Sipalay City will host the National Age Group Triathlon Series 2012 on March 24, 2012. Sipalay is an ideal location since it has very good road network and the fact that it has also one of the country’s best beaches is also an added plus factor.

Since the Sipalay triathlon event will be held during the peak season, it is advisable that those attending will book their accommodation earlier. You may check out the list of Sipalay beach resorts and pension houses you may choose from.

Below are infos on the Sipalay triathlon from the official Facebook page. You may download the registration form here.

Race Distances:

 Race Rules:

• Body markings (race numbers) must appear on both upper arms and both legs.

• Bikes must be racked at the designated spot of the bike rack in the transition area.

• Bare torso biking or running is not allowed.

• Vehicular traffic will be controlled but not closed.

• Athletes must follow all traffic rules and watch out for his/her own road safety.

• DRAFTING IS NOT ALLOWED for all participants.

Race Course Description:

Swim:

Open water swim. 2 loops for Olympic, 1 loop for Sprint, 1 Small (125m>50m>125m back to beach) loop for Mini Sprint.

T1 is just about 50 meters off the beach

Bike:

Traffic will be controlled, but not closed. The Provincial Government will co-ordinate traffic management with the different LGU’s.

Olympic:  2 loops of 20km per loop. From the beach is 6km flat then 4km uphill to turn around.

Sprint:  1 loop of 20km per loop. From the beach is 6km flat then 4km uphill to turn around.

Mini Sprint:  5 km out and back. Turn around at Petron

STK:  Age appropriate distance.

Run:

Olympic: 5 loops of 2K per loop run along the beach. 200 meters of dirt road.

Sprint: 2 loops of 2K per loop run along the beach. 200 meters of dirt road.

Mini Sprint: 1 loop of 2km.

Kids Tri: Age appropriate distance.

• Water stations will be at start and every 1K.

Race Categories:

Olympic: Top 3 per Age Group

Male: 16~19 yrs, 20~24, 25~29, 30~34, 35~39, 40~44, 45~49, 50~54, 55~59, 60 & above

Female: 16~19 yrs, 20~29, 30~39, 40 & above

Sprint: Top 5 overall

Mini‐Sprint and STK:

• Top 3 Youth per age group

• Top 5 Adults, Male & Female

Relay: Top 3 Teams

Awards and Prizes: All winners will get medals. All finishers will get t‐shirts and post‐race refreshments.

Race Day Schedule:

11:00am ‐12:30pm         Distribution of race packets and body marking

1:00 PM                       Race briefing

1:15 PM                        RACE START

6:00 pm                       Start of Awarding Ceremonies, Post race dinner and Drinks!

Registration:

Submit filled‐up entry forms with your payments at the Registration Centers mentioned below. Or you can also fillup online, print and sign then take digital camera picture or scan the registration form and deposit slip and email to:

fabiedavid@yahoo.com

Participants may also pay through:

• Bank of the Philippine Islands (Tomas T. Carrasco, Jr. C/A No. 0081‐0483‐63)

• Philippine National Bank (TRAP, C/A No. 1002‐3310‐0013)

Then, fax entry form and deposit slip (clear &/or enlarged copy) with name to Fax #: 809‐3136 Keep receipt/deposit slip & submit during Registration on race day.

Registration Center:

TRAP Head Office: Room 101, Building B, Philsports Complex (ULTRA), Meralco Ave., Pasig City, Tel. #: +632‐710‐8259; Mobile phone: +63‐915‐639‐4233 (Fabie);

Fax: +632‐809‐3136, E‐mail: fabiedavid@yahoo.com

Rick Reyes, TRAP Executive Director

Mobile phone: +63‐916‐504‐6513 E‐mail: rreyes_upm@yahoo.com

Fabie David, Registration & Secretariat Head

Mobile phone: +63‐915‐639‐4233 E‐mail: fabiedavid@yahoo.com

Bike King at Bonifacio High Street (c/o Raul Cuevas and Che)

Speedo Concept Stores at Alabang Town Center, SM Megamall, The Podium, Glorietta 4 Makati, Bonifacio High Street

Bacolod Registration Centers:

• Cool Runnings
• Dans Bike Shop
• Armands Bike Shop
• Run Club
• Athlete’s Foot

 Registration is only until March 15, 2012

Last day for submitting entry forms and payments at Speedo Outlets & Bike King is on March 15, 2012

 NO on‐site registration

 Registration Fees:

‐ Olympic Distance : P1,500 until January 31, 2012; P2,000 until March 15, 2012)

‐ Relay: (Team of 3) P3,500 until January 31, 2012; P4,000 until March 15, 2012)

‐ Sprint : P1,000 until January 31, 2012; P1,500 until March 15, 2012)

‐ Mini Sprint: P1,000 until January 31, 2012; P1,000 until March 15, 2012)

‐ STK (Kids Triathlon): P 750 until January 31, 2012; P1,000 until March 15, 2012)

Registration fees are non‐refundable & non‐transferable. The fee will cover cost of participation, insurance, post‐race refreshments, race packet & finisher’s t‐shirt.

Vickie Marie Rushton of Bacolod City wins Mutya ng Pilipinas 2011!  The AB IDS student from USLS bested 29 candidates to win the crown during the coronation night held December 2, 2011 at San Juan City.

Vickie Rushton (middle) when she was crowned Lin-ay sg Negros 2009

Rushton was crowned Lin-ay sang Negros 2009 when she represented Talisay City during the Panaad sa Negros Festival 2009. It was not surprising that hse won the title of Mutya ng Pilipinas 2011 since when she won the Lin-ay sg Negros title she was only 16 years old but already exuded confidence and charm.

Congratulations Vicki Rushton! Bacolod and the whole Negros Occidental is proud of you!

Top image credit: http://www.mutyapilipinas.com

I’m not a loyal Kapuso, Kapamilya or Kapatid. I channel surf among the few channels on my TV and sometimes the TV serves as a background to keep me awake while I blog. I have to admit though that I’m quite familiar with the Kapuso Stars with Telenovelas on primetime. If not by name, at least by face.

I did not expect it will be an informal presscon with the Kapuso Stars at Pietro Kaffe at SM City Bacolod last MassKara Festival. I have no time to be starstruck when we met them up close and personal. My only thoughts were I have to ask sensible questions, know more about them in such a short time. By then I will be in a better position to have an opinion about them more than somebody who has just read about them in tabloids.

Kristofer Martin & Joyce Ching

We were first introduced to Joyce Ching and Kristofer Martin. The teens are being paired as love team and used to be at Munting Heredera until they were “killed.” The teens are very friendly with the press and sweet with each other. I’m not sure if that’s for appearance. I haven’t had the opportunity to talk to them since I was seated near Roxanne Barcelo,  Glaiza de Castro and Sid Lucero who are stars in the teleserye Amaya.

Glaiza De Castro

I watch Amaya if I can because it’s loosely based on the Binukot women of the Panay-Bukidnon tribe. If you happen to watch Amaya you’ll notice a lot of Hiligaynon and Karay-a words being used although most are not pronounced correctly. Although I laud GMA 7 for the effort to make a historical fiction, I wish they’ve done more by teaching the actors the proper pronunciations.

Sid Lucero & I

I chatted more with Roxanne and I can tell she’s quite intelligent. She’s one of those TV personalities who are just very wholesome in their image and in real life as well. She used to be a Red Cross Volunteer and once represented the country in the Youth Exchange Program held in Japan in 2004. She also recounted a story wherein she was in Bacolod during a MassKara Festival as a Red Cross Volunteer where she had to administer first aid to a guy who turned out to be a snatcher who got caught and beaten. Mind you, she asked me if we’ve met before since I looked quite familiar. I can’t pass up as an actress so perhaps I look like somebody’s PA?

Roxanne Barcelo & her new PA?

And then Dion Ignacio, also of Amaya came to our table. I’ve watched him since he started with Starstruck and I know he came from a poor family. I asked him how he’s doing now since he started with Starstruck and he’s so proud to announce that he sends his siblings to school and one of them just graduated from nursing. He is the breadwinner of the family thus was not able to finish school himself. We encouraged him to go back to school or take homeschooling program if he has a chance. He agreed with his “Titas”.

Myself & Maricar with Dion Ignacio

Finally, we get to meet Heart Evangelista. I was tempted to say, “Heart, ang ganda mo.” But I was afraid she would reply, “Sana ikaw rin.” She might not have learned those lines from our Kasimanwa, Sen. Miriam Santiago but she has picked up the feisty senator’s choice of books. Heart was reading A Little History of the World by Gombrich which was recommended to her by the senator. They are both advocates of the RH Bill. Heart is also an advocate of animal rights.

Heart Evangelista

I’m not really the type who would go out of my way to have my picture taken with movie stars I happen to see. But then,it was one of those rare occasions wherein you get to talk to them in person and ask them some personal questions. If you take away the glamour, most of them are really hard working professionals who do their best in their chosen career.

We had a chance to be invited to an intimate presscon with Brillante “Dante” Mendoza at SM City Bacolod during the Brillante Medoza Film Festival. Direk Dante won Best Director for his independent film Kinatay at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. His other films Lola, Serbis, Foster Child, among others have also won various awards here and abroad.

For somebody who has achieved so much, he is so down-to-earth. It’s quite ironic that his films get to be viewed first abroad before they were shown in the country. He added that most of his patrons are foreigners. He opined that it’s probably because our culture is not mature enough to appreciate art films. He suggested that our education system should include art appreciation and should start as early as elementary.

What makes an indie film different from a commercial one? Aside from the budget, indie films are based on real life situations. They may usually make you feel uncomfortable but they these stories are what happens in real life. There are some films he said that parades themselves as indie films but actually they’re not.

Direk Mendoza’s films that were shown at SM were those that have wholesome themes so that students can watch. We challenged ourselves to watch some of his most controversial films at a special screening at the Negros Museum. I missed Serbis but I got to watch Kinatay.

Kinatay is about a young criminology student who was just married to his girlfriend whom he had a child. He was involved with Kotong Cops as collector of protection money from vendors. He later found himself an unwilling participant in the killing of a woman and chopping her to pieces. At the end of the movie you’d feel down because you would think you have just witnessed the making of another scalawag.

Kinatay i’s quite disturbing, to say the least. It’s the kind of movie that you probably watch once in your lifetime.  Direk Dante said he’s not bothered at all because that’s what he wants. He wants his films to be remembered because those that we want to watch often are the ones that doesn’t have as much impact.

He’s really a brilliant director. After watching Kinatay, you would feel like you were also a witness to a murder. He makes you feel like you were a part of the film. It may not be as graphic as some Hollywood films but the sound and the scenes make you think of the gruesome murder in your head.

Should I watch Mendoza’a films in the future? Yes, I’d like to challenge myself how much of the reality on film I can take.  But first, I think I’m going vegetarian for a few weeks.

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After 12 rounds of boxing, Donnie “Ahas” Nietes  went on to grab the WBO Light Flyweight Crown from Mexico’s Ramon Garcia Hirales after a unanimous but unpopular decision by the judges. The judges scored the bout 115-113, 118-110 and 117-111 all in favor of Nietes.

The crown is the second world title for Nietes after holding on to his WBO Minimum Weight title for four years before moving up in the weight division.

Nietes controlled the first five rounds but the Mexican fighter dominated the later rounds. The Mexicans cried robbery and some Filipinos were surprised with the unanimous decision.  From reactions on Facebook, Twitter and blogs, boxing aficionados who have their own scorecard had a mix score results. Some agreed to the judges’ scores, others expect a draw while others favored the Mexican fighter.

It was a hard-fought win for Nietes who suffered a cut on his left eyebrow after an accidental headbutt on the 11th round.  Nietes came back aggressively on that round upon he cheering of the hometown crowd. There might be a rematch soon as the Mexicans were crying for blood.

AJ “Bazooka” Banal and Albert Pagara also won their respective bouts in the undercard of Pinoy Pride 9. Watch the replay of the fight to be aired by ABS-CBN today at around 10:30am.

Let us support our Negrense pride, Donnie “Ahas” Nietes, in his attempt to capture the WBO World Light Flyweight belt from the reigning Mexican champion Ramon Garcia Hirales at the Pinoy Pride 9 tonight at 6PM at the USLS Coliseum.

Donnie Nietes, a native of Murcia, is in the top five Minimum Weight champions of all time as published in Boxing’s Ultimate List. If Nietes win this fight, he will be joining the list of Filipino ring greats with multiple division world titles Gabriel “Flash” Elorde, Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire, Jr., Gerry Penalosa, and Dodie Boy Peñalosa Jr.  He is also considered the Philippines’  second longest reigning world champion next to the great “Flash” Elorde having held his title for four years. If he wins tonight, he will have a chance to break Elorde’s record.

Aside from Nietes and Garcia, AJ “Bazooka” Banal will also defend his WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight crown against Mexican knockout artist Mario “Maca” Briones. Other Filipino boxers will also be fighting in the undercard.

Admit it. You were listening and perhaps singing with the music of All-4-One and Color Me Badd in the 90s. Remember “I Swear” and “I Can Love You Like That” by All-4-One? How about “I Adore Mi Amor” and “All 4 One” of Color Me Badd? Relieve those days now that they’ll be performing their hits and a selection of Michael Jackson’s greatest hits live at the USLS Coliseum at 8PM, September 12, 2011.

Tickets are 300, 1000, 1500 and 3000 and available at Sky Cable, Sm City Bacolod and USLS Coliseum.

Negrense couple, Ramon “Chin-Chin” Uy, Jr. and Francine Marañon-Uy were among the Town & Country’s list of 101 People You Must Meet Right Now in its August 2011 issue. The young couple owns Fresh Start Organics, a company established in 2005 and producer of certified organic fertilizers, salad greens, culinary  herbs and spices, rice and coffee, free-range chicken and natural personal care products. The company has also expanded to PURO Organic for its processed food line of products.

Anybody who wants to know about going organic must really meet the couple. The couple are staunch supporters and advocate of the organic movement. Their company is a member of the Organic na Negros Organic Producers and Retailers Association. I’m fortunate to know the couple especially Chin-Chin in the course of my work.  They are really passionate about going organic and it’s not just a belief for them, its already a way of life.

Through their company, they are also helping the small farmers earn more from their products. I once had a chance to interview Chin-Chin and I asked him since they are paying the farmers more than the prevailing farm-gate price fort their products, isn’t he concerned of their profit? He told me, they want to take the small farmers with their success. It doesn’t matter if they don’t earn as much as they could have when they can help a lot of small farmers in Negros.

Can you really taste the difference? That’s what Town & Country would like to ask the couple referring to organic food. I already have the answer from Chin-Chin when I once complained to him that the fruit mix at the Negros Occidental organic market doesn’t taste as good as before. He told me, that’s because they are now using fresh milk instead of evaporated milk.  My taste buds which are accustomed to non-organic food is looking for the familiar, creamier taste of evaporated milk. So is organic food inferior in taste? No, says PURO  Organic Manger Ronnie Guance. It’s just more challenging to come up with the right ingredients.

If you want to meet the couple and know more about their company and their advocacy, visit Fresh Start Organics Facebook page or their website.

Three finalists from Bacolod City need our support in order to win in the Pilipinas Got Talent Season 2 Grand Finals. There were 14 finalists and we are very proud that we have 3 contestants from Bacolod City who made it to the finals.

DJP

MADRIGAL

NIELBETH

Their performances were all at par, if not better than the other contestants but in order to win, they need our votes. Below are different ways to vote for the them.

May 26, 2011 National Games Results

May 25, 2011 National Games Results

May 24, 2011 National Games Results

May 23, 2011 National Games Results

May 22, 2011 National Games Results

Photo by: Jojo Vito