Year: 2011

Free! Plantation Bay stay, DC VIP tickets

Our tennis players arrived last Monday. Wearing blue-and-white shirts with PILIPINAS printed at the back, they carried with them giant tennis bags and even larger, jumbo-sized smiles. Excited. That’s how they looked. I helped welcome them at the airport. Thanks to Harry Radaza, we rode an open-air truck that transported our Davis Cuppers from MCIAA to Plantation Bay. Along the route, hundreds of schoolchildren stood. They cheered. Screamed. Waved flags. Loud music played. Fireworks erupted. Twenty cars, 33 motorbikes and hundreds paraded. Cecil Mamiit snapped photos with his Canon DSLR. PJ Tierro slapped high-fives. “So this is how it feels to be Manny Pacquiao!” I told Harry as hundreds lined the streets of Lapu-Lapu City.

What a welcome! “First-time pa ko ka experience ingon ani,” said Johnny Arcilla, our local No.1, in the press conference. If the Cebuano hospitality astounded our countrymen-visitors, what followed next had them dazzled. Minutes after landing in Plantation Bay, we walked. There, surrounded by 1,500 red and blue brand-new-smelling seats, sat the center stage that will be the focus of next weekend’s Battle of Mactan.

“Amazing,” said Mamiit, the 34-year-old captain who was once ranked world no. 72. Three months ago with Efren Belarmino, Randy Villanueva, Harry Radaza and myself, Cecil stood on the same spot. It was bare. Two rotten hard-courts slept. No bleachers stood. It was quiet.

Today, it’s the Australian Open transported from Melbourne to Cebu. World-caliber tennis will unfold when yellow Slazenger balls will be smothered. Racquet strings will snap. Arms, raised; victories, claimed. Japan? Philippines? Only three letters will stand… JPN or PHL. Go, PILIPINAS!

BASELINE. Since it’s a holiday in Cebu City today, why not watch the players? For the first time, get to see them train. At the Baseline tennis courts, they’ll practice from 2:30 to 5 p.m.

Treat (pronounced “Tret”) Conrad Huey you’ll watch. Same with J. Arcilla, Elbert Anasta, PJ Tierro and C. Mamiit. They’ll use up two courts. They’ll exchange hundreds of forehands. After, they’ll sign autographs and smile for photos. Be there for today’s open session Fans Day.

FB CONTEST. Here’s your chance to win an overnight stay for two at the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa. And, with it, a pair of VIP tickets (priced at P5,000 each) to the Davis Cup, scheduled this March 4 to 6. The game is simple. Log-in to Facebook and go to “DavisCupLapuLapuCity.” Read the mechanics. All you need is a photo in beach wear holding a racquet… send the picture and–TA-DA!–who knows, you just might be sipping fresh mango juice while sunbathing at one of Asia’s best. Visit FB now.

4th Olango Challenge

OPEN WATER SWIM FOR A CAUSE ON APRIL 30

KICK off those running shoes and put on your swimming caps; the time has come to take your athletic skills away from fun runs and test them in the open waters of Mactan Island. Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and Philippine Aquatic Sports Association (PASA) invites all competitive and non-competitive swimmers to join the 4th OLANGO CHALLENGE, a fund raising open water swim for the benefit of the people of Olango Island.

The event will take place at Tambuli Beach Club on April 30, 2011 from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Launched in 2008, the OLANGO CHALLENGE was crafted with the same dynamic as that of the open water swim category of the Beijing Summer Olympics to help promote open water swimming marathon discipline in this country. The swimming event also serves as an advocacy campaign to highlight the importance of a clean marine environment and raise awareness about the high incidence of drowning in the Philippines.

For four years now, the OLANGO CHALLENGE continues to help improve the lives of 2,300 families on Olango Island through the delivery of basic social services, the provision of sustainable income opportunities and the rehabilitation of the unique environment of the island.

Proceeds of the past Olango Challenges went to the construction and refurbishment of classrooms, the promotion and practice of organic vermiculture and the greening of Olango Island. The 3rd Olango Challenge allowed for the reforestation of 5,200 trees on Olango Island. The construction of another two-room classroom building for the public elementary school at Barangay Caw-Oy shall begin next week and should be completed in time for the 2011-2012 school year.

Proceeds of this year’s Olango Challenge are programmed for use towards an extensive reforestation effort of Olango Island.

Winners of last year’s Olango Challenge include Rey Suerte and Alali Ada Villocino for the 1.5K. Competitive Category; Jason Ong and Lorhiz Echavez of the 2.5K Competitive Category; Nikita Dacera. and Erika Lukang of the 5K Category and Franz Baguio of the 5K Fun Category.

Interested entrants of the 4th Olango Challenge may join the 2K and 6K competitive, competitive relay or the fun categories. Registration is pegged at P500.00 for the 2K and 6K competitive swim, P500.00 for the competitive relay category and P2, 000.00 for the fun category. Discounts will be given to those who register on or before April 8, 2011.

To join the event, interested swimmers may visit the PBSP office at the fourth floor of PLDT, Juan Luna Ave., Mabolo, Cebu City or the PASA office located at Rm 201, Bldg. B, Philsports Complex, Meralco Ave., Pasig City. Online registration is available via email at [email protected] or [email protected]. Visit the event’s blog site at http://olangochallenge.wordpress.com/ for downloadable forms and updated
information.

For personalized information, please look for Riva of PBSP at (032) 232-5270 or 232-5283 or Alex of PASA at (02) 687-7403. @

Other queries may be addressed to:
Philippine Business for Social Progress
Visayas Regional Office
4F PLDT Building, Juan Luna Ave.
Mabolo, Cebu City 6000
Tel: (032) 232-5270 | 232-5283
Fax: (032) 232-5286 Email: [email protected]
Please visit our Web site www.pbsp.org.ph
Please visit our Visayas blog www.pbspvro.blogspot.com

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Categorized as Swimming

Cebu Fire Run

The Cebu Filipino-Chinese Volunteers Fire Brigade (CFCVFB) is set to hold the Cebu Fire Run 2011 slated for March 6, 2011, Sunday at the Terraces, Ayala Center Cebu, Cebu Business Park grounds.  This is in line with CFCVFB’ 30 years of dedicated service. Aside from the Run activities are lined from March 4 to 6 mall hours at the Activity Area of Ayala Center Cebu.  CFCVFB will hold a photo exhibit featuring the volunteer firefighter in action.  The photos were taken by friends and volunteers during the line of duty.

Alongside the photo exhibit are booths like a photo wall where you can have your picture taken with fire gear and hose, a lecture area and fire drill / simulation area where people can experience the proper procedure to follow in case of fire emergencies.

All these activities are geared at promoting the Learn not to Burn Program in a fun way.  Firemen in complete fire uniforms and gear will be around along with the mascot Sparky the Fire Dog.  Leaflets, bookmarks and certificates are given to the first 1,500 visitors.

The Learn Not to Burn® (LNTB®) fire safety education program that is available to elementary school children worldwide. Based on the USA’s National Fire Protection Association’s curriculum, it includes songs, stories, puppets, games and other activities to teach fire safety behavior in a way that children can understand and remember.

The Cebu Fire Run will be managed by Runcheck.  Registration details are: 15k P300.00; 7.5k P250.00; 3k P250.00.  There is also the Kiddie Dash 100 meters and 200 meters.  Run starts at 5:00 am and assembly is at 4:30 am.  Prizes are: 1st prize P7,000.00; 2nd prize P5,000.00; 3rd prize P3,000.00 plus medals.  Registration centers are: Runnr (Ayala Center Cebu); Philippine Sports Commission Office (Cebu City Sports Center); Holiday Gym; CFCV Fire Brigade Office.  For more inquiries call Mobile No. 0933-339-9111.

Since 1980, the Cebu Filipino-Chinese Volunteers Fire Brigade with its group of volunteer firemen has helped fight fires in the City and Province of Cebu.  Funding and volunteers come from the members of Cebu’s Filipino Chinese community.  These men render their service on a purely voluntary basis without thought of reward, compensation or recognition, but guided by a sense of civic duty and responsibility for the good of the community blazing a trail in the “Spirit of Volunteerism and Service “.  You may also visit www.facebook/cebufirerun.com or ask any fire brigade volunteer.

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Categorized as Running

Tennis treat awaits Treat, Cecil & Co.

The Japanese are coming!!! But, before they do, our Pinoys have arrived. Yesterday afternoon, with 11 days left before the Davis Cup begins, our Philippine tennis squad landed in Lapu-Lapu City. While the Japanese invade us this Saturday, our PHL team is here many, many hours prior to showtime.

They’ll step on the clay-court that was built brand-new by Plantation Bay. They’ll slide, serve, smother forehands and smell the air of Mactan. They’ll acclimatize. They’ll visualize next Sunday’s victory parade while carrying the flag. They’ll practice. They’ll hope that the Japanese–coming from near-freezing temperatures (it was 4 degrees Celsius in Tokyo yesterday)–will get scorched and flamed by our sun.

Davis Cup is unlike any other. It’s not one player versus another. It’s Philippines against Japan. It’s like boxing’s Pinoy Pride where Mexicans battle our own. It’s the same. Only it’s tennis. And, with tennis, we’ve never seen this giant-sized event before.

Plantation Bay Resort and Spa is the peerless site. Voted one of Asia’s best, the Pinoys and the Japs have the impeccable resort venue to unwind after grueling 5-setter matches. Davis Cup, a 111-year-old tournament involving 137 nations, is world-class. It’s just befitting that a first-rate resort play hosts.

The City of Lapu-Lapu is the organizer. Envisioned to be the sports tourism capital of our 7,107 islands, Mactan is perfect. It has plenty of water, sand and clay. Ideal for play—and, for that tennis court made of clay. Also, it was on this island where the first death of a tourist was recorded: Ferdinand Magellan was slaughtered on April 27, 1521.

Lapu-Lapu crucified him. Will Lapu-Lapu—the city—do the same? Be the venue where the Japanese tennis stars will be vanquished? Yes. I hope so. Most of all, I hope you get to watch. (Tickets, priced at P500/day or P2,500/reserved, are available at SM’s Nike Stadium or Ayala Center’s Planet Sports.)

Sports fan or not, you’ve got to make a beach outing next weekend to Marigondon. Witness how swords transform to racquets. Blood, in the form of defeat, will be spilled on clay. Speaking of clay, I had a feet-on (not hands-on) experience last Friday. I stepped on the court. It’s splendid. The bleachers? Wow. It’s comparable to the U.S. Open or the Beijing Olympics. It’s of the highest standards. Every single blue-colored seat is worth your ticket.

Cecil Mamiit. Treat Huey. Johnny Arcilla. Elbert Anasta. PJ Tierro. These are our players. And, if you want to get a glimpse of them prior to the Davis Cup from March 4 to 6, they’ll be at the Baseline tennis courts this Thursday, Feb. 24. A holiday (Charter Day), they’ll conduct practice sessions and autograph-signing from 2 to 4 p.m. Be there. You’ll see slice backhands and topspin volleys. Watch the Azkals of Tennis.

Chester’s Birthday

Like Bobby Nalzaro, I attended last Saturday’s 50th “Golden” birthday of one of Cebu’s top businessmen/sportsmen: Chester Cokaliong.

The ballroom of Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort and Spa crowded with government heads (Mayor Mike Rama, Rep. Pablo John Garcia, Judge Gabby Ingles, Councilor Ed Labella, among many), relatives, friends, and, of course, Chester’s basketball buddies. I sat with Bobit Avila, Bobby Inoferio, Choy Torralba, Jerry Tundag and Jack Huang. We stayed up until 11 p.m. The entertainers–Hajii Alejandro and Willie Nepomuceno, who mimicked Dolphy and Sammy Davis, Jr.–were terrific. Chester’s birthday cake? Why, of course, a multi-layered basketball ring for Cebu’s 3-point King.

Published
Categorized as Basketball

My favorite story on success? Failure

As president of the Sportswriters Association of Cebu (SAC), I delivered a speech yesterday afternoon. In attendance were hundreds: parents, coaches, the 7-footer basketball giant Junemar Fajardo; the Athlete of the Year, Donnie Nietes; and the rest of the awardees of the 29th SAC-SMB Cebu Sports Awards. Here was my speech….

Good afternoon! Cebu City Councilor Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba. Cebu City Sports Commission Chairman Ed Hayco… Our Sportsman of the Year, representing chess… Mr. Boojie Lim. Our Orlando C. Sanchez awardee: Dr. Danny Villadolid. Our guest of honor who flew in from Manila… he was supposed to bring the Azkals, but they’re about to start training in Baguio.. our presidential awardee: Mr. Dan Palami. To the parents and coaches in attendance… And most of all, to you, our awardees… Maayong hapon and congratulations!

The first time I attended the Sports Awards was 22 years ago. I was then 16 years old and — like you — I received an award for the sport of tennis. The awarding was held at the Magellan Hotel. Since then, the awards had always been held at an exclusive hotel or function room area. Each time, we would only invite the head coach or the team captain.

That is why I am so happy today to see all of you. Because it’s not just one coach or one player but all of you who should be recognized.I want to share with you my all-time favorite quotation:

I have missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. Twenty six times, I have been entrusted to take the game-winning shot… and missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life…. And that is why I succeed.

You know who said those words? Michael Jordan. The person considered the greatest basketball player — the greatest athlete of all time — said that failure is the reason for his success.

I mention this quote because — although all of you here are champions and gold medalists — the reason behind your success is also failure.

You have failed many times. You have been defeated. The only athlete I know who remains undefeated is Floyd Mayweather, Jr. — but he’s a failure because he’s afraid to face our very own Manny Pacquiao.

Now, in your own training and in your many competitions, you have failed several times. But, it was how you responded after the failure that brought you here. You rose from the times when you lost — you trained harder, you did not let failure defeat you. You used failure as motivation to rise and to win.

I mention failure because I see the Cebu Eastern College Baby Dragons here. Back in 2009, CEC lost by 131 points in one game. In another, they lost by a margin of 151 points! Now, today, they are here as the Cesafi high school basketball champions of last year and as our major awardees for basketball. Their comeback story — from failure to triumph — is one of the most amazing stories ever in Cebu sports.

Also, I cite Dan Palami. Years back, our Philippine football players were nobodies. Nobody cared about them. But, thanks to Mr. Palami — who supported and took care of the team while they were failing — today the Azkals are the hottest sports idols in our country.

And so, dear awardees, as you come up on stage in a few minutes and receive your plaques and trophies — feel proud. Relish this moment. Very few are recognized like you. And, later this year, when you go back to the basketball court or the boxing ring or the football field and, in case you falter and lose, use those moments to become stronger. Be like Mike. Be like CEC. Do not be afraid of losing.

Once again, thank you so much. To all the awardees, we are all very, very, very proud of you. Congratulations!

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Categorized as Tennis