Organizers to field 1,000 marshalls

SAFETY. Princess Galura of Sunrise Events said they will have 1,000 marshalls for Sunday’s race and is hoping the public will cooperate to ensure the safety of the participants. (SunStar photo / Arni Aclao)

IT’S all systems go for the Regent Aguila Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship with about 2,500 triathletes from 53 countries converging at the Shangri-La Mactan Resort & Spa in Lapu-Lapu City this Sunday.

What’s new for this year is be the 90-kilometer three-loop bike course that will cover cities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue. This was the alternative route after the organizers were denied the use of South Road Properties (SRP).

“We had the bike out last Sunday which was participated by Cebuanos and they said that they liked the route because it’s not windy. But there are also roads na misikip that had some congestion,” said Princess Galura, the general manager of SEI, the company behind the Ironman 70.3 Philippines.

“Together with the local government units and government agencies concerned, we will continue our efforts in making the Regent Aguila Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship a rousing success,” SEI founder Wildred Steven Uytengsu said in a statement.

Race director Neville Manaois said about 1,000 race marshals will be deployed on the race course.

“We will deliberately give the pros (professional athletes) at least 35 minutes before we release the other divisions. The pros will finish the third loop (by that time,)” said Manaois “The other main concern is the crowd. We will have barricades and marshals with yellow flags to make sure everything will run smoothly.”

The other thing to watch out for this year would be the battle of the pro triathletes. Galura said that this was the best lineup that they have assembled in 10 years.

There will be a total of 34 pros and 10 Asian elites. The men’s pro cast includes heavyweights like reigning three-time champion Tim Reed, former Xterra champion Mauricio Mendez, legendary triathlete Craig Alexander, Tim Van Berkel, Sam Betten, Cameron Brown, former Cebu champion Brent Mcmahon, among others.

The women’s pro will have the likes of four-time Ironman Cebu champion Caroline Steffen, former Ironman Australia titlist Betch Mckenzie and veteran triathlete Dimity Lee Duke.

For the age-group athletes, at stake in the race would be the 50 slots for the 2019 Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Nice, France.

The 1-9-kilometer swim, 90K bike and 21K run race will start at the beachfront of Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa for the swim segment followed with a three-loop bike segment and the two-loop run part.

This year marks the 10th year anniversary for Ironman Philippines in the country—the seventh year in Cebu since the first three years was held in Camarines Sur.

Meanwhile, the Alaska Ironkids Philippines is all set with 400 participants this Saturday, while the Herbalife Nutrition IronGirl will have 850 participants today. (RSC)

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1756094/Cebu/Sports/Organizers-to-field-1000-marshalls

Another exciting Ironman season for Cebu

Organizers and some participants of the upcoming Regent Aguila Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championships were yesterday’s guests in the weekly Cebu Daily News Sportstalks Facebook Live show. In the photo are (from left) Rider Omega Tri Team’s Katherine Dimataga Jumapao, Banjo Norte, Tonyson Lee, and Paul Jake Castillo; Cebu Province administrator Atty. Mark Tolentino, Sunrise Events Inc. General Manager Princess Galura, Regent’s Jennifer See, CDN Sports Correspondent Mars Alison, Cebu Capitol Protocol and Events Officer Mary Grace Paulino and CDN Sports Editor Brian Ochoa.

FOR SIX years now, Cebu is placed on the world sports tourism map because of the Ironman 70.3 Cebu.

The Ironman races are one of the most prestigious and popular triathlon races in the world.

This year will be the seventh time that Cebu will host the half distance Ironman and the second time that the race is made a regional championship dubbed as the Regent Aguila Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championship.

The race, organized by Sunrise Events Inc. (SEI), will be held on August 5 still starting from the posh Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa.

“Who would have thought that there will be an Ironman in Cebu,” said Cebu Province administrator Atty. Mark Tolentino.

The Cebu Province has been partnering with Sunrise in holding the Ironman races here in Cebu.

Apart from benefiting sports tourism, the Ironman has also been economically viable for Cebu.

Before the Ironman races, August was a lean season for the resorts in Lapu-Lapu but now “almost all of the resorts there (Lapu-Lapu) are fully booked,” according to Paul Jake Castillo of the Rider Omega Tri Team.

‘Kislap ng Watawat’

Medals for the Ironman 70.3 Cebu has always been designed by world renowned furniture designer Kenneth Cobonpue. And, this year is no different.

The specially designed medals of the Regent Aguila Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific will complete the Ironman Medal Series conceptualized by Princess Galura for SEI’s 10th year anniversary.

After the Duyan ng Magiting (Cradle of the Brave) medal of the Alveo Ironman 70.3 Davao and the Alab ng Puso (Flaming Heart) medal of the Century Tuna Ironman Philippines, the Perlas ng Silanganan (Crown Jewel of Asia) medal of the Regent Aguila Ironman 70.3 Cebu will finally cap the Kislap ng Watawat (The Splendor of the Flag)- the IRONMAN medal series.

“I wanted something that could challenge me. I didn’t want a traditional anniversary ‘coz I might not be here on the 20th, we might not be all here by then. So, one day, I just woke up with the concept,” said Galura of how the medal series took shape.



Read more: http://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/187317/another-exciting-ironman-season-cebu#ixzz5N5Sh6ZHQ
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STAR-STUDDED CAST

Pro triathletes, celebrities highlight Regent Aguila Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific C’ships

Although it hasn’t topped the 2016 edition in terms of numbers, this year’s Regent Aguila Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championships will once again have its share of highlights with celebrities and professional triathletes once again competing in the prestigious triathlon event.

This is the seventh straight year that Cebu is hosting the Ironman. This year’s number of participants stand at 2,571. The most number of entries was in 2016 when Cebu hosted for the first time the Asia Pacific Championships. There were 2,978 participants that year.

Still, organizers made sure this year’s race will be filled with excitement as they hope to live up to its “most spectator friendly” tag given by the worldwide Ironman community through a poll.

Cebu is also considered by Ironman and the World Triathlon Corporation as the “Crown Jewel of Asia” for being the best organized and the most successful race in Asia.

Aside from the crowd-favorite celebrities, highlighting the event will be some of the best triathletes in the world headed by defending men’s champion Tim Reed of Australia and reigning women’s champion Amelia Watkinson of New Zealand.

Also returning is former women’s champion Caroline Steffen, who missed last year’s race because she was pregnant.

“This year is more exciting because we have the best pro list ever in the last 10 years,” said Princess Galura, general manager of the organizing Sunrise Events Inc, which is celebrating its tenth year anniversary.

Other pros to watch out for are Mauricio Mendez, Braden Currie, Josh Amberger, and Tim Van Berkel.

The Asian Elite title will also be a toss up between some of the best triathletes such as defending champion Banjo Norte, Paul Jumamil, August Benedicto, Jorry Ycong, and John Philip Dueñas.

The celebrity lineup for this year consists of Dingdong Dantes, David Chua, Gerald Anderson, Jake Cuenca, Isabelle Daza, apl.de.ap, Piolo Pascual, Enchong Dee, Ivan Carapiet, Erwan Heussaff, Solenn Heussaff, Bubbles Paraiso, Paolo Abrera, Dyan Castillejo, Gretchen Fullido, Kim Atienza, Ivan Mayrina, Drew Arellano, Raymart Santiago, Ryan Agoncillo, Pia Cayetano, Gilbert Remulla, Anthony and Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan and Cebuanos Kim Chiu, Paul Jake Castillo, and Matteo Guidicelli.

Read more: http://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/187494/star-studded-cast#ixzz5N2pTOMq4
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Mactan hotels full as athletes, tourists arrive for Ironman competition

IT’S going to be a busy weekend not just for the athletes joining the Regent Aguila Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championships but also for local tourism industry players.

In fact, as early as this week, all hotels and resorts in Mactan Island have been fully booked already.

Lapu-Lapu City Tourism Officer Hembler Mendoza said with hotels full in Mactan, some athletes and tourists had started going to nearby cities like Mandaue and Cebu.

“The vacant hotels now are those outside Lapu-Lapu City. Despite the changes in the route, there are still a lot of participants in this year’s Ironman,” he said.

At least 2,700 participants from 52 different countries, both local and foreign, are expected in this year’s Regent Aguila Ironman 70.3.

In previous years, Mendoza said the average number of participants were only between 2,200 to 2,300.

And for each participant, he said they would bring at least two or three other people including family members or friends to enjoy a short weekend vacation.

“Their average stay is four days and three nights. They check in on Friday and check out on Monday,” Mendoza said.

Some athletes and their entourage have also started arriving last week and earlier this week in order to cope with the jetlag as well as to inspect and examine the race route.

But bulk of the arrivals are expected today (Thursday).

The Ironman events are only on Saturday and Sunday August 4 and 5.

During their stay, the athletes’ families and friends are expected to enjoy Mactan’s beaches, local food as well as other nearby tourist attractions.

According to Mendoza, the Lapu-Lapu City government had also prepared a program and activities along the race route in order to entertain the spectators who would be witnessing the race.

The city government has also partnered with the Department of Tourism (DOT) in preparing welcome ceremonies for the athletes arriving on August 2 and 3.

http://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/187270/mactan-hotels-full-athletes-tourists-arrive-ironman-competition

Gian Berino for arena nux-F

He wears ARN-6015 BLK rimic nux-F

Reed back to defend Ironman 70.3 crown

THIRTY-EIGHT professional triathletes will turn Cebu into a virtual battleground on Sunday as they compete in the Regent Aguila Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championships that will start and finish at the Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa.

Leading the list of the pro triathletes is back-to-back defending champion Tim Reed of Australia.

Reed topped the Ironman 70.3 Philippines last year, where he bested Mauricio Mendez of Mexico.

Mendez will also be competing in the race this Sunday that will feature a half Ironman distance of 1.9-kilometer swim, 90km bike and 21km run within the cities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue.

All in all, around 3,000 triathletes from more than 50 countries will compete in the biggest triathlon race in Asia.

Five-peat women’s pro defending champion in the Ironman 70.3 Philippines and former Asia Pacific Championships female pro champion Caroline Steffen will make a comeback on Sunday after she skipped last year’s race due to her pregnancy.

It will be a new and challenging course for the pro triathletes as the race will introduce them to a new bike course with narrower roads and additional loops.

Read more: http://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/186960/reed-back-defend-ironman-70-3-crown#ixzz5MkuK1pup
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Jam Aguilar, Anj Dee and Robi Domingo for speedo FASTSKIN FS-PRO

TV Program Schedule

Eto ang nag-interrupt sa lahat ng mga umeereng cartoons, teleserye sa daytime, considering na sa gabi nagsasahimpapawid ang 2007 SEA Games.

By that time two channels it pre-empty regular scheduled programming (Dec. 7) to give way for the coverage:

8:30 a.m. - 2007 SEA Games Opening Ceremonies (replay)
11 am - Boy & Kris
12 nn - Pilipinas, Game Ka Na Ba?
1 pm - Wowowee
3:30 pm - Prinsesa ng Banyera
4:15 pm - 2007 SEA Games Coverage
6 pm - TV Patrol
7 pm - 2007 SEA Games Coverage
8 pm - Lastikman
8:45 pm - Pangarap na Bituin
9:30 pm - Ysabella
10:15 pm - PBB Celebrity Edition 2
10:45 pm - MMK
12:15 am - Bandila
12:45 am - Trip na Trip
1:15 am - Games Uplate Live
3 am - OFF-AIR

On Studio 23:

9:30 a.m. - 2007 SEA Games Opening Ceremonies (replay)
12 pm - Lunch Box Office
2 pm - 2007 SEA Games Coverage
10 pm - News Central (LIVE)
10:30 pm to 2 am - 2007 SEA Games Coverage
2 am - OFF-AIR

December 8:

ABS-CBN
6 am - Salamat Dok
7 am - Swak na Swak
7:30 am - 2007 SEA Games Day 1 (replay)
11 am - Star Magic Presents: Abt Ur Luv
12 nn - Pilipinas, Game Ka Na Ba?
1 pm - Wowowee
3:30 pm - Entertainment Live!
5 pm - 2007 SEA Games Day 2 (Live)
8 pm - That's My Doc!
9:30 pm - PBB Celebrity Edition 2
10:30 pm - XXX
11:30 pm - TV Patrol
12 mn - Sports Unlimited
1 am - Games Uplate Live

Studio 23
7 am - 2007 SEA Games Day 1 (replay)
12 nn - LBO: Lunch Box Office
2 pm to 12 mn - 2007 SEA Games Day 2 (Live)

December 9

• 6 am - The Healing Eucharist
• 7 am - Swak na Swak
• 7:30 am - Salamat Dok
• 8:30 am - 2007 SEA Games Day 2 (replay)
• 12 nn - A.S.A.P. (Live)
• 2 pm - Your Song
• 3 pm - Love Spell
• 4 pm - The Buzz
• 5:30 pm - 2007 SEA Games Day 3 (Live)
• 8 pm - Sharon
• 9 pm - PBB Celebrity Edition 2
• 10 pm - 

Biggest Ironman PH set in Cebu

Twenty-one of the world’s leading and rising male triathletes and 17 in the women’s side gear up for what promises to be a battle royale in the biggest gathering ever of endurance runners in Ironman 70.3 Philippines which unfolds Aug. 5 at the Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa in Lapu Lapu City.

Tim Reed, one of Australia’s best triathletes and winner of the event the last three years, will be hard-pressed in his drive for a fourth championship with a slew of equally talented rivals all primed up for the keenly-awaited put up by title sponsor Aguila Energy Drink and Regent Food Corp. and organized and produced by Sunrise Events Inc.

Mexican Mauricio Mendez, the former XTERRA champion and winner of the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Davao last March, 12-time Ironman New Zealand champion Cameron Brown and three-time world titlist Craig Alexander are but three of the early favorites to foil Reed’s record bid in the grueling 1.9km swim-90km bike-21.2km run event.

 “Everybody is excited for this particular Ironman race for its star-studded cast in the centerpiece pro division and a championship course ready to challenge even the best in the fold,” said Wilfred Uytengsu, founder of SEI, which incidentally is marking its decade-long staging of triathlon events in the country.

Sam Betten, another top Aussie triathlete who considers Ironman 70.3 Cebu as one of the best Ironman events in the world, is also in the mix along with Kevin Collington, Brad Williams, Matt Burton, Luke McKenzie, Braden Currie, Matthew Chrabot, Josh Amberger, Nathan Groch, Brent McMahon, Mike Phillips, Casey Munro, Michael Raelert, Jakub Langhammer, David Mainwaring and Tyler Butterfield—all raring to prove their worth in the blue-ribbon event backed by presenting sponsors Alaska Milk Corp., Department of Tourism and Tourism Promotions Board Phl.

But it won’t be an all-male show as an equally star-studded cast braces for a spirited duel for the women’s tiara, to be led by Czech Radka Kahlefeldt, who will be shooting for her third crown after ruling the Ironman 70.3 Subic last year and the first Ironman 70.3 Davao.

But like Reed, the former No. 1 in the European Triathlete Union faces a crack roster of rivals out to spoil her drive, including veteran campaigner Dimity Lee Duke, four-time Philippine champion Caroline Steffen and former Ironman Australia titlist Beth McKenzie.

Throw in Anna Eberhardt, Lauren Goss, Beth McKenzie, Bruna Mahn, Sabrina Stadelmann, Saleta Noquiera, Lisa Tyack, Lauren Brandon, Grace Thek, Mel Hauschildt, Simone Maier, Holly Khan, Manami Iijima, Maja Stage Nielsen and Angela Naeth and this upcoming Ironman 70.3 Cebu has all the trimmings of a classic edition.

The elite pro field is part of a record cast of 2,700 triathletes from over 51 countries vying in the event, which also boasts of the one biggest and most complete triathlon expos to date. All finishers will receive podium trophies and medals designed and hand made by world class Cebuano designer Kenneth Cobonpue.

Local celebrities will also spice up the event, backed by venue hosts Province of Cebu, City of Lapu Lapu and Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa and bike course partners City of Cebu, Mandaue and Talisay, official logistics and courier partner 2GO Express, official hydration partners Gatorade, official energy gel Gu, official swim cap TYR, official footwear and apparel Asics and official registration partner Active Network and official hotels BE Resorts Mactan, Crimson, Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino Mactan and Mont and Michel and Metropolitan Cebu Water District.

Other backers are David’s Salon, Intercare, Prudential Guarantee, The Mactan Newtown and SunLife Financial, Air Asia, AlcoPlus, Cetaphil, CrampFix, DeVant, Fern-C, Mactan Cebu, Mont St. Michel Purified Drinking Water, Omega Pain Killer, Prozza, Sanicare, Smart, Ssangyong and Timex with Hyper HD on Cignal, Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Philippine Star, Trilife, AsiaTri.com and Finisher Pix as media partners.

http://www.manilastandard.net/sports/active/271438/biggest-ironman-ph-set-in-cebu.html

Long Tall Howard Medina Reports: Enchong Dee and Kenzo Gutierrez in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand

Nowadays, Enchong Dee endorses Bench, Bench Body and JINS while Kenzo Gutierrez endorses Folded & Hung.

Both two of them are spending together in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand from December 4 to 15, 2007. Dee is the member of De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Tankers, while Gutierrez is a student of Ateneo de Manila Grade School.

Besides next to swimmer Dee and football player Gutierrez is Milo commercial models Kyle Arrieta, Eugene Herrera, Prince Carlos, Franco Hernandez, Lukas Magallano and Joaquin Lucas Reyes.

Former noontime variety show co-host and Olympic swimmer Christine Jacob-Sandejas and their group are setting to leave for Manila, according to radio and television stations.

But Jacob-Sandejas is using Canon EOS Rebel T6 DSLR Camera with 18-55mm and 75-300mm Lenses Kit and it would take high quality photos on Facebook and Flickr during the swimming competitions on December 7 to 11, it was surpassed by the 70th UAAP swimming competition from September 20 to 23 and last year's Asian Games in Doha, Qatar from December 1 to 7.

For Jacob-Sandejas, she added it wanted to see Olympian Miguel Molina along with DLSU Green Tankers Dee and Johansen Aguilar, UP Maroon Tankers Ryan Arabejo, Nikita Dacera and Ken Uy and UST Junior Tigershark Gian Berino.

She and the Milo boys are they flanked by Roel and Olive Tuano-Carlos, Bong and Mozzy Crisologo-Ravena, Mikee Reyes, Migs Bustos, Anton Roxas, Marielle Benitez, Dyan Castillejo, Boom Gonzales, Mico Halili, Gretchen Ho, Doc Ian Laurel, Gretchen Malalad, TJ Manotoc and Mikee Reyes we're they sleep until they arrived at the Suranaree University of Technology for the morning flag-raising ceremony of Team Philippines.

While at the ABS-CBN Broadcast Center Studios in Quezon City, Metro Manila, the Philippines when the anchors and hosts of this coverage are Paolo Abrera, Julius Babao, Jorge Carino, Karmina Constantino, Cheryl Cosim, Ron Cruz, Karen Davila, Ces Drilon, Alvin Elchico, Ted Failon, Gretchen Fullido, Zen Hernandez, Lynda Jumilla, Henry Omaga-Diaz, Korina Sanchez, Alex Santos, Bernadette Sembrano, Boyet Sison and Pinky Webb.

Ambassador Marciano Paynor, Jr., was at the Media Center, Philippine International Convention Center, Cultural Center of the Philippines complex in Pasay City, said to reporters that because the 24th Southeast Asian Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand coverage to be broadcast live on channels 2 and 7, with the pre-emption of mid-to-late morning and late-afternoon programming, and pushing the primetime drama series to 8:30 p.m., 9:15 p.m. and 10 p.m. on December 7 to 8 and 10 to 14 onwards.

The live and uninterrupted coverage of the 24th Southeast Asian Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand runs from December 6 to 15, 2007 on ABS-CBN-2, Studio 23, PTV-4, ABC-5, GMA-7, CLTV-36, SkyCable and Dream Satellite TV.

Blow-by-blow coverage of the sporting event on radio through Super Radyo DZBB, DZMM Radyo Patrol 630, DZRH, DZSR Sports Radio 918, DZIQ Radyo Inquirer 990, 92.3 xFM, 106 Dream FM and Radio GMA Stations Nationwide.

Mr. Dee is competing in the men's 100-meter butterfly finals on Sunday, December 9 at 6:29 p.m. (7:29 p.m. local time), due to activists clashed with riot police in Manila, Quezon City, Rodriguez, San Mateo, Marikina, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Makati, Pasig, Pateros, Taguig, Antipolo, Cainta, Taytay, Angono, Binangonan, Pasay, Paranaque, Las Pinas, Muntinlupa and San Pedro.

The riots take place near the entrance of Sofitel Philippine Plaza hotel to Star City when several park-goers and the policemen are they dispensed by people.

Another riot was started from the Quirino Grandstand, in Rizal Park, Manila to One ECom Center in SM Mall of Asia complex in Pasay City that close to more than 500,000 to 1 million people.