February 21 - 28, 2013

Visayas-Regional FOF 2013

On the Hot seats - The guests and the VIPs during a press conference held at the Clubhousewhich focused on PFFs aims and their partnership with Suzuki Philippines. L-R : Competitions Department Head - Mr. Cyril Dofitas, the Chairman of the Competitions Committee - Mr. Dick Emperado, the General Manager of Suzuki Philippines Automobile Sales and Marketing Division - Mr. Shuzo Hoshikura, San Carlos City Mayor - Hon. Gerardo P. Valmayor, and Auto Sales and Marketing Manager Suzuki Philippines – Mr. Ferdinand Lasan.

   
     February 23-24, 2013 - The Philippine Football Federation, Negros Occidental Football Association and San Carlos City Negros Football Club held the Visayas-Regional Festival of Football at the SJRI Football Fields with the participating teams from Iloilo Football Association , Negros Oriental Football Association, Leyte Football Association, Cebu Football Association and Negros Occidental Football Association.
    *John Carmona, Secretary General of San Carlos City Football Club, said that five teams in Visayas will come to compete in this 2-day football hostilities. The event includes different age categories namely; boys’ 10 and 12 under; and Under 14 girls. The U14 girls’will be the basis for Visayas players to be part of the national team to play in Vietnam, while the boys Under 12 the basis for Visayas players to be part of the national team to play in Sabah, Malaysia. He added that in the Under 10, the PFF technical will select 19 to 20 potential players for football excellence in Visayas. Carmona also disclosed that San Carlos City will host the PFF Suzuki U23 National Cup regional championship on April 15 to 19, 2013. Three teams are already qualified and will fight their way to the national tournament. They are the Cebu City Football Association, Iloilo Football Association and Negros Occidental Football Association (NOFA)*.
(*Lines taken from Negros Daily Bulletin by Cyrus Garde)
Press-con at the Clubhouse
Last February 22, a press conference was held to tackle issues with regards to the preparation of the Football Cup. It was witnessed by some local officials, friends from the media and other respective guests. People on the Hot seats are the ff: Competitions Department Head - Mr. Cyril Dofitas, acted as the spokesperson for the Philippine Football Federation, the Chairman of the Competitions Committee - Mr. Dick Emperado, the General Manager of Suzuki Philippines Automobile Sales and Marketing Division - Mr. Shuzo Hoshikura, San Carlos City Mayor - Hon. Gerardo P. Valmayor, and Auto Sales and Marketing Manager Suzuki Philippines – Mr. Ferdinand Lasan.
Dofitas Reports
    According to Dofitas statements; there are 10 qualifiers for the regional. The Mindanao Regional Kick-off will be held in Davao on March 4, 2013 while the Luzon Regional Kick-off will be held in UP Los Baños on March 11, 2013.
    The Top 3 teams from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will qualify to the final round in Cebu on May 18 – 21, 2013 right after the midterm National Elections. By then, there will be six qualifiers with teams divided into two groups who will be kicking their way to the championship game.
Training for the National Team
    These football festivals are held in preparation for shaping the perfect physique and stamina of the aspiring players who want to be part of the Philippine Team competing for medals against International Teams. Dofitas highlighted that it is very important to connect with the Local Government Units, Cities and Municipalities where they get to meet and train good and qualified players.
    The Philippine Football Federation does not only help in making sure that the National Team is ready, but they also help in developing the values of our Filipino Youth. With their football and training programs, a lot of youngsters indeed have swerved from different social problems.
    At present, the PFF focuses on preparing our players for the South East Asian Games. Their programs are made possible with the help of their major sponsor, Suzuki Philippines.
Kick-off
    The Opening Ceremonies was on February 23, 2013 (7:30 A.M.) at the SJRI Football Field. Baticulan Field. The teams were welcomed by San Carlos City Mayor, Hon. Gerardo P. Valmayor. The Technical Director of the Philippine Football Federation addressed an inspirational message for all the participants. The team captain of the National U14 Girls Team of the Philippine Football Federation led the Oath of Sportsmanship. The Chairman of the Competitions Committee, Mr. Dick Emperado did the honor of officially declaring the games open. The ceremonial kick-off was headed by the VIP’s and the guests.

LESS THAN EQUAL:

A stand for One Billion Rising

By  Hernor De Asis

    Rights of equality give our women the power akin to men. But some women all over the world still serve as an extra baggage in the equation of parity.
    Does equality really exist between men and women? Or women can still feel being dominated and harassed by the superiority of men?
If it’s what they call equality, then maybe we should redefine equality on all dictionaries as less than equal. It is very ironic since I’m a young guy writing an article for women; it only proves that even a man like me felt the difference and witnessed the inflated rate of crimes against our women which is a sign of men’s dominion over women on a larger scale.
    One Billion Rising is a global campaign by women, for women and which calls for an end to violence against women, hostility and for achieving justice and gender equality. The most recent Valentine’s Day, a one-day affair was held, a call for one billion women all over the world to unite in a dance that showed collective force against cruelty for women. The word ‘billion’ refers to the statistic that one in three women will be raped or beaten in their lifetime, or about one billion.
    The reality is a big blow to the existing laws implemented to all countries for the protection of women. What kind of law can tolerate aggressions that tinted all the daughters of Eve with despair? Some women are treated like animals, more are killed due to sexual assaults, and many more are hidden in a little dim prison for future use, a matter of sexual slavery.
    Filipina Domestic Helpers are part of the puffed up percentage of all battered and abused women all over the world. Foreign masters take advantage of the fragility of these young Filipinas. Working in foreign countries means a Filipino takes double risks that sometimes result to role switching—the victims are being imprisoned, the oppressors enjoy a culture of impunity.
    Some tormenters are racists, power-hungry aristocrats, or simply illusionists who think themselves their own god. Most oppressors take power from the smoke of weeds and fumes of dangerous drugs to empower their drive for satisfaction.
    Humans, therefore, are to be acclaimed as the root of all evil, not the bills and coins jingling in pockets since we are all responsible of our actions. We are facing the wrath of our creations and we tend to plaster it with written laws to lessen the diffusion of rotting transgression.
    We are filling all the pages of the book of justice about the do’s and don’ts with respective punishments, but still we can’t curtail these repetitive crimes.
We are living witnesses that are blindfolded and continue to be senseless until our own daughters, sisters, moms and friends become the next prey of despicable predators.
    In this centuries old fight for equality and against oppression of women, it takes concerted action to tip the balance.
   

On politics

By  Charmaine Sanchez

My term as an officer in our school’s Supreme Student Council is about to end since the school year is about to close. As I look back on the vast ocean of experiences and problems we have all been through as officers, I can’t help but smile. There are a lot of good things we did without getting paid back nor have we been given much credit but we accomplished them all and we’re proud of that. So let us look at the other side of the telescope now:
“Wala man na sila’y na buhat.”
“Kutob ra sa mga program-program, wala mi nakitang mga kausaban.”
These are the usual comments we hear from the student body that we just roll our eyes at. It has been occurring to us that people always have something to say. Always. And besides all the nitpicks, we still do what we do. Not because we want to prove people wrong on what they think about us, but because we know what we are for.
I usually ignore these blows against us but I have realized that officials on higher positions (particularly government officials) experience the same thing.
Going against politicians is one thing that happens all the time. I’m not a big fan of politics myself. But I have noticed that some of the ways in going against them are completely unnecessary. Take rallying against corruption as an example. People starve themselves on the streets carrying giant signs as if that would even result to something. Corruption is as old as the earth; millions of rallies won’t take that away. We keep on stressing over decorative politicians when, in the first place, we had the power to choose our leaders.
Term after term, election after election, it seems like people are always in to bringing the president down.
“Wa man na’y ayu si Estrada uy.”
“Si Gloria gakaputot lang, wala’y nahimu!”
“Si Noynoy biya… mura jug unsa’y na buhat.”
Will there ever be a president that’s good enough for us? The problem is: we are expecting for instant progress. The Philippines can’t be as developed as the United States in just one presidential term. That is one long journey we all have to take, all of us. We won’t be going anywhere if we keep on putting all the blame on our officials. It’s a waste of time and it won’t budge an inch in our economic problems.
Rising against bad leaders is a natural thing for the mass. But just because one leader messed up, does not mean the entire body of leaders existing is also rotten. Just because one senator disappointed our expectations, does not mean the rest of them are useless.
 One reason why it’s so hard for us to see progress is because we are not even sure if we really are a country made for progress. We are full of doubts, we are full of second thoughts, we are full of none sense. No matter how much you curse “Mr. Politician” reality is: he is not going to be trashed just because you said so, and you’re not going to get paid with all your problems on him!
Instead of focusing on bringing your most-hated official down, why don’t you mind your own community and help improve it?
 Why don’t you set yourself as a good example instead of developing your wrinkles over the entire nation’s problems?
 Every political system will always have its bad side; in fact, everything on earth has its bad side.
However, negative things are there to test us how we get to appreciate the positive things in life. On the other hand, save yourself from future headaches and try to vote wisely this coming election!

Food for Tooth
By Otto George I. Weber

Japanese Sun

    In a part of town that is devoid of any dining establishment, Hinode Grill House & Bar has somehow filled that vacuum.
    Its new stand-alone structure at the corner of Recoletos and 6th Streets at Barangay I is a welcome addition to the local dining scene.
    Serving both Filipino and a few Japanese dishes, it caters mostly to workers from the industrial sector and students from nearby Colegio de Sta.Rita – an indicator of affordability. Mainstays of its daily offerings are: humba, pochero (more like the Visayan nilat-an), chicken curry and a personal favorite – dinuguan (ground pork, not entrails).
    Needing more time to prepare, the Japanese dishes of tonkatsu (pork) and kara-agi (chicken) rice toppings are tasty and filling while the yasai-tami is the Nippon version of chopsuey.         My pick of the lot would be the seaweed-wrapped maki with its interesting presentation.
    Though still a bit rough on the edges, the alert wait- staff quickly respond to customers’ needs.
    Small by Western standards, the restrooms are clean and odor-free (thanks to exhaust fans). More than ample parking space is available for guests.
    Literally meaning ‘sunshine’ in English, Hinode has not only brightened up an otherwise food-barren landscape, but has also given us a taste of cuisine from the land of the rising sun. Looking forward to more choices.

Pikpik sa Abaga
By Henry Sandoval

Kawatan ug ang Bodol-bodol gang

    Kaniadtong petsa 10 sa Pebrero 2013 sa may alas 10 kapin o kulang sa kagabhi-on dinha sa may opisina sa atong Terminal may namatikdan ang guwardiya samtang ga roving siya sa iyahang area. Aduna siyay nasiplatan nga mga kasikas diha sa opisina sa City Terminal.
    Ang casual usab ni Konsehal DX Yu nga mi standby usab diha sa maong lugar nakamatikod usab sa maong mga kasikas sa ibabaw. Ilahang na klaro nga upat ka mga bata ang anaa sa itaas (mga menor de edad).
    Ang Security Guard ug ang casual ang nakadakop sa maong mga bata ug kini ilahang gi turn-over sa mga polis nga miabot. Sa imbestigasyon sa kapolisan na recover pa ang nakuha nila nga ilahang gipamaligya. Ang duha ka emergency light nga didto nabawi sa endrina street diin didto kini gibaligya sa mga nagkawat. Matud pa sa empleyada sa Terminal ang maong mga butang nakuha nila petsa 9 pa sa Pebrero ug ang mga menor de edad mibalik na sad pagka petsa 10 sa Pebrero 2013. Ug kay namatikdan sila sa opisina sa taas diha sa terminal na sekwate. Matud pa sa usa sa mga nadakpan ila na gyud untang daghanon ang ilahang kawaton anang gabhiuna nga natiklo sila.         Gitudlo sa casual nga nakadakop ang gia-gi-an sa mga bata nga diha mipatong sa luyo ug miagi sa kesame sa maong opisina. Kalisod ug ka sekreto sa giagi-an sa mga bata ug nganong nakatulltol man sila sa maong agia-anan?
    Murag ug nay gatudlo sa mga menor de edad matud pa sa empleyada nga akong nahinabi. Pastilan kinsa kayha ang Master Mind niining mga bataa nga naka toltol man pagkatkat sa maong agia-nan? Ug galing lang sad kay menor de edad wa na sad ma priso.
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    Kanus-a kayha masampolan kining mga membro sa bodol-bodol nga ug madakpan filan gayud ug kaso sa ting tungdan ug di ba kayha sa kapolisan gayud. Tan-awa niadtong milabay nga mga semana naka biktima na sad ug usa diha sa  may Libra. Gisugat lang kini siya ug pikpik sa abaga ug na istorya na siya. Gipasakalyehan lang kuno nga classmate sa iyahang anak nga tua na sa Amerika. Ug ang katingalahan nga naka-ila sa ngalan sa iyahang anak nga tua na sa Amerika nanrabaho.
    Naistorya kunuhay niya ang maong anak sa babaye nga iyahang na istorya ug unsang pagka unsaha nga naabot man sila sa ilahang balay diha sa may pantalan. Wala magdugay miguwa na kini siya sa karsada nga gahilak kay nakuha ang iyahang sapi ug mga alahas nga malahalon. Igo na lang sa paghilak ang nabiktima kay nawala naman ang maong babaye.
    Ang katingalahan ug nganong nasayud ang maong tig bodol-bodol sa ngalan sa anak nga atua na sa amerika. Kinsa kayha ang mga mata ug dalunggan aning mga tawhana diri sa San Carlos? Naa gyud ni kay dili ra kana nga insidente nahitabo nga ang maong bodol-bodol nga namiktima nakaila sa ilahang biktimahon.

BantayBanat
Ni Rics Cañisarez

Air-con para kay keriding

    Nia nay uban nga kandidato nga mag sige na ug adto ug mga panimalay unya kunohay mangamusta pero, ang tinuod mangampanya. Ang akong natingad-an kay nganong bansay na man kini sila manultol ug mga balay karon? Unya kon mahimutang na gani sa puesto moadto pa ba kaha ni sila ug magamusta? Ingna kong bakakon kon makatultol pa ba ni sila. Kita usab nga mga botante dili na gayud kita palingla sa mga gimmick aning pila ka politiko nga maayo na gayung manultol ug mga panimalay karon. Kining uban nila dili gayud taga San Carlos.
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    Unsa may assurance ining peace covenant nga pirmahan ining mga politko sa mag timbang nga bahin? Nakaseguro ba ang katawhan nga sa umaabot nga pinili-ay walay mahitabo nga kagubot sa ubang bahin dinhi sa atong syudad ug sa tibuok distrito? Kay simbako nga may mahitabo nga kasikas nga dili mao, kamo ra baya gayud ang basulon sa mga botantes. Manghinaut usab ako nga sa umaabot nga pinili-ay mag pabilin ang kalinong ug katawhay alang sa katawhan nga gustong mopili sa ilang nagustuhan nga mga kandidato.
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     Sa natad sa pinili-ay kini ra bang mga kandidato walay huna-huna nga mapirdi ang naa sa ilang huna-huna ang kadaugan. Ang kandidato nga adunahan mangita gayud ug paagi kon unsaon pagdaug ug may posibilidad nga mogamit ug dili hustong paagi aron modaug, sa unsang paagi? Mogamit sa kuarta, panghulga ug armas. Kon mao kini, mahimong walay pulos ang peace covenant nga ilang gipirmahan. Kon mahimo pa lang, ang mga kandidato mag han-ay na lang ug kasugtanan dili na lang ta ni-anang peace covenant kon dili sa usa ka kasugtanan nga kutob sa mga kandidato nga dili makatuman sa ilang gisaad sa katawhan moluwat sa katungdanan. Ambot kon mosugot ba usab ni sila.
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    Ni-a say kandidato nga nagpabuyag. Kini nga kandidato naghupot ug taas nga katungdanan unya karon nikandidato. Ang iyang opisina de-aircon. Ang kataw-anan, kay nawala kuno matud pa, ang air-con. Tagsa ra gayud mahitabo kay kasagaran sa opisina, kon may mawala kon dili kuarta mga office supplies pero, kining hitabo-a air-con gayud ang nawala. Labihang suko-a sa mayor ug gipatawag ang guardia ug ang guardia mibalibad ug matud pa, dili kuno siya ang mikulimbat sa air-con, gisugo lang ko ni Sir (kinsa kaha ni nga Sir?) Ang nakaparat pa gayud kay kini nga balita nabulabog na sa radio. Matud sa guardia nga gisugo kuno siya ni Sir nga tang-tangon ang air-con, unya dugang pangutana ngadto sa guardia, di-in man dad-a ang air-con? Hinay ang tubag intawon sa guardia… “didto sa balay sa keriding” (ikaduhang bathala) ni Sir.