Southeast Asian Games three-time gold medalist triathlete Kim Mangrabong is happy to see more people take interest in running.
Running is all about community.
Southeast Asian Games three-time gold medalist triathlete Kim Mangrobang is happy to see more people take interest in running.
This, as the 32-year-old national team member ruled the women’s 10K category of the HOKA Trilogy Run Leg 2 in Manila on Sunday morning, June 2, at the MOA Complex.
Mangrobang covered the distance at 40 minutes and 44 seconds, almost two minutes clear of Mea Gey Ninura in second place followed by Jessah Mae Roba, who both crossed the finish line within a second of each other.
Last February, Mangrobang made a similar conquest in the 5150 Triathlon CamSur.
Unlike in the first leg of the progressive marathon concept in April organized by RUNRIO Inc. CEO and Founder Rio Dela Cruz, temperatures were a little cooler and a lot more bearable for the long-distance participants in the second installment.
“Nag-eenjoy ako pag nagra-race ako ng trilogy run. RUNRIO races are always organized. And I also meet a lot of runners around Metro Manila,” Mangrobang said.
“Ngayon summer kaya medyo humid. Kahit 4 a.m. grabe na ‘yung pawis. Of course with proper hydration nakakatulong ‘yun after intense running,” she added.
Last April, RUNRIO held three separate branded events which include the HOKA Leg 1 followed by the Samsung Galaxy Earth Day Run before capping off the busy running month with the country’s longest-running event in Milo Marathon in back-to-back weeks, all of which Mangrobang believes is the reason why it has become more accessible and easier to get into.
Despite the heat index rise in the past two months, runners all over the Metro have never ceased to show up — for themselves and their community.
“Nakakatuwa na ang dami na ulit community runners. Marami pa ‘yung nagsisimula. Nakaka-proud lang makita ngayon unlike before [kaunti lang]. Mas marami na talaga sila ngayon,” Mangrobang said.
“Ang dami ng mga group runs ngayon. Siyempre nakakatulong tong mga ganitong events for our health and [building community]. I think ‘yung mga ganitong events [fuel that]. Running is all about community.”
Though denied of her dream four-peat in the previous SEA Games edition in Cambodia in 2023, Mangrobang is not slowing down from any type of competition as she seeks to get back on track as the region’s best woman triathlete next year.
By: Lance Agcaoili - @inquirerdotnet
Dawn Macandili Catindig Alas Pilipinas AVC Challenge Cup
Dawn Macandili-Catindig during Alas Pilipinas’ bronze medal game against Australia in the AVC Challenge Cup.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.neet
MANILA, Philippines — Dawn Macandili-Catindig offered Alas Pilipinas’ historic bronze medal in the AVC Challenge Cup to the past Philippine women’s volleyball team players, who have been part of the program’s ups and downs.
The veteran national team libero was one of the two remaining members of the 2018 Asian Games team with captain and setter Jia De Guzman ushering in the Alas era of the national team.
Catindig and De Guzman provided great leadership to the young Nationals and made history by winning bronze in the country’s successful Challenge Cup hosting — the program’s first AVC medal since 1961.
Although only two of them were the holdovers of the past national squads, Catindig still credited the current team’s success to the former players since she started representing the country in 2017.
“Para ito sa mga ate ko na nag simula ng Women’s Volleyball sa Pilipinas at sa mga nakasama ko sa NT, sa hirap at ginhawa. Salamat sa mga pangarap niyo dahil ito’y patuloy na umaagos sa puso ko at patuloy ko kayong ipaglalaban,” wrote Catindig, who teamed up with former national stars Alyssa Valdez, Jaja Santiago, Aby Maraño, Jovelyn Gonzaga, and Mylene Paat in the past.
“Salamat sa mga taong dumating sa buhay ko dahil patuloy akong natututo at nai-inspire dahil iisa lang ang ating pangarap. I love working with people who are as passionate and hardworking,” she added.
Catindig protected the country’s floor with Jen Nierva as Alas swept Pool A for a breakthrough semifinal appearance in the AVC but got swept by finalist Kazakhstan. On Wednesday, the Nationals completed their historic run with a bronze-clinching win over Australia.
Despite going through a lot of heartbreaks as a national team player with three straight fourth-place endings in the past Southeast Asian Games, the Cignal HD Spiker was fulfilled after a great run with her younger teammates like Angel Canino, Thea Gagate, Fifi Sharma, Eya Laure, and Sisi Rondina.
“Thank You [Lord] for giving me the strength to continue despite the heartbreaks. Every year, You give me renewed hope that it’s gonna be different. That I might make a difference,” said Catindig, who thanked all her teammates, coaches, their fans, the Philippine National Volleyball Federation, and her mother team, Cignal.
“Thank you cap, (Jia) for steering the ship. You keep us grounded! I got yo.
Catindig is part of the PNVF’s long-term plan as president Tats Suzara expressed his intention to keep this bronze medal team and pool members Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, and Casiey Dongallo.
The national team mainstay believes the best is yet to come after showing a lot of promises despite the limited time to prepare.
“We started with no expectations, less than a week to train together, and a challenge in front of us. I’m so proud of all these people who embraced their roles and did it with all their heart FOR THE TEAM. That is why it was easy to play with a light heart because everyone was working hard and at the same time respecting each other’s space,” Catindig said.
The Philippines has once again been recognized as an “Emerging Muslim-friendly non-Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) destination” in the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2024 for the second consecutive year, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said on Saturday, June 1.
The citation was announced at the Halal in Travel Global Summit in Singapore on Thursday, May 30, coinciding with the release of the annual Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI), which benchmarks destinations in the Muslim travel market.
“In its 2024 results, the GMTI described the Philippines as an ‘Emerging Muslim-friendly non-OIC Destination’ focusing on building capacity to welcome tourists through various initiatives,” the tourism department said in a statement.
These include offering Halal food throughout the destination and incorporating Muslim-friendly amenities at major tourist attractions, it added.
According to the DOT, tourism authorities have made Halal tourism a top priority, demonstrated by their actions to enhance the Halal tourism portfolio and increase awareness among stakeholders about the values and practices significant to Muslim travelers.
Mastercard said the Philippines logged an increase in its score on communications compared to 2023.
“Among non-OIC destinations, the Philippines has steadily increased its appeal to Muslim tourists by strategically developing their Halal Tourism portfolio, enhancing halal accreditation of hotels and restaurants, and conducting Halal awareness orientations. This effort builds on their achievement of winning the Emerging Muslim-friendly Destination of the Year award in last year’s Halal in Travel Global Summit, based on GMTI 2023 results,” it stated.
Tourism Secretary Christina G. Frasco said the DOT acknowledges the importance and potential of Halal Tourism in enhancing the growth and diversity of the country's tourism industry.
“As a country known for its warm hospitality, rich cultural heritage, and breathtaking natural attractions, catering to the needs of Muslim travelers through the development of Halal Tourism is crucial in ensuring that we raise our competitiveness in the global tourism market," she stated.
The DOT chief said Halal Tourism presents a rapidly growing market segment.
“By prioritizing this, we not only demonstrate our commitment to inclusivity and cultural sensitivity but also open up opportunities to attract more Muslim travelers from around the world, while expanding markets for our tourism stakeholders and creating more livelihood and employment for our fellow Filipinos,” said Frasco.
The summit coincided with President Marcos' state visit to Brunei Darussalam, during which Frasco signed a tourism cooperation agreement with her counterpart to enhance Halal Tourism in the Philippines, among other initiatives, according to the agency.
Halal Tourism is a key focus of the recently approved National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) for 2023 to 2028.
Sunday used to be when everyone stopped working to rest. But life moves 24/7 and work on keeping things in order for the public follows the pace. Today, rest days, or days off, are not only on Sundays but on weekdays to keep the 24/7 cycle going.
What remains unchanged is the fact that a person takes a rest day at least once in a seven-day cycle. The body is not a machine and needs to rest to recover to go on being healthy and efficient.
Sleep is at the center of rest, not only during a rest day, but every day. Sleep is as important to good health as diet and exercise. It improves brain performance, mood and health. Being drowsy or sleep-deprived is often a cause of accidents on the job.
We hear many doctors say that “not getting enough quality sleep regularly raises the risk of many diseases and disorders – from heart disease and stroke to obesity and dementia.” So why are there people who put the value of rest and sleep aside?
One reason is the need to multi-task which often leads to taking away time for rest and sleep to perform other functions. A body can take that for a while, but not for long. Depriving the body of rest, especially sleep, will deprive the body the time to repair itself.
“Everything from blood vessels to the immune system uses sleep as a time for repair. There are certain repair processes that occur in the body mostly, or most effectively, during sleep. If you don’t get enough sleep, those processes are going to be disturbed,” Dr. Kenneth Wright, Jr., a sleep researcher at the University of Colorado, said.
There’s another misunderstanding about sleep – that one can “catch up” on sleep and its benefits over the weekend. Researchers at the National Institute on Health in the US are finding that this largely isn’t the case.
“If you have one bad night’s sleep and take a nap, or sleep longer the next night, that can benefit you. But if you have a week’s worth of getting too little sleep, the weekend isn’t sufficient for you to catch up. That’s not a healthy behavior.”
Another misunderstanding about sleep is that the older you get, the less sleep you need. Results of the same study said this isn’t true. “Older adults still need the same amount. But sleep quality can get worse as you age.” Several studies say “most adults need seven or more hours of good-quality sleep on a regular schedule each night.” Good-quality sleep gives the well-rested feeling when you wake up.
Aside from sleep, a rest day should also have time for exercise and leisure activities. Taking a walk is the easiest way to exercise and can become a leisure activity with family. Health experts have pushed the value of putting in at least a 30-minute walk in one’s daily schedule, to benefit one’s physical and mental health. A good walk enhances mood.
A rest day for the body can also be a rest day from electronic gadgets and from social media. Putting gadgets aside for a day, or only for a few hours, can benefit relationships among family members and friends. As a sign in a restaurant said: “No Wi-Fi here. Talk to each other.”
Today, think of how you will spend your next rest day.
The most familiar sight in European club soccer’s greatest competition felt as fresh as ever after a 2-0 win against Borussia Dortmund in the final at Wembley Stadium.
LONDON (AP) — In an explosion of gold and silver confetti, Real Madrid held aloft the Champions League trophy for a record-extending 15th time on Saturday, June 1.
The most familiar sight in European club soccer’s greatest competition felt as fresh as ever after a 2-0 win against Borussia Dortmund in the final at Wembley Stadium.
“Getting used to it? Never,” said Carlo Ancelotti, who extended his own record of wins as a coach to five. “The dream continues.”
A white wall of Madrid fans at one end of the stadium serenaded their conquering heroes after goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior sealed the victory.
A predictable result came in less than predictable circumstances after Dortmund dominated the chances in the first half.
“It was a very difficult game, much more difficult than we had expected,” Ancelotti said. “We changed things because in the first half we were a bit lazy.”
Carvajal headed Madrid in front in the 74th minute and Vinicius doubled the Spanish giant’s lead nine minutes later.
Ancelotti’s fifth Champions League title was his third in two spells with Madrid and two more than his closest rivals Zinedine Zidane, Pep Guardiola and Bob Paisley.
Carvajal, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Nacho won the trophy a sixth time to equal the benchmark set by Madrid icon Paco Gento.
Madrid’s win comes just a year after Manchester City lifted the trophy for the first time, a victory many believed would herald a new era of dominance for Guardiola’s team in Europe. Instead, it was Ancelotti who underlined his case to be considered the finest coach of his generation for his continued supremacy in the Champions League.
As well as three titles with Madrid, he was a two-time winner with AC Milan. He also lifted the Spanish title this season - his sixth league championship won in five different countries.
Madrid’s dominance of the competition defies belief, having won more than double than anyone else. Milan is the second most successful club with seven.
Madrid has won nine titles in the Champions League era and this was its second in three seasons.
“This is the love story between Real Madrid and the European Cup. Players come, players go, but we can say that this is our competition,” Madrid president Florentino Perez said.
Its dominance will take some breaking with Kylian Mbappe widely expected to join as a free agent from Paris Saint-Germain during the offseason and Brazil’s rising start Endrick on his way.
Not that Perez would confirm Mbappe’s arrival.
“You can ask me as many times as you want, but I am only going to talk about the players that are on Real Madrid’s team,” he said. “And above all today, when we just won a European Cup. These are the players who deserve all the praise.
“The future? We will have to talk about that at some other point.”
Ancelotti, though, is already thinking about the future.
“In this club there is constant demand. It is never satisfied,” he said. “We will come back with same eagerness and with same excitement and anticipation as before.”
Dortmund paid the price for not making the most of its first half superiority when Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois pulled off a series of saves and Niclas Fullkrug hit the post.
Madrid took full advantage after the break when Carvajal met Kroos’ corner at the near post to power a header past Dortmund keeper Gregor Kobel.
Vinicius fired past Kobel to make it 2-0 and raced off in celebration after his goal killed off Dortmund hopes of pulling off one of the biggest Champions League upsets in recent memory. Later, Vinicius celebrated and posed for selfies with rapper Jay-Z, who was in the crowd of 86,000.
It was the second time Dortmund has lost in the final, having been beaten by Bayern Munich in 2013 when the showpiece occasion was also staged at Wembley.
Its only win in the competition was in 1997, but for a long time, the German side looked capable of halting Madrid after dominating the chances in the first half.
Coach Edin Terzic tactically outmanoeuvred Ancelotti in every department, and Madrid’s stars were subdued.
Only a combination of Courtois and the frame of the goal kept the scores level at the break after the keeper twice kept Karim Adeyemi from scoring and then watched as Fullkrug’s sliding effort came back off the post.
“There was the momentum when the game turned around and you see why they are the champions of this competition,” Terzic said. “We couldn’t manage to score and that was the key why we didn’t manage to win the game.”
A premier event for educators, academics, and book enthusiasts
The Philippine Academic Book Fair, presented by the Academic Booksellers Association of the Philippines (ABAP), is set on June 5 to 7, 2024, at the Megatrade Hall 1, SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.
With theme "Thriving Amidst Technological Advancements and Global Challenges," the Philippine Academic Book Fair underscores the importance of adapting to the rapidly evolving landscape of education.
Long recognized as a premier event for educators, academics, and book enthusiasts alike, the Philippine Academic Book Fair presents hundreds of exhibitors and hundreds of thousands of academic book titles, publications, resources, and technologies that cater to the academic sphere.
“In an era defined by global technological advancements, it is important that educators stay abreast with the latest trends and tools to enhance teaching and learning experiences for students,” said ABAP president Evelyn Millar. “The 25th Philippine Academic Book Fair serves as an avenue for educators and schools to find the latest print and digital resources and innovative strategies to navigate the challenges of the modern academic world.”
Exhibitors at this year's fair include industry-leading publication houses and booksellers such as Bookquick Marketing, Book Trends Enterprises, C&E Adaptive Learning Solutions, CD Books International, Inc., Cengage Learning Asia Pte Ltd, F & J de Jesus, Inc., Fastbooks Educational Supply, Inc., Forefront Book Co., Inc., GALE, and Golden Books Services, Inc.
Also joining the event are Linar International Book Resources, Inc., Manila Bulletin, Megatexts Phil., Inc., Mind Mover Publishing House, Inc., Reader's knowledge, Rex Education, SERV Enterprises, University of the Philippines Press, Vibal Group, Inc., and YFE Worldwide Logistics, Inc.
The 25th Philippine Academic Book Fair is co-organized by Primetrade Asia, Inc. For more information, contact 8896-0682 or 8373-3301, or email info@primetradeasia.com.
