July 5, 2011
While many people may never be able to understand the love, following sports can mean the whole world to some. Having said that, it was not too long ago when we first heard of the Azkals—the Philippine national football team, and how they were slowly making their mark, at least here in Southeast Asia with every miraculous goal they scored and a number of wins that they were able to pull off in the AFF Suzuki Cup held last December 2010. It also didn’t hurt that the matches were televised on the Asia-based Star Sports channel—not only did it get the attention of average sports fans in the country, but the average Filipino families—heck, everyone who owned a TV set and a cable connection, for that matter. As history would have it, the successful stint overseas led to one good thing after another for those responsible for this revived PH Booters as soon as they returned home—some changes in the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) system, improved training and recruitment programs, added sponsorships, talks regarding the future official home field and most especially, a brand new swelling support from the entire nation. Read more…
June 28, 2011
So UNO’s France Pinzon got to watch the 7:30 p.m. schedule of Varekai last Saturday, at the Cirque’s Big Top Tent at Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park. While she claims that it’s truly a must-see spectacle, she’s also realized just how much this kind of performance art is still under-appreciated here in our country today.
Anyway, with all things said and stared at, here are five other realizations this editor’s been moved to point out after witnessing the much-praised event:
1. If you think you’re flexible, whether literally or figuratively speaking, wait ’til you see this group of flexible entertainers–one dramatically contorts her body into the size of a toaster (not really, but highly possible), while a physically disadvantaged dancer performs his whole number magnificently on crutches.
2. I have come to believe that here in our little known world, there roam people blessed with super-hero powers, only, they’re disguised as world-class athletes, rocket scientists, leaders of intelligence groups and the Cirque du Soleil.
3. Prepare your hands for some serious clapping spree, which happens to be every five seconds all throughout the show. If you’re not the clapping type, you’ll still feel compelled to nod or shake your head in awe and disbelief with all the stunts, routines and riveting visual-gasmic costumes. At the end, get your feet working and give the much-deserved standing-O. We did.
4. Don’t bother using your camera. Not only is it not allowed to take pictures while the show is ongoing, but you might miss a magnificent performance, instead of actually capture it, if you do. (Hello, no safety harnesses and nets?) And it’s always best to simply be there to take all the once-in-a-lifetime experience in.
5. Cirque du Soleil should definitely come back here.
Varekai in Manila has been extended and will run until July 24th. Bring your date and your parents along, too.
Happy birthday to Azkals team captain, Aly Borromeo!
Photo by Joyce Romero
Catch the PH Booters as they try to win it against Sri Lanka, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on June 29th (1st leg), and here in Manila, on July 3rd (2nd leg). The WCQ matches air live on Studio 23.
May 31, 2011
Interview by France Pinzon | Photo by Mitch Mauricio
Rajko Toroman
Head Coach, Smart Gilas Team Pilipinas
You’ve handled a lot of basketball teams. You’ve accomplished a lot throughout your career as a coach. What is winning to you?
Basketball is part of my life. When I was very young, I started to watch and play basketball. I started to coach by accident. When I stopped playing basketball, they offered me the job in a professional team in my country. I finished school and worked for ten years before I started coaching. I couldn’t say no to this challenge because all my life I dreamt of being someone in [the field of] basketball.
I was coaching the men’s team and the professional team. I think my biggest success was [when I coached] the Iranian National Team, when they won the Asian Games and went to the Olympic Games. Because only professional coaches can coach in the Olympic Games, it’s a thrill to be part of this big event and to be in the company of Kobe Bryant and all these guys.
I always try to be honest with my job, work very hard and try to win in every game. I don’t want to be in a losing situation. I have a very good situation in the Philippines, because this program is unique in the world. Usually, the national team works in some countries for about three months. But we’ve been working for two and a half years. We’re almost like a professional team and that’s a privilege. Nobody in the world has this kind of situation that the players are together, practicing and playing some games. During these two and a half years, we try to create chemistry in the team. I think this team is extremely talented and is really great technically. I think their level is higher than the Iranian team. We lack some size; that’s usually the problem of the Philippines. With some of the PBA players, we’ll be very competitive in Asia.
With the recent inclusion of four professional basketball players from the PBA, how does that work with the guys, who have been training with you for quite some time now? Do they feel challenged and how are they motivated this way?
There were a lot of questions and doubts here. Some people have different opinions. That’s part of the job. We need a successful Filipino basketball team—I’ll give one example. One of the NBA players came for the preparation of the Serbian national team, and they cut him before the competition [started]. You know, it is part of the job. They have to understand.
And I said I will also participate in the PBA. It’s also some kind of challenge. I told them before the [last] PBA [season began that] they have to be better than the PBA players or are in the same level. If somebody will be cut before the competition, it’s just part of the job. They have to understand that sometimes they have to go through this. It’s normal. There are injuries; there are better players; so we have to change and train our team the best way [possible]. Everybody has to sacrifice something, even the players who will be cut before the ASEAN Games must sacrifice something for the success of the team.
You mentioned your stint in the PBA the previous season. Was it hard as a team to have come so close? You were dominating the competition early on and to just lose in the semifinals….
It was very hard. In the beginning, we thought we were going to make it, but we were playing in very difficult circumstances. First of all, the officiating wasn’t good for us. The crowd was against us in the semifinals. The referee didn’t protect us. The first game was terrible, and they wanted to hurt us in the semifinals. We lost some of our confidence.
The good thing is we can expect the same in the ASEAN championship. When we play in China, officiating will not be in favor of the Philippines.
It must have been hard for the boys, because the Filipino fans were supposed to be cheering for them.
Our players showed fair play and sportsmanship even in difficult moments, and we have to congratulate them for that. We gave the maximum [effort] that we could, given the circumstances at the end of the day.
Read the rest of the interview with Coach Rajko in the upcoming UNO June 2011 issue.
May 30, 2011
Photos by Juan with retouching by Anna Hyde | Make Up and Hair by Nina Dumpa
Our last April’s Bombshell gives us little tips on how to dismantle a bomb without it blowing up in your face
“Is she really going out with him?” are the first words you’ll hear on the first ever punk single released in the U.K. “New Rose” by The Damned released on October 22, 1976 under Stiff Records (“If ain’t Stiff, it ain’t worth a fuck” was the company’s famed tagline), beating the Sex Pistols by over a month. (“Anarchy in the U.K. was released on 26 November). Tellingly, the b-side was a cover of The Beatles’ “Help”.
Despite its anti-everything stance, even punk couldn’t get away from the fundamental problem of how to fathom women. Or just get them to notice you for that matter. I mean, after all, going onstage with little more than clothes stuck together with safety-pins and spouting revolutionary rhetoric to the tune of three chords played badly can’t get you noticed, what will?
Good thing we’ve got Jacq Yu, an adventurous, no-nonsense girl, who also happens to be the girl we see selling us roof sealant every time we watch a Manny Pacquiao fight and probably the first reason we decided to watch Amazing Race Asia. She also did a memorable turn as a White Castle girl, donning the famed red-bikini and riding astride a steed on some beachside, and riding towards our collective unconscious in exquisite slow motion. And she was willing to sit down and spell it out for us just what it takes for a guy to impress someone from her peer group (i.e. unattainable goddess who will never, ever really go out with the likes of you).
The worst pick-up lines would be when they pretend they know me. It’s usually something like, “Do you remember me?” I hate it when a guy is trying to be cool or when guy shows they’re somebody that they’re not. I especially don’t like the arrogant ones.
If you want to introduce yourself to a girl, just be real. And don’t say annoying things like, “I think I met you in my dreams before.” Also, I don’t really talk to guys I don’t know, unless they’re friends of friends.
Getting me to give my number depends on how they ask me. Be proper, be humble, and be honest. Don’t expect to get it within the first few minutes. Some girls aren’t easy. But it all depends on how they approach me. It doesn’t matter whether you’re rich and famous or otherwise. For me, it’s the personality that matters.
To read the complete article, “Rules of Engagement” (by Nathan Tioseco), check out UNO’s April 2011 issue with Nathan Azarcon on the cover. To download the complete e-magazine version, please visit Press Display, sign up and search for UNO Magazine.You can also download the Press Reader application for your iPhone and iPad.
April 30, 2011
We’ve got Nike to thank for our up-to-date Pac-Man collectibles and what better way to spoil ourselves than to rush quick to the nearest Nike store and check out the 2011 Nike-Pacquiao items.
As we wish “The Fighting Congressman” good luck on his May 7th (May 8th, Manila time), here are the latest MP swag courtesy of Nike:
Pacman KO ZP Hoody
Nike-Pacquiao tees
Nike Zoom Huarache Trainer Low
Also out: Manny’s training shoes the Nike Trainer 1.3 Max.
April 27, 2011
So Telltale Games is delaying the PC release to a few more months. If it’s for the betterment of the video game, fine by us.
Here’s a copy of Telltale Games’ official letter: Read more…
March 28, 2011
Ayala Museum’s DesignTalks is a lecture series that brings prominent and pioneering Filipino creative professionals to the center stage. Lined up for this April is the creative duo who call themselves Everywhere We Shoot, scheduled to talk on 16 April 2011, 3:00 pm at the Ayala Museum Ground Floor Lobby, and whose works will also be on exhibit at the Third Floor Glasslane starting on the day of the talk.
Composed of Ryan Vergara and Garovs Garrovillo, their moniker is not just the duo’s name but also a statement of intent, a manifesto of sorts in praise of the ambulant imagination. They both trained at the De La Salle-College of St. Benilde’s School of Design & Arts (Ryan was a Multimedia Arts major while Garovs was in Fashion Design and Merchandising).
Their work has appeared in almost every major magazine in the country as well as a number of publications abroad. They’ve also done commissions to do brand campaigns, record sleeves, and lookbooks for top Filipino designers.
They’ve established an inimitable style of art through photography, fashion, and graphic design—characteristically ironic and playful and always with a hint of humor. They simplify the complicated, and exaggerate the basics. The success of their partnership is that they create images that refuse to stay put.
Tickets are sold for Php 300 regular rate, and discounted at Php 150 for students, teachers, senior citizens and Ayala Museum members.
For inquiries, call 757.7117 to 21 or email museum_inquiry@ayalafoundation.org.
Ayala Museum is located at Makati Avenue corner De la Rosa Street, Greenbelt Park, Makati City.
Check out some of the past works of EWWS:
February 11, 2011
Words by France Pinzon | Photos by Mitch Mauricio
Here, it is woman versus ‘sinful’ food. Only no one loses
From manufacturing and supplying chocolates in its native Melbourne nine years ago to putting up a chocolate lounge, Chocolate Fire finally found its way to Manila in March 2010, which, according to manager/consultant Koby Parcell, is a favorite city for its directors, thus, the unanimous decision to open the Asian flagship store here. Read more…
February 8, 2011
A fan’s tribute to the Philippine National Football Team
Words by Jay-P Bautista | Photos by Joyce Romero
Like most Filipinos, to me, football back then was non-existent.
A few years back, I shared the same boredom a typical Pinoy would experience while watching a 90-minute stretch of English football on ESPN. I watched it just for the heck of checking out what some call “the most beautiful game in the world.” That and without any idea of its rules, I changed the channel because after witnessing them kick the ball around for more than an hour, none of the 22 players on the pitch was able to score a single goal. “What a complete waste of time,” I thought.
A few months later, I tried playing the sport and eventually learned to share the passion for it. I have become a follower of European football, particularly the English Premier League. I ended up being a full-fledged supporter of popular teams like Arsenal and Manchester United. I became a fanatic, and football became my life.
Years were spent reading news and keeping up-to-date with the latest developments of my favorite English football club. I never paid attention to our national team’s share of football in Asia. I didn’t even have the slightest idea that our football team was called the Azkals.
A pang of guilt struck me when our Philippine Football team knocked on the doors of Filipino football and non-football fans alike, as they showed their existence in Southeast Asia due to their qualification in the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup, eventually acquiring an undefeated run for qualification to the tournament’s group stages up to the semi-finals. Read more…
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