MICHAEL CHRISTIAN MARTINEZ, FIGURE SKATING TRAILBLAZER

2018 WINTER OLYMPICS

2014 WINTER OLYMPICS

When Michael Christian Martinez carried the Philippine flag at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, he was the first Southeast Asian figure skater to qualify for the games.

Quite a feat for someone who comes from a tropical country, but then again, Michael has been described by Illustradolife as a young man “with nerves of steel and the fortitude of pure titanium.  He is a trailblazer on ice.”

“My motto is ‘dream high and work hard’,” says Michael. “I believe that nothing is impossible for that as long as you exert your best effort into what you want to become, you will succeed.”

Michael was 8 and a half years old when he saw skaters doing jumps and spins at the SM Ice Skating Rink at SM Southmall in 2005.  Fascinated by it, he asked his Mom if he could try it. After his first session, “I fell in love with the sport, and so I took formal lessons.”

This was despite the fact that when he was younger he was “asthmatic, sickly, and always in the hospital”. But somehow, skating suited Michael, who got less asthma attacks when he was in the rink.

During his first few weeks on ice, his coach told him that he had a huge potential, and pushed him to compete at a competition in Singapore in November 2005.  Michael won gold medals there, and decided to continue competitive skating with SM supporting him in his pursuits.

Since that time, Michael has shown the Filipino’s fire on ice, winning numerous medals and awards in international competitions.  Michael was the first figure skater from Southeast Asia in both the 2012 Winter Youth Olympics in Innsbruck Austria, and the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi Russia.

Michael says that there are “tons of challenges that can come up in any competition”. Laces snapping, costume defects, sudden injuries, recurring injuries, and many other challenges have taught him to “focus, take everything one at a time, take a breather, and visual what you will be performing will be perfect.” If it’s not as perfect as you wanted it to be, “just take it as it is and keep moving forward to realize your goals and dreams.”

Just last February, Michael competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.  When he landed in Manila, he was given a warm homecoming at the SM Mall of Asia, a celebration he will “forever remember”.

“I am very thankful to the SM Management,” he says,” especially for the ones who have been there, believed in me, and helped me reach my dreams faster and further than anyone else could imagine.”

MICHAEL’S SM MOMENTS

“Being at SM brings an endless joy of heartwarming experiences and stories.

There are many things you can do in SM – shopping, ice skating, taking photos and videos, fitness days, movie times, and spending time with your loved ones.

I believe that once you and your whole family are at SM; you will be able to enjoy or find the moments you are looking for.”

TV Patrol Sabado: Arnel Pineda, aawit ng "Lupang Hinirang" sa laban ni P...

 It's confirmed.



Arnel Pineda, the Filipino front man of popular American rock band "Journey," will sing the Philippine national anthem in Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao’s much-awaited fight with Ghanaian Joshua "The Grand Master" Clottey on March 13 (March 14 in Manila) at the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas.



In an exclusive interview with abs-cbnNEWS.com, Pineda confirmed that he was invited by Pacquiao to sing "Lupang Hinirang" in his upcoming fight.



"Pupunta ako sa Dallas to sing sa laban ni Manny [Pacquiao].This Thursday [ang alis ko]. (I am going to Dallas this Thursday to sing in Pacquiao's fight.)," Pineda said.



"I'm really happy kasi matutuloy na. Nahihiya na ako kay Manny kasi pangatlong invitation na ito sa akin. Baka kasi isipin ay iniisnab ko. So finally, matutuloy na. (This is my third invitation from Manny who might think I'm snubbing him. I'm happy this is finally pushing through), " he said.



The crooner said he was not able to sing in Pacquiao's previous fights because of his hectic schedule as Journey's vocalist.



Pineda, who was introduced over the phone to Pacquiao by common friends, was also present during the boxer's birthday party in General Santos last December.



Pineda is currently part of ABS-CBN's weekly variety show "ASAP XV."



Aside from singing in the Pacquiao-Clottey bout, Pineda is also set to fly back to US this coming April to record the latest album of Journey.

Reed guns for third crown in Ironman 70.3

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Philippines — Denied of a third regional crown in 2017, fancied Aussie Tim Reed guns for that elusive No. 3 today as he battles a stellar cast in the Regent Aguila Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championships today at Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa.

“That (winning a third Aspac crown) would be nice,” said Reed, who previously won it in 2015 and 2016 but settled for runner-up honors to Dan Wilson last year.

Reed faces 18 high-powered rivals who include reigning Ironman Aspac king Braden Currie of New Zealand, three-time full distance IM winner Tim van Berkel, recent Davao Ironman 70.3  champ Mauricio Mendez of Mexico, 2017 IM Aspac boss Josh Amberger of Australia, and five-time world titlist Craig Alexander, also of Australia, and stressed the need to play it smart.

“It’s been a bit of a rocky preparation. I haven’t trained very much but you never say never. I’ve had few races before where I’ve had not much training so I’m hoping things fall into place. I’ll just have to be a lot smarter than other races because fitness isn’t quite there but the drive is as high as it always has been,” said Reed, the 2016 IM 70.3 world champion.

The men’s field is considered the strongest ever in a Philippine IM event with Fred Uytengsu of the organizing Sunrise Events Inc. describing it as “world championship-caliber.”

“You always have your work cut out in races of this caliber because you have to beat the best athletes,” said the legendary Alexander.

Meanwhile, Hauschildt seeks to continue her winning ways and extend her Aspac reign versus 14 tough challengers led by Davao IM 70.3 queen Radka Kahlefeldt of the Czech Republic and four-time IM 70.3 Phl conqueror Caroline Steffen of Switzerland.

“I’ve had a great season so far,” said in-form Hauschildt,  who captured the 70.3 European and North American championships early this year.

A two-time half-distance IM world champ , Hauschildt looks forward to strutting her stuff for the first time in Cebu.

“I’ve been wanting to race in Phl for so long now. Usually in this time of the year I’m racing in America but now is the perfect opportunity to finally come over here,” said the Aussie.

Phl regular Steffen looks to stop Hauschildt and pick up her fifth crown on Phl soil.

“I’m definitely giving it my all but there’s a lot of really good girls here so we’ll see what happens. But I love the course and I’ve always had good races in Cebu so I’ll just give my best and see where I end up,” Steffen said.

The competitors start in the beach front of Shangri-La, doing a point to point swim over 1.9K, then tackle a new course for the 90K bike, traversing two cities and tackling the head and cross winds of the area, before running a 21K two-loop course of generally flat terrain of mixed asphalt and concrete roads of Punta Engano lined up by cheering townsfolk.


Read more at https://www.philstar.com/sports/2018/08/05/1839841/reed-guns-third-crown-ironman-703#F7Tu4FWPhlBb3F1j.99

How Piolo Pascual and Enchong Dee make fitness part of their lifestyle

ACTORS Piolo Pascual and Enchong Dee will once again join forces for today’s Regent Aguila Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championships in Cebu.

The two stars together with Toniel Ty will be in one team.

They comprise one of the four teams under the Sun Life Financial Philippines Triathlon Team.

They were introduced during a press conference held last Friday at the Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa.

Dee will do the 1.9-kilometer swim while Pascual will bike the 90-kilometer route. Ty will end the race with a 21-kilometer run.

This is the fifth time Sun Life Financial Philippines Triathlon Team is participating in the Ironman race.

At the press conference, both celebrity endorsers were asked how they keep themselves fit.

Dee said swimming helps him a lot.

“Kasi isa sa mga motivations ko is to really move more than what I eat and I eat a lot, as in,” he said.

Dee started swimming at the age of six but he considered it as a recreational activity only.

“I fell in love with the sport a year after. Pag tinatanong ako ng mga tao ano ba ang secret in finding a sport, look for the one where you really fall in love with,” he said.

Before joining showbiz, Dee already made a name for himself in sports when he became a part of the Philippine swimming team.

He made the country proud when he competed in the Asian Games held in Doha, Qatar in 2006 and Southeast Asian Games at Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand in 2007.

“I feel better, I get healthier, and I inspire people with that sport,” he said.

At present, Dee is part of ABS-CBN’s “The Blood Sisters” headlined by Erich Gonzales, Ejay Falcon and AJ Muhlach.

When asked how did me manage his time for the Ironman race and his showbiz career, he said, “I made my swimming practices my priority and everything adjusted around. I went to Ultra, Greenhills just to train. I adjusted my schedule for work and rehearsals,” he said.

Part of one’s lifestyle

“I started taking care of myself when I joined show business,” Pascual said.

He said he considers getting fit as part of a lifestyle.

”It’s not just about wanting to be fit or wanting to be well. It should be part of your daily routine,” the 41-year-old actor said.

Pascual is one of the lead stars in ABS-CBN’s ”Since I Found You” together with Arci Muñoz, Empoy Marquez, and Alessandra de Rossi.

Despite his hectic schedule, Pascual makes time for his fitness routine.

”It is not really a big deal to wake up earlier for work out. If you make it part of your lifestyle, it’s easy even if you have work. It makes life more balanced I guess,” he added.

In a short speech, Pascual thanked his Cebuano fans who continue to support him in every Ironman race.

He also challenged his 20-year-old son Iñigo, who was present at the press conference as one of the celebrity endorsers.

”Hopefully, next year he could join us. Kaya? Kaya?” Pascual asked his son.

To which the young actor replied: ”Maybe next year, when I’m 21.”

Aside from the three actors, actress Bubbles Paraiso was also present during the press conference as one of the celebrity endorsers.

http://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/187743/piolo-pascual-enchong-dee-make-fitness-part-lifestyle

Stellar field expects battle royale

Lapu-lapu City—A stellar field braces for a battle royale for top honors in what has been billed as a world championship-caliber field in the Regent Aguila Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championship unfolding at Shangri-la’s Mactan Resort and Spa here.

Australian 2016 world champion Tim Reed, three-time world titlist Craig Alexander, 70.3 Davao ruler Mauricio Mendez, and former regional champs Tim Van Berkel, Josh Amberger and Braden Currie headline an elite 19-man roster disputing the men’s pro crown while Mel Hauschildt, the reigning AsPac titlist, headlines the 14 contenders in the women’s side along with Radka Kahlefeldt, winner of IM 70.3 races in Davao and Subic, Caroline Steffen, a four-time champ in the IM races in the country.

“These are the guys I have much respect for and that also brings a different dynamic to the race. You know with these guys, it’s always hard to make a race strategy so I’m gonna go back to the simple strategy which is looking at what I can do and trying to get in the finish line fastest,” said Reed.

The 39 world-class pros graced yesterday’s meet the pros presscon, where they were joined by VIPs led by Sunrise Events, Inc. founder Fred Uytengsu, Ironman Asia Pacific CEO Geoff Meyer, Regent exec Jennifer See, Lapu-Lapu Mayor Paz Radaza, Cebu provincial administration Mark Tolentino, Tourism Sec. Bernadette Romulo Puyat, and acclaimed designer Kenneth Cobunpue, who created an exquisite pearl-studded trophies and medals for the winners.

“I have in front of me, I was about to say an impressive cast but I’ll be understating that, so without a doubt, it’s the absolute best cast of pros we’ve ever had in the country and it’s actually close to a world championship (field),” said Uytengsu, whose SEI is organizing races for the last 10 years.

“It’s something that I’m thrilled really for,  to just to watch these guys go out and give it to each other, it’s going to be one hell of a race,” said Myer.

http://thestandard.com.ph/sports/active/272100/stellar-field-expects-battle-royale.html