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A model urban community
As a young boy, I loved drawing a “roadmap” of livable communities where family and industry were central to this unadulterated fun design. I would put skyscrapers and blend these with old trees, brilliant lights, and flowers along walkways and entertainment centers. The distance between neighborhoods was enough to give space and privacy. In this universe, people of different economic classes are resilient to the challenges and complexities of modern living. I grew up in a small town with inadequate potable water and transportation. There was a thin line between regression and progression where one cannot differentiate silt from clay particles when wading through the flooded, muddy streets of Barangay Busugon in San Remigio municipality. Life then was simple but joyous because of my family and the neighborhood. This was my unsophisticated urban planning, where things that matter most to me can be found in one place. Although I did not become a city or urban planner, my interest in “designing” communities is as strong as my entrepreneurial consciousness. It has become an advocacy. Be that as it may, urban planning, a form of spatial planning, requires strategic innovations and thorough study to develop equitable habitats and sustainable human settlements and development. A strategic plan, or a development plan, considers population growth, zoning, geographic mapping, structural and people’s safety analysis, water supply, and essential social services. Urban planning, says the United Nations Human Settlements Programme or UN-HABITAT, should “improve policies, plans, and designs for more compact, socially inclusive, better integrated, and connected cities that foster sustainable urban development and are resilient to climate change at the city, regional, and national levels.” The world’s best-planned urban cities include Singapore City in Singapore, Brazilia in Brazil, Chandigarh in India, Seoul in South Korea, and Copenhagen in Denmark. In the Philippines, five regions that surpassed the national level of urbanization in 2020 are Calabarzon (70.5 percent), Davao (66.8 percent), Central Luzon (66.3 percent), and Soccsksargen (55.5 percent), according to the 2022 report of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) based on the 2020 population census. The cities of Angeles in Pampanga and Mandaue in Cebu had the highest level of urbanization, with 100 percent each. Of the country’s 81 provinces, 11 provinces registered a level of urbanization higher than the national level in 2020. On a sad note, Eastern Visayas (14.7 percent), Cagayan Valley (19.5 percent), Bicol (23.8 percent), Ilocos (25.5 percent), and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (27.6 percent) posted the lowest level of urbanization, the same PSA report showed. Overseas, towns and villages have adapted to technological innovations and big data for urban analytics. Urban planners now consider including countryside localities in developing sustainable and resilient communities despite needing more resources, strategies, and expertise. Many urban planners find harmony in geometry and numbers, taking a leaf from the ancient works of Greek architect and mathematician Hippodamus of Miletus, considered the father of urban planning. Today’s towns and cities incorporate functional innovations where everything gets “smart,” from people to intelligent traffic lighting and drones, better infrastructures, facilities, and communications systems, and a strategic blueprint for mitigating the impact of climate change and other environmental problems. With the booming population nationwide, it would be wise to create more growth areas outside the center of progress to improve service and operational efficiency. Local executives and councils must do much work to empower those who must catch up and provide leadership in a highly competitive environment. After all, greater economic inclusion should benefit people with low or no incomes and vulnerable sectors. The beauty of inclusive urban planning lies in ensuring that all can partake of its benefits. As Greek philosopher Socrates once said: “By far the greatest and most admirable form of wisdom is that needed to plan and beautify cities and human communities.” Ultimately, any strategic urban design should not only be a mixture of arts and humanities, but also a fusion of science and numbers. (You may send comments and reactions to feedback032020@gmail.com or text 0931-1057135.) The post A model urban community appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ombudsman vindicates (2)
The Ombudsman was correct in his unsolicited recommendation that Audit Observation Memorandum or AOMs should not be published to prevent prejudging those involved. But AOMs with biased, political undertones and color, if released within a conspired time frame and raising issues as critical as huge Department of Health or DoH money intended to combat Covid-19 being stolen, can cause a rebellion. More than ever, these justify graft buster Martires’ anger over the publication of AOMs. Amazingly, this scenario reappeared with an almost repeat performance by the same personalities like the lady who poured out her tears over the plea bargaining agreement, Heidi Mendoza, who suddenly appeared from nowhere crying again and asking everyone to pray for the soul of her colleague, UN Auditor, Atty. Jake Cimafranca, who worked hard on the DoH report, died of a heart attack. She posted about it in time for Cimafranca’s burial. Also suddenly appearing was Grace Pulido Tan of the “kahindik-hindik (hideous)” PDAF audit report, echoing the same statement of her tandem Heidi that the release of the DoH audit report was regular and not premature. Astonishing everyone, including CoA state auditors, was the rebuff by no less than CoA Chair Michael Aguinaldo of the directive of President Duterte telling him to audit the Philippine National Red Cross. He said the CoA needed more authority to audit the PNRC. State auditors were shocked by the answer of their chief to a presidential order. Something must be cooking. And there emerged the resounding call for an immediate investigation by the senators of the Republic on the DoH’s P67.32- billion fund intended to fight Covid-19. Soon, the call for an inquiry sounded worldwide. The internet showed news flashes in the world’s capital cities of allegedly massive Department of Health funds of the Philippines intended to protect the people of the archipelago from the onslaught of Covid-19 being stolen. But former fiscal and President Rodrigo Duterte could not be intimidated. “Pure bullshit”: Duterte says CoA-flagged DoH funds not stolen. Duterte tells Cabinet secretaries to ignore CoA reports: “Nothing will happen there.” All probes against DoH “can continue,” Palace says after Duterte scores CoA. In effect, Fiscal Digong was saying, you can go on with your investigation. Catch the crooks, but do not hinder government efforts to provide our people with the supplies they need to protect them from Covid-19. Here is how it all started. The annual audit report on the accounts and financial operations of the Department of Health for the calendar year ending 31 December 2020 disclosed, among other things, the following most significant observations contained in one of the collections of AOM released as an annual audit report on 11 August 2021: “1. Various deficiencies involving some P67,323,186,570.57 worth of public funds and intended for national efforts of combatting the unprecedented scale of the Covid-19 crisis were noted. These deficiencies contributed to the challenges encountered and mixed opportunities by the DoH during the state of calamity and national emergency and cast doubts on the regularity of related transactions. “We requested that the SoH (Secretary of Health) implement the recommendations contained in the Consolidated Management Letter on the audit of Covid-19 funds for the year ending 31 December 2020 and submit a status report on the actions taken on the audit recommendations stated therein.” On 11 August 2021, the preceding observation was reported by a local stream media as a blazing headline: “CoA finds DoH lacking in managing P67.32-B Covid funds.” “The Commission on Audit found deficiencies in how the Department of Health managed the P67.32 billion fund to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, adding that it contributed to challenges that the country faced during the crisis. “CoA’s annual audit report for DoH in 2020 revealed that the deficiencies are caused by non-compliance with pertinent laws and regulations, which led to missed opportunities for the department primarily tasked with managing the pandemic.” (To be continued) The post Ombudsman vindicates (2) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Clip OWWA’s wings
As the pandemic is over, the Commission on Audit should go into a more detailed scrutiny of the huge amount that the government allotted to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration totaling P17.36 billion in the Emergency Repatriation Fund or ERF. State auditors did not question the use of the ERF and even commended OWWA for the use of the fund in response to the coronavirus plague. As a result of the urgency of the situation and the provisions of the Bayanihan laws exempting purchases from the Government Procurement Reform Act, the CoA did not have the full accounting arsenal to look into the purchases. The huge amount involved and the previous experiences with the OWWA should require a double-check. According to the CoA 2022 report, of the P17,367,559,655.88 OWWA received for the ERF, P17,367,559,406.09 or 99.9999986 percent was utilized for accommodations, transportation, financial assistance, and other Covid-19 incidental expenses of repatriated overseas Filipino workers or OFWs. In several instances, OWWA even exceeded its budgeted ERF and had to draw from the succeeding year’s budget. CoA indicated that P2.3 billion was used to pay for expenses incurred in 2020 that were not covered by that year’s budget. The overshoot increased to P5.035 billion for 2021 since CoA said the expenses were not obligated and were paid through the 2022 budget. CoA, initially in the 2020 report that looked into 2019 transactions not covered by the Bayanihan law’s procurement law exemptions, questioned the purchase of hygiene kits and sanitary napkins totaling P822,420 from a construction store in Pasay City “which cannot be found in the address stated.” Upon further probe by the CoA, it was found that the supposed hardware store was fictitious and the address was that of a private residence. Then OWWA Administrator Hans Cacdac had a hard time explaining the purchase of the feminine kits from a hardware store, more so that it couldn’t be found at the address. CoA also found that the procured hygiene kits, which were not itemized, were outrageously priced at P160 each, while the sanitary napkins were priced at up to P35 per pad. Cacdac promised an internal investigation which was something that was lost in the swirl of the global emergency that erupted in early 2020. That was when the ERF was bolstered with allocations from the national budget and Bayanihan laws 1 and 2. The ERF was extensively used previously to repatriate OFWs from war zones. According to the CoA 2022 report, of the P17.37 billion ERF, P13.3 billion was used for hotel accommodations, P449 million for food, P3.6 billion for travel expenses, P9.7 million for subsidies, P5.5 million for supplies, P2.4 million for hospitalization, drugs and medicine, P15.1 million for cremation services, and P90,200 for other expenses. OWWA, in a long-winded acknowledgment of the initial CoA clearance of the use of the funds, was quick to give credit to its suppliers who, it said, “were a huge help to us in the government in extending help to all Filipinos.” It then concluded, without CoA’s express acknowledgment, that the ”payables in 2020 are legal.” Several of the items in the ERF, however, would have to be checked as returning workers during the pandemic did not benefit from the program as they had to pay through their noses the hotel bills and other myriad health processes during the quarantine period as the pandemic raged. No one could recall travel expenses being paid for by OWWA to bring those in distress home. Even the pernicious nasal tests had to come out of the pockets of the migrant workers, at an overprice, as some had to shell out P10,000 for a single test. Also, overspending the ERF budget for a year should be checked since OWWA collects billions of pesos yearly with its membership fee of $25 paid every two years by each OFW. The catch in the OWWA collections is that you’ll never know the privileges and benefits due a member unless you spend time researching it which the busy migrant workers don’t have. OWWA membership is mandatory as the fee is a required item on the departure slip of an OFW. Most overseas workers will attest that they never interacted with CoA unless it involved the payment of fees and, of course, making them go through the expensive quarantine process during the health emergency. There was a plan to abolish the OWWA since its functions overlap with agencies such as the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency and the Department of Labor and Employment. It is time to hold an earnest review of the abolition proposal. The post Clip OWWA’s wings appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
One giant step: Moon race hots up
Russia's plan to launch its lunar lander on Friday is the latest in an international push to return to the Moon that includes the world's top powers but also new players. Technology, science and politics are all essential factors in the Moon race. Here is the latest: China's great leap China is pursuing plans to send a crewed mission to the Moon by 2030 and plans to build a base there. The world's second-largest economy has invested billions of dollars in its military-run space program in a push to catch up with the United States and Russia. China was the third country to put humans in orbit in 2003 and Tiangong is the crown jewel of its space program, which has also landed rovers on Mars and the Moon. The unmanned Chang'e-4 rocket landed on the far side of the Moon in 2019, with another robot mission to the near side raising the Chinese flag there in 2020. That moonshot brought rock and soil samples back to Earth, the first time that has been done in more than four decades. NASA's Artemis NASA's Artemis 3 mission is set to return humans to the Moon in 2025 including its first woman and first non-white astronaut. Under the Artemis program, NASA is planning a series of missions of increasing complexity to return to the Moon and build a sustained presence in order to develop and test technologies for an eventual journey to Mars. The first, Artemis 1, flew an uncrewed spacecraft around the Moon in 2022. Artemis 2, planned for November 2024, will do the same with crew on board. NASA sees the Moon as a pit stop for missions to Mars and has done a deal with Finnish mobile firm Nokia to set up a 4G network there. However, NASA said this week that the Artemis 3 mission may not land humans on the Moon, depending on whether certain key elements, including the landing system developed by SpaceX, were ready. Elon Musk's firm won the contract for a landing system based on a version of its prototype Starship rocket, which remains far from ready. An orbital test flight of the uncrewed Starship ended in a dramatic explosion in April. Russia's Luna Russia's launch of Luna-25 on Friday will be its first to the Moon since 1976 and marks the beginning of Moscow's new lunar project. President Vladimir Putin is looking to strengthen space cooperation with China after ties with the West broke down following the start of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. New players Recent technological progress has reduced the cost of missions and opened the way for new players in the public and private sector to get involved. India's latest space mission Chandrayaan-3 entered the Moon's orbit in August ahead of the country's second attempted lunar landing later this month. But getting to the Moon is not an easy task. Israeli non-profit SpaceIL launched its Beresheet lunar lander in 2019, but it crashed. And in April this year Japan's ispace was the latest company to try, and fail, at the historic bid to put a private lunar lander on the Moon. Two other US companies, Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines, are set to try later in the year. The post One giant step: Moon race hots up appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Face first for OFW entrepreneur
Self-made entrepreneur Marzen Salazar remembers the many moments when she would catch her grandmother in front of the mirror, filling in her eyebrows faded by time. Humans are said to be capable of nearly 10,000 facial expressions. The slightest twitch of facial muscle, the direction of the eye, and the movement of eyebrows all mean a plethora of emotions — the non-verbal cues that make up the unspoken daily chatter. Yet as one grows old, it becomes more difficult to do so; the muscles loosen, but most significantly, the eyebrows thin along with the lashes. “My grandmother always draws about her eyebrows. She would try it but (I) would never be satisfied,” remembers Marzen. “When I was growing up in the '90s, eyebrow tattooing was a popular solution to the fading of the brow for the elderly and people with thin strokes — but even tattoos have their limits.” Today, as Marzen recalls her time growing up in Laguna with her lola, Marzen is gradually and decisively building her own business to provide a better solution for eyebrows, lashes, and other facial care woes. In 2020 during the beginning of the pandemic, Marzen boldly launched Miss Derm — a clinic specializing in eyebrows, lashes, and facial treatment services, including microblading. A relatively new technology for Filipinos, microblading uses small needles to create soft and subtle hair-like strokes and deposit pigment on the skin. It is a form of cosmetic tattooing but, unlike the traditional tattoo that embeds pigment deep into the skin, microblading only injects pigment superficially on the body and thus is only semi-permanent. At Miss Derm, microblading is only done by certified microblading artists. Artists undergo intensive training to provide the highest level of quality and care for customers. More than just a business From one clinic in Makati, Marzen expanded Miss Derm to two more locations: Las Pinas and Quezon City —one additional business address each year. Despite travel restrictions, Miss Derm’s number of patrons have grown through word of mouth, attracted by the quality of premium services to help customers with their facial care needs. “I’ve always been motivated by the fact that the services we do at Miss Derm directly affect our customers’ disposition. If eyes are the windows to the soul, eyebrows and lashes are the frames that help define what you want to express and how you want to be seen. We want to help our customers increase their confidence and wear a brighter face every day,” says Marzen, a former wedding photographer-turned communications manager in Oman. Aside from its popular Elite Brows/Lips Package, Miss Derm offers a wide range of microblading, microshading, eyeliner and blading solutions. Customers will also find a menu of no-needle procedures, including Brow Lamination, Lash Lift, Lash Extensions, and HIFU Skin Tightening for the face, neck and the body. Miss Derm’s complete facial care and skincare solutions prove to be perfect for customers who desire convenience and a highly personalized level of care. At Miss Derm, artists converse with customers about their needs and suggest ways to achieve how they want to look. This level of service and hospitality is the product of Marzen’s entrepreneurial instincts, of putting customers at the heart of the process, and ensuring that employees are taken care of. Despite Marzen’s location in Oman, she has overseen the growth and initial success of Miss Derm with flying colors remotely, flying to Manila to visit the clinics when needed, but talking directly with her clients on a daily basis. “When customers chat on our social media channels for feedback or bookings, they’re likely talking to me. “I always had a passion for talking with customers, especially women. As a wedding photographer in Laguna and Oman, I deal with women on a regular basis. One should listen and be attentive; they know what they want. When you delight them with great service and you build a positive working relationship, they will come back for more and they will treat you like family,” says Marzen. To stay updated about Miss Derm, follow www.instagram.com/missderm/. The post Face first for OFW entrepreneur appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Fans in frenzy as Beyoncé kicks off concert tour
Ecstatic Beyoncé fans sang and danced in feverish excitement in Stockholm Wednesday as the superstar kicked off her first solo tour in seven years with a futuristic spectacle featuring a lunar rover, an airborne horse, and wall-to-wall rhinestones. Hours before the doors opened hundreds of people were thronging outside the stadium, including some who had traveled halfway around the world to catch the show, anxious to see the global music icon -- one of the world's best-selling artists. Once the concert was about to begin, the tens of thousands of fans in the 60,000-capacity Friends Arena -- filled to the brim -- erupted in cheers as their "queen" emerged on stage. "Just want to say: Y'all make me so happy," Beyoncé said as the concert began. "I see familiar faces, people that flew from very, very far to come see the first show tonight," she told the audience at the outset of the three-hour space and science fiction-themed show. The show features Beyoncé performing atop a lunar vehicle, playing the role of a news anchor while dressed as a queen bee, and suspended above the crowd as she sits on a model horse completely covered in sparkling rhinestones. "This was another level. Amazing, I can't wait for the rest of the tour," Abdul Ibraimoh, a 33-year-old artist manager from London, told AFP after the show. "There was a lot of anticipation for what she was going to do, and yes I'm speechless, it was just incredible," Shane Barkey, a 31-year-old radio host from Ireland, said. Beyoncé, who has a record 32 Grammy awards; is in the top 10 biggest-grossing female artists. She is also a fashion icon, with designers queueing up for her attention. Many of the fans in Stockholm sported cowboy hats and rhinestones, mimicking the look of the performer's outfit in the ads announcing the 57-stop European and North American tour. Julie Vargas, who flew in from Houston, Texas -- Beyoncé's hometown -- confessed to having a "shrine" dedicated to the star at home. "I don't want any spoilers, I wanted to be the first to see it and take the news back to H-town baby!" the 38-year-old surgical technologist told AFP as she waited in line in the early afternoon. The "Renaissance World Tour", announced in February after being teased last autumn, is the star's first solo tour since 2016. Tickets sold out so quickly for the opening show that tour organizers added a second concert at the same venue for Thursday. From there, she goes to Brussels this weekend. The tour, which continues until September, is expected to earn the international artist nearly $2.1 billion, according to business magazine Forbes. She is already a multi-millionaire. "We love Beyoncé, she's the queen, that's why we are here of course," 36-year-old artist Kasher Bloom from Riga told AFP. "Beyoncé is the queen! Our mother, everything! I would do anything for her," Jarra Jatta, a 21-year-old fan from Helsingborg in southern Sweden. In February, Beyoncé made history by becoming the most successful artist in the history of the Grammys, surpassing the late classical conductor Georg Solti's long-standing record of 31 lifetime trophies. But despite winning another four Grammys, fans were disappointed that she missed out on the award for album of the year for her seventh studio album, the house-tinged "Renaissance". The 16-song 2022 album was an instant hit and earned wide praise for its deep ambition. Born Beyoncé Giselle Knowles, the now-41-year-old has been in the upper echelons of pop music since her teenage years. She initially rose to fame as part of Destiny's Child -- whose smash hits included "Survivor" and "Say My Name" -- before embarking on a wildly successful solo career. From setting the standard for the overnight album drop to delivering her earth-shattering "Homecoming" show at Coachella in 2018, Beyoncé has long bucked the industry's conventional wisdom. She is simultaneously one of music's most private and most watched stars. Her paradigm-shifting 2016 album "Lemonade," which emphasized Black womanhood against the backdrop of America's heritage of slavery and culture of oppression, remains one of the most venerated musical projects in recent memory. Then she dropped the critically acclaimed song "Black Parade" in June 2020, amid nationwide protests ignited by the murder of an unarmed Black man, George Floyd, at the hands of a white police officer. The post Fans in frenzy as Beyoncé kicks off concert tour appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Shakespeare’s First Folio goes on display in London
A copy of the first collected edition of William Shakespeare's plays went on display in London on Monday, to mark the 400th anniversary of its publication. The public was given the chance to see the First Folio held at London's Guildhall Library -- for one day only. The edition, published on 8 November 1623, seven years after the playwright's death on 13 April 1616, is one of the best-preserved copies in the world. Others will go on display around the world to mark the anniversary of the publication between now and the end of the year. The Guildhall Library stands where the folio's editors, Shakespeare's friends Henry Condell and John Heminges, once lived, and opposite the churchyard where they were buried. The First Folio contains 36 plays, including 18 that had not been printed before, such as "Twelfth Night", "Measure for Measure", "Macbeth", Julius Caesar" and "The Tempest". Condell and Heminges divided the plays into comedies, histories, and tragedies, shaping the way Shakespeare was performed and understood. None of the dramatist's original manuscripts survive from the time they were written. "Without the First Folio, we might have lost most of Shakespeare's heritage," Guildhall Library principal librarian Peter Ross told AFP. "The copy we have here is regarded as one of the finest in the world. It's absolutely complete. Nothing's been made up from another copy. "Nothing's in facsimile. We have one tiny bit of the corner of a page missing which has been repaired, but apart from that it's a fantastic copy." About 750 First Folios were printed, of which 233 survive, and queues formed at the library to catch a glimpse. "Shakespeare is so much part of our culture, and when you see something like that, and you think it's amazing that it survives, but how wonderful that it has survived," said psychologist Robert Richards, 81. "And it's awe-inspiring really." One First Folio sold for nearly $10 million at auction in New York in October 2020, setting a record for a work of literature. The post Shakespeare’s First Folio goes on display in London appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cooperative aim: Improve Cagayan fisherfolk’s lives, livelihood
On 19 April, the United States government and development NGO Impl. Project Philippines launched a fisherfolk cooperative in Aparri, Cagayan Valley as part of a P22.4 million ($400,000) US-funded program to support resilient fishing communities in the Philippines. Through this cooperative, 26 fisherfolk in Aparri will benefit from strengthened coordination in fishing activities, improved physical security and low-interest loans that will enable members to finance essential needs such as boat repairs. Beneficiaries will also receive training and equipment that will help them improve their catch and enhance their capacity to monitor marine poachers. “The US government is proud to collaborate with Impl. Project Philippines and the municipal government of Aparri on this initiative to support livelihoods and sustainable economic development in Cagayan,” US Embassy Public Engagement Program Officer Nina Lewis said at the Aparri fisherfolk cooperative launch event at the Aparri municipal hall. “We accept the challenge to carry out this project. The equipment and training that we will receive through this program will have a huge impact on us, our families and the whole community here in Cagayan,” Aparri fisherfolk cooperative president Rashep Valencia said. “This project will bring development and growth to the region. The equipment will increase the ability of responders and boat captains to communicate during emergencies, which can save lives,” Philippine National Police Regional Maritime Unit 2 Commander Col. Antonio Dizon said. The cooperative in Aparri is the third cooperative created under this program. In 2020, the US government and Impl. Project Philippines launched the Unified Livelihood Agriculture Cooperative in Masinloc, Zambales. ULAC provided 80 fisherfolk with training, safety equipment, and low-interest loans that sustained their livelihood after the presence of foreign vessels prevented their access to their traditional fishing grounds in Scarborough Shoal. The second cooperative, the Bangsa’Sug Fisherfolks of Patikul Sulu, was launched in Jolo, Sulu earlier this year. [caption id="attachment_122965" align="aligncenter" width="755"] Aparri fisherfolk receive equipment that will sustain their livelihood and improve their efficiency and safety while at sea.[/caption] The post Cooperative aim: Improve Cagayan fisherfolk’s lives, livelihood appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Palace move to suspend fishing vessel monitoring lauded
FAO 266, which was issued by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in 2020, required all commercial fishing operators to install satellite transponders so that they can be tracked and for them to report their catch......»»
Behind the Scenes: The Heroes of ABS-CBN Sports
While the general public sees or hears the finished product on-air or online, most do not witness or appreciate those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes at ABS-CBN Sports. There’s an African proverb that says it takes a village to raise a child. Well, it took almost exactly that to make ABS-CBN Sports work. As we commemorate National Heroes Day in the country on the final day of ABS-CBN Sports, it is only fitting to acknowledge and thank those behind-the-scenes heroes who have been part of the amazing journey (DISCLAIMER: I may have left out some names, but it is purely unintentional so my apologies). Thank you, first and foremost, to our Chairman Emeritus Gabby Lopez, whose passion and love for sports led to the initiative that is ABS-CBN Sports. Thank you to our former President and CEO, Charo Santos-Concio, our current President and CEO, Carlo Katigbak, a true tennis fan, and our Chairman Mark Lopez, who showed us composure, class and grace as leaders. Thank you to our beloved COO, Cory Vidanes, who allowed ABS-CBN Sports to reach a broader audience when it aired special events on Channel 2 as well as feature athletes and sports personalities on entertainment programs. Thank you to the voice of ABS-CBN and former ABS-CBN Sports head, Peter Musngi, for leading the division during its early years. Thank you to Narrowcast head, Antonio “March” Ventosa, as well as his executive assistant, Trina Magallanes, for helping us navigate during the transtition period of ABS-CBN Sports. Thank you to the captain of our ship, ABS-CBN Integrated Sports head, Dino Laurena, who inspired us to work harder and better to serve our audience. Thank you to Sir Dino’s gatekeeper, his executive assistant, Donna Seat, who was our bridge whenever we needed to reach out to the boss. Thank you to S+A channel head and production head, Vince Rodriguez, LIGA channel head, Jojo Neri-Estacio and Business Unit Head, Jun Martinez. They were our constant guides who enabled us to provide quality content on broadcast despite immense internal and external pressure. Thank you to the people who made sure we never went beyond our budget and reached our targets – our Finance team made up of Berg Capiz, Jem Castro and Lorna Gendrano. Thank you to our S+A On-Air team of Rommel Noviza, Janice Rulloda, Princess Basye, Biboy Diga, Mark Marinay, Arnold Saclolo, Borge Raval and Hans Espiritu as well as our Liga Channel team of Anna Santos, Francis Patawaran, Aprille Signo and Joramie Roque, for ensuring everything airs on time. Thank you to our Digital Head, Mico Halili, for his innovative and fresh ideas on the digitial space. Thank you to the men and women who made our broadcast coverage as close to flawless – our Production Manager, Jennifer Jimenez, our directors, which include THE Abet Ramos, Al Neri, Raul de Ocampo and Rommel Pedrealba, and our technical directors made up of Elmond Salvahan, Jhonnald Garcia, Marvin Chavez, Bingbong Pangan, Arnold Bulaong and Joseph Vega. Thank you to the men and women who made sure our partner properties were happy with our coverage, and that everything was in place for each and every game or show we put out there – our Executive and Associate Producers Vic Caridad, Malou Neri, Ada Bayuga, Diana Sayson, Oxy del Rosario, Mae Mañalac, Aries Galot, Apples Dela Vega, Kristina Manzana, Roy Briones, Ledz Cahinhinan, JC Gonzales, Gab Gonzales and Manny Gabutina. Thank you to those who crafted and produced memorable segments – our segment producers Eva Evangelista, Carlo Grajo, Cha Lucero, Mark Morados, Jeff Sta. Maria, Jet Montebon, Sharon Muli, Alex Brocoy, Mika Barrios, Bill Barrinuevo and Volta delos Santos as well as our video editors Pido Cruz and Fonz Fajatin. Thank you to those who put the right words into play – our writers Monica Magpantay, Paul Loyola, Jigs Guardiano, Adrian Dy, Sheiden Dela Cruz, Ken Natividad, Syjin Reyes and Migs Gomez. Thank you to those who gave the right cues to our anchors, analysts and courtside reporters – our panel director Larry "Care Mo Naman" Deang, our floor directors Miky "Gandara" Mirabueno, Lyanne Ocampo-Tan and Fritz Dizon. Thank you to the people who made sure that the right moments were captured – our Camera Control Unit made up of George Austria, Joel Supremo and Edgar Guarte, our Cameramen Lloyd Villamor, Rovic Pacis, Gerald "Superman" Fermin, Ron Fermin, Ronald Mangcoy, Michael Pico, Emman Andes, Butch Pineda and Mark Nicolas. Thank you to those who made sure we heard the sounds and voices loud and clear – our audio engineers Elias Javier, Ramil Ciruano, Albert Agbay, Jancel Abobo as well as our audiomen Joseph Nicolas and Ameng Atienza. Thank you to the guys who allowed us to get another look at the action – our EVS/Slomo Operators Joejay Abarquez, Raymond Biojon and Dido Batallion and VTR men Christian Abarquez, Kenneth Abarquez and Oliver Sañez. Thank you to the people responsible for making things more visible on our screens –our Electrician/Lighting Directors Alvin Saavedra and Jorge Paraon and our lightman Calvin Liong. Thank you to those who create those cool graphics and effects that catch our attention during games and shows - our Graphic Artists/Operators Jam Memdoza, Denice Ylagan, Erol Corpuz, Sara Concepcion, Jeff Jugueta and Kevin Camero. Thank you to the team who put the little things in order – our set-up assistants Jerald Testor, Ivan Castillo, Ferdie Mangaong, Remus Taniengra, Daniel Dimaculangan, Eduardo Dacumos, Ryan Ancheta, Allan Porsioncula, Laurence Sosa, Illac Alvarez, Benjo Asiatico, Manny Cajayon, Lepoldo Bofill, Victor Taniegra, Caleb Bautista, Jeremiah Mallari and Bennett Cabus. Thank you to the guys who provided the correct statistics and graphics – our panel scorers/GFX feeders Rico Bayuga, Ronaldo Serrano, Arvin Estabillo and Gilbert Serrano. Thank you to those who made our on-cam talents look good – our makeup artists Mylyn Concepcion, Nina Concepcion, Estrella Besabe, Norma Calubaquib and Nizel Reduta and our stylist Lyle Foz. Thank you to those who were always ready to lend a helping hand – our production assistants, Lian Salango, Pau Hiwatig, Helen Trinidad, Riri Gayoma, Jade Asuncion and Lovely Dela Cruz. Thank you for the imagination and artistry of our Creative Communications Management (CCM) team composed of Elirose Borja, Jerome Clavio, Djoanna San Jose, Lara Mae Allardo, Robin Lorete, Cristy Linga, Christopher Eli Sabat, Archimedes Asis (the voice of S+A), Jan Dormyl Espinosa, Aila Onagan and Nyro Mendoza. They say that advertising is the lifeblood of media and that we wouldn’t be able to deliver high-quality content if not for advertisers brought in our by our Sports Sales team, so thank you to our Sports Sales Heads Jojo Garcia, Nicole Moro and Ken Ti, along with our account executives Tin Saw, Annalyn Herrera, Trina Vallarta, Joey Tang, Karlo Miguel, Paul Sembrana, Mike Tan, Ray Del Castillo, and Jason Gaffud. Thank you to those who constantly pitched ideas and presented to clients on our behalf, our Business Development Executive, Tonyo Silva, and our Sports Marketing team made up of Thirdy Aquino, Maui Tang, Jason Roberto, Danica Jose, Lala Cruz and Hanz Trajano. Thank you to the people who looked out for the wellfare and concerns of our division members – our Human Resources squad made up of Arvin Crisol, James Lee, Anika Gregorio and Donna Yabut. Social media has been a game changer and enabled people to relive key moments in sports events, so thank you to our social media team made up of Jon Rodriguez, Alvin Laqui, Danine Cruz, Aia del Mundo, Melvin Rodas, Clev Mayuga, Migs Flores and Lloydie Moreno. We would also like to give special thanks to our former bosses and colleagues who have moved on from this world, Rolly V. Cruz, Danilo A. Bernardo, George G. Padolina, Marco Franco, Gerald Gicana, Rhodora "Dhanda" Panganiban, Vernie Calimlim and Erwin Evangelista. Lastly, I personally want to thank the website content team made up of sub-section editors Santino Honasan, Mark “Mr. Volleyball” Escarlote, Norman Benjamin Lee Riego (Yes, it has to be his complete name) and Paul Lintag, former sub-section editor Milan Ordonez, former writer Philip Matel, videographers Nigel Velasquez, Rocio Avelino and Steph Toben, photographers Arvin Lim, Richard Esguerra and Joshua Albelda, former NBA Philippines website managing editor Adrian Dy, contributing writers Anton Roxas, Marco Benitez, “Doc Volleyball” AJ Pareja, Migs Bustos, Mikee “Diliman Legend” Reyes and Ceej Tantengco. While our journey in telling these stories with ABS-CBN Sports will abruptly come to a halt, it has been an honor and a pleasure serving the Filipino sports fans worldwide. We may no longer be around as an organization, but the great athletes will keep playing and inspiring and the games will continue. And so, with a sense of immense gratitude, we say: Maraming Salamat Kapamilya! Hanggang sa muli! --- Lorenzo Z. Manguiat has been the Editor-in-Chief of sports.abs-cbn.com since 2014 and Sports News Desk Head since 2015. He started as game writer for ABS-CBN Sports in 2000 and served in various other capacities within ABS-CBN. He is among the thousands of employees who will be retrenched on August 31, 2020. .....»»
Good morning Cotabato
Early to rise, early to catch the sun rise in Cotabato City on Saturday, 15 August 2020. On Sunday, the city will be back to “No Movement Sunday” where the only persons authorized to leave their homes are frontliners or emergency cases and only drugstores will be allowed to open, in a bid to control […].....»»
Rodtang retains title in ONE Championship’s return to action
31 July 2020 – Bangkok, Thailand: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), made a successful return to its flagship event schedule, starting off with ONE: NO SURRENDER last Friday night, 31 July in Bangkok. The event was broadcast live around the world from a closed-door, audience-free venue. Once again, the absolute best in local and international martial arts talent showcased their skills in the ONE Championship ring. In the main event, reigning and defending ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon successfully defended his title against former ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion “The Baby Shark” Petchdam Petchyindee Academy after five action-packed rounds. Petchdam established his jab early in the first round, setting up his vaunted left kick. Rodtang was slow to start, as he instead opted to get reads on his opponent from a distance. Rodtang turned up the pressure towards the end of the second round, hunting Petchdam with his trademark boxing combinations and thunderous elbows. In the third round, Rodtang began walking Petchdam down with his punches. The champion caught Petchdam with a left hook, testing the challenger’s chin on wobbly legs, but the latter recovered well. In the fourth round, Rodtang resumed his onslaught, rolling forward like a tank as Petchdam fired away with kicks to the body. In the fifth round, Petchdam again found success with his left roundhouse kick, but it wasn’t enough to thwart Rodtang’s forward pressure. After five fiery rounds, two of three judges scored the bout in favor of Rodtang to win by majority decision, who retaind his title. Reigning ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Petchmorakot Petchyindee Academy turned in perhaps the most important victory of his career, outlasting legendary Thai striker “The Boxing Computer” Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex to retain his title in the co-main event. The first round saw the legendary Yodsanklai connect on his patented triple uppercut, while Petchmorakot tried to shake off the cobwebs. Petchmorakot upped the aggression in the second round, catching Yodsanklai’s kick as he uncorked a myriad of straight punches to the head. Yodsanklai answered back with slicing elbows, creating a cut on the defending champion’s eyelid. In the third round, Petchmorakot opened up the action with a left elbow, while Yodsanklai countered with a straight left hand down the middle. Petchmorakot increased his punch output in the fourth, tagging Yodsanklai with elbows and straights, but the legend would not surrender. In the fifth and final round, Yodsanklai ambushed Petchmorakot with combinations, while the champion danced away to keep himself safe from range. In the end, Petchmorakot did just enough to earn the victory by a close majority decision. In a ONE Super Series Kickboxing Super-Bout, Thai featherweight talents Superbon and Sitthichai “Killer Kid” Sitsongpeenong figured in a thrilling three-round war of attrition. The first round was close, as both Sitthichai and Superbon traded their best offense at the center of the ONE Championship ring. The second round saw much of the same action, with both men winding up on their kicks and doubling up on their punches, but it was Superbon who started to pull away with a higher output and more impactful strikes. In the third and final round, Sitthichai and Superbon turned on the aggression, attacking each other from multiple angles with neither man willing to take a step backward. In the end, Superbon recorded a hard-earned victory, getting the better of his trilogy with Sitthichai via unanimous decision on the judges’ scorecards. In the mixed martial arts women’s atomweight division, reigning ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Stamp Fairtex continued her rise through the ranks with another exciting victory. Stamp put together another masterful striking performance, dominating fellow Thai warrior Sunisa “Thunderstorm” Srisen to earn win number five in her young career. At the sound of the first round bell, Stamp came out aggressively, looking for the Thai clinch. Once she had Srisen secured in close quarters, Stamp began unloading on a plethora of hard knees to the midsection. Srisen showed incredible toughness in enduring Stamp’s offensive barrage, but the end came shortly after. Stamp capitalized on a botched takedown from Srisen, winding up on her opponent’s back where she finished the bout with a series of punches. In a mixed martial arts catchweight contest, Brazilian newcomer Fabricio “Wonder Boy” Andrade made an impressive ONE Championship debut, dominating Mark “Tyson” Fairtex Abelardo of New Zealand and the Philippines en route to a spectacular finish within two rounds. Action started off on the feet in the first round, with each man landing significant power shots. Abelardo stalked and chased Andrade across the ring, but the Brazilian showed poise and was able to pick the Filipino-Kiwi apart from the outside. In the second round, Andrade continued his elusive movement, peppering Abelardo from range before swiftly taking his back when the opportunity presented itself. From there, Andrade latched onto in a deep rear-naked choke. Abelardo faded rapidly, and was effectively put to sleep as the referee called a halt to the contest. Kicking off the action at ONE: NO SURRENDER were Thai striking superstars “The Angel Warrior” Panpayak Jitmuangnon and "The Kicking Machine" Superlek Kiatmoo9, who squared off in a three-round ONE Super Series Muay Thai contest. This was the first time the two flyweights met inside the ONE Championship ring, after having faced each other multiple instances before in Thailand’s biggest arenas. Superlek was aggressive to start the bout, connecting on a series of combinations in the opening round. Panpayak scored with a handful of solid counter shots in the second frame, as Superlek continued his onslaught. In the third and final round, Superlek repeatedly found a home for his right kick on Panpayak’s body, as he ran away with a unanimous decision victory on the judges’ scorecards. Official results for ONE: NO SURRENDER ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Championship: Rodtang Jitmuangnon defeats Petchdam Petchyindee Academy by Majority Decision (MD) after 5 rounds ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Championship: Petchmorakot Petchyindee Academy defeats Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex by Majority Decision (MD) after 5 rounds Kickboxing Featherweight bout: Superbon defeats Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds Mixed Martial Arts Atomweight bout: Stamp Fairtex defeats Sunisa Srisen by TKO (Strikes) at 3:59 minutes of round 1 Mixed Martial Arts Catch Weight (67.0 KG) bout: Fabricio Andrade defeats Mark Fairtex Abelardo by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 1:11 minutes of round 2 Muay Thai Flyweight bout: Superlek Kiatmoo9 defeats Panpayak Jitmuangnon by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds.....»»
Now showing: Cinema Drive-In
As people adopt new habits apt for the changing times, businesses are also compelled to innovate and deliver new ways for everyone to experience the activities they have always enjoyed. One of these is recapturing the essence and joy of watching a film inside the halls of a cinema. While movie theaters still have yet to open, SM Cinema gives its patrons the perfect opportunity to see upcoming films through its newest out-of-home entertainment experience, the “SM Cinema Drive-in: Movies at Sundown”. A throwback to the good old days of drive-in theaters, SM Cinema relives this experience for a new generation to enjoy, bringing them a fresh avenue for a #SafeAndFunMovieWatching crusade from the comfort of their cars. Opening at SM City Pampanga Amphitheater, SM Cinema’s “Movies at Sundown” allows guests to watch movies on the big screen while observing social distancing rules set by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF). Starting today, Friday, July 31, 2020, it will open to the general public featuring the movies’ “Train to Busan 2: Peninsula” and “My Spy. The “SM Cinema Drive-in: Movies at Sundown” experience A first in the Philippines, SM Cinema’s drive-in theater takes Filipino viewers to a new horizon of movie-watching. Guests will be assigned their own parking spots to be guided by traffic marshalls. Once settled, spectators can see the film of their choice on a 20m x 8m screen raised 3-feet above the ground, and will be asked to tune in to a specific frequency on their car’s FM radio to broadcast the audio straight into their vehicles. Guests can also choose the 6:30PM or 8:50PM schedules from July 31 to August 2. In the succeeding weeks, schedules will be every Thursday to Sundays at 6:45PM. And what’s a drive-in cinema without movie snacks? For a ticket price of only P400 per person, this gives viewers the chance to relish in a new cinematic experience paired with a free Regular Popcorn, Bottled Water, and Beef Franks from SnackTime. A #SafeAndFunMovieWatching for Filipinos Optimizing the best view for all guests, two (2) persons can be inside the car and a maximum of four (4) guests will be allowed. Attendees must also be between the ages 21 and 59, pursuant to the safety guidelines set by the IATF. For added safety, viewers will also be asked to stay inside their vehicles with their masks on and practice social distancing all throughout the duration of the movie. Tickets for SM Cinema’s “Movies at Sundown” must be purchased online in advance at www.smtickets.com to ensure an uninterrupted viewing experience. No tickets will be sold at the venue, and viewers are advised to arrive at least 30 minutes before their scheduled screening. “At SM Cinema, we have always explored new dimensions in film screenings to give our viewers the best movie-watching experience they deserve. Now that new norms have come to us, we do our best to meet our audience where they’re at, all while presenting a safe and innovative movie entertainment setup that’s a first in the country,” said Ruby Ann Reyes, SM Cinema’s Vice President for Marketing. As a household name in film screening, SM Cinema brings back to its audience the joy of seeing movies on screen as they introduce a new way for people to catch their blockbuster favorites. Now available at SM City Pampanga—and soon in five other branches nationwide— catch the next big titles at the “SM Cinema Drive-in: Movies at Sundown” starting today, Friday, July 31, 2020 at SM City Pampanga. Purchase your tickets online via www.smtickets.com. .....»»
Gamefowl breeder shot dead in Toledo City
CEBU CITY, Philippines — A 31-year-old man was shot dead while on board his motorcycle by a still unidentified suspects along Barangay Cabitoonan,at around 5 p.m. this Saturday, July 25, 2020. Police from Toledo City, are now strictly conducting checkpoint in the boundary areas around the city, hoping to catch the suspects, who killed the […] The post Gamefowl breeder shot dead in Toledo City appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
DoTA 2 star N0tail sees eSports thriving in new normal
With physical distancing being enforced and mass gatherings being prohibited during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, most, if not all major sports have taken big blows. While most professional sports are slowly getting back on their feet, it might take a while - if ever - for the live sports experience to return to normal. For eSports, an industry that really doesn’t require physical interaction or mass gatherings, surviving and thriving in the new normal should not be an issue, and DoTA star Johan “N0tail” Sundstien is confident that will be the case. Speaking to a handful of Filipino media before his 1 on 1 DoTA 2 battle with Filipino gamer Zedrik “Jeff” Dizon, N0tail spoke about how the eSports industry can survive, how it has grown since he began playing, and what Jeff’s 2020 Red Bull r1v1r Runes Championship can do for the Filipino eSports scene. For the 26-year old native of Denmark, eSports should have little to no problems getting back on track after the COVID-19 pandemic. “Yeah, I think eSports is in way better shape than other physical sports, for sure. Physical sports, sports in general, have probably made more of a business and they’ve been used to offline events and monetizing fans coming into stadiums, so obviously they’re having a much harder time than we would be,” N0tail explained. Prior to eSports exploding and becoming a live attraction, tournaments were done mainly online, and N0tail believes that this is one of the industry’s advantages especially in the ’new normal’. “We come from a place where we used to have online tournaments, we used to do these things online purely, and when [the COVID-19 virus pandemic] happened, I think all streaming and all online entertainment platforms had this opportunity to thrive and to exist. It’s a good time to be playing video games and not doing live music or something like that.” “The Coronavirus] hit a lot of people pretty hard, but we have a good chance,” he added. Speaking of the explosion of eSports, N0tail recalls the industry’s humble beginnings and how far it has come now. “When I started, it was nowhere near what it is today. Today, obviously, we travel the world, have all these tournaments, have so many more viewers than we’ve ever had,” N0tail said. “Humanity really likes games, obviously, chess, sports, any kind of game for entertainment, and we’ve come a very long way. We’re way more professional, and financially, way more stable.” The prizes now have also come a long, long way from what they used to be, N0tail shared. “Ten years ago, we were playing for headsets and a couple hundred dollars, and now it’s way, way bigger, for millions. It keeps going up, it keeps getting more traction and attention, and I like to see that trend, I hope it keeps going.” The Philippines has slowly emerged as a hotbed for eSports talent, and Ateneo’s Zedrik “Jeff” Dizon could be on his way to becoming a top star following his 2020 Red Bull R1v1r Runes Championship victory. Apart from the win, Jeff also had the opportunity to go one-on-one with N0tail, Team Captain of the 2-time The Internationals champions Team OG. For an established name and veteran like N0tail, being able to compete against people from all over the world is always a sign of progress for eSports. “DoTA connects people, and whenever somebody from one region that might be weaker plays against another region that might be stronger, or even if they’re both strong or equally [matched], DoTA is a game of ideas and experience, so whenever there’s this cross-country or cross-region game happening, I think there’s always progress. It’s the same when we shape a metagame, when those events were happening, all these teams came together, you quickly saw ideas transfer and a meta being formed between regions and, SC might be doing something one way and it might take something that Europe or NA might be doing, so everytime that it happens, I think it’s a postive thing.” “It makes the ideas evolve and they evolve into something better,” he added. Jeff came up big against N0tail in their one-on-one match, winning 2-1. Catch the replay HERE.....»»
Koepka among those who have to catch up in FedEx Cup
By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer The question was perplexing to Brooks Koepka, perhaps because it was missing specific context or because it takes a lot to make him worry. He was asked going into the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head if he felt any sense of urgency. “Urgency for what?” he replied. Koepka missed three months after a knee injury in October when he slipped on wet concrete at the CJ Cup in South Korea and had to withdraw. When he returned, he played five times — his only top-20 finish was a tie for 17th in Saudi Arabia — and then the COVID-19 pandemic shut down golf for three months. Having played only four PGA Tour events, he was No. 213 in the FedEx Cup standings. The only time he didn’t make it to East Lake for the FedEx Cup finale was in 2015, when he missed a month with an ankle injury. He finished 35th. Koepka was unaware that history is working against him this year. In the last 10 years, Jim Furyk is the only player to be outside the top 200 in the FedEx Cup standings with nine events remaining and reach the postseason. “I just go play golf, just keep doing what I’m doing,” Koepka said that day. “I feel like I’m playing good, so eventually it will come.” He closed with a 65 at Harbour Town to finish seventh and moved up 56 spots to No. 148. And then he withdrew the following week from the Travelers Championship out of caution when his caddie, Ricky Elliott, tested positive for the coronavirus. He returns to the Workday Charity Open this week having slipped seven spots to No. 155. Six tournaments are on the schedule between now and the start of the FedEx Cup playoffs. Furyk in 2016 turned it around with a runner-up finish at the U.S. Open. Only one major and one World Golf Championship remain on the schedule. Koepka has company in that regard. British Open champion Shane Lowry spent most of his time on the European Tour late last year and into the first month of 2020, so he has only seven starts on the PGA Tour and is at No. 148. C.T. Pan, who played in the Presidents Cup, has missed seven of nine cuts since January and is No. 182. Sergio Garcia is at No. 122. One week can change everything. Dustin Johnson, who missed the entire fall recovering from knee surgery, was off to a slow start before the pandemic and missed the cut at Colonial upon his return. Two weeks later, he won the Travelers Championship and moved up to No. 22. Koepka still has the World Golf Championship at TPC Southwind, where he won last year, and the PGA Championship, where he tries to become the first player to win three straight times in stroke play. There is time. Plus, he's not one to sweat such matters. BONES ON THE BAG Matt Fitzpatrick came over from England for the restart of the PGA Tour, and caddie Billy Foster stayed behind. The idea was for Fitzpatrick to get used to the protocols, and then Foster would join him for the World Golf Championship in Memphis, Tennessee, and the PGA Championship in San Francisco. Fitzpatrick used Cayce Kerr for three tournaments. And then he got an offer he couldn’t refuse for two weeks at Muirfield Village: Jim “Bones” Mackay, the longtime looper for Phil Mickelson who now does course commentary for NBC Sports. “I was absolutely shocked,” Fitzpatrick said. “Everyone knows his place in the game and how well he’s done. Even just walking around here, people are excited to see him back and on tour. For me, I was very taken aback.” It wasn’t an accident. Fitzpatrick has an endorsement with Workday, whose CEO knows Mackay and suggested he reach out to Fitzpatrick. They will be working together the next two weeks at the Workday Charity Open and the Memorial. LET’S PLAY TWO Muirfield Village is hosting different PGA Tour events in consecutive weeks, which hasn’t happened in 63 years. The last time was in 1957, when Roberto de Vicenzo won the All American Open against an 83-man field at Tam O’Shanter Club in Illinois. Dick Mayer won the World Championship of Golf on the same course a week later. That was the 10th straight season that the All American Open and World Championship of Golf were held at Tam O’Shanter in successive weeks. Lloyd Mangrum was the only player to win both events in the same year (1948). According to the PGA Tour, there was one other tournament held on the same course in back-to-back weeks. That was in 1956, when the Dallas Centennial Open and the Texas International Open were held at Preston Hollow to coincide with the 100-year anniversary of Dallas being founded. Both events were never played again. DRIVE ON Maybe some of the PGA Tour players should borrow the “Drive On” slogan from the LPGA Tour. That’s all they’ve been doing since the restart last month in Texas. Russell Knox drove his RV from the north Florida coast to Colonial, and then back toward the Atlantic coast to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. From there, he and his wife went north to Connecticut to the Travelers Championship. At that point, they hired a driver (they were passengers) for the trip to Detroit, and now they’re in Ohio. But they had company. One of his closest friends on tour, Brian Stuard, also bought an RV. “We’ve been traveling along with him,” Stuard said. “Decided to do it and really enjoy it so far. Not sure if we’re going to continue to do that. Those were some long drives. But it’s worth it once you get it there.” And then there’s Viktor Hovland. The Norwegian played at Oklahoma State and still lives in Stillwater, so he decided to take the four-hour drive to Colonial. “Then I just kept on thinking, ‘Well, what if I just take my car to all these tournaments?’ I looked it up, it’s 16 hours to Hilton Head. It’s 13 hours to Connecticut. ... Yeah, been having a lot of fun so far.” He drove through the night from Fort Worth, Texas, to Hilton Head and didn’t feel great when he arrived. He took in some views from Connecticut to Detroit. “It’s really nice just driving through New York and Pennsylvania,” he said. “It’s really hilly and a lot of cool views on the way.” DIVOTS Matt Fitzpatrick is hopeful fans will return, especially for the Masters — not so much for him, but his parents. “I know my parents really want to come watch that one,” he said. ... The Senior British Open, canceled this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, will remain at Sunningdale next year. ... After his victory in Detroit, Bryson DeChambeau was listed as the betting favorite over Rory McIlroy in the three majors this year. STAT OF THE WEEK The last three PGA Tour events were won by players from the top 10 in world — Webb Simpson (9) at Hilton Head, Dustin Johnson (6) at Hartford and Bryson DeChambeau (10) at Detroit. The last time that happened was in the summer of 2018 when Johnson (1) won the Canadian Open, Justin Thomas (3) won the Bridgestone Invitational and Brooks Koepka (4) won the PGA Championship. FINAL WORD “I’ll be devastated if I don’t play well.” — Charles Barkley on playing the American Century Championship for celebrities......»»
LIGA Schedule for Monday, June 1, 2020
ABS-CBN S+A may be off the air for now, but don't worry! You can still catch your favorite sports events on LIGA! Here's what's showing for Monday, June 1st! 12:00 AM - UAAP Season 79 Men's Volleyball: NU vs. Ateneo 1:30 AM - UAAP Season 81 Men's Basketball: UE vs. UST 3:30 AM - UAAP Season 81 Men's Basketball: Adamson vs. UP 5:30 AM - Team FitFil 6:00 AM - LIGA Rewind - 2019 PVL Reinforced Conference 8:00 AM - HOMEWORK: UP vs. UST 8:30 AM - Kapamilya Daily Mass 9:00 AM - LIGA Rewind - UAAP Season 81 Men's Basketball: UE vs. UST 11:00 AM - LIGA Rewind - UAAP Season 81 Men's Basketball: Adamson vs. UP 1:00 PM - HOMEWORK: UP vs. UST 1:30 PM - LIGA Rewind - UAAP Season 80 Men's Football: Adamson vs. UP 3:30 PM - Team FitFil 4:00 PM - LIGA Rewind - UAAP Season 80 Men's Football: UE vs. UST 6:00 PM - HOMEWORK: UP vs. UST 6:30 PM - LIGA Rewind - NCAA Season 94 Men’s Basketball: San Beda vs. EAC 8:30 PM - LIGA Rewind - NCAA Season 94 Men’s Basketball: Letran vs. Mapua 10:30 PM - ONE Championship Best of 2019: ONE: WARRIOR'S CODE Catch your favorite sports events on LIGA channel 86 and LIGA HD channel 183 on Sky Cable! LIGA is also available nationwide thru its 200 Cable affiliates......»»
LIGA Schedule for Thursday, May 28th, 2020
ABS-CBN S+A may be off the air for now, but don't worry! You can still catch your favorite sports events on LIGA! Here's what's showing for Thursday, May 28th! 12:00 AM - 2019 SEA Games Swimming 1:30 AM - 2019 SEA Games Women's Volleyball: 3:30 AM - LIGA Rewind - NCAA Season 94 Men’s Basketball: EAC vs. San Sebastian 5:30 AM - Team FitFil 6:00 AM - LIGA Rewind - NCAA Season 94 Men’s Basketball: Letran vs. San Beda 8:00 AM - UPFRONT: Kat Tolentino / Jema Galanza & Deanna Wong 8:30 AM - Kapamilya Daily Mass 9:00 AM - LIGA Rewind - Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference Battle for 3rd Place: BanKo Perlas vs. PacificTown Army 11:00 AM - LIGA Rewind - Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference Finals Game 2: PetroGazz vs. Creamline 1:00 PM - UPFRONT: Kat Tolentino / Jema Galanza & Deanna Wong 1:30 PM - LIGA Rewind - UAAP Season 79 Men's Volleyball Semifinals: NU vs. FEU 3:30 PM - Team FitFil 4:00 PM - LIGA Rewind - UAAP Season 79 Women's Volleyball: NU vs. Adamson 6:00 PM - UPFRONT: Kat Tolentino / Jema Galanza & Deanna Wong 6:30 PM - LIGA Rewind - UAAP Season 81 Men's Basketball: Ateneo vs. NU 8:30 PM - LIGA Rewind - UAAP Season 81 Men’s Basketball: FEU vs. DLSU 10:30 PM - Pinoy Pride Presents: Milan "El Metodico" Melindo 11:30 PM - 2019 SEA Games Swimming Catch your favorite sports events on LIGA channel 86 and LIGA HD channel 183 on Sky Cable! LIGA is also available nationwide thru its 200 Cable affiliates......»»
Kathryn Bernardo describes 28th birthday as most memorable yet
Kapamilya star Kathryn Bernardo shared some highlights from her recent yacht birthday bash......»»
Complete gear ko : Jennylyn Mercado figures in motorcycle accident
Kapuso star Jennylyn Mercado was involved in a motorcycle accident recently. .....»»