Sam Cantada ready for UAAP seniors debut

 

By Mark Rey Montejo

Published Feb 12, 2026 09:35 pm

With tons of expectations weighing on her shoulders, highly touted rookie Sam Cantada vowed to make an impact as she gears up for her UAAP women's volleyball debut with National University this weekend.

With tons of expectations weighing on her shoulders, highly touted rookie Sam Cantada vowed to make an impact as she gears up for her UAAP women’s volleyball debut with National University this weekend.

The 18-year-old Cantada, who spearheaded Adamson in the junior ranks including back-to-back finals appearances, is set to don the Lady Bulldogs’ colors when they battle the UST Golden Tigresses on Sunday, Feb. 15.

The Dasmariñas, Cavite native acknowledged the pressure but said the support of her coaches and teammates makes it easier to manage.

“As of now po, mahirap po siya. Pero, d'yan naman po ‘yong mga coaches and ‘yong mga teammates na pwede po silang tumulong po sa akin para ma-overcome ‘yong pressure po,” said Cantada.

“Siguro po, mas tatapang po talaga ako this season. Lalo na po, kailangan po mag-peak ng round 2 po,” she added.

Surely, suiting up for a powerhouse school like NU, which was then powered by decorated spikers Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon in the previous seasons, is already a daunting assignment for a freshman.

But it was not the case for the 5-foot-7 outside spiker as her transition went smooth after receiving warm reception from the Lady Bulldogs mainstays and veterans.

“Okay naman po sila. They're trying their best naman po mag-lead, lalo na po ‘yong mga ga-graduate na po,” Cantada stressed.

Last May, Cantada started her run with NU after she and the Lady Bullpups represented National Capital Region in last year’s Palarong Pambansa in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.

There, she met senior stars Belen, Solomon, Vange Alinsug, Lams Lamina, and Shaira Jardio, to name a few, who supported them live at the jam-packed PCV Socio-Civic and Cultural Center in Bacarra, a neighboring city of Laoag.

They won the gold medal after beating Tay Tung College (Western Visayas) in the secondary girls’ finals and their reign extended in the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League (SGVIL) a week later at the expense of the very same Bacolod-based school.

Cantada backs the likes of Alinsug, Lamina, and Jardio, with new head coach Regine Diego, as they go for a three-peat.

“Hindi po magiging madali ‘tong season, pero I think pag lahat kami iisa ng mga teammates ko, may mataas po kami na chance na makuha namin ‘yon,” she concluded.

GOAT: A rewatchable family movie

 

Published Feb 13, 2026 08:00 am

By Margaret Siytangco

Let me say this first: GOAT is not just another animated sports movie.

It’s fun. It’s loud. It’s heart-filled. And for a mom who turned this into a Valentine’s mom-and-son date? It was such a win.

(Images courtesy of Columbia Pictures)

Produced by Stephen Curry and backed by the same creative energy behind KPop Demon Hunters and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, you can immediately feel that bold, stylized DNA. The aesthetic? Watercolor-y but graffiti. Soft, but edgy. It feels like a sketchbook collided with a street court. Completely unique. Completely eye-catching.

And yes — it’s inspired by Curry’s own underdog story. The underestimated player. The doubted kid. The one who dared to dream way bigger than people expected. Except here, the underdog is literally a goat. Greatest. Of. All. Time. The metaphor is not subtle — and I love that it doesn’t try to be.

The voice cast? So good. You’ll recognize Caleb McLaughlin, Aaron Pierre, David Harbour, Nicola Coughlan, and Gabrielle Union — plus Curry himself. And you can tell they had fun with it. The characters feel rich. Distinct. Not just filler voices reading lines.

Now, can we talk about the sneakers?

Because excuse me. Those rubber shoes are about to become collectible. I am calling it. The designs are bold, colorful, and very Gen Alpha coded. If these drop in real life, kids are going to want them. It’s giving serious “Sold out in three days” vibes.

But beyond its style and branding potential, what really makes GOAT work is its heart.

This is an underdog story done right. It’s entertaining. It’s funny. It doesn’t drag. It doesn’t preach. It just lets you root for someone who refuses to shrink himself. And as a mom watching beside my kiddo? That hits.

My son was locked in. He was laughing, reacting, and fully invested. And that shared movie moment? That’s the real win.

Is it deep, dark cinema? No.

Is it emotionally draining? Not at all.

Is it going to become one of those well-loved, rewatchable family movies? I genuinely think so.

This feels like the kind of film families will put on again on a random Saturday. The kind kids quote. The kind that quietly becomes part of childhood.

Bring the kiddos. Bring the whole family.

If you’re looking for something entertaining, stylish, and heart-forward — GOAT is worth the watch.

I LOVE YOU!

 

This week, it's time again for Valentine's Day. Expensive flowers, sweets, lunches, hotel overnights ...

Do you know something about the legend of St. Valentine? The history of Valentine's Day – and the story of its patron saint – is indeed shrouded in mystery. We do know that February has long been celebrated as a month of romance, and that St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition.

From February 13 to 15, the Romans celebrated the feast of Lupercalia. ... Emperor Claudius II executed two men — both named Valentine — on Feb. 14 of different years in the 3rd century A.D. Their martyrdom was honored by the Catholic Church with the celebration of St. Valentine's Day.

Being married for almost 43 years now, Valentine's Day lets me always recall lovely moments from the past.

In a very old issue of PHILADELPHIA NEWS, which is still on my desk, columnist Larry Fields confessed: "I lead a life of wine, women and song (by the way, a wonderful waltz by the Austrian king of waltz Johann Strauss!) - it's cheaper than petrol, food and rent!"

Well, some marriages are made in heaven. You know some? I do. The best of the rest are down-to-earth. Maybe also yours? I am blessed and happy to celebrate my  43rd wedding anniversary next month.

Maybe you remember this: "Then the prince swept the lovely young maiden into his arms and carried her home to his castle. And they live happily ever after!" Indeed, they did.

What I would like to see is an autonomous in home affairs study of all these titles of nobility bearers seven years after their happily-ever-after marriages. or even earlier, because the so-called darned and tricky seventh marriage year could be even the first one already.

The truth is that life isn't made up of the continual highs found in the initial stages of courtship. Of course, flirting is fun and a wide groove exists. But after a while our system needs a rest. Unanimously we're in the second stage sooner or later and our marriage life badly needs a new outside coating.

All of a sudden, the partner prefers day and night watching all the sports channels, falls asleep while you're revealing your innermost secrets and even forgets the anniversary for the first or even second time . Just bear in mind: You've won each other's acceptance  and sometimes even feelings are terribly gloomy. This acceptance shouldn't be undervalued.

Even we see a house that has to be cleaned, many other things have to be organized, and the partner, who looks as fatigued and bored as you feel. Logical question: "That's it? That WAS it?"

And suddenly, we experienced the third stage and learned why it's worth the ups and downs. Maybe we men don't mention any more, how incredible she looks, but we enjoy bleating and grousing at her spending innumerable hours putting her together. But then, suddenly, we men unload the garbage without being asked for it.

Although no marriage is continually blissful - it can be pretty good most of the time. When we last through arguments, money worries, and kid's problems or slowly but surely coming up mid-life crises, we should face reality that our relationship is not always a big day celebration.

It's because the fundamental  reason for a marriage has outlasted the craziness of day-to-day living: we love each other. That's MY idea of "Happily ever after, indeed!"

And one more thing: in my opinion, Valentine's Day shouldn't be only on February 14. It doesn't matter if one is married or not.