Recital of Gaille Ramos

Here is the poster for Gaille K. Ramos' concert:

Shameful Ivory Trade in the Philippines

Here comes another one of those international embarrassment for us Filipinos. I won't be surprised if the Senate and Congress will milk this one out for their publicity stunts. Remember, the circus a.k.a election is right around the corner.

And yes, this issue has picked on a certain Catholic priest as the center of it all. RH Bill, Mining and Manny V. Pangilinan's pull-out from Ateneo de Manila. What's next?

The irony of it all is that I want to buy this NatGeo October issue. Great marketing strategy!

A different game result?

Here is a game I played against a fellow Pinoy over at Chesscube. Is there a better ending here than a draw?
 

Cultural Icons of the Philippines

Treasures found over at the National Commission for Culture and Arts. An alphabet of Cultural Icons of the Philippines or also known as Sagisag ng kultura ng Pilipinas:

Sagisag Kultura Ng Filipinas 001

Visit my Scribd page for the rest of the compilation here.

Failed in FIBA: Smart Gilas 2

Smart Gilas 2 lost its last two games when it mattered most. The final score in the game against Iran was 77-60 which was played yesterday, September 21. If we won the game against the Iranians, we would have played for the gold against the Japanese. And today we played for the bronze and we lost against Qatar with the score 79-63.

Remember our post comparing the internationally known basketball coach Rajko Toroman and PBA coach Chot Reyes?

We now have the answers to our questions.

Here are my thoughts coach, you can use these as your fair enough excuses for the 4th place finish in the Qualifier for 2013 FIBA Asia Championship:

• Poor officiating. The technical foul given by the Lebanese Referee. Remember the technical foul meted on Chot Reyes some years ago? I don't know if you remember that but I definitely do. It was a costly mistake from the basketball guru back then and it definitely made matters worse for his team this time. Try to watcht the video below and listen to what the Dean of Philippine Sports journalism has to say coaching in the international basketball.

• Not enough time. Smart Gilas 2 was formed in less than six months. Same old, same old! I don't know if we are all afflicted with amnesia as a nation or we're plain stupid. Doing the same things all over again but expecting different results. if this is not amnesia then I'm sure this is short-sightedness. 
• Mismatched basketball skills. I truly believe that PBA is not NBA and that we should not do a "Dream Team" approach. This Dream Team  problem is basically rooted on two things: mismatched basketball skills and not enough time. When I say mismatched skills, I mean our professional basketball players aren't good enough to play in the FIBA system which follows amateur rules. Unless the Philippines can send 12 players with an average height of 6'8" whose skills are those of Danny Siegle during his MVP-like years and with a basketball system ala-Ron Jacobs or Rajko Toroman, forget it. We don't stand a chance against Iran, China and Korea's basketball program. Check the stats of the game and you won't believe what you will see in the Turn over section.
• Coaching. We can send all the coaches PBA for our national team together and we will still fail. The reason is simple: FIBA system is not PBA. Don't go out and telling the Filipinos that we've got a chance or that the drive and pass is is answer to our dream of ever winning the gold in FIBA. C'mon guys, you know very well it's not.
• Injury. Injuries happen  because of accidents or because of poor conditioning exercises prior to the tournament. I've heard stories that Rajko Toroman was a fucked-up coach in terms of preparation: system play, drills and more drills. Players hated him for this but in the end, the team he handled was far better on court. They were quicker and they played good basketball IQ. You can have an off-night offensively but never an off-night defensively. 
Am I rooting for Toroman? Not necessarily. We don't know each other and I only know him through the media. Am I against Reyes? Definitely no but history have shown that he was never successful in international basketball.

And please don't go into the commitment-sacrifice-respect talk for these players. They are paid to play for the country and the best thing they can ever do is to give us the gold. We rally behind you and guys come up with poor defensive rotations, poor basketball sense and worst of all, you hide behind these talks of commitment etc.

Not that talk please.

MVP trusts the coaching staff of Smart Gilas 2 and he has poured out his support in SG2. Is there a basketball program installed in our country? There was I know some years ago but then when it failed to bag the gold, we shifted back to the proven and tested to fail system: PBA players.

Sad part for Philippine basketball is that football is slowly inching its way up in the awareness level of the Filipinos. Sooner or later, basketball will just be another sports in the Philippines. It will no longer be the centerpiece of UAAP and NCAA.

I don't want a 4th place finish, I want the gold.

Bad trip talo na naman tayo!!!  

21st night of September

Do you remember?

Beatles in Japan 1966

Here is another gem I found on YouTube, the first complete performance of The Beatles in Tokyo, Japan in 1966. I'm not sure but this was the same year when John, Paul, George and Ringo visited the Philippines. This is the second of a series of video posts on the world's famous band, ever!

The equipment during their time were terrible. The microphones were unstable, speakers were failing but they played with in full throttle.

That's why maybe they're the Fab 4!

Chot Reyes and Rajko Toroman

After the first game loss against China-B in the FIBA Asia Cup 2012, Smart Gilas 2 won three straight games convincingly. Going in to the Quarterfinals of the qualifying tournament for the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship, our Philippine Basketball team carries a 3-1 win-loss score and will be playing against Chinese-Taipei who carries a 2-2 score.  

I have never liked the fact that Coach Chot Reyes is at the helm of the Philippine Basketball and never believed in the idea that professional basketball players from my country can win our nation  major international basketball tournaments. Never.

Will they go all the way and win the championship? I don't think so. Will they place second or third and qualify for FIBA Championship? Slim chances.

China, Lebanon, Iran and Japan have been dominating the Asian basketball scene and we have to admit our country's band-aid approach to basketball program can never, ever match the programs of these countries.

Manny V. Pangilinan has proven that he can and he will definitely support the program but I feel that Rajko Toroman is the right man for the coaching job.

Compare the systems Reyes and Toroman has put up and implemented for Smart Gilas 1 and 2 and you can see the difference. Toroman was given three years to form and work as team with amateur, collegiate players plus Douthit. Reyes got all the professional players from PBA, a Fil-Am recruit and Douthit.

Which coach will bring back the glory of for Philippine basketball in international scene? Which team and system will prove effective for the international basketball?

I don't care about talks regarding commitment, hard-work and heart to win. All these are measured through game results.

We will see.

Love Songs for Everyone

Here is a Youtube video I found. Something I would love to compile here in my blog. The Beatles Love Songs, full album.

If only we guys lived our lives according to John, Paul George and Ringo's message, we could have prevented a 9/11 attack that changed the course of history in  one day.

A little bit of history:

"Love Songs is a compilation album that comprises love songs recorded by The Beatles between 1962 and 1970. It was released by Capitol Records in the United States on 21 October 1977 (catalogue number SKBL-11711) and on Parlophone in the United Kingdom on 19 November 1977 (PCSP 721.) The compilation peaked at #24 in Billboard's Top LPs & Tape chart during a thirty-one week stay that began on 12 November 1977 The RIAA certified the album with sales of three million units in 2000 even though the compilation was deleted in the late 1980s.The New Zealand release followed the US release with cat. no. and pressing plates, and was released on 2 different EMI labels.

The LP's original packaging included an 11 x 11" booklet, with the songs' lyrics printed, calligraphy-style, on simulated parchment paper. For the first several pressings, the cover itself was simulated leather, and the Beatles' image (a re-working of Richard Avedon's 1967 portrait, featured in Look Magazine) was simulated gold-foil. The LP was also available on yellow vinyl. "

Soundtrip:

Phl falters in Final round

The Men's Philippine chess team faltered in the final round of the 40th Chess Olympiad. GM's Wesley So and Oliver Barbosa secured a draw against their opponents on boards 1 and 2 respectively.  GM's Torre and Mark Paragua bowed to their the boards 3 and 4 of the Romanian team.  The score 1 - 3 in favor of Romania. This round 11 disaster brought us down the final standing to 21st place.

For the RP Women's chess team, it was a draw 2 - 2 with WIM Perena and Fronda winning their games on boards 1 and 4 respectively against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Lady chessers Frayna and Docena were not fortunate on boards 2 and 3. Philippine Women's chess team placed 43rd over-all.

Congratulations to the Philippine delegation and thank you for a satisfactory performance! Until the next Chess Olympiad!

Desiderata 2012

I discovered this poem way back in grade school, in grade two to be exact. Nobody introduced me to it but I stumbled upon it through the school-issued student's diary which St. Mary's Academy of Pasay City was doing.

I never really know what part of the poem that attracted me to it, but I guess it was the use of words that did it. The first line I guess did it, Go placidly amidst the nose and haste...

I was an eight-year old hyper-active boy that loved reading, running, playing and wrecking havoc inside the house.

This poem is my comfort read in times of sad times. I never intended it to be so and in fact I do not have a copy of it anywhere in my house or in my notes.

Why do I like reading this in times of sadness and life-changing events? 

Let me share it:

"Go placidly amidst the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

 

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its shams, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy"

Happy birthday Mother Mary 2012

Here are my prayers and greetings to our beloved Mother Mary, the Queen of Heaven:

"Remember oh most gracious Virgin Mary

That never was it known

That anyone who fled to your protection

Implored your help

Or sought your intercession

Was left unaided

inspired by this confidence

We fly unto you

Oh virgin of virgins, our mother

To you we come

Before you we stand

Sinful and Sorrowful

Oh mother of the Word Incarnate

Despite not our petitions

But in your mercy

Hear and answer us.

Amen."

"Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed our you among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death Amen."

"Hail Holy Queen, Mother of mercy. Hail our lives our sweetness and our hopes. To you do we cry poor banished children of Eve. To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then most gracious advocate. Your eyes of mercy toward us and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb Jesus!"

Happy birthday Mother Mary!

A Truce with Vietnam in Round 10

In round 10 of the 40th Chess Olympiad, Philippine Men's team drew all their matched with fellow Asians, Vietnam. With lower FIDE ratings we have against the Vietnamese, we did not lose a single game against them.

Our team performed beyond our expectations to the point of over-achievement! I'd like to say to all the members of the Team Philippines in the 40th Chess Olympiad "Very good boys and girls, now rest and be ready for the final round".

Up next, Romania against Philippines in the Open Category and Bosnia and Herzegovina versus Philippines in the Women's section.

Good luck!

RP suffers defeat against China

Round 9 was acceptable, it was that difficult to swallow and somewhere along the way, our team was expected to take a beating.

This time, no upsets, no speculations,  no wishful thinking and no lucky ones. Just plain logic winning over fortunate players. GM Wesley So drew his game on board 1 while the rest of the games resulted in favor of the Chinese team. Philippine Men's chess team suffered a crucial 3.5 - .5 loss against the Chinese. This brought our ranking in the tournament to 12 coming into round 10.

For round 10, we are matched against Vietnam, another Asian powerhouse. This one will be epic.

If round 9 was crucial, this round 10 matches will decide whether whether we place within the top twenty or go down to the lower ranks.

I still feel good about our team. Unless we give away rounds 10 and 11, I can say we have over-achieved and that's worth every money the Filipino people have paid for in their taxes.

Good luck!

RP beats the Brits

The Philippine chess team won over the England with a score of 3-1. GM Oliver Barbosa and GM Eugene Torre won over their rivals on board 2 and 3 respectively while GM Wesley So and GM Mark Paragua drew halved the point with their opponents.

Another spectacular round for the Filipinos and tonight, in round 9, they will be against China. Will there be another upset in favor of the Filipinos? We will find out.

Congratulations and good luck!

A Draw in Round 7

A heroic draw by the 35th seed Philippines against 4th seed Hungary whose board 1 is  guy named Peter Leko, currently ranked at 20 in the world and is one of the few super grandmasters.

Here is part of the report of the Olympiad organizers about round 7:

"The Philippines, seeded only 35th in the starting list, bravely resisted the 4th-seed Hungary to go home with a 2-2 tie. Wesley So and Peter Leko played a wild line of the Marshall Attack, but the game ended in a draw.

Zoltan Almasi took his team into the lead with a win against Oliver Barbosa, but the legendary Eugenio Torre, first Asian Grandmaster and record holder with 21 appearances in the Olympiads, escaped from a passive position to pull a victory against Ferenc Berkes and equalise the score." 

Another strong team effort from our team! 

It will be England versus Philippines for the Open category and Philippines versus the United States for the Women's section.

Women's team is also doing well with 18.5 points.

Keeping my fingers crossed for the next four rounds!

Phl Shocks Bulgaria

The round 6 of the 40th Chess Olympiad will forever be etched in the annals of Philippine chess history. The GM Jayson Gonzales captained Philippines team, with two former child prodigies, two young hotshots and one veteran in the name of Eugene Torre.

What happened?

On board 1, GM Wesley So drew the game with the white pieces against a former challenger for the world championship, super-GM Veselin Topalov. The 100-point difference in their ratings didn't matter after all.

On boards 3 and 4, GM's Torre and Paragua drew against higher-rated opponents.

And on board 2, GM Oliver Barbosa pulled off a victory with the black pieces against GM Kiril Georgiev. A victory everyone hope, nobody expected but Barbosa produced.

The games for the 6th round of the 40th Chess Olympiad can be viewed here. You can also download all the games from the Olympiad here, round by round.

With the win, the Philippine Men's team will play against Hungary in the 7th round with Peter Leko playing against Wesley So on board 1, another super-GM.

Hold on tight!

Phl win in Round 5

Philippine Men and Women's team scored 3-1 against their respective opponents in round 5 of the 40th Chess Olympiad in Istanbul.

Result here and here.

Round 6 assignment:

Philippines - Bulgaria (Open)

France - Philippines (Women's)

Good luck!

Phl losses against Armenia

It was a tough loss for Philippine Men's team against the defending two-time olympiad champion Armenian chess team with a score of 1.5 - 2.5. GM Wesley So drew the game against super-GM Levon Aronian on board 1, and so are the games on boards two and three with GM Barbosa and Paragua. IM Dimakiling's defeat on board 4 was the deciding match.

Although the Armenian's won, GM Aronian, currently the world's number 2, had praises for GM So.

For Round 5, GM Eugene Torre will play on board 3 and this will mark a record of 21 Olympiad stints. Philippines will be playing against Iceland and rating-wise, we are expected to win this one.

Congratulations!