacant since June last year. He was sworn into office by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at Malacañang. Herbosa pledged to fully implement the Universal Health Care Law, or UHCL, by sustaining its gains, strengthening health sector strategy interventions and introducing healthcare reforms. The UHCL, or Republic Act 11223, was enacted in 2019 to provide universal health coverage for all Filipinos, regardless of their income or employment status. “The DoH family welcomes this development, as this is crucial to the department’s operations. With this transition, the DoH ensures that healthcare services will remain unhampered,” the agency said. Marcos named Herbosa Health secretary Monday night, putting him at the helm of the department vice Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire, who had led the agency since July of last year. Vergeire assured the public that DoH will provide “all-out support” and a smooth transition for Herbosa. “Secretary Ted can be assured of our sincere support from the whole DoH family,” she said. Before his appointment, Herbosa served as an undersecretary at the DoH from 2010 to 2015, contributing to various initiatives such as the establishment of the Hospital Accreditation Commission, modernizing the Philippine Orthopedics Center, and promoting public-private partnerships in health. He is also a former undersecretary and concurrent regional director at the DoH-National Capital Regional Office. From October 2017 to April 2021, Herbosa served as executive vice president of the University of the Philippines System, contributing to its development and growth. He has held various key positions, including chief of the Division of Trauma at the Department of Surgery, Philippine General Hospital; chairman of the board of Physicians for Peace Philippines, and third vice president of the UP Alumni Association. He has likewise served as a professor in the Emergency Department at Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and at the National University of Malaysia. Herbosa has been involved in numerous international roles and collaborations, including serving on the board of directors of the World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine. He is a former medical consultant and adviser for the Australasian Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians in Melbourne, Australia, and Regional Education Coordinator for the HOPE (Hospital Preparedness and Emergencies) Program at Johns Hopkins University Center for International Emergencies, Disasters and Refugee Studies in Maryland, USA. Amid the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Herbosa served as a Special Adviser to the National Task Force Against Covid-19, offering guidance and contributing to the formulation of strategies to mitigate the impact of the virus. He also served as an international consultant in several countries, including Palau, Maldives, Malaysia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Vietnam, Tunisia and Thailand, making notable contributions to emergency medicine and trauma care. Dr. Herbosa’s involvement in the development of the STOP DEATH Program and his membership in the Safe Surgery Saves Lives Global Task Force, which developed the WHO safe surgery checklist, demonstrated his dedication to improving healthcare systems. ‘Interestingly, Gibo is a trained pilot. And he knows that our defense requirements are evolving from mainly insurgency-based to more territorial protection — and that requires air superiority in our own airspace.’ Herbosa also held a prominent position as a professor at the College of Medicine at the University of the Philippines Manila. Aside from Herbosa, Marcos named Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. as secretary of the Department of National Defense. Meanwhile, senators expressed their support for the appointments of Teodoro and Herbosa as Defense and Health chiefs, respectively. “Secretary Teodoro is a tried and tested public servant and we trust that he will head the Department of Defense most capably, particularly amid this atmosphere of brewing tensions in our waters,” Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said in a statement. “And we are happy to see the Department of Health helmed by an experienced public health expert. Secretary Herbosa’s appointment comes at an opportune time, with our Regional Specialty Centers Act having just gotten bicameral approval, and we are hopeful that he will spearhead a truly whole-of-nation approach in the improvement of our public health services,” he added. He said with the appointments of Teodoro and Herbosa, the President has “just addressed the two most pressing challenges of our time — territorial integrity and our full recovery from the pandemic.” “Their appointments should give a big boost to our fight to have a secure and stronger nation supported by a healthy population,” he said. Likewise, Senator Grace Poe welcomed the appointments of the new department heads. “We trust that their expertise and experience in their respective fields will help them carry out the gargantuan tasks that lie ahead,” she said in a separate statement. Poe said the new secretaries are “crucial in deciding and implementing strategies in addressing the various health issues we are facing and in upholding the country’s territorial integrity against various threats.” “Focus and commitment on the job coupled with straight and true service will fortify our health and defense sectors and deliver the services our people deserve,” she added. Senator JV Ejercito urged Teodoro to ensure the successful modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. “We need to expedite these efforts to put up a robust defense posture and reinforce our coastal defenses amid the growing tensions in the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea,” he said. Meanwhile, former Health secretary, now Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin, wished Herbosa all the luck and the perseverance to deliver accessible healthcare to Filipinos. According to Garin, the DoH needs a manager who can oversee the prompt delivery of services to the public. She added Herbosa also needs to tackle the so-called infodemics or the proliferation of fake medical news. Speaker Martin Romualdez and Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said the President made the right choices in Teodoro and Herbosa. “Interestingly, Gibo is a trained pilot. And he knows that our defense requirements are evolving from mainly insurgency-based to more territorial protection — and that requires air superiority in our own airspace,” said Salceda. The post Herbosa pushes healthcare reforms appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sabandal takes charge as Lastimosa-less Adamson takes flight in Filoil opener
Joem Sabandal spearheaded the charge for the Jerom Lastimosa and Nash Racela-less Soaring Falcons in their 75-64 rout of St. Clare College......»»
Mandaue plans to build new building for MCCTEST
MANDAUE CITY, Cebu—The Mandaue City College Technological Entrepreneurial Skills Training Center (MCCTEST) will have its new two-storey building soon. MCCTEST in charge Melinda Bihag told CDN Digital that the city government is planning to provide a new building for them. Bihag said that a drawing of the new building was already made and that it […] The post Mandaue plans to build new building for MCCTEST appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Philippine College of Physicians-CV: Upcasing charge vs AHC staff ‘disheartening’
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Medical personnel of the Adventist Hospital-Cebu (AHC), who were accused of upcasing by the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7), received the needed support from the Philippine College of Physicians – Central Visayas (PCP-CV). In a statement released on Sunday, July 4, PCP-CV said, going to court would […] The post Philippine College of Physicians-CV: Upcasing charge vs AHC staff ‘disheartening’ appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Rise Up, Shape Up! larga na
Pangungunahan ni UP College of Human Kinetics Varsity Sports Program assistant chief at Student-Athlete Psychological Support Program and Academic Performance in-charge Mona Liza Adviento Maghanoy ang mga pinagkakapitaganang kababaihang mga speaker sa paglarga ng 1st Philippine Sports Commission 2020 Rise Up! Shape Up! ngayong Miyekoles via Facebook live. Tatalakayin niya sa webcast program third episode […].....»»
Coaching great John Thompson of Georgetown dead at 78
By JOSEPH WHITE AP Sports Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — John Thompson, the imposing Hall of Famer who turned Georgetown into a “Hoya Paranoia” powerhouse and became the first Black coach to lead a team to the NCAA men’s basketball championship, has died. He was 78 His death was announced in a family statement released by Georgetown on Monday. No details were disclosed. “Our father was an inspiration to many and devoted his life to developing young people not simply on but, most importantly, off the basketball court. He is revered as a historic shepherd of the sport, dedicated to the welfare of his community above all else,” the statement said. “However, for us, his greatest legacy remains as a father, grandfather, uncle, and friend. More than a coach, he was our foundation. More than a legend, he was the voice in our ear everyday.” One of the most celebrated and polarizing figures in his sport, Thompson took over a moribund Georgetown program in the 1970s and molded it in his unique style into a perennial contender, culminating with a national championship team anchored by center Patrick Ewing in 1984. Georgetown reached two other title games with Thompson in charge and Ewing patrolling the paint, losing to Michael Jordan’s North Carolina team in 1982 and to Villanova in 1985. At 6-foot-10, with an ever-present white towel slung over his shoulder, Thompson literally and figuratively towered over the Hoyas for decades, becoming a patriarch of sorts after he quit coaching in 1999. One of his sons, John Thompson III, was hired as Georgetown’s coach in 2004. When the son was fired in 2017, the elder Thompson -- known affectionately as “Big John” or “Pops” to many -- was at the news conference announcing Ewing as the successor. Along the way, Thompson said what he thought, shielded his players from the media and took positions that weren’t always popular. He never shied away from sensitive topics -- particularly the role of race in both sports and society -- and he once famously walked off the court before a game to protest an NCAA rule because he felt it hurt minority athletes. “I’ll probably be remembered for all the things that kept me out of the Hall of Fame, ironically, more than for the things that got me into it,” Thompson said on the day he was elected to the Hall in 1999. Thompson became coach of the Hoyas in 1972 and began remaking a team that was 3-23 the previous season. Over the next 27 years, he led Georgetown to 14 straight NCAA tournaments (1979-92), 24 consecutive postseason appearances (20 NCAA, 4 NIT), three Final Fours (1982, 1984, 1985) and won six Big East tournament championships. Employing a physical, defense-focused approach that frequently relied on a dominant center -- Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo were among his other pupils -- Thompson compiled a 596-239 record (.715 winning percentage). He had 26 players drafted by the NBA. One of his honors -- his selection as coach of the U.S. team for the 1988 Olympics -- had a sour ending when the Americans had to settle for the bronze medal. It was a result so disappointing that Thompson put himself on a sort of self-imposed leave at Georgetown for a while, coaching practices and games but leaving many other duties to his assistants. Off the court, Thompson was both a role model and a lightning rod. A stickler for academics, he kept a deflated basketball on his desk, a reminder to his players that a degree was a necessity because a career in basketball relied on a tenuous “nine pounds of air.” The school boasted that 76 of 78 players who played four seasons under Thompson received their degrees. He was a Black coach who recruited mostly Black players to a predominantly white Jesuit university in Washington, and Thompson never hesitated to speak out on behalf of his players. One of the most dramatic moments in Georgetown history came on Jan. 14, 1989, when he walked off the court to a standing ovation before the tipoff of a home game against Boston College, demonstrating in a most public way his displeasure against NCAA Proposition 42. The rule denied athletic scholarships to freshmen who didn’t meet certain requirements, and Thompson said it was biased against underprivileged students. Opposition from Thompson, and others, led the NCAA to modify the rule. Thompson’s most daring move came that same year, when he summoned notorious drug kingpin Rayful Edmond III for a meeting in the coach’s office. Thompson warned Edmond to stop associating with Hoyas players and to leave them alone, using his respect in the Black community to become one of the few people to stare down Edmond and not face a reprisal. Though aware of his influence, Thompson did not take pride in becoming the first Black coach to take a team to the Final Four, and he let a room full of reporters know it when asked his feelings on the subject at a news conference in 1982. “I resent the hell out of that question if it implies I am the first Black coach competent enough to take a team to the Final Four,” Thompson said. “Other Blacks have been denied the right in this country; coaches who have the ability. I don’t take any pride in being the first Black coach in the Final Four. I find the question extremely offensive.” Born Sept. 2, 1941, John R. Thompson Jr. grew up in Washington, D.C. His father was always working — on a farm in Maryland and later as a laborer in the city — and could neither read nor write. “I never in my life saw my father’s hands clean,” Thompson told The Associated Press in 2007. “Never. He’d come home and scrub his hands with this ugly brown soap that looked like tar. I thought that was the color of his hands. When I was still coaching, kids would show up late for practice and I’d (say) ... ‘My father got up every morning of his life at 5 a.m. to go to work. Without an alarm.‘” Thompson’s parents emphasized education, but he struggled in part of because of poor eyesight and labored in Catholic grammar school. He was moved to a segregated public school, had a growth spurt and became good enough at basketball to get into John Carroll, a Catholic high school, where he led the team to 55 consecutive victories and two city titles. He went to Providence College as one of the most touted basketball prospects in the country and led the Friars to the first NCAA bid in school history. He graduated in 1964 and played two seasons with Red Auerbach’s Boston Celtics, earning a pair of championship rings as a sparingly used backup to Bill Russell. Thompson returned to Washington, got his master’s degree in guidance and counseling from the University of the District of Columbia and went 122-28 over six seasons at St. Anthony’s before accepting the job at Georgetown, an elite school that had relatively few Black students. Faculty and students rallied around him after a bedsheet with racist words was hung inside the school’s gym before a game during the 1974-75 season. Thompson sheltered his players with closed practices, tightly controlled media access and a prohibition on interviews with freshmen in their first semester -- a restriction that still stands for Georgetown’s basketball team. Combined with Thompson’s flashes of emotion and his players’ rough-and-tumble style of play, it wasn’t long before the words “Hoya Paranoia” came to epitomize the new era of basketball on the Hilltop campus. Georgetown lost the 1982 NCAA championship game when Fred Brown mistakenly passed the ball to North Carolina’s James Worthy in the game’s final seconds. Two years later, Ewing led an 84-75 win over Houston in the title game. The Hoyas were on the verge of a repeat the following year when they were stunned in the championship game by coach Rollie Massimino’s Villanova team in one of the biggest upsets in tournament history. Success allowed Thompson to rake in money through endorsements, but he ran afoul of his Georgetown bosses when he applied for a gambling license for a business venture in Nevada in 1995. Thompson, who liked playing the slot machines in Las Vegas, reluctantly dropped the application after the university president objected. Centers Ewing, Mourning and Mutombo turned Georgetown into “Big Man U” under Thompson, although his last superstar was guard Allen Iverson, who in 1996 also became the first player under Thompson to leave school early for the NBA draft. “Thanks for Saving My Life Coach,” Iverson wrote at the start of an Instagram post Monday with photos of the pair. The Hoyas teams in the 1990s never came close to matching the achievements of the 1980s, and Thompson’s era came to a surprising and sudden end when he resigned in the middle of the 1998-99 season, citing distractions from a pending divorce. Thompson didn’t fade from the limelight. He became a sports radio talk show host and a TV and radio game analyst, joining the very profession he had frustrated so often as a coach. He loosened up, allowing the public to see his lighter side, but he remained pointed and combative when a topic mattered to him. A torch was passed in 2004, when John Thompson III became Georgetown’s coach. The younger Thompson, with “Pops” often watching from the stands or sitting in the back of the room for news conferences, returned the Hoyas to the Final Four in 2007. Another son, Ronny Thompson, was head coach for one season at Ball State and is now a TV analyst. ___ Joseph White, a former AP sports writer in Washington who died in 2019, prepared this obituary. AP Sports Writer Howard Fendrich contributed......»»
BFAR invites young Aklanons to avail scholarship grants
KALIBO, Aklan, Oct. 23 (PIA) - The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) here isnoffering scholarship program for incoming college students.BFAR Aklan Officer-In-Charge Rico B. Ma.....»»
BFAR invites young Aklanons to avail scholarship grants
KALIBO, Aklan, Oct. 23 (PIA) - The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) here isnoffering scholarship program for incoming college students.BFAR Aklan Officer-In-Charge Rico B. Ma.....»»
Teng embraces new role as Alaska Aces take-charge guy
Ascoring machine in high school and a superstar in college, Jeron Teng is ready to sparkle in the PBA......»»
RD ng CHED Region 5, bagong OIC ng CatSU
Virac, Catanduanes – Dahil sa pagtatapos ng termino ni President Minerva I. Morales, itinalaga bilang bagong Officer-In-Charge ng Catanduanes State University (CatSU) ang Regional Director ng CHED Regional 5 na si Dr. Freddie Bernal. Si Dr. Freddie Bernal, anak ng yumaong si Prof. Pedro Bernal, dating propesor ng CSC College of Education noong 1980s. Si […].....»»
RK Ilagan, Baste plotting revenge on Letran in NCAA 96
RK Ilagan has one thing and one thing only in his mind come his last year for San Sebastian College-Recoletos. "Sa akin po talaga, gusto ko pong bumawi sa kanila," he said in last Friday's The Prospects Pod, referring to fellow guest Fran Yu. "Sila po (nagtanggal sa amin e) so sana mabigyan po kami ng chance talagang makabawi sa kanila." In NCAA 95, Colegio de San Juan de Letran got the better of Ilagan and the Golden Stags in the first rung of the stepladder playoffs. The Knights would go on to boot out Lyceum of the Philippines University and best San Beda University en route to the championship. Through that charge, they left in their wake several tantalizing talents such as Season MVP Calvin Oftana, "Bandana Bros." James Canlas and Evan Nelle, and Marcelino twins Jaycee and Jayvee. Among all them, however, it's apparently Ilagan who's still hurting the worst. And why wouldn't he as he turned in a career game only to be eliminated. "Lahat po yun, tsamba. Shumu-shoot kahit hagis-hagis lang," he said, recalling his 36-point outburst in that loss. He then continued, "Samin lang po doon, parang ayaw ko lang po talaga magpatalo kasi siyempre, last year na ni [Allyn] Bulanadi at [Aljon] Capobres." And that is exactly why come Season 95, RK Ilagan and the rest of Baste will be running and gunning for Letran - what a great game that will be. --- Follow this writer on Twitter, @riegogogo......»»
US reaffirms support for Philippines sovereignty amid its tensions with China
Washington, DC [US], March 28 (ANI): US Secretary of Defence Llyod Austin has reaffirmed Washington's commitment to Manila in defending its sovereignty while criticising China's "dangerous" water cannon attack at the Philippine supply mission vessel on Saturday. In a telephonic conversation between Austin and his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro, the US Secretary reiterated the US-Philippines Mutual Defence Treaty.....»»
Philippines announces decisive measures amid tensions with China
Manila [Philippines], March 28 (ANI): Amid the escalating tensions in the South China Sea, Philippine President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr has announced decisive measures to protect his country's sovereignty and maritime rights while ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Marcos, known as Bongbong, said that the measures, aimed at addressing what he said is the "open, unabating, and illegal" actions by China's Coast.....»»
PH media slam Chinese foreign ministry’s claims of manipulating WPS reports
Philippine media groups criticized the Chinese foreign ministry for suggesting that recent reports on Chinese harassment of Filipino vessels in the West Philippine Sea involved video manipulation and sensationalism to portray the Philippines as a victim. The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (Focap) and National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) expressed offense.....»»
Akbayan to Sara: You don’t have to be president to speak vs China
MANILA, Philippines — Party-list group Akbayan said on Thursday that Vice President Sara Duterte does not have to be a president of the country for her to call out China’s intrusive actions over the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Empathy and a moral backbone is just what it takes to stand up with fisherfolk and frontline.....»»