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Friday, September 29, 2023
SPORTS in Philippine Daily Inquirer
Expect rains over PH due to LPA, habagat on Friday — Pagasa
Against Chinese rivals, Mandal and Eala put up gallant fight
BY REY VIRGILIO LACHICA
AT A GLANCE
The victories by Gilas and the Blu Girls plus the silver medal win of Mandal somehow soothed the pain suffered by the Filipino fans here after tennis princess Alex Eala absorbed 1-6, 7-6 (7-5), 3-6 defeat to Chinese starZheng Qinwen of Chinaat the city’s Olympic Tennis Centre.
HANGZHOU, China – Wushu sanda warrior Arnel Mandal was hardly mentioned as one of the country’s medal hopefuls but defied great odds to produce the first silver medal and become an instant star for Team Philippines in the 19th Asian Games Thursday, Sept. 28, here.
Competing in a heavier weight category at 56-kilogram, the pride of Iloilo gamely battled Chinese Jiang Haidong only to suffer a 2-0 beating in a contest watched by a small but highly appreciative crowd at the Xiaoshan Guali Sports Centre.
“Ginawa ko lahat ng aking makakaya pero hindi ako pinalad,’’ was Mandal’s quick answer when asked what went wrong with his game.
Gilas provided the silver lining for Team PH when the Nationals romped to an 87-72 win over a surprisingly tough Thai squad at the Zhejiang Zijingang University Gymnasium.
A crippling 7-2 mini-run was all the Nationals needed to finally take the fight out of the Thais and enable several embattled basketball officials to heave a sigh of relief.
Known as the Blu Girls, the women’s softball team crushed Korea, 5-0, for its second straight win.
The victories by Gilas and the Blu Girls plus the silver medal win of Mandal somehow soothed the pain suffered by the Filipino fans here after tennis princess Alex Eala absorbed 1-6, 7-6 (7-5), 3-6 defeat to Chinese star Zheng Qinwen of China at the city’s Olympic Tennis Centre.
Eala’s gallant performance against a rival who made quite a noise in the recent US Open after reaching the quarter increased the country’s bronze medal haul to five.
The Philippines hopes to strike its first gold when pole vault king EJ Obiena competes on Saturday, Sept. 30. Also expected to deliver are Tokyo Games medalists Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam and Eumir Marcial.
Mandal’s silver medal plus the bronze medals won by Gideon Padua and Clemente Tabugara Jr. on Wednesday, made the wushu association the country’s top medal producer.
In all, the wushu bets collected 1 silver and 3 bronze medals, including the one won by taolu specialist Jones Inso’ in the men’s taijiquan-Taijijian all-round on Monday.
But it was another sorry day for taekwondo bets after Korean Open gold medal winner Kirstie Elaine Alora (women’s +67kg class) and SEAG 4-time champion Samuel Morrison suffered defeats at the hands of their superior rivals.
Only poomsae bet King Patrick Perez managed to win a medal for the 12-man taekwondo team. In the 2018 edition, they won 3 bronze medals, including two in poomsae team events.
Same thing happened to Esports bets after they dropped out of medal contention with a 2-0 defeat to Hong Kong.
Over at the West Lake International Golf Country Club in Xihu District, Filipina golfers put on a brave stand that put themselves in the medal mix.
Rianne Malixi shot a bogey-free 68 to gain a share of 7th place among 39 bidders in individual play of the 72-hole tournament.
Teammate Lois Kaye Go, however, failed to sustain a respectable 35 in her first 9 holes and ended with a 72 for joint 21st.
Feast of Saint Jerome on Sept. 30
Devotees of Saint Jerome (San Geronimo) from different parts of the country will celebrate his feast day on Saturday, Sept. 30.
Known as the greatest translator of the Holy Bible and the patron saint of theological learning, translators, and librarians, fiesta masses will be celebrated at 6 a.m., 9 a.m. (concelebrated), and at 6 p.m. at the St. Jerome Parish Church (Morong Church) in Morong, Rizal.
A solemn procession will follow the 6 p.m. holy mass. Novena masses were offered from Sept. 21 to 29.
Holy masses in his honor will also be offered in parishes placed under his patronage in Duenas, Iloilo; Tapaz, Capiz; and Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija.
In ancient Latin Christianity, St. Jerome was considered as the second most voluminous writer, next to St. Augustine.
Considered as the most learned of the Fathers of the Western Church, he was a brilliant scholar, bishop, and confessor.
A protégé of Pope Damasus I, St. Jerome is recognized as a saint and Doctor of the Church by the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Lutheran Church, and the Anglican Communion.
The “Vulgata,” a translation of the Holy Scriptures from Greek and Hebrew into Latin, which took him 40 years to finish, is so far the only official translation of the Holy Bible used by the Roman Catholic Church.
Every year, particularly on his feast day, devotees visit the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, Italy where his sacred relics are kept.
Filipinas dominate Myanmar for Asiad quarters spot
AT A GLANCE
Sara Eggesvik delivered a brace in the second half to bring the Philippine women’s national football team past Myanmar, 3-0, and advanced to the knockout quarterfinals round of the 19th Asian Games on Thursday night, Sept. 28, at the Wenzhou Sports Centre Stadium in China.
Sara Eggesvik delivered a brace in the second half to bring the Philippine women’s national football team past Myanmar, 3-0, and advanced to the knockout quarterfinals round of the 19th Asian Games on Thursday night, Sept. 28, at the Wenzhou Sports Centre Stadium in China.
With their 5-1 loss to South Korea a couple of days prior, the world No. 44 Filipinas were on the brink of elimination as only three of the second best-placed squads will move to the next round of the Asiad.
Thankfully, the Philippines only needed a one goal win against Myanmar after Japan’s commanding 7-0 victory over Vietnam and Nepal's stalemate with Bangladesh in Group D, and the Nationals have done that and more to stay in the competition.
It was also a payback of some sort for the Philippines, which was booted out of the Southeast Asian Games podium last May at the hands of Myanmar.
Sarina Bolden opened the scoring anew for the third time in the group stage in the 19th minute of the match off a penalty kick after she was fouled inside the box, 1-nil.
Unlike in their two previous matches, Bolden’s goal mattered this time as the world No. 51 Myanmar side failed to find the equalizer, giving the Nationals a halftime lead.
The Filipinas held the most promising possessions this time around to create more chances for themselves to stay ahead and pile pressure on Myanmar.
Bolden came knocking in the second half a couple of times to attempt for a brace, but Myanmar keeper Nyein Myo Mya Mya was just there to stall the Philippines’ goal insurance.
However, Bolden came through with a brilliant header pass to Sara Eggesvik in the 60th minute, which the Filipinas midfielder slotted in past the Myanmar keeper to double the lead.
A minute later, Eggesvik’s brace came when she found the back of the net with an impressive left-footed shot with a cross from Meryll Serrano to give the Filipinas a convincing advantage, 3-nil.
There were endless chances for the Philippines at this point to keep itself on the scoreboard as it had fully shifted the momentum on its side, helping Olivia McDaniel keep a clean sheet for the first time in the tournament.
The acid test continues for the Filipinas at the Asiad as they face Japan in the quarterfinals on Saturday, Sept. 30.
Thursday, September 28, 2023
Is German harder than Russian?
I’m bilingual. My two mother tongues are English and Bulgarian (which is a Slavic language, similar to Russian).
I started learning German 7 years ago, Russian - 4 years so. Although I moved to Germany last year and have a C1 certificate, it took me a huge effort to master it and finally become fluent.
It took me about 2 years to do that in Russian. I must say, Russian grammar is more complicated because it takes some effort to practice the cases and actually learn them and be able to use them!
In contrast, German has quite unpleasant “der, die, das” noun genders, which can slow down your progress drastically. The passive form (“Passiv”) is also not easy to understand and apply.
Finally, I would say that German is harder than Russian BUT it depends ONLY on yourself how fast you will master a language. For example, my friend managed to start from a complete beginner and get a C2 certificate in German in 13 months.
Cebuana beauty Nicole Borromeo ready for Miss International 2023 pageant
AT A GLANCE
"To all my fans, thank you. Please know that I keep you in my heart when I do the things that I do here; when I try to represent the Philippines, I try to keep you in mind, and I put you in my little album, and I hope that I can take the time to thank each of you, but please know I wouldn't be here without you."
Binibining Pilipinas International 2022 Nicole Borromeo is all set to compete in the Miss International 2023 beauty pageant, which will take place in Tokyo, Japan on Oct. 26.
During a send-off event held at the Gateway Mall in Araneta City on Sept. 27, Nicole said she was ready to welcome the Miss International competition with open arms.
"Am I ready for the 7th? I want to say yes! I'm human and think I'll never be fully ready for anything; you'll never be fully ready for it, but I'm welcoming it with open arms. What I can offer to the Miss International would be this fresh perspective I hope to show to the world," said Nicole when asked if she was ready to win the 7th prestigious pageant crown for the country during the media conference for her send-off.
She added: "I'll go the extra mile to share an experience with somebody. I never want to do something by myself. The best experiences are always shared with someone so that they can bring them home to their loved ones and create that ripple effect."
Nicole, a 22-year-old beauty queen from Cebu City, was crowned Bb. Pilipinas International 2022 on July 31, 2022. However, her competition schedule was adjusted due to the pandemic.
"I wouldn't look at it as being tired of waiting. When I competed last year in Binibining Pilipinas, I already knew what I was getting into. I understood the responsibilities, the patience, and the determination it takes to win this title.
"So, the moment I was crowned, I wholeheartedly embraced that responsibility. And it's really about the way you decide to look at things. It's easy to say, 'I'm waiting so long. When is my time?' But the truth is your time is going to come. And I'm happy to have it arrived right now at the right time and with all the support," she said.
The graduate of interior design also promoted her advocacy for the upcoming beauty pageant.
"For Miss International and even outside the pageant world, I saw the importance of well-being. Both physically and mentally. When I joined Binibining Pilipinas, I wanted to highlight how important it is for everybody to have a place to call home. How can you have the mental fortitude to face life's adversities and enjoy life when you don't even have the basic necessity of a safe and decent roof over your head?
"This year, I would like to showcase to the world that we can live in a safe and decent environment that is crucial for us. It's a no-brainer; everyone deserves this, and nobody should be left behind," she also said.
Nicole explained that her program aims to eliminate poverty.
"The focus here is not everybody, not just having a decent place to live. So many aspects come to mind when you think of home. It's more than just the physical space. You think about your livelihood. You think about your well-being. It sounds like a big to chew and a big vision. Still, I'm confident that with platforms like Binibining Pilipinas and Miss International, we can achieve a world without poverty, and everyone has a home."
This will be Nicole's second visit to Japan and she is excited about it.
"Last year, I went to Japan for the first time. I was watching our Binibining Pilipinas 2021 Hannah Arnold. She's not here, but I know she's supporting me in spirit. I just fell in love (with Japan) from the people to the places, to the food. What I appreciated the most was how mindful everybody was. The way you enjoy the experience, it's the one done in the present moment. You don't take a bite. You savor the moment. You savor a prayer when you enter a temple, walk, or in nature. I want to experience that in a progressive country like Japan, and it's the same way here," she recalled.
When asked about her plans for the Miss International title in case she wins, Nicole responded: "The cause of Miss International is to promote understanding, especially among countries. From the relationship we already have between the Philippines and Japan, it's great to have all these similarities and differences that we can embrace. During my potential reign, I would like it to be filled with activities to come and join. For example, Japan has an activity like the tea ceremony. I feel so blessed to experience that. But why don't we make it more accessible to the public for everyone to enjoy and learn about the cultural differences we can embrace? It can also go the other way around with our cultures and traditions."
Nicole expressed her gratitude towards her fans who have been supporting her throughout her journey in the pageant.
"Thank you so much for finding me the time for this send-off. I know that my crowning moment was over a year ago. Ang tagal na. And yet, the support just kept flooding in. Every day, I hope you guys know I feel your support. I do read the comments. And it makes me so happy to see them.
"I was so surprised when I saw my official headshot posted when the official photo was released for Miss International. There was such amazing feedback from everyone. Overwhelming support, all the kindest comments of people saying that they believe in my ability to win the 7th crown. And the way I see it, people who do not know me yet haven't even met me, but they believe in me, it touches my heart.
"To all my fans, thank you. Please know that I keep you in my heart when I do the things that I do here; when I try to represent the Philippines, I try to keep you in mind, and I put you in my little album, and I hope that I can take the time to thank each of you, but please know I wouldn't be here without you.
"Soon, I'll be in Tokyo, Japan, and I can't wait to wear the Philippines across my chest. When that moment comes, please know that I'm thinking of all of you, and I'll wear it with pride. Thank you for coming today, and I hope to still feel your support when I'm out there as well," she added.
Nicole also thanked her glam team for her classy-inspired look during the send-off party. "It is inspired by celebrities who we believe carry the values and the kind of beauty that we want to portray."
The Philippines has already won six times in the 58-year-old pageant. Other Filipino winners were Gemma Cruz (1964), Aurora Pijuan (1970), Melanie Marquez (1979), Precious Lara Quigaman (2005), Bea Rose Santiago (2013) and Kylie Verzosa (2016).
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Be aware of the power God shares with us
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By Fr. Roy Cimagala
Chaplain
Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)
Talamban, Cebu City
Email: roycimagala@gmail.com
OUR Christian faith tells us that we are meant to share the same life and nature of God in whose image and likeness we have been created. That is why we are all called to be holy as God is holy, as well as to love everybody as God is all love. This love for everybody is expressed in doing apostolate which we have to understand as meant for all of us. Yes, we are all meant to be apostles also in our own way.
We are somehow reminded of these truths of our faith in that gospel episode where Christ, after choosing his apostles in some random way, gave the tremendous powers, a sharing in the powers of Christ himself. “Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” (Lk 9,1)
We have to be most aware of what we all have in our hands. We may feel unworthy of all this, as we should, but the undeniable truth is that Christ is sharing his powers with us. Let us do our part in corresponding to this stupendous truth of our faith.
And the only way to do that is give our all to God. Let us be generous and magnanimous as God is overwhelmingly generous and magnanimous to all of us. There has to be that mutual dynamic of love and self-giving that has been initiated by God himself. God loves us first, and we have to learn to love him in return, a love that is also expressed in loving everybody just as God loves everybody irrespective of how they are!
This is a call to generosity. “Without cost you have received, without cost you are to give,” Christ told us. (Mt 10,8) Christ himself embodied this principle when he, being God, became man, and not contented with that, he went to the extent of offering his life to conquer all our sins. He finally gave himself to us in the sacraments, especially in the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, which is a real madness of love.
Everyday, let us grow in our identification with Christ. Let’s hope that slowly but steadily we can feel the conviction that we are becoming “other Christ” (alter Christus), if not “Christ himself” (ipse Christus).
Let’s not be afraid of the effort and the sacrifices involved in this process. It will all be worthwhile. If we truly try to identify ourselves with Christ, we would be confident that Christ himself would give us the same peace and joy that he had as he went through his own passion and death on the cross.
We are, of course, aware of our limitations and many times we have to say enough. And that’s good to do. It shows we are humble and realistic enough to acknowledge them.
But there’s one area in our life where we should never say enough. And that’s in our spiritual life, in our duty to love God and others as Christ himself has loved us, that is, all the way to death on the cross.
The duty itself of loving knows no bounds. As St. Francis de Sales said, “The measure of love is to love without measure.” And we might ask, is this possible, is this doable?
The answer, of course, is yes. In the first place, there is in us a spiritual capacity that would lead us to the world of the spiritual and supernatural, the world of the infinite.
Cayetano to DFA: Leverage Filipino arts, culture to increase PH’s soft power
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Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday encouraged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to come up with a budget for next year that will harness the potential of Philippine arts and culture to increase the country’s “soft power.”
In an interpellation during the Senate briefing on the proposed 2024 budget of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Cayetano said being a country of relatively less military and economic power, the Philippines can gain power by increasing its influence in the field of arts, culture, and sports.
“Kapag sinabi mong power, it’s basically the ability to get someone else to act the way you want them to act,” he said, adding it is manifested through different ways such as “authority, legitimacy, influence.”
“If you talk about visual artists, paintings, sculptures, grabe ang potential natin,” he said.
Cayetano cited South Korea’s elevated and world-renowned culture and performing arts, which led it to quickly become a “soft power.”
In love na in love ang marami sa kultura ng Korea. Therefore, for example, if their pop stars come here and advocate against teenage pregnancy or better immigration status for Koreans, [people support it],” he said.
The senator said the DFA can look into creating ”Filipino towns” in other countries to increase the exposure of Filipino arts and culture, similar to what South Korea did.
To further prove the potential of Filipino culture in increasing the Philippines’ influence, Cayetano cited how East Timor became a friend and ally of the Philippines after the latter’s successful hosting of the Southeast Asian Games in 2019.
“We welcomed them [warmly]. Syempre, mahirap din na bansa so lahat ng accommodations ginawa natin [para sa kanila] noong SEA Games. Hindi daw nila makalimutan ‘yan,” he said.
“For such small things that we would do for anyone – kasi hospitable naman ang Pilipino – it’s such a lasting impression,” he said.###