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.

Long Tall Howard Medina Reports: President Arroyo at the Inquirer Lifestyle Fitness Fashion show

Then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, along with their predecessors Joseph Estrada, Fidel Ramos and Corazon Aquino are attending the Inquirer Lifestyle Series "Fitness Fashion" with Samsung show at the Rigodon Ballroom of The Peninsula Manila in Makati City on July 31, 2008, three days after she delivered her State of the Nation Address at the Batasang Pambansa Complex.

Arroyo first became president when she was swept to power in January 2001 to replace then former President Joseph Estrada.

On February 4, 2006, a stampede at the first anniversary of Wowowee, ABS-CBN's successful noontime show, claimed 74 lives. The dead were all fans of the show. They were mainly poor. They had come to win millions in prizes promised for the celebration at the Ultra in Pasig City.

Estrada was convicted of plunder on September 12, 2007.

On October 19, 2007, an explosion in Glorietta 2 left eleven people dead and injured more than a hundred. Initially, authorities said that it was caused by a liquefied petroleum gas explosion at a restaurant, but later began investigating the possibility that the explosion may have been a C-4 bomb.

Six weeks after Estrada was found guilty and sentenced to reclusion perpetua, Macapagal-Arroyo granted him presidential pardon on October 26, 2007.

On March 24, 2008, television presenter and actress Kris Aquino, disclosed that former President Corazon Aquino was diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

On June 21, 2008, the 23,824-ton ferry sailed from Manila at 8 a.m. on a 22-hour trip to Cebu City, carrying 851 passengers, including 121 crewmen, 31 infants and 20 children, when it ran into an approaching typhoon and keeled over.

Only 32 survived the sinking, one of the Philippines’ worst sea tragedies. The remains of 300 were later recovered, but another 400 remained missing.

Now, it's the best time for the Filipinos are now here comes “Fitness.Fashion,” a catwalk team-up between some of the country’s top designers and best-selling activewear brands, at the Rigodon Ballroom of the Peninsula Manila in Makati City.

This year’s event theme is “The Philippines in the New Millennium”.

The 3rd Millennium is an important milestone for mankind. It brings opportunities for quantum leaps in total human development. Our political, legal, business, entertainment, fashion, lifestyle, religious and sports icons are challenged to give a unique visual representation of what they see in the Philippines in the New Millennium. 

Thousands bid farewell to figure skater Denis Ten

People in Kazakhstan have bid farewell to Olympic figure skating star Denis Ten, who was stabbed to death in the country on Thursday.

The Kazakh skater was the bronze medalist at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games. He was killed by 2 men in Almaty, the largest city in the Central Asian country.

On Saturday, several thousand people attended a memorial ceremony held in the city to mourn his death.

People shedding tears offered flowers at an altar where a photo of Ten was displayed.

Serik Sapiyev, an Olympic boxing champion, delivered a eulogy.

He offered condolences on behalf of all the Kazakh athletes, Olympic athletes, and athletes around the world who knew Ten.

When the casket was carried out, people applauded loudly to pay tribute to the national hero.

Bangsamoro Organic Law hurdles bicam

A bicameral conference on Wednesday approved a bill that grants wider self-rule to the Muslim minority in the south, paving the way for President Rodrigo Duterte to sign it into law.

The proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, renamed Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, is one of the requirements under a 2014 peace agreement between Manila and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the country's largest Muslim rebel group.

Duterte, the first president from Mindanao, had certified the measure as urgent.

Senators and congressmen reconciled their versions of the measure in bicameral meetings.

Malacanang said the President hopes to sign the proposed BBL into law before his third State of the Nation Address on July 23.

House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas and Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri jointly presided over the bicameral conference.

Duterte's predecessor, former President Benigno Aquino, forged the peace agreement with the MILF but failed to get Congress to pass the BBL before he stepped down in 2016.

Congress halted debates on the BBL due to public outrage over the deaths of 44 police commandos in a botched anti-terrorism raid in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in January 2015.

The operation, which targeted a Malaysian bomb-maker wanted by the US, was overseen by then-suspended Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima, Aquino's shooting buddy.

Some provisions in the BBL's earlier versions also faced questions on constitutionality. 

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Will Ironman 70.3 return next year?

CEBU is supposed to host the Ironman 70.3 until next year.

But Sunrise Events, Inc. (SEI) general manager Princess Galura said they will have to wait for the reactions of the participants to the new 90-kilometer bike phase of the Regent Aguila Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championship happening on August 5 before deciding if they will return for another year.

“We have to see how the people will accept the changed course because right now, they did not have any violent reaction, they welcomed the change given that that they know the hardships that we went through to get it but let’s see how they will feel after the race, then let’s see if we will get a second course because we don’t know if we will get SRP back,” said Galura.

This, despite the Cebu Ironman 70.3 earning the most spectator-friendly tag by members of the Ironman community all over the world, besting events like the Ironman European Championship, Frankfurt and Ironman Australia and Ironman Mont-Tremblant, which has been described as a “postcard” race.

Since the first staging in 2012, the international race has been using the Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR) that traverses the South Road Properties (SRP) as a major part of the bike phase.

But Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña denied SEI the use of the CSCR this year due to traffic congestion concerns brought about by the construction of the P638 million underpass along N. Bacalso Avenue.

The race will now have a new bike route within the cities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue.

The bike phase is the only change as the participants will still start with the 1.9-kilometer swim phase at the waters fronting the Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa and after the bike phase will cap their race with the 21-kilometer run in barangay Punta Engaño in Lapu-Lapu City.

Mayor Osmeña, however, has stated that he will resume supporting the Ironman races next year once the tunnel is done.

Czech brings act to Cebu

FROM Subic to Davao, Czech Radka Kahlefeldt tries to bring her winning act to what has long been considered as home of Ironman 70.3 Philippines in Cebu, shooting for a third crown in the Ironman 70.3 Philippines Asia-Pacific on August 5 at the Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa in Lapu Lapu City.

Kahlefeldt, a former No. 1 in the European Triathlete Union, dominated the Ironman 70.3 Subic last year, besting four-time Philippine champion Caroline Steffen then came out strong from the birth of her first child to rule the first Ironman 70.3 in Davao City last March.

Against a souped-up field in Cebu, the 33-year-old ace will surely be banking on her strong points—swimming and biking—where she expects to build enough cushion going to the concluding run part of the grueling 1.9k-m swim/90km bike/21.2-km run event.

But she admits gunning for a three-peat will take a lot of hard work and determination plus a big fighting heart needed in a down-to-the-wire battle for supremacy in the blue-ribbon event put up by title sponsor Aguila Energy Drink and Regent Food Corp. and organized and produced by Sunrise Events Inc.

For one, Kahlefeldt will be going up against the likes of Steffen and former Ironman Australia titlist Beth McKenzie, both veteran campaigners who have also primed themselves up for the upcoming event backed by presenting sponsors Alaska Milk Corp., the Department of Tourism and Tourism Promotions Board Philippines.

An equally fierce battle looms in the men’s side of the event held in conjunction with SEI’s decade-long staging of triathlon events in the country with Tim Reed eyeing a record fourth straight championship against former three-time world titlist Craig Alexander, former Xterra world champion Mauricio Mendez, former Ironman As-Pac winners Tim Van Berkel, Josh Amberger and Braden Currie along with former Ironman South American winner Brent McMahon.

Organizers, meanwhile, said record field of 2,700 from over 51 countries will compete 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 get some slice of action in the event, supported 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.

ABS-CBN to shut down mobile services

ABS-CBN Convergence, the news network’s mobile arm, had a 5-year network sharing agreement with Globe back in 2013. This partnership was made so that ABS-CBNmobile can provide content and telecommunications services to mobile devices. Now that it’s 2018, the agreement is about to expire.

According to ABS-CBN Convergence, their mobile venture is no longer financially sustainable and has decided to shut down their services sometime this year. User’s of ABS-CBNmobile prepaid, postpaid, and Sky Mobi subscribers can still text, call and use data services until such time that the National Telecommunications Commission finalizes the network’s shut down date.

Globe and ABS-CBN Convergence is not yet done though and are still exploring other ways to maintain their partnership. As such, both companies are still working on finding new ways and synergies for their business models to complement each other. This includes bundling ABS-CBN TVplus boxes with Globe at Home prepaid WiFi routers and offering ABS-CBN TVplus’ KBO (Kapamilya Box Office) and iWant TV over-the-top services to all Globe subscribers.