Quest for Glory: Muay Thai Battle of the Best Final Match-Ups Thursday, Jan 29 2009

Here’s the official line up of matches for this Sunday’s (February 1, 2009) Muay Thai spectacle dubbed as: Quest for Gory:  Muay Thai Battle of the Best

Match No. 1

Roland Claro-

Home Town: Zamboanga City

Age:   29 yrs. old

Height: 5 feet 1 inch

Weight: 48 kgs

Titles:

Gold Medalist 2008 World Championship (South Korea);Gold Medalist 23rd SEA Games (Manila); Gold Medalist Muay Thai Cup 2004 (Thailand)

vs.

Romnick Pabalate

Home Town: Mabinay, Negros Occidental

Age: 21 yrs old

Height: 5′3″

Weight:49kgs

Titles:

Bronze Medalist, 2008 World Championship (S. Korea);Bronze Medalist 24th SEA Games (Thailand); Gold Medalist Asian Muay Thai Championship (India)

Match No. 2

Dindo Camansa

Home Town: Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat

Age: 18 years old

Height: 5′7″

Weight: 54kgs

Titles:

Silver Medalist, Philippine Olympic Festival Finals 2008

vs.

Agustin Delarmino

Hometown: Ilo-Ilo

Age: 20 years old

Height: 5′6″

Weight: 54kgs

Titles:

Gold Medalist, Philippine Olympic Festival-Finals 2008

Match No. 3

Jonathan Polosan

Home Town: Misamis Oriental

Age: 21 years old

Height: 5′7″

Weight: 63kgs

Titles:

Gold Medalist, 2008 Prince Cup (Thailand)

vs.

Zaidi Laruan

Home Town: La Trinidad, Benguet

Age: 21 years old

Height: 5′7″

Weight: 62kgs

Titles:

Bronze Medalist 24th SEA Games (Thailand); Silver Medalist 23rd SEA Games (Manila)

Match No. 4

Jay Olod

Home Town: Baguio City

Age: 21 years old

Height: 5′7′

Weight: 60kgs

Titles:

Bronze Medalist, 24th SEA Games (Thailand)

vs

Reynold Trasmonte

Home Town: Zamboanga City

Age: 29 years old

Height: 5′6″

Weight: 60kgs

Titles:

Bronze Medalist, 23rd SEA Games (Manila)

Match No. 5

Eugene Toquero

Home Town: Cebu City

Age: 28 years old

Height: 5′5″

Weight: 57kgs

Titles:

Bronze Medalist, 2007 Asian Muay Thai Championship (India)

vs.

Armando Daligdig

Home Town: Pangasinan

Age: 26 years old

Height: 5′6″

Weight: 57 kgs

Titles:

Gold Medalist- Pre-SEA Games 2005, Bangkok, Thailand

Match No. 6

Tyrone Naticho

Home Town: Mayoyao, Ifugao

Age: 27 years old

Height: 5′5″

Weight: 60kgs

Titles:

Bronze Medalist, Prince Cup, Bangkok Thailand 2008

vs.

Jay Malubay

Home Town: Cagayan De Oro City

Age: 23 years old

Height: 5′5′

Weight: 60kgs

Titles:

Gold Medalist, Philippine Olympic Festival Finals 2008

Match No. 7

Ronnie Catampatan

Home Town: Antipolo City

Age: 29 years old

Height: 5′6″

Weight: 54kgs

Titles:

Bronze Medalist, World Amateur Championships, Bangkok Thailand 2007

vs.

Jason Sawangin

Home Town: Baguio City

Age: 19 years old

Height: 5′5″

Weight: 54kgs.

Titles:

Gold Medalist, Philippine Olympic Festival Finals, 2007

Match No. 8

Clint Anawe

Home Town: Baguio City

Age: 25 years old

Height: 5′4″

Weight: 51kgs

Titles:

Veteran of international amateur muay thai competitions

vs.

Philip Delarmino

Home Town: Ilo-ilo

Age: 18 years old

Height: 5′4″

Weight: 51kgs

Titles:

Gold Medalist, Philippine Olympic Festival Finals, 2008

Match. No. 9

Ricalene Aquino

Home Town: Daet, Bicol

Age: 22 years old

Height: 5′7″

Weight: 60kgs.

Titles:

Silver Medalist, Prince Cup Bangkok, Thailand 2008

vs.

Ana Marie Rey

Home Town: Quezon City

Age: 18 years old

Height: 5′5″

Weight: 60kgs.

Titles:

Silver Medalist, 24th SEA Games, Nackon Ratchasima, Thailand 2007

Match. No. 10

Maricel Subang

Home Town: Benguet Province

Age: 25 years old

Height: 5′2″

Weight: 50kgs.

Titles:

Silver Medalist, 24th SEA Games, Nackon Ratchasima, Thailand 2007

vs.

May Libao

Home Town:  Zamboanga City

Age: 25 years old

Height: 5′2″

Weight: 50kgs

Titles:

Silver Medalist, 24th SEA Games, Nackon Ratchasima, Thailand 2007

Match No. 11

2. Jay Harold Gregorio

Home Town: Zamboanga City

Age: 21 years old

Height: 5′10″

Weight: 67kgs

Titles:

Silver Medalist 2008 World Championship Busan, South Korea 2008

vs.

Ruben Sumido

Home Town: Ilo-Ilo City

Age: 25 years old

Height: 5′8″

Weight: 6kgs

Titles:

Gold Medalist, 2nd Asian Indoor Games, Macau China 2007

Expect heavy hitting action from the country’s finest muay thai fighters.

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Quest for Glory: Muay Thai’s Battle of the Best Saturday, Jan 24 2009

Muay Thai afficionados in the Philippines should mark February 1, 2009 on their calendar.  On this date,  bemedalled Philippine muay thai team members will do battle for the honor of being the being called the best muay thai fighters in the country.

Muay Thai Association of the Philippines (MAP) will hold the “Quest for Glory:  Muay Thai Battle of the Best” competition at the  Ayala Hall of Makati Sports Club, Leviste St. Salcedo Village, Makati City on February 1, 2009.  The fight will start at 6:00p.m.

This tournament will follow  semi-professional muay thai rules with just gloves and elbow guards as the fighter’s protection.  This is a fund raising event for the RP muay thai team who will compete in the Asian Martial Arts Games in Bangkok, Thailand February 15 to 19, 2009

The following are the fighters who will do action on February 1:

1. Roland Claro-Gold Medalist 2008 World Championship (South Korea);Gold Medalist 23rd SEA Games (Manila); Gold Medalist Muay Thai Cup 2004 (Thailand)

vs.

Romnick Pabalate-Bronze Medalist, 2008 World Championship (S. Korea);Bronze Medalist 24th SEA Games (Thailand); Gold Medalist Asian Muay Thai Championship (India)

2. Jay Harold Gregorio- Silver Medalist 2008 World Championship (S. Korea)

vs.

Ruben Sumido-Gold Medalist, 2nd Asian Indoor Games (Macau)

3. Jonathan Polosan- Gold Medalist, 2008 Prince Cup (Thailand)

vs.

Zaidi Laruan-Bronze Medalist 24th SEA Games (Thailand); Silver Medalist 23rd SEA Games (Manila)

4. May Libao-Silver Medalist 24th SEA Games (Thailand)

vs.

Maricel Subang-Silver Medalist 24th SEA Games (Thailand)

5. Eugene Toquero- Bronze Medalist, 2007 Asian Muay Thai Championship (India)

vs.

Tyrone Naticho-Bronze Medalist, 2008 Prince Cup (Thailand)

6. Jay Olod-Bronze Medalist, 24th SEA Games (Thailand)

vs

Reynold Trasmonte, Bronze Medalist, 23rd SEA Games (Manila)

Plus 4 more matches from the Gold and Silver medalists of the recently concluded Philippine Olympic Festival held last December in Cagayan De Oro City.

For tickets and inquiries please call: 637-7647

For the tournament poster, please click this website: http://www.muayphilippines.com/

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The First Freedom Monday, Jan 19 2009

I may not agree with what you say. But I will fight till death for your right to say it- Voltaire

Flash back to the time when I was a 4th year high school student in PUP Laboratory High School.   It was the 4th grading period and I was astounded when I received a grade of 70% in Good Conduct.   My classmates who were given the tag of “Guidance Veterans” for constantly being sent to the Guidance Office for countless violations (including drinking liquor within school premises) have a higher grade in GMRC than me  (I’m a Student Council Officer at that time.  So I’m pretty sure that I’m a well mannered and respectable student).    I  dig deeper into this and discovered that my all my suspicions were correct.   The teachers who gave me that failing grade in Good Conduct are the same teachers who walked out of our classroom after having a debate with me in the subject they teach.

Ironically, one of them is the teacher who taught me this quotation from Voltaire, “I may not agree with what you say, but I will fight till death for your right to say it“.

In the State of the Union address in 1941, US President Franklin Roosevelt made the famous, Four Freedoms Speech and listed the four freedoms that all humans should enjoy, wherever they may be in this world.   The first of these freedoms, is the Freedom of Speech and Expression.  This same freedom is protected under the Bill of Rights of the Philippines Constitution.  This same right is being boldly defended by journalists all over the world, some of whom have even died fighting for this.  This right is so powerful that very often, it is the first freedom to be suppressed by tyrannical governments.

Move forward to last Thursday, January 15, 2009.  Local news reported about 4 high school students from Quezon City Science High School were suspended for allegedly posting articles in their blogs criticizing the school’s principal, Ms. Zenaida Sadsad.  And went further by ordering the closure of the school’s  student publications.   I recall one teacher (or is it the principal herself) saying that they just want to teach to the students that with freedom, comes responsibility.

Wanting to find out more about QCSHS,  I searched for the school’s website.  Although I didn’t find any,  I found out that the esteemed school’s motto is  “Scientia et Virtus”.  Science and virtue.

The “science” part of the motto could not be questioned.  As for “virtue”,  this raised several questions in me.   I wonder what kind of virtue will be instilled to the students when their school principal  failed to see the bigger issue, that is the veracity and merit of the complaints being raised against her and her policies and what actions to take to rectify such complaints.   I question the virtues being taught to the students when the highest official of their school,  handled criticisms and issues hurled against her by suspending the students who are just practicing their rights.   I’m uncertain to the kind of virtue that will be instilled to the students in an institution where the school’s principal is the complainant, the judge, the jury and also the executioner.

I am not an alumni of Quezon City Science High School and so I don’t know if they claim or have claimed that they are creators of future leaders.  But if they did, I suspect the kind of leaders they would mold under the condition that they implement.  In 1992, I interviewed a teacher who went on a hunger strike to fight for their rights as an educator.  I asked him, why the defiance?  And he said, “I’m doing this for my students.  A cowed teacher, produces cowed students”.    That teacher will always have my respect.  Now, we have a principal who oppressed the rights of her students, I question the kind of students will she produce.

Finally, perhaps the good principal think that by suspending these four students, she’s merely “educating” them with the students’ tails between their legs.  But I think her action would destroy the spirit of these students which may make them scarred for life.

As I research further about QCSHS, I learned that they added another section and it was named after Galileo Galilei.    It is very interesting to remember that Galileo was condemned by the Catholic Church for his essay ” Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems”, that supported Nicolas Copernicus’ heliocentric system of astronomy.    Because of his scientific beliefs, he was tried for heresy and spent the rest of his life under house arrest.    Now, I wonder, if the administration of Principal Sadsad would like to instill the virtues of Galileo to her students, or the virtues of the early Roman Catholic Church.

Side Note:  Last I heard is the Department of Education blocked the suspension order of Principal Zenaida Sadsad pending the investigation of the Department.  Here’s a news video:

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A Good Year Friday, Jan 16 2009

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the places and moments that take our breath away-Anonymous

Having the same philosophical belief with Jean Paul Sartre poses a problem.  If you are receiving so much blessings in life, whom do you give thanks to?

It all started with the movie, The Bucket List (see my article written on Feb. 14, 2008, titled “TheBucket List”).   Then I made my own list of things to do before I “kick the bucket.”  And started on my quest to cross of the items written in the list.  And the rest, as they say, is history.

Here are the items in my Bucket List or Things To Do Before I Die that I crossed out in 2008.

1.  See the Colosseum and the ruins of Imperial Rome

In 1985, a TV series titled Anno Domini was aired in Channel 7 and I closely followed it, even though, I don’t fully understand its plot (hey, I was 10 yrs old).    That series bolstered my love of history and since that day, have always wanted to visit the ruins of an empire whose achievements, arts, engineering feats and other  influences can still be seen up until this day.

2. Enter St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican City.

Vatican City holds the distinction of being the smallest sovereign country in the world.   But I think this Holy City should also be honored as the only country that is also a museum.

Though St. Peter’s Basilica no longer holds the honor of being the largest Christian church, its rich and glorious history will always be a part of its halls, corridors and nave.

3. Throw a coin and make a wish at the Fontana De Trevi.

The romantic in me made me include throwing a coin in a fountain immortalized by a song and a Hollywood movie.

4.  Visit and tour the Louvre (corollary to this is to see the actual Mona Lisa and to do a tour of the Da Vinci Code).

What’s in a name?  So wrote William Shakespeare.    Perhaps the Francophone origin of my name has such an effect on me that I love almost everything French (have read a lot of books about its history, have studied its language, never missed the French Spring in Manila and even my favorite philosopher and painter are French).  Since I was in Grade 2, I’ve been dreaming to visit Paris at least once in my lifetime.   And a visit to the city of lights is incomplete without visiting three sites:  The Louvre, The Arc de Triomphe and The Eiffel Tower

5.  See an actual painting of Claude Monet, my favorite painter for the past 16 years.

Our time in France is extremely short, thus we can’t make a trip to Giverny to see Claude Monet’s home and garden.   Good thing that the Louvre has several Claude Monet paintings on display and I was able to fulfill this item.

By the way, I made two paintings that were done in the post-impressionism style of Claude Monet.  I just hope that the person who received those paintings as a gift have kept it.

6.  Explore a foreign city that I’ve never been to before, without asking for any directions , without any guide and without getting lost.

Inside our family car, I am known as Pierre The Navigator for my (ahem) skills (?) in map reading (Beck is the one who drive).   And we would travel to different provinces without asking for any directions, with just a map to help us find our way.

I made a challenge to myself to explore a foreign city, that I’ve never been to, with just a map as our guide and I will not ask for any directions, without getting lost.     And I was able to pull this off.  And what made this sweeter is the thought that I achieved this, in the city of my dreams: Paris.

Beck and RP standing on a bridge that connects  Ile De la Cite to the rest of Paris.  At the background is the famous Notre Dame Cathedral.

7.  Enjoy a two-hour meal at a Paris street side cafe

8.  Pay homage to the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte, my childhood hero.

“Whatever is the outcome of this contest, I will still buy French wine, specifically beaujolais.  My life is incomplete without French wine.  In victory, I deserve it.  In defeat, I need it. “-   Pierre Cantillero when asked by David Celdran what he will do with the Php500,000.00 cash prize in the Grand Finals of Battle of the Brains, Year 5.

That line I quoted during the Grand Finals of Battle of the Brains in 1997 was a paraphrase of Winston Churchill’s words in praise of champagne.  But he also “borrowed” it from Napoleon Bonaparte, the historical figure that is most synonymous with France.

Here’s a bit of trivia:  Napoleon Bonaparte is the historical figure that is portrayed the most number of times in movies.   As of last count, he was featured in 194 movies; beating Jesus Christ with 152 movies and Abraham Lincoln with 137.

Me and RP in front of the sarcophagus of Napoleon Bonaparte

9.  See the Eiffel Tower

The iconic symbol of Paris, the Eiffel Tower.   As far back as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to see this in person.

10.  Climb the top of Arc de Triomphe and take pictures of the Paris city scape.

The Arc de Triomphe is the second largest triumphal arch in the world.  Its so tall that it takes 284 steps to climb to the top of this arch, or the equivalent of a 16 storey building.

I’m not someone who shed tears easily.  But tears are swelling in my eyes when I saw the city scape of Paris and the 12 major city avenues that surround the arch.   It’s been my childhood dream to see this.

11.  Make a TV appearance/guesting with all of the local TV networks.

Last March, I wrote about Channel 7 being the only major local network in which I have not “appeared/guested” in.   Then two months later, I received an invitation by the Kapuso TV show, 100% Pinoy to be their guest as they will be making a documentary/feature on pinoys who joined and were successful in different kinds of competition.

12.  Watch the complete The Lord of the Rings Trilogy in one sitting.

Being in front of the boob-tube for 10 hours is not an endeavor worthy to be part of anybody’s Bucket List (unless you’re a couch potato).    But LOTR is such a marvelous movie that I have long planned to watch it in one sitting.    And I was able to do this on the eve of Dec. 24, 2008.

Twelve Bucket List items in 12 months, its a good start.  Telve items, down, 89 items to go.   Hope to cross some more items in 2009.

Crossing off items in my Bucket List are not the only things that made 2008 a very good year.   The following are some of the notable events that happened this year

1.  RP, for the third year in a row, is the first honor in her school and received 7 of the 15 special awards.   It must be the genes, he he he.

2.  Spending my birthday with the Philippine muay thai team in Bangkok and with the three biggest names in muay thai; Kaew Fairtex, Naruepol Fairtex and Yodsanklai Fairtex.

3.  Renewing my friendship with Oliver Tungol.  The problem with me is that although it will take so much and the reason will have to be too severe for me to be angry with somebody,  I keep grudges that would last for years.

I foolishly harbored a deep resentment over a friend, who has no  idea that such ill feeling exist.  Good thing that Oliver and I were able to patch things up and remain good friends.

Oliver Tungol is one of the best quizzers of my generation and he is also a visionary for organizing a club of quiz enthusiasts that produced several quiz champions, among them, Richard Pante, Percival Biadora, Emmanuel Simbulan and Lingwi Valguna.

I maybe criticized for putting too much credit to my quiz group, but I think I am entitled to this opinion.   Before Oliver Tungol and his PUP Quizzer’s Circle, there’s no PUP in the quiz map.   Let it be put on record.

4.  Of course, Beck winning the 2009 Mrs. Philippines-Asia Title.   This for me is the biggest achievement of my family for this year.  Need I say more?

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My Best Friend’s Wedding Tuesday, Jan 6 2009

It was a series of unfortunate events.  My best friend Christian’s  wedding was scheduled at 8:00a.m. , December 23, 2008 in Leisure Farms, Lemery, Batangas.   (Like who, would schedule a wedding at 8:00a.m. on a weekday, in Batangas when almost all of your guests are based in Manila…only my best friend).

Because of Beck’s engagements, we got home late the night before.   The alarm clock of our maid didn’t  sounded off, because of which, Beck and I overslept.   As part of the entourage, I have to be in the wedding venue at 7a.m. … Beck and I woke up at 6:30a.m.   To add to the problem,  our maid forgot to look for my barong which left me no choice but to wear a long sleeved shirt in a wedding with a Filipiniana motif.  Before we left our house, Beck suddenly had a bum stomach and has to answer nature’s call even though she’s already all dressed up.    Then, when we were  already driving for 10 minutes, I got a call from our maid telling us that we forgot the wedding gift.  So we have no recourse but to make a U-turn to get it.    In the end, Beck and I were 2 hours late for the wedding.   The bride and groom, the entourage and all of the guests are already on their way from the garden wedding venue to the reception at the club house of Leisure Farms.  If not for the two religious services (one Catholic and one Baptist) which prolonged the wedding ceremony,  we might even be late for the reception.  When we arrived at the wedding venue, I realized that I forgot my DSLR camera.    Did I mentioned that it was a series of unfortunate events?

I didn’t know that I’m supposed to give a speech and hopefully, I have done a good job even though I am not prepared.  In my speech I mentioned about an interview done by WWE wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson wherein he was asked, what is the thing that he is afraid of.  This professional wrestling champion didn’t answered the question directly, instead he said “You know the stupidest thing I ever did?… was to talk back to my wife”.    If a man of The Rock’s stature have said this, what makes Christian think that men of lesser mettle, like me and him, would be an exemption.

Then I told to everybody in attendance that being Christian’s best buddy since high school, I sort of know what he will do and what he will NOT do.   And being somebody with an overdose of testosterone, Christian will never ever, make a flower garden.  Last October, Christian invited me to go to Batangas to plant some flowers at their vacant lot at the Leisure Farms.  Christian would like to have a garden wedding, that is a garden planted by Christian’s own hands.    That Saturday in October, under the hot noon sun, I looked at Christian, all sweaty and laboring to plant some flowers and ornamental plants so that two months later, he would have a garden wherein he will marry the woman of his dreams.  Love does change people.

Finally, I shared to Christian and Rose about the passage in The Bible about the story of Naomi and Ruth and should be their vow to each other.   Although this was an exchange between a daughter in law and her mother in law, I think this is also applicable to husbands and wives.   In Christianity’s holy book, Ruth said to Naomi “Don’t urge me to leave you or turn back from you.   Where you will go,  I will go and where you stay, I will stay.   Your people will be my people and you God will be my God.    Where you die, I will die and there I will be buried.  May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”

Congratulations, Christian and Rose!!!

From left to right:  Daniel (Christian brother), Christian’s father, Christian, Rose (the lovely bride), Beck and me.

Beck and me with the Presidential daughter, Ms. Luli Arroyo-Bernas.   Ms. Luli is a close friend of the bride, Atty. Rose King.  When Christian and Rose told me that the most well liked among the Presidential children will be attending, I recounted my most unforgettable encounter with Ms. Luli.

I had the privilege of meeting, in various occasions and capacity, Gov. Bong Bong Marcos, Kris Aquino, Jo Ramos and Cristy Ramos, who are all children of previous Philippine Presidents.  But the most memorable, or should I say embarrassing, is the encounter I have with Ms. Luli Arroyo.

It was in 1998,  I was one of the leaders of Lakas ng Kabataan para kay De Venecia (LAKAD), the youth arm of Jose De Venecia’s presidential campaign.   My group will be attending a General Assembly of the Kabataang Kaibigan ni Gloria Macapagal (KKGM) which is the youth arm of the then Sen. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s vice-presidential campaign, at Max’s Roces Ave Branch.    I am seated together with the leaders of the two organizations, and right across me is Ms. Luli Arroyo.    I tried to open a conversation with her and for reasons up until now, I could not comprehend, I uttered, “You know, you look better on TV than in person”.  Then I had a jolt of electricity and I wanted to have the power of Sue Richards, The Invisible Girl.   I know I uttered the wrong words, what I meant to say was, she is much lovelier in person that on TV.  Ms. Luli,  just smiled and said that what I said doesn’t sound right.  And I don’t know what words to say to ease a very awkward situation.

Because of that faux pas, I wanted to leave immediately and so I hurriedly finished my plate and stepped outside.   A few minutes later, I saw  the head of LAKAD, Lyndon Daz together with Ms. Luli walking towards my direction.  Lyndon introduced me to Ms. Luli as this and that. The ever amiable Ms. Arroyo just smiled and said, “Yeah, we’ve met.”

Perhaps to play a good practical joke on me, Christian and Rose have me seated on the same table with Ms. Luli Arroyo.   This time I really watched my tongue or else I will go down in history as the most tactless person in the face of the Earth.

Just like what is often written in newspapers, Ms. Luli Arroyo is a very down to earth and unassuming person.  Beck, Christian Dad and myself have personally witnessed Ms. Arroyo’s humility.     Unlike most children of government officials, she doesn’t put her weight around.   Ms. Luli Arroyo-Bernas is a CLASS ACT and should be an example to be emulated by us all.

Thank you very much, Mr. Luigi Bernas!  There was sort of a quiz wherein guests have to answer the official names of popular professional football teams (Christian’s favorite sport.  When he went to Barcelona last summer to watch a football game, he’s in heaven).   Mr. Bernas was able to give the most number of correct answers and as a reward, our table were given bottles of merlot.

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