Boracay - Paradise in Distress

The immaculate white sands that line the seashores of Boracay Island are like tiny stars lifted down from the sky and laid down perfectly on where they are right now. It is a true gift of nature that awes if not mystifies its observers. Considered as one of the most stunning beaches in the world, Boracay Island is the Philippines' number one summer get-away. It not only converge people of all races, it also provides calm to a stressed spirit.

Humble Beginnings

The name 'Boracay' has many origins, depending on whom you are to ask. But the most famous among all the legends is that the name 'Boracay' came from a local dialect 'Borac' which means 'cotton.' The name of the island is a fitting description to the beauty of its unrivaled white sands.

Unknown to most people, the blinding whiteness of Boracay Island's white sand beaches were once home to the "Ati's" - a tribe native to the Philippines having black skin and curly hair. They are considered as the ancestors of the Filipinos. The color of an "Ati" provides a perfect contrast to the glistening white sands of Boracay.

A Peace Disrupted

The native inhabitants of Boracay Island once lived there in peace and in accordance with nature. The accord was disrupted, however, when an enterprising wealthy couple started acquiring large chunks of the island, turning them into a private property. They cultivated the land lining them with coconuts and other fruit-bearing trees. Other people with the same interests further divided the island into themselves. This event made the natives a stranger to their own land.

Paradise Discovered

A few decades later, in 1970, the island was introduced into the world when it was made into a location of an international film. This caught the attention of backpackers from all over the world. Tourism slowly started to alter the island's landscape from a tranquil abode into a place teeming with people of different colors. The island became a favorite venue for vacationers and businessmen alike. Its beach front is not only dotted with trees but also with prominent structures such as hotels, restaurants, and cottages. Its waters are filled with almost all kinds of water sport facilities providing vacationers the thrill of their life. The fun never seems to stop in the while-lined island of Boracay.

Paradise Lost?

As time goes by, Boracay Island's reputation as a world-class tourist destination is cemented anywhere in the world. An endless flood of tourists can be seen enjoying the beauty of Boracay beaches round the clock. As people come to the island to enjoy, however, not all of them seem to care for it. A variety of garbage thrown by whoever is guilty is now slowly ruining the beauty of the once shining shores of Boracay Island. The island's wildlife is also slowly suffering from the disturbance brought about by the inquisitive activities of many tourists.

As quickly as it became famous, it is not far from the truth that the island will also quickly become one of the world's ugliest and polluted beaches in the world soon. Surely, a time will come for the island to become just part of history. A time when people can only visit the once stunning island in a book, a paradise lost.

Boracay - One of Philippine Wonders

Boracay Island is situated northwest of Panay Island. This dog-bone shaped island is only seven kilometers long and the narrowest part of the island is less than a kilometer wide. It only has a total land area of 10.32 kilometers.

From Panay Island, visitors take a jiffy ride at Caticlan Port and travel about twenty minutes, docking at Cagban Beach in Boracay Island. When the wind and the sea conditions are not favorable, visitors are docked at the Tambisan Beach, on the east side of the island.

Boracay is known worldwide for its famous White Beach and Bulabog Beach. The White Beach is on the westside of the island while the Bulabog Beach is on the east. The main tourism spot of the island is the White Beach. Here, there is a stretch of four kilometers of white powdery sand, so fine, it does not stick to your skin. The sea water is so clear and blue especially during summer time.

For commercial purposes, the whole beachfront of the White Beach is divided into three stations, connected together by a foot path. No vehicles are allowed on the beachfront. At Station one are the more classy and more expensive resorts, hotels, bars and restaurants. This is where famous local and international celebrities and affluent people stay. At Station Two, are affordable hotels and restaurants and most of the shopping stalls are found here. These is where souvenir items are sold. In this station is an access footpath going to the wet market of Boracay where you can buy fresh sea foods, such as first class fish, lobsters, crabs, shells and shrimps. There are stalls owners there who will offer to cook what you have bought for a very minimal charge. For those vacationing on a limited budget, at Station Three are lodging houses or cheap rooms for rent. There are also restaurants and bars.

One will never run out of activity at the White Beach, be it daytime or nighttime. You can go swimming or sun bathing the whole day. You can go island hopping, snorkeling, or scuba diving. You can also try the kiteboarding or the parasailing. The most idyllic adventure is sunset sailing. While you ride on the waves it will seem that you have left behind all the pressures the world can give and find a peaceful and tranquil paradise on the water. It is the most relaxing and the most peaceful activity in Boracay.

In the evening, there are lots of parties going on, dancing, overflowing of food and drinks and now and then, you will witness fire dancing. When you stroll along the beach, you will find young children making sand castles, complete with lights made locally out of bottle filled with kerosene and cloth as wick. You can have picture taking of this artistic work. For those who do not like to spend, you can just have sight-seeing of all the activities going around.

Although Bulabog Beach is not as well known as the White Beach, many people go there for kiteboarding and surfing. It is more peaceful on this beach because there are fewer visitors.

‘K-to-12’ education now a law

By TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer

2:00 am | Thursday, May 16th, 2013

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/409755/aquino-signs-education-reform-law#ixzz2UpaLbF5E
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MANILA, Philippines—President Aquino signed a law on Wednesday adding three extra years to the country’s 10-year basic education curriculum in a bid to make Filipino students at par with their peers in other countries.

“This lays the foundations for a better future for every Filipino child,” President Aquino said Wednesday after signing the law which makes enrollment in kindergarten compulsory before children can begin the traditional six years of primary school and adds two more years to high school.

The Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, or the K-to-12 Act, establishes a “universal kindergarten” and introduces Grades 11 and 12 to high school education in public and private schools.

Students will have to complete the extra education to qualify for university.

Until this law’s enactment, the Philippines was the only country in Asia and one of only three countries worldwide, together with Angola and Djibouti, with a 10-year preuniversity cycle.

“We now know that our traditional 10-year basic education cycle is deficient,” Aquino said at the signing ceremony. “Given that our young people are at a disadvantage in terms of basic education, how can we expect them to compete for employment and other higher pursuits?”

Aquino said Republic Act No. 10533 institutionalizes a system of education that “truly imbues our youth with the skills they need to pursue their dreams.”

“By signing this bill into law, we are not just adding two years of additional learning for our students; we are making certain that the coming generations are empowered to strengthen the very fabric of our society, as well as our economy,” he told lawmakers, Cabinet officials, diplomats and students.

The law, Aquino stressed, was crafted to plug the shortcomings of the 10-year basic education cycle in which students had less time to understand their lessons, and had to compete with better-prepared graduates from other countries.

“If our youth are forced to shoulder such an educational handicap from the beginning, how can they possibly compete for employment in the long run?” he said.

The enhanced basic education program covers at least one year of kindergarten, six years of elementary education and six years of secondary education, broken down into four years of junior high school and two years of senior high school.

The last two years of senior high school are the new Grades 11 and 12 that will be introduced in 2016. To refine the old curriculum, the law mandates the teaching of basic education in languages understood by the students.—With a report from AFP

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Sinampalukang Manok

Sinampalukang Manok is a sour soup dish composed of chicken , vegetables, and tamarind leaves. This chicken soup recipe is similar to Sinigang. The only difference is the use of tamarind leaves.

Some people say that Sinampalukang Manok is just another sinigang recipe. Sinampalukang Manok is best eaten with warm steamed rice.

Sinampalukang Manok Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 to 1 1/2 lb chicken, sliced into serving pieces
• 2 cups fresh spinach
• 3 medium tomatoes, quartered
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 1/2 cups tamarind leaves
• 1/2 lb long green beans (or string beans)
• 1 medium Chinese eggplant sliced
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• 1 tablespoon sinigang mix (optional)
• 1 chicken bouillon
• 3 tablespoons cooking oil
• 3 to 4 cups water

Cooking Procedure

1. Heat oil in a cooking pot.
2. Saute onion and tomatoes.
3. When the onions and tomatoes becomes soft, add the chicken and then cook until the color of the outer part turns light brown.
4. Pour-in the fish sauce, and then add chicken bouillon. Stir.
5. Pour-in water and let boil.
6. Add tamarind leaves and sinigang mix powder. Simmer until chicken becomes tender.
7. Add the eggplant and long green beans. Cook for 5 to 8 minutes.
8. Put-in the spinach and cover the cooking pot. Let the cover stay for 5 to 6 minutes for the residual heat to cook the spinach.
9. Transfer to a serving bowl. Serve.
10. Share and enjoy!

MGA LARONG FILIPINO (Filipino Games)

Agawang Sulok 
(Get a Corner)

Number of Players:  5, 7, or 9
Where to play:  outdoors or gymnasium

A rectangular playground is marked off on the ground or floor.  Diagram A is for five players, B for seven players,  and C for nine players.

        All the players but one (the tagger)  stay in the corner and on the bases.  The tagger stands in the middle of the ground.  The players in the corners will try to exchange places by dashing across from place to place.  The tagger must try to secure a corner or base by rushing to any when it is vacant. 
        In order to confuse the tagger,  the players on the bases may leave their bases and suddenly rush back to them, as if stealing a base.  Whenever the tagger secures a base, the odd player becomes the tagger for the next game. 
        This game is sometimes called "Vende, Vende Candela."

Araw-Lilim(Day and Night)

Number of players:  10 to 20 or more players
Outdoors

    This game is played wherever there is light and shade.  It can be played on a sunny day or a moonlit night. 
    One player is the tagger.  He tries to tag or touch any one of the players who is in the light.  A runner saves himself from being tagged by staying in the shade. The one tagged becomes the tagger in the next game. 
    If many are playing, the game is made  more interesting by having two or three taggers at the same time. 

Bulong Pari(Whisper to the Priest)

10 to 20 or more players
Outdoors or indoors

    The players are divided into two teams with an equal number of players. One player is chosen to be the priest and two others to be the   leaders of teams A and B.  The two teams stand in parallel lines facing each other.  The priest stands or sits in front of the teams at about five meters from the two teams.  The leaders of the teams stand at the head of the line.  

    The leader of team A goes to the priest and whispers one of the names of  the players of the team B.  Then he returns to his place and the priest calls out, "Lapit!" ("Approach!")  One of the players of team B approaches him.  If it happens to be the very one whom the leader of team A mentioned, the priest says, "Bung!"  He then falls out of line and stays somewhere near the priest as a prisoner. 
    If he is not the one who was mentioned, he is allowed to approach.   He whispers to the Priest the name of one of the players of team A. 
    The game thus continues, and the team which has no player left is the loser. 
    PENALTY:  Each of the players of the losing team carries one player of the winning team on his back to and fro as many times as agreed.
    This game is also known in the Visayan region of the Philippines as "Honghonganay."

Iring-Iring(Drop the Handkerchief)

10 to 20 or more players
Outdoors or indoors

    All players but one stand or sit in a circle.  Everybody in the circle must look toward the center and must not turn to look back.  The odd player walks around outside the circle formation with a handkerchief which he drops behind one of the circle players.  He drops it in such a way that the circle player is unaware of it being dropped.  The seated players may feel behind them to check whether or not the handkerchief was dropped, or they will watch the one walking around, noticing if he still has the handkerchief in his hand or not. 
    Once the  circle player behind whom the handkerchief has been dropped becomes aware of the handkerchief, he quickly picks it up and,  as a rapidly as possible,  chases the one who dropped it.  If the player who dropped the handkerchief is tagged before he reaches the vacant place left by the one chasing him,  he must take the latter's place in the circle of players. 
    A player who does not discover that the handkerchief has been dropped behind him after one trip around the circle  is chased by the dropper.  He is struck with the handkerchief until he reaches his place.  Then the same handkerchief-player drops the handkerchief in the next game. 

Kapitang Bakod(Fence Tag)

10 to 20 or more players
Outdoors

    One player is chosen as the tagger.  Other players run from place to place and save themselves from being tagged by holding on to a fence,  a post,  or any object made of wood or bamboo. 
    When the tagger touches or tags any one of the players who is not touching any bamboo or wood, the player  tagged will be the next tagger.   If 30 or more players are playing,  it is advisable to have two or three taggers at the same time. 

Lawin at Sisiw(Hawk and Chickens)

10 to 20 or more players
Outdoors, gymnasium

            One player is chosen as the hawk and another as the mother hen. The rest of the players are chickens.   The chickens are arranged one behind the other,  holding each other's waists.  The hen leads the chickens and goes around in search of food.      
          The hawk meets them and tries to buy a chick from the hen.  The hawk asks the hen, "Will you let me buy one of your chickens?"  The hen replies, "Yes, choose anyone you like."  

            The hawk sits down and chooses a fat one.  Finally,  after bargaining for the price, he pays the hen and takes the chicken with him.  He then takes the chicken off and asks her  to find grains of rice for his dinner.  When the hawk falls asleep, the chicken escapes and returns to the hen.  When the hawk discovers that the chicken had escaped,   he looks for her and chases her.  The hen and the other chickens prevent the hawk from catching the chicken. 
            If the hawk succeeds in catching the chicken,  he takes her again and punishes her by making her dig around for rice grains;  if he fails,  the game is started again,  and he tries to buy another chicken.   

Luksong-Tinik(Jump over Thorns)

4 to 8 players
Outdoors, gymnasium

    The players are divided into two equal teams.  Two players are chosen as mothers of the teams.  The rest of the players are children.   The mothers are supposed to be high jumpers,  for the object of the game is for players to able to jump the height of the hands placed one on top of the other without touching them. 
    The first to jump will be decided by the mothers, who toss a slipper or wooden shoe.  The mother who wins the toss will have the first jump,  and the other team players will be the taya (on base). 

    Two players on the base will sit facing each other with their right feet touching.  The jumpers jump over the feet.  Then one hand is placed above the feet with palms and fingers open,  then another,  and so on until all the fingers are piled one on top of  the other.  Before an additional hand is placed all the players must have jumped over the file.  Oftentimes,  the hand of another player is placed at the gap to prevent the jumpers from jumping over it.  Sometimes, five hands are used and a fourth player is called upon to fill the file of the hands. 
    When the jumpers jump over the hands without touching the hands with any part of their body, or dress, the game is repeated and they will be the jumpers again.   If the mother's  "children" (rest of the team)  touch the hands while jumping over them, its is considered a "fault" (an error),  and the mother will jump for them.  But if it is the mother who fails,  then the team will have to take the place of the team on base. 

Patintero
a.k.a. Tubigan or Harangang Taga(Three Nights)

6 to 8 or more players
Outdoors

    The players are divided into two teams of equal number.  The ground is marked off in a rectangle about five to six meters, divided into four equal parts.  Diagram A is for 6 players,  B for 8 or more players.

    Winning the toss entitles the players on that team to be runners.   The taggers stand on lines 1, 2, and 3.  Number 1 can go anywhere to tag the runners.  The objective of the runners is to get through all the lines (1, 2, 3) back and forth without being tagged.  Taggers 1 and 2 tag the runners as they cross their lines or as they get near them.  As soon as one of the runners crosses line 3, he returns to line 1 and calls out, "Tubig!"  This means a night (a point) is scored in favor of his team.  The team which scores three consecutive "nights" (or three points) is the winner, and will be the runners of the next game. 
    If a runner is tagged while crossing a line or while trying to cross, the teams exchange places. 
    PENALTIES:
    1.  The losers carry the winners on their backs,  to and fro.
    2.  The winners pat the hands of losers 10 to 20 or more times.

PALO SEBO(Greased Bamboo Climbing)

2 to 10 or more players
Outdoors

    This game is played by boys during a town fiesta or on special occasions.

    Long and straight bamboo poles are greased and polished  to make them smooth and slippery.  Before they are set upright, a small bag containing the prize is tied at the end of every pole.   It usually contains money or toys.

    The contestants try to climb the poles to secure the prizes.  Anyone who fails to reach the top is disqualified.  The winner is the one who succeeds in reaching and untying the prize.  

PIKO or BUAN-BUAN(Hopping)

2, 4 or 8 players
Outdoors, gymnasium

If two players are playing, diagram A is used;  if 4 or 8 players, diagram B is used.

Numbers 1, 6, 7, and 8 = buan (moon).  Numbers 2 and 5 = dibdib (chest).  Numbers 3 and 4 = pakpak (wings).  A flat stone, shell, or fruit peeling, is used for pamato (object to be thrown). 

The first player is determined as follows:  The players stand on the corners of the playground, and each one throws his or her stone.  Whoever succeeds in putting the pamato at the intersection of the diagonals has the first play.  The next nearest is second and so on.

Part I.  The players, before starting the game, choose their own moon.  The first hopper will begin in her moon.  She throws her pamato in her moon  and then hops inside and kicks the pamato out of the moon.  Then she throws it again in 2, then in 5,  and 6.  She hops in and kicks it out after each throw.  In hopping,   she hops on either left or right foot but lands on both feet when she reaches 3 and 4, and hops again on 5 and 6. 

Every player plays the game twice;   the first time he begins in his moon, and the second time in his opponent's moon.  When he is through, back and forth, then the second part is started. 

Care must be taken in throwing the pamato into their exact places, in hopping  and in kicking it out.  The pamato and the player's foot must not touch any of the lines.  Should the pamato or the player's foot touch the line, he stops,  and the other player will have his turn.  If the second player fails or makes a mistake, then player number one will resume the game. 

Part II.  The second part of the game is exactly the same as Part I, but instead of hopping, the player walks with his eyes looking towards the sky.  After throwing the pamato,   he steps in, without looking at the ground,  to take the pamato.  At every step,  he asks, "Have I stepped on the line?"  Should he step on the line,  the othe rplayer will have his turn.  The game goes on as in Part I. 

The player who finishes Parts I and II is the winner.

PENALTY:  The winner pats the loser's hand rather heavily from ten to thirty times according to the agreement.   This is called bantilan(patting).

Another kind of penalty is the following:  The winner blindfolds the loser and takes him to different places.   The loser takes a stick or hispamato with him.  He drops it at the command of the winner.  He is then moved about to many places in order to be confused before he is realeased to look for the stick or pamato.  This is called hanapan  (to look for something).  

PRESOHAN
a.k.a TUMBANG PRESO(Prisoner)

5-10 or more players
Outdoors or gymnasium

Each player is provided with a large throw-away object (could be slippers or a  shoe) called "pamato".  An empty tin or plastic container (the size of an 8 or 12 oz. tins) is placed in upright position   6 or 8 meters from the throwing line.  A player is chosen as the prisoner, guarding the empty tin or container.

The other players stand at the throwing line.  They take turns  throwing their "pamato" at the empty tin.   Everybody tries to knock the tin down.  As soon as the can is knocked down, the prisoner must put back  the tin in upright position before he can tag the any of the players attempting to recover their "pamato".  The prisoner can tag the players while recovering their "pamato" within the throwing line only. 

After each throw, a player must recover his "pamato".  Should he be tagged by the prisoner before he reaches the throwing line, he becomes the prisoner in the next game. 

PUSA AT ASO(Cat and Dog)

10 to 20 or more players
Indoors or outdoors

A large circle is marked on the ground or floor.  At the center of the circle are sticks, slippers, and other objects which represent the "bones".  One player is chosen as the aso ("dog") and stays inside the circle guarding the "bones".  The other players, who are the pusa ("cats"), stay outside the circle.   The goal of the "cats" is to take the "bone" from the "dog" without being tagged or touched by him.  The "dog" may tag the "cats" with his feet or his hands, but he must remain seated by the "bones."

The "cats" may tease him by stepping in and out of the circle.  While he is busy trying to tag some of the "cats", others attempt to steal the "bones".  If the "cats" succeed in stealing the "bones" from the "dog" without being tagged, the same player remains as the "dog" in the next game.  If he succeeds in tagging any one of the "cats", the one tagged becomes the "dog" of the next game.

TAGUAN(Hide and Seek)

2 to 20 or more players
Indoors or outdoors

One player is chosen as the it.  He remains at a base determined by all the players.  The other players then hide, and when securely hidden, they call out "It!".   The it goes to search for them.  Those who are hiding may repeat the call at their own discretion.

The game ends when all of the players are found.  The player who is first found will be the new it (the searcher) in the next round.

TAKIP-SILIM(Blind Man)

5 to 10 or more players
Playground, gymnasium

One player is blindfolded with a handkerchief or a piece of cloth.  He is to be the it.  He is made to turn three times before he is left alone.  When all are ready, they call out "It!" or any other way to give some hints to  the it to search for the rest of the players through their  voices.  When the it hears the call, he tries to catch any one of the players, who are not blindfolded and make noises or sometimes touch and tickle the it.  They may keep silent, if they wish, in order to make him believe that they are far from him.  

When he succeeds in catching or tagging any one of the players, he exchanges places with him.  The one caught will be the it in the next game. 

TAWANAN(Laughing Game)

20 to 50 or more players
Outdoors or indoors

I.  All the players are seated around in an irregular order. Before the game starts, all agree as to which side of a two-sided object (a coin for example) should allow them to laugh or stop laughing. The leader tosses up a coin, and, based on the agreement of the rest of the players, the players should either laugh or stop laughing when the object lands on the ground.  This is an interesting game since the players start laughing, it would be very hard for many to suppress their laughter immediately if the coin lands on the side that the players are supposed to stop laughing.
II.  The leader tosses up an object and makes it a requirement that all must laugh while the object is in the air and stop as soon as it falls on the floor.  By varying the height of the throw,  laughter may be long or short. 

VIOLA(Straddle Jump)

2 to 10 or more players
Outdoors, gymnasium
One of the players is chosen as captain of the team, and another as taya (base player).  The rest of the players are jumpers.   Two parallel lines about five meters apart are marked off on the ground.  
The base player stands one foot from the starting line on which a base is placed.  He bends his trunk forward-downward and supports his body by putting his elbows on his thighs.  
The captain straddle-jumps over the base player, and the rest of the players do the same, one by one.  Whatever jump the captain takes, the rest will imitate.  After each successful jump by all the players, the base player moves a pace farther from the base.  Should a player fail to do what the captain did, or should he touch the base player with his feet while he is jumping, or should he fail to touch the base before he jumps, he becomes the new base player in the next game.

Popular Sports in the Philippines

Arnis de Mano

Arnis de Mano, the Filipino fighting art that’s also known as Eskrima and Kali, was designated the National Sport of the Philippines by the Fourteenth Congress on June 30, 2007.

Since the Spanish conquest of the Philippine Islands, guerrilla fighters have fought the Spaniards, Americans, Japanese and even the national government. However, most practitioners of Arnis, or Eskrima, have been farmers training to protect their families and livestock with flails, machetes and other farm implements.

In the last century, the most important practice of Arnis has been in dueling, which is not uncommon here. Duels have often been fought with hardwood sticks, to reduce legal problems, yet some have been fought with blades. Today, men are more likely to carry knives to use them when tempers flare, so knife-fighting, and, to a lesser extent, machete fighting is a living ‘fighting art’ here.

Arnis, or Eskrima, has recently been practiced as a sport, although there isn’t yet much uniformity or standardization. The rules, and their corresponding effects on technique, haven’t yet been universally standardized, but several tournaments have been ‘fought’ with various sets of rules.

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Basketball

The unofficial national sport of the Philippines is basketball. Around 1900, the Y.M.C.A. introduced the newly-invented sport to the Philippines. Now it’s so popular among Filipinos that most villages have at least one basketball court.

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is Asia’s first -and the world’s second- professional basketball league, founded in 1975. It’s the most-watched basketball league and is the training ground for some Americans aspiring to the NBA. The Philippine Basketball League (PBL), is another, with many players who gain experience while hoping to be drafted into the PBA. 

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Boxing

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Boxing is popular on television in the Philippines. Gabriel ‘Flash’ Elorde was one of the greatest Filipino boxers, along with Emmanuel ‘Manny‘ Pacquiao and Mansueto Velasco, all world champions in their classes.

Amateur light flyweight Mansueto ‘Onyok’ Velasco won a silver medal in the 1996 Olympic games. His brother, Roel Velasco, won a bronze medal in the 1992 Olympics.

Manny Pacquiao is considered by many to be the world’s current best pound-for-pound pugilist. A.J. Liebling wrote, “The span between the top limit of one weight class and the next represents the margin that history has proved is almost impossible to overcome.” But Pacquiao has beaten this ‘conventional wisdom’ by winning eight titles in eight divisions.

Pacquiao is normally a 5-feet, 6½-inches, 138-pound light-welterweight.  He won his first major world title at 112 pounds then bulked up to 122 pounds to defeat Lehlo Ledwaba, who was considered the best fighter of that weight division in 2001.  Then Pacquiao beat the trio of Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales in the featherweight division.

In March 2008, Pacquiao beat Juan Manuel Marquez to take the WBC super-featherweight title and thus became the first Asian fighter who’s a champion in three weight divisions.  In June of that year, Pacquiao beat David Diaz for the WBClightweight champion’s belt and became the first Asian boxer to win world championships in four weight classes.

Months later, in a December 2008 welterweight division fight, Pacquiao pounded 10-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist Oscar De la Hoya so badly that he wouldn’t answer the bell for a ninth round of punishment.

In May 2009, Pacquiao won the junior welterweight belt from champion Ricky Hatton, who’d never lost a fight at 140 pounds.  Pacquiao knocked out Hatton in the second round after dropping him twice in the first.

In the November 2009 WBO welterweight fight, Pacquiao knocked Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto down in rounds three and four then won by TKO when the referee stopped the beating.

In March 2010, Pacquiao defeated Joshua Clottey and retained his WBO welterweighttitle.

In November 2010, Pacquiao defeated Mexican Antonio Margarito (who outweighed him and had a longer reach) to win the WBC super welterweight title, his eighth title in eight weight classes.  His record was then 53-3-2.

In June 2012, Manny Pacquiao was upset by Timothy Bradley on a split decision in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A. and lost his W.B.O. Welterweight title.

In December 2012, Pacquiao met Juan Manuel Márquez for a fourth time, in a non-title bout at welterweight. Pacquiao was knocked out with one second left in the sixth round.

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Billiards

Billiards is increasingly popular in the Philippines, and every city has plenty of pool halls frequented at many hours of the day and night.

Francisco Bustamante and Efren Reyes have been two of the world’s ten best billiard players. Robert “Superman” Gomez cinched second at the recent World Pool Championship.

Jose “Amang” Parica led the “Filipino Invasion” of the U.S. professional billiards scene. He was the 1997 World Player of the Year and the first player to shoot a perfect game of 1,000 points. He placed second in the 2005 U.S. Open.

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Chess

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In public parks of major cities one can find scores of avid chess players. Filipinos have gained international renown in chess; Eugene Torre became Asia’s first chess grand master and was the nation’s number one player for many years. He befriended Bobby Fischer, who eventually came to reside in the Philippines. You may have heard ofWesley So (now 15 years old), who became the youngest Grandmaster in the world.

Rogelio “Joey” Antonio, Junior is an International Grandmaster who was ranked second in the Philippines and 319 in the world in 2007. Recently Torre and Antonio have been overtaken by Grandmaster Mark Paragua.

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Bowling

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Olivia “Bong” Coo is the most be-medalled Filipino athlete of any sport, a 4-time World Champion bowler, the first Filipino athlete listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Rafael “Paeng” Nepomuceno won the World Cup four times from 1976 – 1996, won over 100 tournament titles and was the first man enshrined in the International Bowling Hall of Fame in Saint Louis, Missouri.

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Sipa

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Sipa (‘kick’) was traditionally the Philippines’ national sport. The game is related to the modern game Sepak Takraw.

Two types of sipa games have been played. One is sipa and the other is sipa lambatan, the national game.

Sipa is a child’s game of repeatedly kicking a “sapatilla” (a rivet washer) plumped with papel de hapon.

Sipa lambatan is a game of kicking a rattan ball across a net. It was invented by the late Teodoro “Ka Doroy” Valencia in the 1940s.

The spherical Sipa ball was made of woven rattan strips with symmetrical holes, 10 cm diameter and about as light and bouncy as a tennis ball.

Simplified game (one-on-one, two-on-two or four-on-four): a set of rules determines penalty points (such as the ball bouncing twice on the ground). The two teams play against each other until a certain number of penalty points is accrued by one of the teams.

The ball should only be touched with the legs from below the knee to the tips of the toes. The Sipa ball can touch the ground, depending on the determined method of play.

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Sepak Takraw

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Sepak is a Malay word for kick, and Takraw is a Thai word for the hand woven ball in the game. So the game is literally ‘kick ball.’ In one year in the Philippines, I have only seen Filipinos playing Sepak Takraw three times – ‘pickup games’ using a ball and a net that I’d bought, on the playground of Baguio Gold Elementary School. So althoughSepak Takraw is indigineous to Southeast Asia, it’s not nearly as popular as basketball, invented in U.S.A.

FLORES DE MAYO AND SANTA CRUZAN FESTIVAL IN THE PHILIPPINES

Queen of Filipino Festivals

Filipinos likes fiestas. They are celebrated all-year round. All over the country, especially in the summer months, May is the merriest and the most beautiful month of the year. It is the season of colorful festivals and Flores de Mayo or Santacruzan is one such festival. Stop and smell the roses. During the month of May, in the tropical islands of the Philippines, we don't have to stop -- the fragrance of flowers floats in the air. When the rains begin to pour after a long dry spell, flowers magically bloom overnight. And being predominantly Catholic, the Filipinos celebrate the beneficial rains by giving praise to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The townfolk gather the colorful flowers to decorate the Parish Church altars and aisles. They bundle the blooms in exotic arrangements for the many different festivities all together referred to as the "Flores De Mayo" (Flowers of May). Many towns celebrate Flores De Mayo with the community congregating in the afternoons to pray the rosary, offer flowers to the Virgin Mary, and share homemade delicacies and snacks. Children and adults wearing their Sunday best sing and dance to welcome the rains that will water the new crops.

Santacruzan is held annually in the warm month of May and is considered to be the "Queen of Filipino Festivals". Beautiful town belles are selected to participate in this colorful pageant parade. The stars are selected not for their looks alone, but for their embodiment of traditional feminine qualities. It is a week-long street pageant in almost every town; from the dirt road barrio to the metropolis honoring beautiful Philippine maidens and their handsome escorts under the hand-carried bamboo arc’s decorated by fragrant native flowers.

May is also the month dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of Christ. Filipinos turn each of the 31 days in May into a charming honor to the virginal virtues in Flores de Mayo, the flowers of May fiesta. Spiritual virtue searches to reach even the young. Every day in May, children, with cut flowers and baskets of petals in hand, march down the church center aisle. As the children march down the aisle they sprinkle the fragrant petals for Mama Mary. This custom is called alay sa Birhen. In Filipino, because it is an offering (alay) to the virgin (birhen), at the main altar, the youngsters sing hymns to Lady Immaculate, and leave their bouquet of flowers loose and dethroned.

Flore de Mayo History

Flores, from Spanish flores or "flowers," also known as Flores de Mayo (flowers of May), Flores de Maria (flowers of Mary) or alay (offering), may refer to the whole Flower Festival celebrated in the month of May in tribute to the Virgin Mary . The Santacruzan was a novena procession remembering St. Helena's mythical finding of the cross. St. Helena was the mother of Constantine the Great. According to legends, 300 years after the death of Christ, at the age of 75, she went to Calvary to conduct a search for the Cross. After some archeological diggings at the site of the Crucifixion, she unearthed three crosses. She tested each one by making a sick servant lie on all three. The cross where the servant recovered was identified as Christ's. St. Helena's feast day falls on August 8 but the anniversary of the finding of the Cross is on May 3rd, in the Philippines, this celebration took the form of the Mexican Santa Cruz de Mayo.

As another legend puts it, Constantine the Great, facing a battle against the Mighty Roman Emperor, Maxentius in the year 312 A.D. turned hopeless to the new Christian God for help. Constantine cast his eyes heavenwards and saw in the night sky a glowing sign of the cross with the words "In hoc signia vincit", meaning "By this sign thou shalt conquer". He adopted the Cross as his battle insignia with the words and forthwith went to defeat the Roman Army and entered Rome a victory, pledging his faith in Christianity.

In the Tagalog region, this custom and celebration started after the declaration of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854 and after the publication circa 1867 of Mariano Sevilla's translation of the devotional Flores de Maria or Mariquit na Bulaclac na sa Pagninilaynilay sa Buong Buan nang Mayo ay Inihahandog nang manga Devoto cay Maria Santisima (The Flowers of Mary or the Beautiful Flowers that in the Meditations During the Whole Month of May are Offered by Devotees to Mary the Holiest). A Santacruzan is a religious-historical beauty pageant held in many cities, towns and even small villages throughout the Philippines during the month of May. One of the most colorful May-time festivals in the Philippines which represent the finding of the Holy Cross by Queen Helena, mother of Constantine the Great. Many movie and television personalities participate in the events and are featured as major sagalas and escorts. The festivity celebrates the search of the Holy Cross by Queen Helena (Reina Elena) and her son, the newly converted emperor Constantine. After the Holy Cross was found in Jerusalem and brought back to Rome, there was an enjoyable celebration for thanksgiving.

Nine days of prayer (a novena) in respect of the Holy Cross lead the Flores de Mayo or Santacruzan. This festival was introduced by the Spaniards in the Philippines and has since become part of Filipino traditions recognized with youth, love and romance.
This colorful pageant parade is arranged in this order:

1. Methuselah - he is bearded, curved with age, riding a cart looking preoccupied with toasting some grains of sand in a pan over a fire. This is a reminder that all that glitters will end up as dust like what he is toasting.

2. Reyna Banderada - a young lady dressed in a long red gown carrying a yellow triangular flag. She represents the coming of Christianity.

3. Aetas - represent the state of the country before the coming of Christianity. These are the unconverted Filipino pagans.

4. Reyna Mora - represents the dominant religion before Christianity (feminine of Moro from the Moslem religion).
5. Reyna Fe - symbolizes the virtue of faith - the first of the theological virtues. She carries a cross.
6. Reyna Esperanza - symbolizes the virtue of hope - the second theological virtue. She carries an anchor.
7. Reyna Caridad - symbolizes the virtue of charity - the third theological virtue. She carries a red heart.
8. Reyna Abogada - the defender of the poor and the oppressed. She wears a black graduation cap (toga) and gown and she carries a big book.

9. Reyna Sentenciada - has her slim hands bound by a rope. She is the symbol of the innocents who have been convicted. She is escorted by two Roman soldiers.
10. Reyna Justicia - an image of the "mirror of justice". She carries a weighing scale and a sword.
11. Reyna Judith - representing Judith of Pethulia who saved her city from the Assyrians after she beheaded the cruel holoferns. She carries the head of the beheaded man on one hand and a sword on the other.
12. Reyna Sheba - who visited the famous King Solomon and was overwhelmed by his wisdom, power and riches, she carries a jewelry box.
13. Reyna Esther - the biblical Jewish who secured her countrymen from death and destruction through timely intervention with the King Xerxes. She carries a scepter.
14. Samaritana - the woman who Christ spoke to at the well. She carries a jug on her shoulder.
15. Veronica - the woman who wiped the face of Jesus. She carries a bandana printed with the three faces of Jesus.

16. Tres Marias
a. Mary of Magdala - she carries a bottle of perfume;
b. Mary, Mother of Christ - she carries a handkerchief;
c. Mary, mother of James - she carries a bottle of oil.

17. Marian - celebrating the many titles of the Virgin Mary.

A-v-e--M-a-r-i-a -- represented by eight (8) girls all Wearing long white dresses with wings to make them look like angels. Each one carries a letter to complete the word "AVE MARIA."

a . Divina pastora (Divine Shepherdess) - she carries a shepherdess' staff.
b . Reyna de las Estrellas (Queen of Stars) - she carries a wand with a star.
c . Rosa Mystica - she carries a bouquet of roses.
d . Reyna Paz (queen of peace) - she carries the symbol of peace.
e . Reyna de las Propetas - she carries an hour glass.
f . Reyna del Cielo (Queen of Heaven) - she carries a flower. She has two (2) angels.
g . Reyna de las Virgines - she carries a rosary and is surrounded by two (2) little angels.
h . Reyna de las Flores (Queen of Flowers) - she carries a bouquet of flowers.




18. Reyna Elena (Queen Helena) - She is the highlight of the procession, the legendary founder of the true Cross, represented by the small cross she carries. She is escorted by her son, Constantine, under a huge canopy of May flowers. Immediately behind her is a float carrying the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, followed by a brass band that lends the festive sounds to the procession.

The procession is followed by the steady beat of rondalla, playing and singing "Dios Te Salve". The devotees walking with the procession hold lighted candles in their hands and singing the prayer.

Dios Te Salve (Hail Mary) Dios te salve Maria
Llena eres de gracia
El senor es contigo
Bendita tu eres
Entre todas las mujeres
Y bendito es el fruto
Y bendito es el fruto
De tu vientre Jesus.
Santa Maria Madre de Dios
Ruega por nosotros
Pecadores ahora
Y en la hora
De nuestra muerte amen. Jesus.

As the pageant moves along the streets, devotees holding lit candles follow, and join in the rosary, novena, and songs of praise. Oftentimes, after the evening Mass, the town Mayor hosts a dinner party to cap the celebrations. After the procession there is a pabitin that serves as a culminating activity for all the children to enjoy. Pabitin is a square trellis where goodies (candies, fruits, etc.) are hung by strings. This trellis in turn is tied to a rope and is suspended on a strong branch or pole. The children gather under the trellis and they jump as high as they can to try to pick the goodies as the trellis gets lowered to them while someone pulls it up and down repeatedly until the goodies are gone. For the Santacruzan to be more electrifying, the chosen Reina Elena is kept a secret until the day of the parade to surprise the people. It is requested that male members attending the Santacruzan wear Barong Tagalog and the women wear any Filipino costumes, if available.

This Filipino tradition ("The Queen of May Festivities"), introduced by the Spanish conquerors, is more than 100 years old and lives on even in Europe and America. Filipino Communities and Associations all over the world rejoice the Santacruzan with the same pageantry and glamour as the townsfolk in their homeland. Filipino-Americans in New Orleans uphold the tradition courtesy of The Franzuela Family. In Europe, the Euro-Santacruzan is hosted by The Filipino Community in Belgium. In the month of May, Filipinos don't need to stop to smell the flowers. The smell and scent of sampaguitas (Philippines' National Flower), kalachuchis, roses and other blooms, floats in the air.

The Original Cebu Lechon

Lechon is the Filipino version of the roasted pork and is a highly popular main dish during events and festivities. Especially sought for is the craving for the lechon's crispy skin and soft juicy flesh. But among many varieties, the Cebu lechon is tagged as the Philippines finest and probably the whole of Asia. It is so widely popular that even domestic airlines have accepted it as normal freight straight from the oven to various parts of the country. What makes the Cebu lechon distinct is the arousing flavor that the Cebuanos have carefully tendered for so many generations. Historically, the word lechon is literally leche, a Spanish word for milk. So called because young pigs that are not yet mature enough are cooked over low coal fire during colonial times. Thus, the colloquial for suckling pig among other popular terms. The first known recorded fact of such method was practiced by the tribes of Papua New Guinea, who hunted wild boars for offering and cooked them over deep pits of burning hot stones. Eventually, Spanish adventurists in the Pacific began to import the method back to Europe and its Spanish colonies like Puerto Rico, Cuba, Brazil, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. But the Filipinos actually inherited the method from its Chinese trading partners and eventually perfected the technique after World War 2, soaring into popularity by the 1980’s, a time of great political upheaval and celebration after the fall of the Marcos regime. It was during this decade that the Cebu lechon started to flourish and spread to all over parts of the country. It even gave way to festivities celebrating lechon as a tradition of rich cultural values like the Parade of Roasted Pigs in the Balayan Festival of Batangas, Philippines. But the original Cebu lechon recipe still remain the most popular to this day, still sought by Filipinos and foreigners alike. And here’s that original Cebu lechon recipe that everyone of us has been so eager to learn:

• 1 whole native pig (live weight 18 – 20 kilos)
• salt and black pepper to taste
• soy sauce

For the glaze:

• 1 liter of Sprite

For the stuffing:

• 10 bundles lemon grass (tanglad)
• 1/4 cup star anise
• 6 pieces of laurel or bay leaves (cut into small parts)
• 5 cups of crushed garlic
• 2 kilos green onion leave
• 8 pieces of halved saba bananas. (half-cooked thru boiling)

Instructions:

1. First, shave hair follicles of the pig and remove the innards. Rinse the pig and make sure there’s no more lumps of blood inside the stomach.
2. Then rub the insides with salt and pepper including the body.
3. Rub a little soy sauce on the inside belly of the pig.
4. Stuff the belly with saba bananas, anise, green onion leaves, crushed garlic and laurel leaves.
5. Next, stack the lemon grass the center stomach, and stitched the belly, making sure that no ingredients slip out.
6. Skewer the pig with a mid-size bamboo and split roast over hot charcoal. Do not put the charcoal directly underneath the belly of the pig but over both sides, slowly churning the pig roast.
7. While slowly roasting the pig, glaze it from time to time with sprite using a sponge. This will make the skin extra crispy.
8. Roast for a couple of hours until the meat is tender. Do not overcooked.

The spices and the lemongrass makes the flavorful Cebu lechon aromatic aside from its rich succulent taste.