...the next Guam

Subic seen as new Guam

            

By Ric Sapnu

The Philippine Star

June 30, 2013

 

 

 

MANILA, Philippines - Subic Bay Freeport could be the next Guam, Ronald Wang said in a statement read by Dr. Johnson Yang, chairman of the Subic-based Grand Pillar International Development, Inc.,Wang, chairman of property developer Century 21 Subic Bay and also chairman and chief executive officer of Century 21 Taiwan, Century 21 Asia Pacific, and Fantai Real Estate Management Co., expressed high hopes for Subic as the next best thing in the real estate business.
“Subic is the next Guam in terms of economic growth,” Wang said.

Wang was the guest speaker in the groundbreaking ceremony for Grand Pillar’s Mi Casa Terrace, a P170 million three-storey commercial and office building project to be constructed in the Freeport Zone.

Wang said that when he was invited by Dr. Yang to Subic several years ago, he felt the passion in Subic and the opportunity that awaited in terms of leisure and commercial development.

“This is the reason why when I attended the 10th Asian Real Estate Association of America Global Summit held in Hawaii in May (2013), I was inspired and had the confidence to present to all the delegates and participants of the summit that Subic could be the next Guam,” he said.

Guam is a tiny island in the Western Pacific, which attracts more than one million tourists annually from Asia and America because of its more than 20 luxury hotels, duty free shops, indoor aquarium, entertainment venues, and several golf courses in what is dubbed as the Pleasure Island District.

Subic is said to have the potential to replicate Guam’s real estate boom because of its natural attractions that include mountain forests and the Subic Bay.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman and administrator Roberto V. Garcia, meanwhile, said that the proposed three-storey commercial building is another manifestation of the increasing demand for spaces intended for tourism-related businesses.

 

...the 2nd Filipino saint

Philippines celebrates canonisation of saint

By Philip C. Tubeza in Manila/Philippine Daily Inquirer |
Asia News Network
21 October 2012

Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - As thousands of Filipino Catholics troop to Rome, millions more across the Philippines are gearing up to celebrate the canonization of the country's second saint, a missionary killed 340 years ago who is being promoted as a youth hero.

The Catholic faithful are expected to gather in different church events as the nation's major television networks broadcast live Sunday's ceremony at the Vatican during which Pedro Calungsod, who was hacked to death while trying to convert locals on the Pacific island of Guam, will be made a saint.

Pope Benedict XVI will formally raise Calungsod to the altar.

According to the church website sanpedrocalungsod.com, more than 1,000 young people from across Metro Manila will gather at the Sto. Nino de Tondo Parish in Manila from 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday to watch the canonization.

Around 600 young people are also expected to gather at the Good Shepherd Cathedral Covered Court in Novaliches while the Federation of National Youth Organization (FNYO) will also celebrate the event in Makati.

Dubbed "Pedro at Ako," the FNYO event will be held at the Savio Dome of Don Bosco Technical Institute-Makati from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

In Cebu, the Commission on Youth of the Archdiocese and the National Shrine of St. Joseph in Mandaue have invited Catholics to watch a live telecast of the events in Rome.

The gathering, which includes a drama on the life of the second Filipino saint, talks and trivia games, will be held at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.

5,000 Filipino pilgrims

About 5,000 Filipino pilgrims are expected to accompany the Philippines' Roman Catholic Church leaders to the Vatican for the ceremony.

Vice President Jejomar Binay, who arrived Friday in Rome, will lead the Filipinos who will witness the canonization of Calungsod.

Binay was designated by President Aquino to head the official Philippine delegation to the ceremony.

He will attend the Holy Mass at Saint Peter's Square that will signal the start of the canonization rites for Calungsod and six others.

Calungsod is the second Filipino saint after St. Lorenzo Ruiz who was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1987.

A procession of the new saint's icons will be held at the Basilica of Santa Pudenziana later in the evening.

"The presence of the thousands of Filipinos here and the millions more around the world who are eagerly awaiting Blessed Calungsod's canonization as the second Filipino saint reaffirms our faith as a nation. I hope his dedication and sacrifice will serve as an example for the Filipino youth to emulate," Binay said in a statement released by his office in Manila.

At home, devotees have begun flocking to Ginatilan on the central island of Cebu, a small farming town that claims Calungsod as its own, while saint souvenirs have become popular items across the nation.

Wood carvers were reporting an increase in the demand for statues of the would-be saint, according to a report on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website.

1,000 statues a week

"There are many orders coming from different provinces ... from old and new clients," said Kevin Cagayat, whose father Justino was commissioned by the Jesuits to carve the official statue of Calungsod.

The statues, ranging from eight inches (worth 350 pesos or US$8) to four-feet tall (40,000 pesos or $960), are made of either resin or wood.

"Since August, high demands and orders forced us to produce around 100 statues a week," Cagayat added.

"Also, in times like this where the demand is very high and there are rush orders, we also outsource workers to do the carving and finishing touches," he added.

Limited edition stamps

The Philippine Postal Corp. (PHLPost) will also inaugurate a stamp at the Edsa Shrine in honor of Calungsod during the noontime Mass on Sunday.

"The single stamp design illustrates Blessed Pedro holding a palm leaf on his left hand and his right hand at the chest signifying his deep Roman Catholic faith.

On the right side is the missionary route to the Marianas Island," PHLPost said in a statement.

The postal service said it was issuing 50,000 of the "limited edition" stamps worth 9 pesos each. They will be available from Oct. 22 to Oct. 20 next year at selected post offices nationwide.

Those interested could also call the PHLPost postage and philatelic department at 527-01-32.

"There is something about him that touches the heart of the Filipino Catholics," Fr. Francis Lucas, a media officer with the CBCP, told Agence France-Presse.

Calungsod will be made a patron saint for young people, partly in recognition of his age-believed to be just 17-when killed in 1672.

According to the official account of his short life, hostile tribesmen hacked Calungsod and a Jesuit priest he was assisting to death in Guam where they were trying to convert locals to the Catholic faith.

He qualified for sainthood last year after the Vatican officially recognized a 2002 "miracle" in which a woman in the Philippines already declared dead from a heart attack was revived after a doctor prayed to Calungsod for help.

The Philippines is regarded as Asia's bastion of Catholicism, with 80 percent of the population adherents to the faith, thanks to more than three centuries of Spanish rule that began in the 1500s.

Migrant workers' saint

Calungsod will become only the second Filipino to be canonized after Lorenzo Ruiz, another missionary, who was killed in Japan in 1637 and made a saint in 1987.

Lucas said Calungsod's youthfulness and travel to a foreign land held special resonance in the Philippines, where the average age is 24 and 10 percent of the population have gone abroad to work.

"We consider him to be a saint of migrant workers because he went abroad to represent the Philippines," Lucas said.

The church has sought to maximize Calungsod's appeal to young people with an Internet campaign that includes a website showcasing his life and featuring music videos, as well as a social media drive.

One Facebook site on Calungsod has more than 8,000 "likes" and streams of positive comments, as well as appeals to him for help.

"Dear Saint Pedro, please take care of my good friend Julie who is fighting cancer," one comment on the page said.

Although Calungsod's birthplace is unknown, he is listed as coming from the central Philippines and Ginatilan residents point to the many people surnamed "Calungsod" who have lived in the town over the centuries.

"We have death records, marriage records and birth records ... so we believe, 80 percent, that he is from our town," Ginatilan Mayor Antonio Singco told Agence France-Presse.

Parish worker Salvi Cadungo, 56, said the link to Calungsod was a major source of pride, comfort and hope to residents who largely make their living growing coconut, bananas and corn.

"We are all so happy here. We are a small town in a corner of the Philippines, but now everyone knows we produced a saint," she said.

With reports from AFP and Jerome Aning

COPYRIGHT: ASIA NEWS NETWORK

...the Azkal's FIFA ranking

FIFA Rankings: Azkals move up to 147 in the world, 21st in Asia

 

October 3, 2012

GMA News

 

 

The Philippine Azkals moved up to 147 in the world with 178 points, in the latest FIFA rankings released Wednesday, October 3, buoyed by a month where they won four matches.

Thanks to a win in a friendly against Singapore, and a sweep of the Peace Cup, versus Guam, Macau and Chinese-Taipei, the Azkals moved up three places from last month, and are now 21st in Asia.

Globally, the Philippines is tied with Kazakhstan, which tumbled down five places, with both countries a point shy of Cuba, ranked 146th, with 179 points.

Up next for the Azkals is a trio of friendlies against Bahrain (115 globally, 15th in Asia), Kuwait (112 globally, 13th in Asia) and Singapore (168 globally, 28th in Asia) once more, in preparation for November's Suzuki Cup.

Tops in Asia are Japan (23 globally), South Korea (25 globally), and Australia (34 globally). - AMD, GMA News

...the first win in 99 years!

Philippine Azkals seal historic win in Peace Cup

 

By Dennis Gasgonia,

ABS-CBNnews.com

09/29/2012

 

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Azkals won its first international title in 99 years by crushing Chinese Taipei to take home the Philippine Football Peace Cup.

 

The Philippines brought down Chinese Taipei, 3 goals to 1, at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila on Saturday.

Filipino-German Denis Wolf drew first blood against the Taiwanese squad in the 10th minute.

Wolf picked up Carli de Murga's deflected shot and turned it into the Philippines' first goal against Chinese Taipei.

In the 34th minute, Caligdong intercepted the ball from the Taiwanese and mounted a counterattack via a long range shot to make it 2-nil for the Azkals.

The “Chief” ran near the stands and pulled up his shirt to show another shirt that says "Jesus loves us."

OJ Porteria, meanwhile, scored his first international goal for the Philippines by cutting a pass between Taiwanese players in the 43rd minute.

Porteria ran toward the goal box and eluded the keeper to push the Philippines further ahead, 3-0.

Porteria happily launched into a "Gangnam Style" dance following the score.

In the second half, it was Chinese Taipei’s turn to score.

Chang Han slid in the shot past Filipino keeper Eduard Sacapano in the 52nd minute to make it 3-1.

The game was halted for a few minutes in the 2nd half following a slight contact between a Taiwanese player and Demetrious Omphroy, which sparked a commotion at the Chinese Taipei bench.

The Chinese Taipei head of delegation berated a referee for the alleged questionable officiating. This prompted the game official to dismiss the individual from the game.

The head of delegation, however, refused to leave the pitch, causing several minutes of delay in the game.

He eventually went to the stands after he was convinced by the match officials.

Chinese Taipei seemed to gain steam after the incident as they gained a free kick and chances in the72nd and the 82nd minutes, respectively.

The Taiwanese squad nearly scored another goal against the Azkals via a penalty kick off a foul by Jason de Jong.

Fortunately, Sacapano did what was perhaps the most spectacular save in the tournament by successfully clearing Yang Chao Hsun’s penalty kick.

With the win, the Azkals maintained its unbeaten status in the Philippine Football Peace Cup.

Prior to their victory over Chinese Taipei, the Filipinos first defeated Guam, then followed it up with another win over Macau.

The tournament win is also a historical feat for the Philippines, which last won an international football competition in the 1913 Far East Games.

...the asian motocross

PH finishes third in Asian moto

The Philippine Star

07/04/2012

 

 

MANILA, Philippines - Mark Reggie Flores turned in a second overall finish in the Asian Junior 85cc category while Kenneth San Andres salvaged sixth place in the Pro 125 category as Team NAMSSA-Philippines finished third in the Asian Nations Cup of the FIM Asia Motocross Supercross Championship in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia recently.

 

The Phl took the second runner-up honors behind champion Thailand and runner-up Japan based on the placings of Flores and San Andres in Round 2 of the Asian series. The competition is decided by the aggregate scores of riders from the participating countries in various categories.

Flores finished second overall in the Asian Junior 85cc category to currently lead the series with 94 points after two rounds, leading his Round 2 conqueror Mongolian hotshot Munkhbolar Khishigmunk, who has 80 points.

The 13-year-old San Pablo City pride Flores ruled the series’ opener last April in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

San Andres got slowed down by mechanical problems and settled for sixth in the Pro 125 category of the Asian event, topped by Thailand’s Arnon Theplib.

The event drew riders from Mongolia, the Philippines, Thailand, Japan, Guam, China, Korea, United Arab Emirates, Australia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, India, Saipan, Macau, New Zealand, Singapore and Iran, competing in the categories of 85 cc, 125/MX2 and veterans class.

San Andres, who is backed by Oakley, Bridgestone Tires, Polisport, FOX, Go Pro, HJC Helmets, Auto Plus, Motul Philippines, Bike Plus, Inside Racing, Starting Line Magazine, EZ Trailer, JBS Motorcycle Shop and GCG Pipe, was coming off a twinkill in the 2012 Philippine Olympic Committee-Philippine Sports Commission National Games, where he crushed the challenge of veteran Jovie Saulog (second) and rising star Jerrick Mitra in both the motos of the Pro 125.

Flores matched the double win with victories in the Junior 85 cc over Gabriel Macaso and Radzie Kallahal.

---

...the bee season

13-year-old Fil-Am wins regional spelling bee in Guam

 

HAIDEE EUGENIO

March 12, 2012

 

 

SAN JOSE, Saipan – A 13-year-old Filipino-American student from the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) won the 40th Annual Scripps Regional Spelling Bee in Guam.

Marcy Ann Ermitanio, an eighth grader from Chacha Oceanview Junior High School in the CNMI’s capital of Saipan, will represent the region in the national competition in Washington, D.C. on May 30.

“I am just honored and excited…I want to thank my parents for supporting me,” said Ermitanio, the second of five children of Alma and Frank, both from the Philippines.

Marcy Ann said her motivation to persevere was the thought of traveling to the US capital.

“Just to think of the trip to Washington, D.C. makes me excited. It was my motivation to do well,” she said.

Correctly spelling the word “Ichabod” sealed her victory over 73 other top spellers from public and private schools in the CNMI, Guam, Palau and Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia.

She spelled a total of 16 words correctly to advance to the national competition.

Vince Dela Cruz, principal of the school where Ermitanio attends, said the school administration, teachers and staff were very proud of Ermitanio for winning this year’s spelling bee.

The Top 10 spellers during the March 3 competition held at the Sheraton Laguna Guam Resort included two other Filipino-American students from the CNMI.

Ermitanio is the fifth winner of the regional spelling bee from the CNMI since 2006.

In 2010, another Filipino-American student, Mikhail Alcantara of William S. Reyes Elementary School, won the regional title. - VVP, GMA News

...the Pinoy dancers

2 Fil-Ams in top 20 of 'So You Think You Can Dance'

by Yong Chavez

ABS-CBN North America Bureau

06/21/2011

LOS ANGELES, California - Two Fil-Am dancers made it to the top 20 of Season 8 of the dance program "So You Think You Can Dance."

Tadd Gadduang and Marko Germar are competing to be America's best dancer.

Thousands of hopefuls all over the country auditioned for the show, but only the best were chosen to compete on the weekly show.

Gadduang, 25, made an impressive TV debut with his partner, Jordan Casanova.

The hip-hop dancer is from Utah but grew up in Daly City, California.

"Yeah, Daly City--little Manila. My family moved to San Francisco, and I was born there. My older sister was the one who got me into dance," Gadduang said.

Germar, 22, is the first dancer from Guam to make it in the competition. Since childhood, he has always been interested in dance, but could not afford to get training so he worked at a dance studio in exchange for lessons.

He moved to Los Angeles 3 years ago to fulfill his dream of becoming a professional dancer.

But his dream almost came to an end when he was nearly killed by a robber.

Doctors were not able to take out all of the bullets in his body so one remains in his arm.
He said he won't let it stop him from doing anything, especially dancing.

"It's unbelievable. When I was in 8th grade in Guam, doing my homework, that's when I first saw the show. I asked myself how cool would it be if I made it on the show? Now here we are--it's so surreal. I can't believe it's happening, coming from a small island secluded from everything else, and just a kid who just wanted to dance and have fun. Now doing big things like this and dancing with an amazing partner like Melanie, it's a dream come true," said Germar.

Germar's dance number with his partner, Melanie Moore, was considered the best of the first night of competition, according to the judges and even their rivals.

"It's so emotional… I just can't stop watching them," said Nick Young, a contestant on the show.
Every week, the lowest vote-getter gets booted out of the competition.

Germar was disheartened when he found out Guam can't vote due to the time difference. But he's hoping for Filipinos in the US to help him and Gadduang advance in the contest.

Both are considered as front runners in "So You Think You Can Dance" Season 8.
"Vote, please. Mahal kita," Gadduang said.

Germar said he wants to inspire other young Pinoys who want to achieve something but come from humble backgrounds like him.

"If ever you have a doubt, even just one little, little doubt, tell yourself that you have a reason to live. You don't have a reason to quit. I grew up the same way kids grew up back home and here I am. So if I can do it, they can do it, too," he said.

...the tale of the two islands

Guam proclaims Filipino Independence and Heritage Month

INQUIRER.net

Wednesday, June 8th, 2011

Guam Governor Eddie Baza Calvo signs a proclamation declaring June 2011 as Filipino Independence and Heritage Month as Consul Kerwin Tate (extreme left), Lt. Gov. Ray Tenorio (second from left) and Sen. Dennis Rodriguez (extreme right) look on. DFA Photo

MANILA, Philippines—Guam has declared June 2011 as Filipino Independence and Heritage Month, the Philippine Consulate General in Agana said Wednesday.

Guam Governor Eddie Baza Calvo signed a proclamation that recognized the common history and heritage of Filipinos and Guamanians and how the two cultures have intertwined.

Calvo also expressed gratitude to the Filipino community in the unincorporated territory of the United States for their “positive contributions” to the island.

He emphasized the fact that a number of top officials in his administration are Filipinos or have Filipino heritage.

Consul Kerwin Orville Tate, Vice Consul Maria Paz Cortes, and Cultural Officer Jo Ann Alonzo witnessed the event at the Governor Ricardo J. Bordallo Complex in Adelup, together with the officers and members of the Filipino community in Guam.

Senator Dennis Rodriguez from the 31st Guam Legislature, who is of Filipino descent, was also present during the signing ceremony.