HANGZHOU, China – Alex Eala suffered a 1-6, 7-6 (7-5), 3-6 defeat to Chinese top seed Zheng Qinwen but successfully ended the country’s 17-year medal drought in tennis Thursday at the city’s Olympic Tennis Centre here.
Several inches shorter than the Chinese ace, the 5-foot-8 Eala recovered from a sluggish start with a dominant performance in the second set.
Fatigue, however, caught up with her after a double duty Wednesday when she played singles in the morning and mixed doubles later in the day.
As her singles match with an Indian rival, the mixed doubles were also tiring as Eala and first-time partner Francis Alcantara needed three sets to top-seeded pair of Yuki Bhambri and Ankita Ravinderkrishan Raina of India.
Eala stands to win another bronze if she and Alcantara beat their Thai rivals in the quarters.
For a while, Eala, 18, appeared headed to scoring a big upset over her 21-year-old rival after taking a 3-1 lead in the deciding third set in a game she capped with a sizzling return.
But Eala’s magic suddenly disappeared, limited to just four points the rest of the way.
But while Eala was looking tired and weary, the Chinese bet, who is ranked No. 23 in the world, was gaining momentum as she started to bomb the Filipina princess with wicked forehand winners.
Eala was held scoreless in the 8th game and that proved the end of her as Qinwen took a 5-3 advantage. (ai/mnm)
Image Screengrab from Philippine Coast Guard‘s Video
THE Philippines has strongly rebuked China for placing a “floating barrier” in the South China Sea, alleging that it obstructs Filipino fishing boats from entering the disputed region.
According to Jay Tarriela, the spokesperson for the Philippine coast guard, this barrier was discovered during a routine maritime patrol last Friday.
The barrier, stretching approximately 300 meters (984 feet or nearly 1 km), has drawn condemnation from both the Philippine coast guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
In a statement shared on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Tarriela expressed the Philippine Coast Guard’s strong disapproval. He emphasized that the barrier, located in the southeastern part of Bajo de Masinloc, effectively prevents Filipino fishing vessels from accessing the shoal, depriving them of their crucial fishing activities and livelihood.
Backed by photographic evidence, Tarriela claimed that three Chinese coast guard vessels and a Chinese maritime militia service boat had erected the barrier after a Philippine government vessel arrived in the area.
Earlier that week, the Philippine coast guard had shared footage showing extensive damage to coral reefs, leading to accusations that China was responsible for severe environmental harm in the region.
Tarriela asserted that the “uncontrolled, illegal, and destructive fishing activities of the Chinese maritime militia” in Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal directly contributed to the degradation and devastation of marine ecosystems in the West Philippine Sea.
He also suggested that the presence of crushed corals indicated potential dumping, possibly involving the same corals that were previously extracted, processed, and then returned to the seabed.
In response to inquiries regarding the coral destruction, China’s foreign ministry dismissed the allegations as “unfounded and baseless” during a regular briefing, urging Philippine authorities not to use fabricated information for political purposes.
Filipino fishermen have reported that Chinese vessels typically deploy floating barriers when they observe a significant number of Filipino fishermen in the area.
As of now, China has not issued a public statement on this matter. (ai/mnm)
Image Courtesy of The Kahimyang Project
Today in Filipino history, on September 24, 1669, Manuel de Leon took possession of the Philippines as the new governor-general. He was appointed by royal provision on June 24, 1668, and arrived in Manila on September 24, 1669.
During his time the seeds of cacao were brought to the Philippines and planted first in Carigara, Leyte. De Leon extended the commerce of the islands to China, India, and Java, and thus enabled the citizens of Manila to attain unusual wealth and prosperity.
On April 11, 1677 (according to Concepcion’s account from his Hist. de Philipinas, vii, pp. 258, 259), Governor Manuel de Leon died due to excessive obesity. De Leon left all his property for charitable purposes.
Casimiro Diaz from his Conquistas said that Governor General Manuel de Leon died on the night of April 8, 1676.
On account of his death, the senior auditor, Don Francisco de Coloma, took charge of the government, in company with auditors Don Francisco de Mansilla and Don Diego Calderón y Serrano for civil affairs.
Source:
Pambansang Komisyong Pangkasaysayan
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XLII, 1670-1700, page 15, 157-161 E. H. Blair, Gutenberg EBook #34384
(Filed by Jr Amigo/A. Inigo/mnm)
HANGZHOU – Nesthy Petecio and the rest of the Philippine boxing team will be tested to the hilt when action goes full blast in the 19th Asian Games on Sunday at the Hangzhou Olympic Stadium.
The 32-year-old Petecio was drawn right away against top seed Lin Yu Ting of Chinese-Taipei in her opening bout in the women’s 57 kg class.
The Filipina though, beat Lin the last time they crossed paths in the ring, eking out a close 3-2 decision in their Round-of-16 match in the women’s 57 kg class of the Tokyo Olympics.
But boxing coach Ronald Chavez said the Asiad is an entirely different ball game for Petecio, who bagged a silver in the 2020 Olympiad.
“No. 1 agad natapat. Tinalo ni Nesthy yan kaya hindi nag-medal sa Olympics. Pero hindi pa rin dapat magkumpiyansa,” said Chavez shortly after the draw on Saturday.
Boxing competitions carry an added load in this year’s Asiad as it also serves as a qualifier for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Four Filipino boxers will have their hands full on opening day, including Tokyo bronze medal winner Eumir Marcial.
The 27-year-old Marcial, also a pro boxer, takes on Mongolia’s Ganzorig Badmaarag of Mongolia in his first foray in the 80 kg division.
Another Olympian in Irish Magno will be up against Nigina Uktamova of Uzbekistan in the women’s 54 kg, while Ira Villegas is set for a clash opposite Mongolia’s 21-year-old bet Yesugen Oyuntsetseg in the women’s 50 kg.
The other Filipino fighter who will climb the ring on opening day is Mark Ashley Fajardo versus Tashi Wangdi.
Tokyo Olympics silver medal winner Carlo Paalam makes his debut in the 57 kg class against Abu Jaja of Jordan, Aaron Jude Bado in the men’s 51 kg versus Thitisan Panmod of Thailand, and John Marvin against Nepal Ra of Nepal in the heaviest class at 92 kg.
Only Marjon Pianar drew a bye in his opening bout in the men’s 71 kg to advance to the next round.
No Filipino won gold during the 2018 Asiad in Palembang, Indonesia. Rogen Ladon gave the country a silver medal, while Paalam and Marcial both accounted for a bronze. (ai/mnm)
HANGZHOU, China – The battle will not be easy for Kiyomi Watanabe and the Filipino judokas in the 19th Asian Games here.
Philippine Judo Federation Secretary General Dave Carter admitted that other countries have improved significantly, making it harder for them to win their first gold medal in the prestigious quadrennial meet.
Leah Jane Lopez will open the country’s campaign when she battles Abiba Abuzhaknyova of Kazakhstan in the Round of 16 of the women’s 48-kilogram on Sunday at the Xiaoshan Linpu Gymnasium here.
Also wading into battle is Shugen Nakano, who will face Saoud Alamiri of Kuwait in the Round of 32 of the men’s 66-kilogram.
The 26-year-old Nakano clinched the gold medal in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi in 2022 before settling for silver in the 32nd biennial meet in Cambodia last May.
He will be competing against a 21-year-old Kuwaiti who finished fifth in the 2023 Arab Judo Championships and seventh in the 2021 Asia-Oceania Judo Championships.
Aside from Nakano and Lopez, comprising the national judo squad are Kessie Nakano (men’s 73-kg), John Viron Ferrer (men’s 81-kg), Carl Dave Aseneta (men’s 100-kg), Rena Furukawa (women’s 57-kg), Ryoko Salinas (women’s 70-kg), Dylwynn Gimena (women’s 78-kg), and Watanabe (women’s 63-kg).
Their coaches are Franco Teves, Gilbert Ramirez, and Olympian Kodo Nakano in this four-day tourney that drew 203 competitors from 28 countries.
“Winning the gold medal will not be easy. But if we’re talking about medals of any color, I think our athletes have a chance,” said Carter, whose wards were supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.
Watanabe, 27, is the country’s brightest hope to win a medal.
She is a former SEA Games champion but missed the Hanoi edition in 2022 after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament tear.
In the previous Asian Games in Jakarta in 2018, she had a dominant run to the final but lost to Japanese powerhouse Nabi Nabekura in the gold medal match. “Realistically speaking, it won’t be easy,” Carter said.
“After her first match on Monday, she will be facing the top player in Asia. It’s gonna be tough.”
(ai/mnm)
HANGZHOU, China — Agatha Wong brought home a bronze medal from the previous Asian Games five years ago.
The nation’s top taolu specialist aims to return to the Philippines with another medal around her neck.
Wong will compete in the wushu competitions of the 19th Asian Games at the Xiaoshan Guali Sports Centre on Sunday, aiming for no less than another podium finish in the women’s women’s taijiquan and taijijian (swordplay) all-around.
Prior to her trip to the Zhejiang province capital here, the five-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist was busy juggling her time between training and medical school.
“Training while studying is tough. You have to balance everything,’’ said Wong, a freshman at the UERM Memorial Medical Center in Manila.
She won a pair of taijiquan gold medals in the SEA Games and two more in the taijijian event before wushu federation officials decided to merge both events beginning at the Cambodia SEA Games early this year.
The 25-year-old beauty still aced the combined events with a fifth SEAG gold in Phnom Penh last May, making Wong a worthy medal prospect in tomorrow’s finale.
“I’ve trained hard. As they say, if there’s a will, there’s a way,” said Wong, a silver medalist in taijiquan during the 2015 World Wushu Championships in Jakarta. (AI/MNM)
Image Courtesy of: Reuters
By Junex Doronio
IN THE FACE OF China’s “expansionist threat,” the Philippines, United States and Japan have jointly expressed their commitment to work for a free and open Indo-Pacific and ensure peaceful resolution of disputes.
This was declared by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday (Saturday in the Philippines) at the Second Trilateral Ministerial Meeting on the sidelines of the 78th United Nations General Assembly in New York.
“Our alliance with Japan and the Philippines is a cornerstone of our Indo-Pacific strategy. Together, we are committed to promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific, ensuring the peaceful resolution of disputes, and upholding international law,” Blinken announced.
Hosted by the US, the meeting was attended by Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo and Japan Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa.
Meanwhile, the Philippines is exploring legal options against China accusing it of destruction of coral reefs within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea.
But China flatly dismissed the allegation, saying it was an attempt to “create political drama”. (ai/mnm)
Image Courtesy of: Inquirer.net
By: Junex Doronio
AS IF TAUNTING the Philippines, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning has flatly denied allegations that the Chinese were responsible for the damage to corals in the West Philippine Sea while demanding the immediate removal of BRP Sierra Madre from the Ayungin Shoal.
“The Philippines’ accusations have no factual basis. We urge relevant party of the Philippines to stop creating a political drama from fiction,” Mao said on Thursday, September 21.
She added that if the Philippines truly cares about the environment, it should remove the BRP Sierra Madre from the Ayungin Shoal, the formation that China called Ren’ai Jiao.
“If the Philippines truly cares about the ecological environment of the South China Sea, it should tow away the illegally grounded warship at Ren’ai Jiao as soon as possible,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson stressed.
She said the Philippines should stop the vessel “from discharging polluted water into the ocean and not let the rusting warship bring irrevocable harm to the ocean.”
The BRP Sierra Madre, which was deliberately grounded at the Ayungin Shoal in 1999 during the administration of President Joseph “Erap” Estrada, has become a symbol of Philippine sovereignty in the offshore territory.
To recall, the Philippines first filed a complaint against China in 2013 for its massive claims in the South China Sea under its nine-dash line claim.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of the Philippines, invalidated Beijing’s claim, and said that its nine-dash line has no legal basis under international law. (ai/mnm)
Image Courtesy of: President Bongbong Marcos (Facebook)
By: Junex Doronio
STRESSING ‘EXCITING’ OPPORTUNITIES, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has asked European countries to boost their ties with Southeast Asia, including the Philippines.
The President made the remark as he welcomed Nicolas Brühl, the Ambassador-designate of the Swiss Confederation, at Malacañang Palace on Wednesday, September 20.
“I think it is actually wise in terms of European countries, Switzerland included, to look to ASEAN, to look to Asia. Although there are other geopolitical disturbances, shall we say, but the opportunities are quite exciting,” PBBM noted.
He also pointed out that the post-pandemic scenario presents a great opportunity for European countries to have a better collaboration with the Philippines.
“ASEAN leaders have come together to really strengthen the economic systems that we have in place, the weaknesses that have shown up during the pandemic. We’re all trying to learn the lessons that the pandemic brought with it,” PBBM added.
Brühl agreed with the President, saying the good thing is Asian economy is recovering well compared to other parts of the world.
The Swiss ambassador said that beginning of this year, Swiss Foreign Ministry’s Southeast Asia strategy proves that the region is of utmost importance and vowed to partner with it in the future.
Brühl further said that the Swiss Foreign Ministry’s Southeast Asia strategy has proved that the region is of utmost importance.
The Philippines and Switzerland celebrated 65 years of diplomatic relations in January 2022.
Both countries continue to maximize the benefits of the Philippines–European Free Trade Association Free Trade Agreement (PH-EFTA-FTA).
On April 28, 2016, the EFTA States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Philippines in Bern, Switzerland.
(ai/mnm)
NAKAKUHA ang Senate Committee on Ways and Means na pinamumunuan ni Senador Win Gatchalian ng sapat na suporta para sa panawagan nito na paalisin na ang Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) sa layuning mapanatili ang kapayapaan at kaayusan sa bansa at mapalago ang ekonomiya.
“Isa itong mahalagang hakbang para mapigilan ang paglaganap ng krimeng nagmumula sa ilang kompanya ng POGO. Inaasahan natin na maabot ang ating layunin na mapanatili ang kaayusan sa bansa, na siyang magdudulot ng paglago ng ating ekonomiya,” wika ni Gatchalian pagkatapos niyang ihain ang Committee Report No. 136 na naglalaman ng rekomendasyon.
Sa nakalipas na ilang buwan, isinusulong na ni Gatchalian ang pagsasara ng mga POGO sa bansa at naninindigan ito na anumang kita na nakukuha sa industriya ay hindi katumbas ng napakalaking ginugugol ng gobyerno sa paglaban sa mga krimen na nauugnay sa mga POGO.
Ang committee report ay nananawagan para sa pagpapatibay ng isang resolusyon na humihimok sa executive department na itigil na ang operasyon ng mga POGO sa bansa. Ito ay naglalayong pangalagaan ang kapakanan ng mamamayang Pilipino at mapanatili ang paglago at pag-unlad ng bansa alinsunod sa mga repormang pang-ekonomiya ng administrasyon.
Sa ilalim pa rin ng committee report, hinihimok ni Gatchalian ang Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) na maghanap ng alternatibong trabaho para sa mga Pilipino na nagtatrabaho sa mga POGO. Maaari silang makahanap ng trabaho sa industriya ng Information Technology Business Process Outsourcing (IT-BPOs) at manufacturing sa pamamagitan ng wastong koordinasyon.
Hinihimok din ng committee report ang Bureau of Immigration (BI) na kanselahin at bawiin ang mga working visa na ibinibigay sa mga dayuhang nagtatrabaho sa kompanya ng POGO at ipatupad ang kanilang deportasyon alinsunod sa mga patakaran at regulasyon ng ahensiya.
“Malinaw sa datos na ating nakalap nitong mga nakaraang buwan na ginagamit ng mga kawatan ang POGO para makapagsagawa ng mga krimen na kinabibilangan ng human trafficking, at iba pang investment tulad ng crypto-currency at love scam,” sabi ni Gatchalian.
Umabot na sa 4,355 ang kabuuang bilang ng mga biktima ng POGO-related crimes na may kabuuang 903 perpetrators mula Enero 2017 hanggang Hunyo 30 ng taong ito, batay sa inilabas na ulat ng Philippine National Police. Ayon sa PNP, ang mga krimeng nagawa sa naturang mga insidente ay kinabibilangan ng human trafficking, forcible abduction, homicide, illegal detention, kidnapping-for-ransom, theft, robbery-extortion, serious physical injuries, swindling, grave coercion, at iba pa.
(Jr Amigo/ai/mnm)
Photo of the brand new Cessna-208B (C-208B) Grand Caravan EX Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Aircraft that has been added to the Philippine Air Force’s fleet after its formal acceptance, turn-over, and blessing on September 19, 2023, in Clark Air Base, Mabalacat, Pampanga. Secretary of National Defense, Gilberto Teodoro Jr. was the Guest of Honor at the turnover ceremony. Photo from Philippine Air Force
THE United States government officially handed over a surveillance aircraft to the Philippines on Tuesday, aimed at bolstering monitoring efforts amidst growing concerns over China’s increasing activities in the West Philippine Sea.
This includes alleged coral harvesting within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The transfer of this US aircraft follows closely on the heels of global attention being drawn to China’s reported large-scale destruction of coral reefs and marine life in the Rozul (Iroquois) Reef and Escoda Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
Simultaneously, satellite imagery released on Tuesday revealed a suspected buildup of Chinese vessels at Rozul Reef, which is located 125 nautical miles from Palawan and positioned at the southwest edge of Reed (Recto) Bank.
Ray Powell, Director of SeaLight, emphasized that their partners at Planet Labs provided “clear visual evidence” of at least 35 Chinese fishing and maritime militia vessels operating at Rozul Reef. While he couldn’t definitively confirm these as Chinese maritime militia vessels based on the images alone, historical patterns, vessel sizes, and behavior strongly suggest their origin.
Historically, Powell pointed out that vessels from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) have been consistently monitored in this area. Additionally, he noted that neighboring Southeast Asian countries typically do not possess fishing ships of such size, as depicted in the satellite imagery.
Powell also highlighted the “swarming/rafting” behavior exhibited by the ships in the satellite image, a tactic commonly associated with Chinese vessels in the region.
(Jr Amigo/ai/mnm)