The Philippines biggest multi-arts festival Pasinaya is back with a vengeance
After three years of having no physical celebration, relying instead on online editions to keep the tradition alive, Cultural Center of the Philippines' Pasinaya Open House Festival stages a grand comeback this year......»»
Icon Grandmaster Flash leads the Bronx in 70s-style hip-hop jam
As a teenager Grandmaster Flash began pioneering the turntable-as-instrument, playing the now iconic Bronx block parties that gave birth to hip-hop and revolutionized music. On Friday, he was back home, commemorating 50 years of the genre with a performance that had New Yorkers born in the mid-20th century reliving their youth -- and hip-hop's. "This is not a concert -- this is a jam!" Flash, now in his 60s, shouted from the stage, as hundreds of fans roared in applause in the South Bronx's Crotona Park. The audience swayed with their hands in the air as Flash threw it back to the jams of the early 1970s, which ushered in the genre that's profoundly impacted music as well as fashion, dance and the culture at large. The community parties offered teens and families a lifeline in an era of financial crisis that left much of the borough in crippling poverty. "It was the music that really resonated at the time in New York," said Quentin Morgan, 54, who rolled into the park on his bike to catch the event that's part of a series of festivities commemorating hip-hop's birth. "It was gritty in New York -- barely any laws," he said with a chuckle. "It was a different era." Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five in 1982 released "The Message," delivering a raw portrait of urban life and bringing a socially conscious element to the genre on a grand scale. On Friday night, the air was electric as Flash brought MCs Melle Mel and Scorpio onstage where they delivered a rendition of the iconic hit. That preceded a fierce appearance from MC Sha-Rock, widely considered the first woman to MC during hip-hop's nascent years. And KRS-One, who also hails from the South Bronx, freestyled to a chorus of cheers as Flash scratched and transformed, manipulating the vinyl, using now-standard techniques he pioneered half a century ago. Earlier in the evening as opening acts warmed up the crowd, Coke La Rock -- who on 11 August 1973 joined DJ Kool Herc at the party many musicologists consider hip-hop's official conception -- told AFP that for him, hip-hop and the Bronx are one and the same. "I can't see no division of it," the 68-year-old said, calling offshoots of the genre across the United States and even the world "my kids." "They all my kids, if I'm the patent, they the product." 'Biggest music on earth' Speaking to AFP backstage, Flash said Friday's event was meant to emulate the jams of his youth. "It was recreation -- moms said go outside and play," he said. "Never... did I think it would become part of the biggest music on earth." Organizers also relayed a message from the mayor of New York, as the city officially declared August 4 "Grandmaster Flash Day." Keisha Harmon joined the event with her partner of 27 years -- "my Teenage Love," she said, quoting the rap classic by Slick Rick. She'll be 50 in October: she was born in the Bronx just months after the genre she grew up on. "I have chills, look, goosebumps," she told AFP. "All the songs that are playing -- I'm a mother of seven and I'm a grandmother of eight -- and they take me back to No Kids." She described how the hip-hop jams of her childhood spread by word of mouth: "Hey, DJ-such-and-such is in the park, and we would have parties and sing, and it was just fun." "And this reminds me of that," Harmon added, motioning to the park crowded with partygoers on a humid August evening. The celebration "shows our talent" as citizens of the Bronx, she added. "It shows what we contributed to the arts," Harmon said. "Hip-hop has a substance." "The artists were storytellers." "South South Bronx, South Bronx!" the audience shouted throughout the evening, singing the song by Boogie Down Productions produced by KRS-One and DJ Scott La Rock. According to city organizers, Friday night was Grandmaster Flash's first time playing the Bronx in two decades. Along with fellow hip-hop pioneers, he was joined by a troupe of breakdancers who wowed the audience with a throwdown. "Where's my old-schoolers at?" Flash asked the joyous crowd. "I wanna keep it in the 70s." "Somebody say Bronx!" The post Icon Grandmaster Flash leads the Bronx in 70s-style hip-hop jam appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Thread signup hits 10M
Facebook owner Meta’s version of Twitter called Thread was launched late Wednesday and the new microblogging site got 10 million sign-ups seven hours later. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg bared the news Thursday on his official Thread account, signaling the biggest challenge to the Elon Musk-owned Twitter. The Thread app went live, without ads, on Apple and Android apps stores in 100 countries at 11 p.m. Wednesday. Zuckerberg spent the first few hours of the platform’s launch replying to new users. “One thing that’s up is the number of world champion MMA (mixed martial arts) fighters on Threads, especially now that you’re here!” he wrote in a reply to American MMA fighter Jon Jones. “Round one of this thing is getting off to a good start,” he said in another. Zuckerberg also offered a shot across the bow at Musk — the pair are known to be bitter rivals, and have even offered to meet each other in a fighting cage to wrestle it out. In his first tweet in over a decade, Zuckerberg posted a Spiderman pointing at Spiderman meme in an apparent reference to the similarity of the two platforms. But Zuckerberg is game to achieve for Thread what Twitter has yet to score. Back on Threads, he wrote: “It’ll take some time, but I think there should be a public conversations app with 1 billion+ people on it. Twitter has had the opportunity to do this but hasn’t nailed it. Hopefully we will.” Twitter has said it has more than 200 million daily users. Threads was introduced as a clear spin-off of Instagram, which offers a built-in audience of more than two billion users, thereby sparing the new platform the challenge of starting from scratch. WITH AFP The post Thread signup hits 10M appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Jaime Ponce de Leon — Art world’s man of the hour
To say that Jaime de Leon gave us his most prized treasure by sharing his “Hymen, Oh Hymenee” by Juan Luna would be an understatement. Jaime has not only made legions of art lovers happy and ecstatic; what he has achieved, by allowing the exhibition of this missing masterpiece, the holy grail of Philippine art, is an earthshaking development — one that, as it were, had ignited an intense movement of the “tectonic plate” of Philippine cultural heritage. [caption id="attachment_145553" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Photographs courtesy of leon gallery | ‘Hymen, oh Hyménée,’ in its finest details, manifests Juan Lu-na’s genius as an artist.[/caption] What had been missing for more than a century finally found its way home, right at the renowned Ayala Museum, thanks to Jaime, the trailblazing founder of the game-changing Leon Gallery, which has been responsible for the change of hands of the most valuable masterpieces of our renowned artists from the Spanish times, through antebellum Philippines and the postwar years, all the way to the new millennium. [caption id="attachment_145552" align="aligncenter" width="525"] JAIME de Leon, NCCA chairman Ino Manalo and Ayala Museum’s senior director Mariles Gustilo.[/caption] His discovery of Luna’s most sought-after painting in a royal house in Europe is a story that will be told through the coming generations of art lovers, enthusiasts, collectors and scholars. Just a few days ago, I visited Jaime in Leon Gallery, and art gallery and auction house that he founded in 2013. He shared with me his life story and how he had stumbled upon a new epicenter around which would revolve the life that he had wanted for himself. Jaime was still pursuing his business management degree in Silliman University when he was elected as the chairman of the barangay located right along the main boulevard of Dumaguete City. Realizing that politics was “not cut for me, I thought that I had bigger dreams. It’s like a fish that you put on a pond. It would only grow up to that size. I wanted to go to the big city. I wanted to live in the ocean and allow myself to be bigger. So, I moved to Manila.” In the big city, he started out as a real estate salesman, one of those guys who gave away brochures at the mall. But he would not last long, as he explored other possibilities. He next spent a year in Malaysia where he worked at the office of a construction firm. “It was a time for discovering myself,” he says. “I also learned how to be truly independent, away from the support of one’s family and home. It was an eye opener for me. After a year, when I got back to the Philippines, I thought, ‘Oh my God. What would I make of my life? I didn’t know which direction to take.” He then decided on taking up interior design at the Philippine School of Interior Design. While he admitted to not being good at drawing, he grew up appreciating “the nice things and antiques in my grandmother’ home.” In time, he was designing for clients. “Of course, when you decorate houses, you put paintings on the walls and you advise your clients and tell them this doesn’t go here. And the client would tell you that since they did not need them anymore, could I find a buyer for them? I ended up selling for clients. From those initial transactions, I started my business. In 2010, I opened a small gallery in Corinthian Plaza. So, I put everything there that I was selling from the houses of people who didn’t want them anymore because they were transferring to smaller houses or they were leaving the country. And she asked me if I was interested to help them liquidate the collection of an insurance company. “So, I said, why don’t I just broker them if all they wanted was to liquidate the art works? That would be easier. I told myself I could probably just borrow money to buy everything and I could just sell them. “But she pointed out that the mandate of their corporation required an auction. And I had zero knowledge about auctions. So, I said, ‘What can I do? I cannot lose this.’ I mean, I had nothing to lose, so should just do it. I told them, ‘I’ll do it.’” Jaime next called Cid Reyes, the art expert and critic. “And he agreed. I had to call all my friends to help. I didn’t have the resources to hire, so it was all request. And so we did our first auction in January 2013. We auctioned everything, all 54 lots.” “The rest,” Jaime said, “is history. I started to acquire my knowledge by going to Christie’s in New York to study the courses they offered. I went to London and studied Art Law. I went to the University of Arts London (UAL). Just to get the feel and just to be able to learn as much as I can. At least I would have more knowledge because I didn’t have any background in art in school. It was his knowledge, along with his network of friends, that would lead him to more breaks. One friend who would make a big difference in his life was Dr. Teyet Pascual, in his time one of the foremost collectors of the country’s masters. It was also with this friendship that his quest for the holy grail of Philippine art would be inspired until it became a lifelong longing to find it. The following is a continuation of my interview with Jaime. Daily Tribune: What is the most important for someone to succeed in the auction business? Jaime Ponce de Leon (JPDL): You know, reputation is the most important in this business. When we were starting, it was difficult to get the trust of these old families. And you know how guarded these old families are. And here comes a new kid on the block, how can he be trusted with our most prized possessions. So, I had to build trust slowly and slowly, brick by brick. DT: Have there been issues and challenges? JPDL: Definitely. When you’re in this business, sometimes you also make mistakes. These happen when things are deemed to be not it was meant to be what it is. Any dealer who says he has not gotten through that is a liar. These things happen. But for as long as you don’t do things knowingly, you know what I mean? I mean, if you don’t do such things knowingly, the world excuses people who are honest. And I think that is essential. DT: How do you go about finding all these treasures? JPDL: You know what? It’s probably through my gut and my grit. And I tend to have the personality of someone with a thick face. Not that I would just knock at anybody’s house, but I am not shy to speak to people, to introduce myself to people. Biggest finds DT: What has been your biggest find? JPDL: Well, in terms of find, of course this Luna. DT: Well, aside from this, can you mention some names? JPDL: Well, of course, in 2015, I was able to find this cachet of Zobels that people never thought existed. I found it in Boston, somewhere in New England. I remember very well there was a party at one of the galleries and I saw Paulino Que and I saw Ken Esguerra and told them, ‘Guys, I have discovered 83 pieces of Fernando Zobel.’ Sabi nila, ‘No, impossible. How come we don’t know anything about it?’ DT: Where exactly did you find it? JPDL: In an attic. The Pfeufer collection. The collector was the guardian of Fernando Zobel in Harvard and in Rhode Island. And when I found this in the attic, I couldn’t believe what I saw. I was already two years in the business. So, I auctioned them one by one. So, it was another white glove sale. Because at that time we made the world record for the most expensive Zobel. At that time, it was just P30 to 35 million in 2015. [caption id="attachment_145551" align="aligncenter" width="525"] at Harvard Business School where Jaime is pursuing his graduate studies.[/caption] So, we were selling fantastic pieces that no one could believe it was found. I mean, how can you find in one attic 80-plus pieces of Fernando Zobel, right? So, we did that. And over the years, of course, this and that. That I would find. DT: Tell me about the Magsaysay-Hos and the others. JPDL: Almost the same. The best ones are also found abroad. The last one was a world record. We sold it for P84 to P85 million. The Jim and Reed Pfeufer collection. So, this is the one I found in New England. The Joya that we sold here, P112 million. The Joya of Josie Baldovino. I’ll tell you a story. Mrs. Baldovino, the sister of Jose Joya, and I were always close. In this business, it’s all about trust. Once you establish the trust with your client, I think you’re already one step ahead. So, Mrs. Baldovino comes to me and tells me that she was already old. She felt she was nearing her run. So, she said, “Jaime, I trust you.” So, she sent me her piece. Her beautiful piece. I went to India, I had a trip and I got a call from her, “Jaime, you know, this collector came to me and offered me P50 million for my Joya.” Of course, that amount was life-changing, It was P50 million. I told Mrs. Baldovino, “Ma’am you know, I truly respect your decision on this. It’s really up to you.” She said, “Jaime, what should I do? This is already P50 million right in front of me.” We already had it with us, so I said, “Ma’am, we will do all our best to make it sell well. But please, I will not hold you to it. I will not get in the way of your decision to sell it for P50 million. But we will do everything we can to make this sell well. Just trust us.” So, finally, she called me back, “Okay, I’ll leave my trust to you. I will leave the piece.” So, three weeks after, the auction happened. And it became the highest painting ever sold in the Philippines. It was P112 million. DT: She must have been very happy. JPDL She was able to build a building in Fairview. A beautiful building, and she was so thankful. Of course, the stars aligned, the blessings were there. DT: What is your advice to anyone who wants to invest in the arts? Which artists should they buy? JPDL: You know what, a lot of them. But, you know, my advice? First, it’s never a good thing when you buy something immediately for investment purposes. When you buy something, buy first something you like. (Enjoy it). If the price goes up, (that’s a) bonus. If it doesn’t, then you enjoy the piece. ‘Taste changes’ DT: Why are some artists expensive, and why do art works of the same artist vary in peso value? JPDL: You know, art has so many factors involved. So much variables involved. There is a conglomeration of things on why an artist becomes successful. They’re all good. But it’s dependent on certain factors. Like, mister something bought the work. People see it. People feel that he’s a good artist because mister something bought the work. He’s exhibited by the right gallery. He’s exhibited in a museum, in a fair. You know, all these, once all these variables conglomerate together, and then, viola. DT: Why do some collections sell fast and some stay with you up to the next auction? JPDL: Well, sometimes there are things that really don’t sell. I mean, probably because of the prices that we put are high. Taste changes. I’ll give you an example. Manansala was very popular in the 1980s. And everybody, all these women, they all wanted to undress themselves in front of Manansala and get themselves painted. But now, it’s no longer the taste of today. People don’t buy nudes. People don’t have themselves painted in the nude. Many people are born again. They’re not allowed to put nudes on their walls. All these reasons. So, taste changes. And it’s a cycle. Editor’s note: The Leon Gallery Spectacular Mid-Year Auction 2023 takes place today June 17, 2023 starting at 2:00 PM, featuring art works from the collections of Manila’s society doyens, Zita Fernandez Feliciano and Delly Tambunting Ongsiakio The post Jaime Ponce de Leon — Art world’s man of the hour appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
The Philippines biggest multi-arts festival Pasinaya is back with a vengeance
After three years of having no physical celebration, relying instead on online editions to keep the tradition alive, Cultural Center of the Philippines' Pasinaya Open House Festival stages a grand comeback this year......»»
UFC President Dana White on Manny Pacquiao vs. Conor McGregor rumours: “I don’t care about any of that s**t”
Back in 2017, Irish MMA star Conor McGregor faced undefeated American boxing star Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a big-money superfight, arguably the biggest combat sports event of that year. McGregor was, at the time, at an all-time high in his UFC career and was coming off a demolition of Eddie Alvarez to become the UFC’s first simultaneous two-division UFC champion. Looking for even bigger paydays and an even bigger spot in the limelight, McGregor set his sights on Mayweather Jr, and the two ultimately agreed to a 12-round boxing bout. During the lead-up to the bout, one of the people actively promoting the event was none other than UFC president Dana White. McGregor was the UFC’s biggest star at the time, and his superfight with Mayweather Jr. definitely helped draw eyes onto the world’s largest MMA promotion. Three years later, McGregor is once again the topic of conversation after some mysterious tweets. The Irish superstar tweeted the Filipino phrase “Tinatanggap ko”, which means “I accept” in english. Many believe that it’s a not-so-subtle dig at Filipino boxing star and eight-division boxing world champion Manny Pacquiao. This comes after McGregor and Pacquiao already had an interesting exchange on Twitter a few weeks back. It looks like “The Notorious” is once again angling for a big-money boxing bout against one of the world’s best. The difference now however, is that he’s retired from the UFC. Which is why when White was asked about the McGregor-Pacquiao rumours, he had a simple answer: “I don’t care about any of that s**t.” White’s response is understandable, given that McGregor, who last fought in the UFC in January, defeating Donald Cerrone in just 40 seconds, is supposedly no longer connected to the North American mixed martial arts giant. Should the Pacquiao-McGregor fight actually come to fruition however, would White remain as unconcerned as he is now? .....»»
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.....»»
Team Lakay s Geje Eustaquio open to testing himself in ONE Super Series
Team Lakay flyweight star Geje "Gravity" Eustaquio has reached the mountaintop of the division after having held the ONE Flyweight World Championship from mid-2018 to early-2019. For the 31-year old former world champion, getting his belt back remains a top priority, but he's open to trying his hand at ONE Championship's striking-only platform, the ONE Super Series. Home to some of the world's best strikers, ONE Super Series has been a successful addition to ONE's brand of martial arts action, and it's also giving their athletes a chance to shift from sport to sport. For Eustaquio, who's considered as one of the best strikers in the division, competing in kickboxing or muay thai is a welcome challenge. “It would be a privilege for me to compete in ONE Super Series among legends, but right now, I’m just focused on my MMA career and looking to get back on track," Eustaquio told ONE Championship. "It’s been a rough couple of years, but I still consider myself among the top in my division. My mind is still on the flyweight title, and that’s what I’m working towards." “But yes definitely, I want to test my striking against the best in the world," he continued. In the flyweight division, ONE's best striker is arguably reigning ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang "The Iron Man" Jitmuangnon of Thailand, who's known for his unparalleled toughness inside the circle. "Gravity" has nothing but the utmost respect for Rodtang because of his abilities inside the ring and his personality out of it. “I think Rodtang is a tremendous athlete, and a big inspiration to many. Even though he’s the champion, he never forgets where he came from. You can still find humility in him, and I have so much respect for him,” said Eustaquio. “I think his greatest strength is his durability. His ability to walk through the line of fire, and just goad his opponents into a fight, it’s admirable. At the same time, it’s his biggest weakness. Fighters with that kind of style tend to underestimate things. In this sport, you can never predict what is coming, or how heavy or dangerous a strike could be. We’re only humans, after all, and he’s just a man," Eustaquio continued. Rodtang is scheduled to defend his title against countryman Petchdam Petchyindee Academy when ONE returns to action at ONE: No Surrender this coming July 31st. If Rodtang can remain the champion, it's definitely not outside the realm of possiblity that Eustaquio be tapped as the next challenger. “One day it would be an honor for me to share the ONE Super Series ring with this legend,” Eustaquiao said. “Or maybe, if he wants to shift over to MMA, I can put together a welcome party," he concluded. .....»»
ONE Championship: Eduard Folayang wants Eddie Alvarez rematch
In August of 2019, Filipino mixed martial arts icon and two-time ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang came painfully close to recording what would have been the biggest win of his MMA career when he faced former UFC and Bellator Lightweight World Champion Eddie “The Underground King” Alvarez in a high-stakes lightweight matchup. The winner would earn a spot in the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix Finals against Turkey’s Saygid Guseyn “Dagi” Arslanaliev at ONE: CENTURY in Tokyo, Japan, later that year. Early in the first round, it looked like Folayang was on his way to Tokyo after chopping Alvarez down with a nasty leg kick that obviously hurt the American star. What followed suit however, was a heartbreaking turn of events for Folayang, and an impeccable comeback from Alvarez. Looking to finish Alvarez off, Folayang pounced and began raining down heavy shot after heavy shot. Alvarez meanwhile, covered up and then waited for his opportunity to reverse things. Alvarez flipped Folayang over, took his back, and locked in the rear naked choke for the first-round submission win. Folayang admitted to rushing things as he was a tad bit too excited to get the finish. (READ ALSO: WHAT IF: Eduard Folayang had stopped Eddie Alvarez back in 2019?) Now, looking to make his way back up to the top of the lightweight ladder, Folayang hopes to be able to draw another meeting with Alvarez. “[If I could face anybody], it’s definitely Eddie Alvarez,” Folayang told ONE Championship’s Christian Jacinto. “I want to face him again.” As he had said before, Folayang acknowledges that he could have done a lot of things better in their first encounter. “Back in our match, I had a lot of regrets, I made a lot of mistakes…If given the chance, I believe my performance would be a whole lot better,” the Team Lakay star stated. “I definitely got careless in that match. We expected Eddie to be more of a striker, so I was confident when the match hit the ground,” he continued. Indeed, Alvarez has been known to be a brawler, which has helped him become a crowd favorite during his time in the UFC and in Bellator. Against Folayang however, Alvarez - who’s a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under Ricardo Almeida - let his grappling and his experience shine. In the past, Folayang has shown that he can hold his own against some dangerous grapplers, as evidenced by his stunning world title win against former champion Shinya Aoki back in 2016. Folayang hopes that he can channel that same level of defense again if and when he gets to share the cage with Alvarez again. “If there would be a rematch, I’d address my issues in the ground, and hopefully, I’ll be better this time around.".....»»
Floyd Mayweather Jr. responds to Conor McGregor s retirement
Over the weekend, two-division UFC world champion Conor "The Notorious" McGregor once again announced his retirement. The 31-year old McGregor (22-4 in MMA, 0-1 in Boxing), posted a photo of himself with his mother on Twitter with the caption "Hey guys I’ve decided to retire from fighting. Thank you all for the amazing memories! What a ride it’s been!" Hey guys I’ve decided to retire from fighting. Thank you all for the amazing memories! What a ride it’s been! Here is a picture of myself and my mother in Las Vegas post one of my World title wins! Pick the home of your dreams Mags I love you! Whatever you desire it’s yours ?? pic.twitter.com/Dh4ijsZacZ — Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) June 7, 2020 This was McGregor's third retirement announcement in the last four years, with his first one coming back in 2016 and the second one in 2019. Obviously, the Irish combat sports star's first two 'retirements' were short-lived. The following day, McGregor posted a photo of a cake, presumably from his daughter, that read "Happy Retirement Daddy" on his Instagram account. While a lot of the comments were well-wishers, there was one comment that stood out, and it was from none other than undefeated boxing legend Floyd "Money" Mayweather Jr. "If I'm not mistaken, didn't you tell Mike Tyson you could be at me if we fought a second time? Now you're quitting? I thought you wanted to beat the best? Well, if you decide to come back, I will be waiting to punish you again," Mayweather Jr's comment read. Mayweather Jr. came out of retirement in 2017 to face McGregor in a professional boxing bout, the biggest combat sports event of that year. While McGregor did put up a good fight, Mayweather Jr. was able to maintain his undefeated record with a tenth-round TKO victory over the first-time boxer McGregor. Since then, McGregor has returned to mixed martial arts, falling to reigning UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in October of 2018, and then bouncing back with a 40-second TKO of Donald Cerrone back in January. Will McGregor remain retired? Will Mayweather and McGregor share the ring once again? Only time will tell. .....»»
WHAT IF: Eduard Folayang had stopped Eddie Alvarez back in 2019?
In August of 2019, the Mall of Asia Arena in Metro Manila played host to arguably one of the biggest matches in ONE Championship lightweight history. In one corner was Filipino mixed martial arts icon and hometown favorite Eduard “The Landslide” Folayang, a two-time ONE Lightweight World Champion who was looking to bounce back after dropping the title to Japanese legend Shinya Aoki in Japan earlier that year. Standing in the opposite corner was American star Eddie “The Underground King” Alvarez, a former UFC and Bellator Lightweight Champion and one of ONE’s biggest acquisitions in recent memory. Like Folayang, Alvarez was also looking to get back on track after a disappointing KO loss to Timofey Nastyukhin in his ONE debut. Considered a dream match by ONE Championship fans, Folayang versus Alvarez was billed as East versus West. One of ONE’s pioneers against one of ONE’s newest stars. As much as the storylines made the match very intriguing, the stakes were quite high as well. With the semifinals of the then-ongoing ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix doomed by injuries, the Folayang-Alvarez bout was elevated to Grand Prix semifinals status, meaning that the winner would go on to face Turkish knockout artist Saygid “Dagi” Guseyn Arslanaliev in the Finals at ONE: CENTURY. For Folayang, it was a step towards reclaiming the title that he held at the start of the year. For Alvarez, it was a way to erase the memory of his bitter debut loss and also a step closer towards capturing his third major world championship. While the Folayang-Alvarez was the third-to-the last bout on the bill, for many of the Pinoy fans in attendance at the MOA Arena that night, it sure felt like the main event. From the opening bell, the crowd was buzzing, anxious to see of their hometown hero could pull off the massive victory. Chants of “Folayang! Folayang!” rang through MoA Arena just seconds before the Pinoy connected on a solid counter left hook that definitely got the American star’s attention. After a flurry of kicks from Folayang, the briefly fell into a nervous silence as Alvarez caught a leg kick and managed to get Folayang to the ground before trapping him in a standing guillotine. Folayang simply shrugged off the half-hearted submission attempt, much to the delight of the partisan-Pinoy crowd. So far so good for Team Philippines. A flying knee from Alvarez collided with a spinning back kick from Folayang, which elicited some oohs and ahhs from the crowd, which was ready to go off as soon as their bet landed something big. Folayang began to pick up steam as he launched strike after strike, throwing kicks, punches, and elbows. It was clear that the Team Lakay star was in control of the stand-up aspect of the fight. Then, at the 3:37 mark of the first round, the big strike that the fans were waiting for finally came. Folayang, with his massive tree-trunk legs, whipped a right low kick that connected on Alvarez’s left leg, sending the American down to the mat. The way Alvarez sat back down, it looked like he was hurt. Sensing blood in the water, Folayang went for the kill and began dropping fists as Alvarez tried to defend himself. A failed armbar attempt from Alvarez forced Folayang to reposition himself, moving into side control while still throwing hammerfist after hammerfist. Then, all of a sudden, Alvarez managed to slip his right hand in between Folayang’s legs and then flip the Pinoy over. Just like that, it was Alvarez who was on top. Unlike his Pinoy opponent however, Alvarez remained calm and slowly transitioned into full mount. Making things worse, Folayang, likely looking to prevent and ground and pound damage, turned and gave up his back. Almost immediately, Alvarez sinked his hooks in and flattened Folayang out before locking in a rear naked choke and forcing the Pinoy to tap out. While he did win, Alvarez would miss out on the Finals anyway after an injury would force him to withdraw as well. As a result, Dagi ended up facing - and losing to - reigning ONE Lightweight World Champion Christian Lee. Folayang was offered the Finals spot against Dagi, but last-minute visa issues would prevent him from being able to step up. The loss was quite a painful one to swallow, not just for Folayang, but also for the fans. Folayang admitted after the fight that he had rushed to get the finish, causing him to be a bit careless and make some costly mistakes. "I was too eager to get the finish, and I think that’s the mistake, I became impatient, and I wanted to finish him as soon as possible but it didn’t go that way, so, that happened," Folayang explained. But WHAT IF Folayang hadn’t rushed? Close your eyes and imagine: After chopping Alvarez down with the leg kick at the 3:37 mark, Folayang pounced and picked his spots, landing some good shots to the head, enough to stun the American and force the referee to step in and stop the fight. Or, what if instead of pouncing, Folayang allowed the visibly hurt Alvarez to get back up and from there, continued to punish The Underground King’s leg (or legs) en route to a TKO finish. Folayang would have booked his ticked to the ONE Lightweight Grand Prix Finals. More importantly, Folayang would have been able to add Alvarez to the name of legend’s he’s beaten, and it would have skyrocketed his stock to even greater heights. Would he have been able to defeat Dagi in the Finale? Of course it was very much possible. At the rate Dagi was knocking guys out up to that point, Folayang would have likely been considered an underdog, but a high-level striker like Folayang is never without his chances. If Folayang had been able to get past Dagi as well, it would set up a very intriguing matchup between himself and Lee, which could have been a good matchup for the Pinoy star. Now, Folayang finds himself once again looking to bounce back following a close loss to Dutch striker Pieter Buist. Still hungry for a third run as world champion, Folayang will need to work his way back to the top of the division. Who knows? Maybe two or three wins in, Folayang could find himself standing opposite Alvarez once again, with the chance to re-write history. .....»»
Cebu bus terminals: 100,000 passengers expected on March 27
CEBU CITY, Philippines — At least 100,000 passengers are expected to flock to two of the biggest bus terminals here in Cebu for the Holy Week this year. As early as 7 a.m. on Holy Wednesday, dozens already queued for buses at the Cebu North Bus Terminal (CNBT) in the North Reclamation Area. READ MORE:.....»»
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Miss Saigon co-creator praises musical s Philippine connections
Claude-Michel Schönberg is back in the country to witness the comeback of "Miss Saigon," which has close ties to the Philippines because of all the Filipino actors who took part in its numerous stagings, beginning with theater legend Lea Salonga......»»