NEWS
13-man Gilas PH team formed vs Lebanon
August 22, 2022 3:42 p.m.
A 13-man team majority composed of pro players make up the Gilas Pilipinas roster that will travel to Beirut, Lebanon and kick off its campaign in the fourth window of the FIBA World Cup qualifier.
Utah Jazz star Jordan Clarkson and promising big man Kai Sotto lead the lineup that also include reigning PBA MVP Scottie Thompson and Barangay Ginebra teammate Japeth Aguilar, as well as Gilas first timers Jamie Malonzo (NorthPort), Chris Newsome (Meralco), and former PBA no.1 overall pick Roosevelt Adams.
Others named to the team by Chot Reyes and his coaching staff made up of Tim Cone and Jong Uichico are returnees Calvin Oftana (NLEX), Japan B. League imports Ray Parks Jr., Dwight Ramos, brothers Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, and University of the Philippines stalwart Carl Tamayo.
The announcement was officially made by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Sonny Barrios in a special session of the online Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Monday.
Barrios described the team as athletic and has good height and heft.
“We observed and evaluated what is the best mix for the Lebanon trip. That’s our consideration there. They’re not necessarily the best players in the country, but they’re the best team to play against Lebanon based on the available players,” said Barrios, also the SBP spokesperson.
“This is the best combination base sa pagsusuri at pag-aaral ng ating coaching staff,” added the SBP official during the sports program presented by San Miguel Corporation (SMC), MILO, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Amelie Hotel Manila, Unilever, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
The fourth window starts the second round of the qualifier where the national team holds an even 2-2 (win-loss) record in Group E.
The Filipinos will be leaving for Beirut early Tuesday morning for their August 25 match against the host team bannered by FIBA Asia Cup MVP Wael Arakji.
The final 12-man Gilas team will be submitted by the SBP on the eve of the game.
The Cedars finished a close runner-up against Australia during the finals of the Asia Cup, 75-73, the same tournament where they pounded the Filipinos in the group stage, 95-80.
“Mabigat yung Lebanon, but we are confident that we will play well. Siguradong lalaban tayo,” said Barrios. “So pagdasal natin ang kanilang safety and well-being. We pray for victory, God willing.”
After Lebanon, the national team returns to the country early Saturday morning and prepares for its next game against Saudi Arabia on the 29th at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Barrios said Gilas may or may not tweak the lineup against Saudi Arabia in a game that will have Clarkson playing on local soil for the very first time.
NEWS
Your SM Foodie Festival experience, made sweeter with delicious deals!
4:34 p.m. September 13, 2024
It is all about food at SM Supermalls for the entire month of September! Indulge your taste buds in delicious flavors from your favorite SM mall food establishments—made even more scrumptious with these sweet deals from SM Malls Online and SM Deals!
The most AweSM deals!
Craving that delicious char of grilled ribs or chicken? Satisfy it at Gringo-Chicken Ribs and enjoy a 15% discount on all products!
Dive into a hearty Merienda Deal at Taste of Czaczacza! For just P300, indulge in a savory Lomi Solo paired with a refreshing Blue Pea Lemonade drink!
Warm up your day and share it with a friend! Classic Savory’s promo deal promises a Buy 1 Get 1 deal on its delicious Savory Classic Lomi Soup for only P305!
SM Food Court has something special for you lined up this September! Gather your friends and family for a feast, because every group meal purchase worth P599 or more gets you a FREE 1.5L Coke—the perfect pair to a perfect meal!
Whether it’s a birthday, anniversary, or just because, you deserve to celebrate in the sweetest way! Get 15% off all products when you buy your cakes and pastries at Honeybon!
Sometimes, you want a delicious meal meant just for you, and only you! Well, Chili’s has got just the promo for you—for only P380, choose a solo-size starter, soup or salad, a solo-size entree, and a drink and enjoy! Available all day, every day until November 30, 2024!
Snacks abound all September!
Dunkin’s Famous Bundle deal gets even better—instead of P420, treat yourself, your friends, and the whole family to a delicious selection of 6 Classic Donuts and 6 Premium Donuts for only P399!
Brighten your day with a delicious and healthy serving of Pinkberry frozen yogurt! Made with real milk, real yogurt, and the freshest ingredients, any small, medium or large size purchase will get you 10% off your order!
Delicious food made for sharing until the month ends!
Treat your family to a Max’s Restaurant meal—you might just get a little thank you for your patronage! For a minimum spend of P1,000, you and your loved ones can enjoy a FREE ala carte serving of their famous Lumpiang Shanghai!
Double the fries, double the fun! Enjoy your snack time by dropping by Tokyo Tokyo from 2 PM to 5 PM to get a second order of fries for free!
Snack time with the barkada has never been this good! Visit The Beanery from 10 AM to 3 PM and for a minimum spend of P1,000, you’ll get 1 order of Potato Mojos or 1 order of Korean Chicken Pops for FREE!
Delightful drinks to quench your thirst all month long!
Perk up your afternoons with a friend and Bo’s Coffee! From Monday to Thursday, 3 PM to 6 PM, buy a Large Hot or Iced Cafe Latte, to get a Medium Hot or Iced Americano for free!
Barkada bondings get better with a delicious thirst quencher in hand! For just P299, you can get 4 cups of the refreshing Wonder Trio at Just Squeezed—perfect for sharing with your friends!
Share a sweet (and healthy!) treat with a special someone! Buy the Avo-licious Bundle at Avocadoria and get 2 refreshing, creamy and delicious Avocado Shakes for only P300!
Variety is the spice of life, and BLK 5 Cafe’s got a lot of it! Pick up any Venti drink from their selection of coffees, frappes and milk teas and enjoy 10 pesos off your order!
Drink coffee the Korean way! Get 10% off on all Grand-sized Drinks at WouldULike, the innovative South Korean coffee chain that makes each drink fresh and sealed in cans to preserve its delicious taste and temperature!
Your perfect cup just got bigger! Buy any hot drink from B&R Cafe and enjoy a free upsize from 8oz to 12oz!
Perk up with a little bit of zest! Buy any Venti Flavor at Fruity Lemon and get a FREE Fruity Lemon Petite!
Additional deals you don’t want to miss!
Eating like a King doesn’t mean breaking the bank! Enjoy delicious rice meal deals with Burger King’s King Saver Rice Meals! Choose from Mushroom Gravy Chunky Chicken Fillet, Creamy Parm Chunky Chicken Fillet, or Smoky BBQ Chunky Chicken Fillet for only P85 each—and get a free drink to boot! This deal runs until September 13, 2024 at all SM branches of Burger King, so don’t miss out!
Cafe Siklista has you covered for payday! On September 15 and September 30, choose from 22oz Iced Coffee & White Chops, 12oz Hot Coffee & Cheesecake, and Pasta & Clubhouse combos for only P180 each!
Mom’s Ube & Triple Chocolate Champorado promo is a perfect after-school reward for your bulilit! Buy 2 of any size and get 1 Small Champorado for free! Prices start at P35, and promo runs from September 20 to September 30 only!
Enjoy a complete selection of delicious Japanese favorites and get an incredible deal in return! Use your Security Bank Card when you dine at Tsurumaru Udon X Tempura on Mondays to Fridays until October 31, 2024 for 20% off on a total bill of P1,000 or more!
Celebrate your birthday by dining in at Shaka Cafe and get a FREE slice of cake of your choice! Just present proof of your birthdate and spend a minimum of P500! September celebrants, now is your time! Everyone else, don’t fret—this offer is valid until December 31, 2024!
Enjoy these tasty treats, delightful drinks and mouth-watering meals all through September with SM Supermalls’ Foodie Festival 2024! Download the SM Malls Online app and swipe to avail of these AweSM deals! For more information and to stay updated, visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow SM Supermalls on Facebook.
NEWS
SM Supermalls celebrates Donald Duck’s 90th Anniversary
6:20 p.m. September 12, 2024
SM Supermalls was the epicenter of a quackin’ celebration as it hosted an unforgettable 90th anniversary party for Donald Duck. From August 1 to 13, 2024, mall-goers were treated to an array of themed installations, photo spots, and activities that paid tribute to one of Disney’s most beloved characters.
SM Mall of Asia launched the celebration in its Main Mall Atrium, with the space adorned in bold nautical colors, setting the perfect backdrop for the festivities. Multiple photo spots and a themed retail space delivered excitement of Donald’s 90th anniversary to Filipinos. Fans could browse a wide range of merchandise from Toy Kingdom Express featuring Donald Duck and other beloved Disney characters, from plush toys to stylish apparel.
Famous for his funny antics, Donald Duck debuted in 1934 in “The Wise Little Hen” cartoon and has since become one of Mickey Mouse’s best pals. For his 90th celebration, Donald Duck was also at the launch to greet and take photos with families.
A selection of plush toys from Toy Kingdom Express inspired by beloved Disney characters sit on display at SM Mall of Asia’s Main Mall Atrium.
Alongside the launch at SM Mall of Asia, Donald Duck took his birthday celebration on the road to two other SM malls in South Luzon. At SM City Santa Rosa and SM City Dasmarinas, Donald played with families and friends who came to greet him. Both malls also opened a retail space that featured collectibles, stuffed toys, and other merchandise to commemorate Donald Duck’s 90th anniversary.
For more information and to stay updated on the best family-fun activities, visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow SM Supermalls on social media.
NEWS
Office of Civil Defense strengthens ties with Japan
8:49 p.m. September 10, 2024
Office of Civil Defense Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said that there will be a continued effort to strengthen the ties with Japan on disaster risk reduction and management.
Nepomuceno said the initiative would be beneficial to the OCD following a courtesy call by officials from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) and Japan Ministry of Defense (MOD) last week at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
“We are pleased with the recent visit of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and Japan Ministry of Defense to OCD. Japan is one of our steadfast partners or strong allies in DRRM. We are grateful for their continued support to us. Their best practices in DRRM are invaluable and worthy of emulation,” Usec. Nepomuceno said.
During the visit, the OCD provided a briefing on various systems, mechanisms and efforts relative to the Philippine DRRM.
The discussion covered topics on Earthquake and Volcanic Eruption Monitoring and Early Warning Systems in the Philippines; Standard Operating Procedure for Earthquake and Volcanic Eruption Preparedness, Response, and Recovery; Evacuation Plans and Safe Zones for Earthquake and Volcanic Eruption in the Philippines; and the Ongoing Efforts to Improve Earthquake and Volcanic Eruption Preparedness in the Philippines.
Officers of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and Japan Ministry of Defense are currently in the Philippines for Japan-Philippines Humanitarian and Disaster Response Cooperation Project 2024 from September 1 to 7, 2024 at the Headquarters of Philippine Army, Fort Andres Bonifacio, Taguig City, and in Legazpi City, Albay.
Moreover, the OCD and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have been engaged in several capacity-building initiatives as part of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management-Capacity Enhancement Project Phase partnership program.