...the Olympic cyclist

The only Asian in the latest Olympic sport, BMX cycling, is Pinoy

 

RENEE FOPALAN,

GMA News

August 8, 2012

 

 

Twenty-five year old Filipino-American Daniel Caluag is the only Asian competing in the BMX racing event at the 2012 London games.

 

BMX is one of the four cycling disciplines, together with track, mountain biking, and road racing. It is only the second time that BMX Racing will be conducted in the Olympics after it was introduced at the 2008 Beijing games for the first time.

Caluag was born in Chino, California in 1987 to Filipino parents. According to an interview with the Wall Street Journal, his father came from Bulacan while his mother is from Nueva Ecija.

At the age of 10, Caluag started riding, before eventually winning his first major title in 2007. In 2008, after failing to qualify to represent the US team in BMX cycling at the Beijing Olympics, the three-time ABA #1 Pro Cruiser champion decided to pursue a degree in nursing at Lindsey Wilson College in Kentucky. There, he became the captain of the school cycling team that won the first US Cycling BMX National Championships held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center earlier this year.

In an interview with his college athletics website, the world no. 84 shared that his decision to represent the Philippines came about due to several reasons, including missing the cut for the American team and losing his BMX sponsorship in the US.

Having two Filipino parents, Caluag opted to process his dual citizenship so he can try to qualify for the Philippines.

"The US has so many great athletes and there are only three slots in BMX. Some countries have three slots to qualify and only have one good athlete. Knowing that, I thought I could race for the Philippines and maybe be in contention for a medal," said Caluag.

The newest event to be added to the Olympic program, BMX traces its roots from motocross racing in the United States. BMX, being the pedaled version of its motorized predecessor, also contains bumpy dirt rides. The usual 450-meter track is finished within 40 seconds, with riders attempting to finish with the best time as seven other bikers race alongside them.

Caluag is expected to ride first on Wednesday at 1040pm (Manila time). In the seeding round, Caluag will only get to go around the track once to determine his place coming into the quarterfinals on Thursday at 10pm (Manila time).  - AMD, GMA News

...the Avon singing finalist

Pinay reaches finals of online global singing competition

ROSE-AN JESSICA DIOQUINO,

GMA News

09/14/2011

A Filipina, Joy Loria, has advanced to the finals of the global online singing competition "Avon Voices."

Launched this year by Avon Products, Inc. as part of its 125th anniversary celebration, the competition is a worldwide singing talent search.

"It is such a privilege to be part of this global singing talent search," Loria said in a statement. "Nagpapasalamat ako sa Diyos sa biyayang ito."

A nurse by profession, Loria works as a senior executive unit manager for Avon.

She and nine other finalists will be flown to New York City in November for the finale.

They will sing at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square, in front of the panel of judges and an invited global audience.

Two winners -- one of them an Avon representative -- will be determined by online votes and judges' decision combined.

One of the celebrity jurors is Filipina singer and actress Lea Salonga, who was also a judge in the recently concluded Miss Universe pageant.

Aside from Salonga, the other celebrity judges include:

Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas;

renowned songwriter Diane Warren;

Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Natasha Bedingfield;

Russian singer Valeriya;

Australian Artist of the Decade Delta Goodrem;

female percussionist Shiela E.;

music producer and Grammy winner David Pack;

Brazil pop star Ivete Sangalo;

Colombian singer Maia; and

Grammy nominated singer-composer Diego Torres.

Pinay voices

Loria, who hails from Nueva Ecija, was among 6, 000 participants who submitted a 30-second performance video in December last year.

For her entry, Loria belted out one of her favorite songs,  Whitney Houston's "Greatest Love Of All".

She, along with six other Pinays, made the Top 100. Then, Loria and fellow Pinay Kristela Musica Cristobal were picked as one of the 25 semifinalists.

Cristobal was a grand finalist in "Star for a Night", the local singing competition that launched the career of pop sensation Sarah Geronimo. - VVP, GMA News