Month: June 2024

MANILA: The Philippines bagged two silver medals in the Asia and Oceania Sambo Championships at the Forum de Macau Stadium on Sunday.

Feruza Khurozova of Uzbekistan beat Davao City native Sydney Sy-Tancontian, a two-time Asian champion, 6-1, in the women’s +80kg final.

Sy-Tancontian defeated Sabina Agajanova of Turkmenistan, 8-1, while Khurozova stunned world No. 1 Arailyn Abenova of Kazakhstan, 2-1, in the semifinal round.

The 24-year-old Sy-Tancontian, also a a bronze medalist at the 2023 World Sambo Championships in Armenia, is Athletes Commission chairperson of the International Sambo Federation (FIAS).

Meanwhile, Paris Open champion Aislinn Agnes Yap bowed to Madina Yerzhan of Kazakhstan, 1-2, in the women’s -80kg final.

Yap improved on her third-place performance in Astana, Kazakhstan last year.

The bronze medal went to Saodat Ishmuradova of Turmenistan.

Sy-Tancontian and Yap are both products of the University of Santo Tomas in Manila.

Manila 2019 Southeast Asian Games champion Chino Sy-Tanco
ntian (men’s -98kg), Janry Pamor (men’s 64kg) and Aumaegel Princess Cortez (women’s -59kg) missed the podium.

Pilipinas Sambo Federation Inc. president Paolo Tancontian said there is a need to further hone the skills of their athletes.

“I consider this a good performance from our athletes compared to last year because we improved a lot in terms of medal we obtained. However, we still have a lot of room for improvement and every day is a learning process because Asia is considered a world-class level and it’s strong,” the father of Chino and Sydney, said.

“Eighty percent of world champions come from Asia so we have a chance. There is great improvement and we are one of the strongest in Asia. Even if our NSA (national sports association) is the youngest, we are already a powerhouse,” he added.

Yap, Marianne Mariano (women’s 59kg), Jomary Torres (women’s 54kg), Robin Catalan (men’s 58kg), Godwin Langbayan (men’s 64kg) and Mcleary Ornido (men’s 71kg) are expected to snare slots to the 2025 World Games in Chen
gdu, China.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Zamboanga City Jail Male Dormitory’s Supt. Xavier Solda was named the City Jail Warden of the Year, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said Sunday.

In a news release, BJMP said the award will be presented to Solda during the 33rd BJMP anniversary in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Monday.

BJMP Director Ruel Rivera commended the leadership of Solda for implementing management reforms that demonstrate the bureau’s commitment to comprehensive rehabilitation within the jail facilities.

Solda established the BJMP’s first physiotherapy services clinic for inmates who suffered from stroke and the Madrasah Al Ertiqa, the Islamic school which held its first graduation rites for 74 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in January.

He likewise spearheaded the development of the BJMP’s first Digital Transparency Board that contains case information and updates that PDL can readily access any time.

In October 2023, the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA) bestowed the Outstandin
g Correctional Service Employee award to Solda for his exemplary performance, besting other global nominees in the field of jail management and corrections.

The ICPA recognized Solda’s “tireless dedication to improving the lives of people incarcerated in the Philippines,’ awarded in Antwerp, Belgium.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Davao City is providing full support to Ironman 70.3 Davao, expected to be more challenging this year as it introduces a new course.

Triathletes will swim 1.9 kilometers (km) along the Davao City Coastal, cycle 90km toward MacArthur Highway and return to the coastal road for a 21.1km run to the finish line.

‘The event has proven to be very successful in the past three stagings, not only for the city government but also for the business sector. We truly value hosting the event and will give our full support,’ Davao City Assistant City Administrator Tristan Domingo said in a news release on Sunday.

An estimated 4,000 local and foreign athletes are joining the Aug. 11 event to be sponsored by Aboitiz, following the signing of a three-year contract.

‘We have been here in Davao for 78 years. We are proud sponsors of many events and efforts of the city, and we thank Davao for their forward-thinking and promotion of a healthy lifestyle,’ Jokin Aboitiz,

chief operating officer of the Power Distribution U
tilities, said.

Prior to the main event, the 5km 2GO Gwapa Dabawenya Run will be held Aug. 9.

It will be followed by Ironkids, a duathlon featuring a run-bike-run competition for athletes aged 6 to 15 years, and a special Ironkids events for children 6 to 10 years (1km) and 11 to 15 years (3km) on Aug. 10.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel, vice chair of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises, said the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) should do away with the online payment convenience fee of PHP15 per transaction as the payment actually goes to its sister company.

Pimentel said it has become an inconvenience fee for Meralco customers who use the company’s online portal to pay their monthly electricity bills.

‘Meralco claims that the convenience fee goes to its payment partner, CIS Bayad Center Inc.,” Pimentel said in a news release on Sunday. “However, Bayad Center, which is engaged in the bills payment collection business, is actually 95 percent-owned by Meralco itself.”

Thus, there is no separate Meralco partner, he added.

“It is Meralco itself ultimately collecting the convenience fee,’ Pimentel pointed out. ‘Meralco is nickel-and-diming its 7.9 million customers with the extra charge on top of their actual electricity bills.”

The phrase “nickel and dime” refers to a pric
ing scheme wherein a business collects extra small fees for supposed additional features or services.

Pimentel urged the Energy Regulatory Board to compel Meralco to get rid of the convenience fee for the benefit of customers who are reeling from elevated electricity bills and rampant inflation.

‘We must stress that under the Consumer Act, the State is duty-bound to safeguard the interest of consumers, promote their general welfare, and to establish standards of conduct for business and industry,’ Pimentel said.

Pimentel’s dressing-down of Meralco comes at a time when the electric utility is seeking to renew its congressional franchise for another 25 years.

Data showed it netted PHP37.1 billion in profits in 2023, surpassing the PHP27.1 billion earned in 2022.

From January to March 2024, Meralco reported a net income of PHP9.8 billion, up from PHP8.2 billion in the same quarter in 2023.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Gilas Pilipinas secured its promotion to the top flight of the FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup after beating Lebanon, 95-64, in the Division B final at Futian Sports Park in Shenzhen, China on Sunday.

Gilas made it rain from beyond 22 feet as its superb three-point shooting decided the outcome.

A late three to end the first quarter sparked Gilas’ breakaway.

After Lebanon, which banked on its interior presence, tied the game at 17-all, Ava Fajardo ended the first period with a three to give the lead back to Gilas.

Gilas continued to sizzle from long range and erupted for 33 second-quarter points while holding Lebanon to just nine to blow the game wide open.

Alyssa Rodriguez led Gilas’ charge from long range as she made six triples to finish with 22 points alongside one rebound, one assist, three steals and one block.

Alicia Villanueva added 15 points, two rebounds, three assists and three steals for Gilas, which completed a 4-0 sweep of the tournament.

Now part of Division A, Gilas will take the place
of Indonesia, which lost to Malaysia, 66-67, in their Division A seventh-place battle on Friday.

Reem El Ghali exploded for 31 points alongside 15 rebounds, five assists, one steal, and one block for Lebanon, which bowed to Gilas for the second time in the tournament after the Philippines won their first meeting, 89-63, in the group sages.

Source: Philippines News Agency

SEOUL: South Korean and U.S. quarantine authorities have agreed on exports of fresh ginseng to the United States and imports of grapefruit from Texas, the government said Sunday.

The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency began talks with its U.S. counterpart in 2017 for shipments of fresh ginseng produced in areas designated by the government, the agency said in a statement.

They also started talks to import Texas grapefruits in 2019 and reached an agreement on disease and insect control measures in March.

Source: Yonhap News Agency