March 2009 Archives

The Company of Ateneo Dancers (CAD) won in the recent Nike Women Dance Battle held this weekend.

Excerpt: MAKATI CITY, Philippines--Clad in goddess-inspired outfits, the Company of Ateneo Dancers (CAD) grooved their way to the top and took home the grand prize in the Nike Women Dance Battle. “We’re really avant-garde to be different and unique,” said Steff Someda, a BS Biology student and team captain of CAD, in an interview during the contest held at A. Venue Saturday. “We put a lot of energy, belief, faith in ourselves and faith in God,” added Jesse Castillo, AB Arts Management student and co-dance head of CAD.

Read the rest of the report here.

Tessa Salazar of the Philippine Daily Inquirer files this report. Excerpt:

Philippine racing legend Pocholo Ramirez died at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday after a long battle with cancer. He was 76. Ramirez earned driver of the year awards six times. In 2000, he was the Blaze Super Saloon Champion at the age of 68. Even after being diagnosed with urinary bladder cancer two and a half years ago, he still competed in local races. Up until he was 75, Ramirez would still be seen behind the wheel competing with racers less than half his age.

Some fans of the racing legend have expressed their condolences.

Agence France-Presse SAN ANTONIO--Kobe Bryant scored 23 points as the Los Angeles Lakers clinched a playoff spot with a 102-95 win over the San Antonio Spurs. The Lakers also wrapped up the Pacific Division in the final rematch this season of the 2008 Western Conference finals. Tony Parker and Michael Finley led San Antonio with 25 points apiece. Drew Gooden made his Spurs debut after being signed a week ago, but played just 3 1/2 minutes, scoring two points and grabbing four rebounds. Lamar Odom had 12 points and 10 rebounds for Los Angeles in his return from a one-game suspension for leaving the bench during an altercation in Monday's loss to Portland. One day after ending Houston's 12-game home winning streak, the Lakers wrapped up their road trip by bringing San Antonio's three-game winning string to an end. The loss cut San Antonio's lead over the Rockets in the Southwest Division to two games, with the Spurs heading to Houston on Saturday. The Rockets play at Charlotte on Friday. Tim Duncan had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Spurs. Trevor Ariza, who joined the Lakers' starting lineup this week, scored 10 points. Derek Fisher also added 10.

MANILA, Philippines—Former national women’s futsal team IROK Philippines is striking it out on their own as they join an international tournament in New Zealand this year. Head coach Emmanuel Batungbacal said the team is currently raising funds to compete again at the Vikings Futsal Cup this August. The team competed in last year’s tournament but placed at the bottom. They were able to beat host country New Zealand but lost closing games to stronger teams in Australia. “But we’re bringing in lots of experience and some new players with us this time,” Batungbacal told INQUIRER.net via a telephone interview. He expects teams from the United States and China to join the tournament this year. Despite budget constraints, Batungbacal steered the former national team to a rousing bronze medal finish at the 2007 Southeast Asian Games. Players however decided to quit the national team altogether after Batungbacal was sacked by Philippine Football Federation (PFF) chief Jose Mari Martinez. Since then, the team has renamed itself the IROK Philippines Futsal Club and has been raising funds through sponsorships and other means to finance their trips abroad. “We want to compete in other tournaments like the Five-A-Side in Australia but we have to take it one at a time because of limited funding,” Batungbacal said. The team was earlier slated to compete at this year’s Asian Indoor Games. But it was not able to join because the tournament is sanctioned by the PFF.

By Lawrence Casiraya INQUIRER.net MANDALUYONG CITY – For Dave Batista, more known for his moniker Batista, wrestling isn't all about brawny alpha males breaking each other's backs. Currently signed up with the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), Batista was quick to admit to the entertainment aspect of professional wrestling. "It's not really so much about the moves you do or stunts you perform. We're telling stories in the ring – who's the good guy and who's the bad guy," the four-time world heavyweight champion told INQUIRER.net in an interview. "We try to make it as dramatic as possible because that's what draws the crowd in and makes them emotionally invested in a wrestling match," he continued. Watch this video interview: Batista, who is half-Filipino, half-Greek, is in Manila promoting upcoming WWE events courtesy of local cable channel Jack TV. He was born David Michael Bautista Jr., and admitted to have been estranged from his father but grew up close his grandfather who passed away 10 years ago. "My devastatingly handsome good looks," he answered, jokingly, when asked what distinctively Filipino trait he got from his father side. "What I have always admired about my grandfather is that he was very driven. He was what you would call a hustler, a go-getter," he said. At six feet six, 290 pounds, Batista is all muscle but appeared relaxed and was laughing at times during the interview. He admits to having shifted from one job to another – including a disastrous stint as a club bouncer that led to him being arrested – before finally heeding the call of professional wrestling. He credits Ric Flair and teammate-turned-nemesis Triple H for his ascent as one of the most recognizable wrestlers around. "Being driven is what I would say I got from him [my grandfather]. I'm a living proof that dreams do come true," he declared. In many interviews and articles written about him, Batista admits to having lived the hard life, raised in the rough neighborhoods of Washington, D.C. Using his popularity, Batista said he has always preached the value of education to kids, the same way he has done to his two daughters. "I consider it to be one of the biggest regrets of my life," he said. "If I could, I'd probably be making a living off my mind and not beating myself to death." This is his third visit to Manila but admits not having done enough to explore his Filipino heritage. He sports a tattoo on one arm, an illustration that merges the flags of Greece and the Philippines into one. "If anybody here would research about me, I'd love to know about it. I'm pretty sure I have a lot of relatives here," he said.