Janel (left) with her mom Janet She is 15 years old. An incoming fourth year high schooler at the Sacred Heart-Jesuit, she maintains a Facebook account, relishes text messaging friends and listening to music with her Sony Ericsson phone, and she hangs-out in Ayala to watch movies. Janel Dihiansan is your typical 15-year-old teenager. Yes? [...]

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Soon after Simon Losiaboi arrived from Kenya last October, he was unbeatable. Race after Sunday morning after footrace, he won. Our local runners, who had never before experienced running  alongside a towering African, were tormented. They stood at the starting line aiming for second place. Engraved on the gold medal were the words “Simon Losiaboi.” [...]

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It’s sad but often true. When the term “Philippine government agency” is used, synonyms like “inefficient” and “corrupt” and “slow” are mentioned. Not my experience last Thursday morning during the renewal of my driver’s license at the SM City. What an efficient system of the Land Transportation Office. (Three years back and having gone through [...]

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NONOY ALBA is the new president of the Casino Español. During the annual Voters’ Meeting two nights ago at Cebu’s prestigious “Spanish House” along V. Ranudo St., Jose Luis “Nonoy” Alba was chosen to lead the club that’s celebrating its 90th year. The other members of the new Board of Directors include Manny Sainz (VP), [...]

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Erlinda Dolly Tan lived in Cebu from 2003 to 2008, worked at the GSIS, but is now residing in British Columbia. British Columbia? If the name sounds familiar that’s because the Winter Olympics, which ran from Feb. 12 to 28, was held in Vancouver, British Columbia. Dolly emailed me three weeks back with her observations [...]

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Sarah Monique Ching had never before watched Manny Pacquiao. Not in person, not on TV, not even via a YouTube replay. But that all changed last weekend when Sarah, a freshman on full scholarship studying Economics and Finance at the University of Texas in Dallas, saw Pacman three times: at the open workout, the weigh-in [...]

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Sarah Monique Ching had never before watched Manny Pacquiao. Not in person, not on TV, not even via a YouTube replay. But that all changed last weekend when Sarah, a freshman on full scholarship studying Economics and Finance at the University of Texas in Dallas, saw Pacman three times: at the open workout, the weigh-in [...]

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Andrew Ching is the past president of our Rotary Club of Cebu West. For years now, I see him each Tuesday night during our meeting. A few weeks back, Andrew told me that his daughter, Sarah Monique, is studying in Dallas and hopes to watch the Pacquiao-Clottey fight. After an exchange of emails, here’s the [...]

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THE EVENT was The Non-Event. It was the most boring fight we’ve seen of the earth’s most thrilling boxer. But it wasn’t Manny’s fault. He tried. On the 12th round. On Round 8. On the first 180 seconds. He even attempted the highlight of the fight in Round 4 when, exasperated, Manny did the “double [...]

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Dr. Yong Larrazabal (in red) receiving his award from Max Limpag, Raffy Uytiepo, Haide Acuña and John Pages CERC President Jesse Taborada with Presidential Awardee Z Gorres Jesse Taborada with his running buddies (Photos by Kenneth Casquejo)

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(Photo by Kenneth Casquejo) Something unusual happened last Thursday. A scene, as described by Mike Limpag, my sports editor, like the ones we watch in Hollywood movies. Only this was better for it wasn’t a reel story… but a real story. It was unscripted, dramatic, spontaneous. It’s about one man who wasn’t supposed to survive, [...]

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Read the Sun.Star piece Read the article from The Freeman Read the excellent piece by Mike Limpag Read Nimrod Quiñones’ article here

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March 11, 2010 is the night. That’s tonight. For tonight is the moment. It’s those three hours this evening when fireworks will erupt indoors, cheers will deafen the ballroom, when Z Gorres will receive a standing ovation, when the late volleyball guru Eugene de la Cerna will be honored, when Irina Gabasa will shake hands [...]

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This article was written two years ago, last March 13, 2008… Don-Don Hontiveros was scared. Uneasy. Anxious. His hand was cold. He had been in dozens of pressure-packed moments before—like standing on the free-throw line with 0.7 seconds left on the shot clock and needing to shoot both baskets to reach OT—but this was different. [...]

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These photos first appeared last March 13, 2008…. The UV Green Lancers (on stage) with (from left) CDN’s Jonas Panerio and coaches Boy Cabahug and Al Solis Mary Stephanie Agbay, one of the top awardees for Wushu Girlie Garces of San Miguel Corporation Felix Tiukinhoy (right), the Presidential Award recipient, receiving his award from outgoing [...]

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This article came out on March 11, 2008…. One of my favorite parties each year is the All-Cebu Sports Awards. For where can you gather, under one restaurant roof, sitting side-by-side, mingling, posing for photos, swapping autographs, beaming with earful grins, exchanging stories, laughing, parents crying of joy, world boxing champions in sight, gymnasts and [...]

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These were the awards of the 2008 edition… Cebu City 15-and-Under Football team Don-Don Hontiveros (far left) and Butch Ramirez (far right) pose with gymnast Mary Carmelli Garovillo with her mom San Miguel Corporation’s Girlie Garces, PSC Chairman Butch Ramirez, The Freeman columnist Raffy Uytiepo and John Pages John Pages (Sun.Star Cebu), Caecent No-ot Magumbol [...]

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I’m republishing this article I wrote last Feb. 22, 2009 (last year)… Manny looking up at 7-footer Greg Slaughter; from left, Raffy Uytiepo, Jun Migallen, John Pages, Jingo Quijano and Raffy Osumo (Photo by Iste Sesanted-Leopoldo of CDN) As president of the Sportswriters Association of Cebu (SAC), I was tasked to give the Closing Remarks [...]

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These photos from last year’s Cebu Sports Awards…. Thanks to Iste Sesante-Leopoldo and Marian Baring for these pictures… Gerry and Manny Edward Hayco, Nimrod Quiñones, Marian Baring and Marigold Lebumfacil POC Chairman Monico Puentevella (center) with Jun Migallen, Raffy Uytiepo, Caecent Magsumbol, Iste Leopoldo, Goldie Lebumfacil and Manny Villaruel Greg Slaughter with Mike Limpag and [...]

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More photos from the 2009 Awards Night… Thanks to Marian Baring of Sun.Star Cebu for these photos… Greg Slaughter and Manny Pacquiao Jinkee and Manny… Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) Chairman and Bacolod Congressman Monico Puentevella, the night’s Main Speaker The Awardees Hon. Monico Puentevella (in blue) conversing with Manny; left, John Pages; right, Raffy Osumo [...]

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