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Filipinas make history with 1st-ever win in Women’s  World Cup

WELLINGTON – Don’t count Filipinas out just yet.

In front of a stunned packed crowd 32,357 of mostly hometown fans at the Sky Stadium, the Filipinas pulled the rugged from the under the fancied  Ferns 1-0 Tuesday to achieve another historic-making victory while staying very much alive in Group A of the FIFA  Women’s World Cup.

And once again it was irrepressible striker Sarina Bolden who became the hosts’ tormentor, taking a nifty cross from Sarah Eggesvik in scoring a scorching header in the 24th minute that goalkeeper Victoria Esson could not contain, the ball fumbling out of her hand and flipping  into the  net.

Goalkeeper Chandler McDaniel also shared the spotlight, earning Woman-of-the-Match honors for her timely saves in another nerve-wracking thriller that saw the Filipinas achieve a score of firsts as  the breaks finally went their way.

Nowhere was this seen when Jacqui Hand’s potential equalizing header in the 68th minute, when McDaniel was caught out of position, was ruled offside by Mexican referee Katia Garcia after reviewing the play with the Virtual Assistant Referee – much to the Philippine camp’s relief.

Playing with grit and gumption from that point on, the Filipinas managed to hang on and preserve their first World Cup win on top of gaining three well-earned points that put them back in contention of advancing to the next round after a 0-2 loss to Switzerland in Dunedin last week.

After their rousing 1-0 win over Norway in Eden Park last week, the wards of Czech coach Jitka Kimklova slid in to a tie with the upstart Filipinas with similar 1-1 win-loss records each.

Switzerland held Norway to a scoreless draw at the Waikato Stadium in Hamilton  to wind up on top of the group with four points while leaving their rivals, who were earlier tipped to the top the bracket, mired in last place with one point.  

“This must be a special moment in (Philippine football history), the biggest win in any team sport,” stressed Australian coach Alen Stajcic of the enormity of the victory, although he later admitted that Lady Fortune also smiled on them.

“Of course we rode our luck because New Zealand had three or four unbelievable chances There was that VAR call, an inside the post goal (that McDaniel was able to save),” he recalled. “But the unity, work rate and heart of team was special. We had some luck but we earned that luck. “

“We really put our head down and we knew what was really coming at us. New Zealand would be coming hard from their momentum of their win against Switzerland but we put our head down and came in focused. We had a goal in mind and we achieved it,” McDaniel said of the rousing triumph.

She also chose to share her trophy with the rest of her team and the country, saying: “This is just what I have done, this is what the team has done and what the country  has done. It was a team win.

“It is amazing but hopefully this is not the last accolade we will win. It is a team win.”

As what she would do with her trophy, the plucky goalkeeper, still euphoric from the victory,  quipped: “Hopefully we will keep it next to the World Cup trophy when we get it.”

But she admitted that like the rest of her teammates, she had some anxious moments when Hand’s pointblank goal was being reviewed by the referee on the VAR.  

“We collective held our breath a minute or two. Such an incredible goal by them but we are grateful that it was called back and we had to move forward. We had to settle down and knew that would keep coming and we to make sure that it would not happen again,” McDaniel said with relief.

Philippine players share the celebration with their fans. FIFA photo

Asked where this victory ranked, Stajcic, a two-time World Cup coach with the Matildas, replied without batting an eyelash: “Beating the host nation in a World Cup, nothing beats that. It’s No. 1.”

As early as three hours before kick-off time, fans, including Fiiipinos sporting red-white-blue scarves and PH flaglets, started streaming in at the 34,000-capacity stadium.

Among them were actor Ryan Agoncillo and popular actress wife Judy Ann Santos, who flew all the way from Manila to support the Filipinas and watch them play.

Also among the crowd was Magnolia assistant coach Jason Webb, a former football player in his high school days, with daughters Tatiana and Blessing plus former Senator Freddie Webb and wife Elizabeth Webb in tow.

The Filipino community also came out here in full force with around 500 of them, led by community leader Matilde Figuracion and husband Clark , who, clad, in colorful “Ati-Atihan costumes,  led around 100 of them in a street dance from the waterfront to the arena just before kick-off.

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“Priceless” Nino Muhlach FAMAS trophy sold to Boss Toyo 

12:59 p.m. May 15, 2024

Entrepreneur and child actor Nino Muhlach gave Boss Toyo one of his prized awards from the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) in exchange for P500,000.

But Boss Toyo reiterated that Muhlach’s award is “priceless” and will become part of his future museum. 

In an episode of Pinoy Pawnstars last Monday, Boss Toyo haggled with Muhlach, who personally visited the content creator’s shop in Quezon City to personally give one of his five FAMAS awards and make it as part of his collection.

“Aalagaan mo ‘yan, irerestore mo yan [Take care of that, restore it],” Muhlach told Boss Toyo. 

Boss Toyo said that he wants to restore the award, one of Muhlach’s five FAMAS awards to its former glory and showcase it in his planned museum alongside the award that Jiro Manio sold to Boss Toyo a few months ago. 

Muhlach said that it was Toyo who personally inquired about the award and decided to sell to the content creator one of the five Best Child Performer awards that he received in his career. 

“I decided to give it to him, pero big deal, kailangan alagaan niya and irestore niya and ilagay niya sa museum niya, dahil hindi ko na naalagaan, ‘yun ang deal namin [I decided to give it to him, but big deal because he needs to take care of it seriously, restore it and put it in his museum because I never take care of it. That’s our deal],” Muhlach said.

Boss Toyo said that Nino Muhlach’s FAMAS award is one of his dream items as he wants to note how Muhlach changed Filipino entertainment through his movies with noted Filipino actors such as the King of Filipino movies and legends such as Fernando Poe Jr. and Dolphy. 

“Ikaw ang barometer, ‘pag sinabing ‘child actor’, tandaan natin, wala pa akong nakitang nakadaig sayo as a child actor [You are the barometer of a ‘child actor’ because we have to remember nobody does it better than you],” Toyo said. 

Apart from the award, Muhlach gave to Boss Toyo some of the theater lobby cards from the movies he starred in and produced. 

Aside from acting, Muhlach also dabbled in several businesses, including the El Nino Apartments and Muhlach Ensaymada, which was gifted to Boss Toyo.

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Check out this Next-Gen ID of Ateneo De Manila University, powered by Maya 

12:30 p.m. May 15, 2024

Have you caught sight of the latest innovation making waves at the Ateneo de Manila University? Maya, the #1 Digital Bank in the Philippines, has unveiled its cutting-edge ID card at the Ateneo de Manila University, redefining campus experiences and revolutionizing security and cashless transactions for students, faculty, and staff alike.

Featuring a sleek design and an embedded RFID chip, this Maya-powered ID card provides seamless access to vital university points, ensuring convenience and security not only on campus but also beyond. But here’s the kicker—it’s not just about identification. Maya’s collaboration with Ateneo goes beyond mere convenience—it’s about revolutionizing the entire campus experience by linking this innovative ID card to the Maya app. Together with Maya’s end-to-end cashless ecosystem, it simplifies identification, empowers students, faculty, and staff to make secure payments across the campus, and drives adoption of financial services.

Additionally, the Ateneo community can experience smooth transactions not just within campus establishments like Kitchen City and Macroasia, but also at nearby off-campus establishments like McDonald’s and Starbucks. And there’s more—this ID card offers exclusive offers and promotions through the Maya app, in addition to enabling users to purchase load, pay bills, open savings accounts, and invest in Funds and Stocks, among other features.

With Maya leading the charge, the groundbreaking partnerships established with UP-Diliman in 2019, UP-Cebu last year, and this year’s collaboration with Ateneo are reshaping the educational landscape through cutting-edge technology. Say hello to secure, efficient, and modern campus environments, welcoming a new era of university experiences across the Philippines.

To dive deeper into the Maya experience, head over to maya.ph and mayabank.ph. Don’t forget to follow Maya at @mayaiseverything on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, and @mayaofficialph on Twitter for the latest updates.

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foodpanda logistics pays tribute to Ka-panda moms

2:00 p.m. May 14, 2024

They say that being a mother is a tough job in itself, especially when you’re also a working mom. But these mom heroes are taking it a notch higher by taking on a job typically dominated by men – navigating busy streets and traffic to support their families as delivery partners. Their resilience and dedication make them truly exceptional, embodying the spirit of hard work and determination.

Last Mother’s Day, delivery service provider foodpanda logistics paid tribute to the mothers in their Ka-panda delivery fleet who broke barriers and paved the way for themselves and their families, one delivery at a time.

Mom & daughter tandem

The bond between a mother and daughter is undoubtedly one of the most powerful relationships there is, and this dynamic duo takes it to the streets as freelance delivery partner bikers. Nina Heroda is a newcomer Ka-panda, having joined just four months ago, and her mother Purita followed shortly after.

“Pinagsasabay ko ang pag-aasikaso sa mga anak ko at pagha-hanapbuhay. Kahit uuwing pagod, kakayod ulit kinabukasan. Go lang nang go,” Nina shared.

Purita was also drawn to becoming a Ka-panda because of the opportunities it offered. Besides the typical motorcycle riders, bikers also have the chance to deliver orders, while enjoying the flexibility in their hours. “Ang kagandahan sa pagiging delivery partner ay nakakaya kong i-manage yung oras ko sa pagiging ina at pagiging Ka-panda. Ulirang ina sa umaga, tapos kukuha naman ako ng delivery session pagdating ng hapon. ”

Riding towards the future

A single mom maneuvering through the streets delivering food and grocery orders on her e-scooter – that is Jay Ann Martinez.Her e-scooter gives her the freedom and independence to build a brighter future for her daughter, even as a single parent.

“Kapag minsan na masama pakiramdam ko, pwedeng hindi muna kumuha ng session. Pero kapag gumaling, balik agad. Bilang nanay, kailangan natin ma-provide yung mga kailangan ng mga anak natin kahit mahirap dahil wala tayong hindi kakayanin para sa pamilya.”

Soldiering on foot

The Ka-panda delivery fleet’s inclusivity even extends its opportunities to walkers who fulfill orders on foot. This presents a unique chance for individuals who either don’t own vehicles or lack the know-how to operate one, such as Reena Dolores. She decided to become a Ka-panda to join her husband.

“Sa kagustuhan ko tumulong sa asawa ko, pinapasok ko na rin ang pagiging delivery partner. Nagagampanan ko pa rin naman ang pagiging ina dahil minsan, maghahatid ako ng mga anak ko tapos magde-deliver.”

A tribute to Ka-panda SuperwoMoms

The Ka-panda moms were treated to gifts from foodpanda logistics brand partners Silverworks and Motivo, as well as cash giveaways. They also had the opportunity to bond with their family members to celebrate the special occassion.

“It’s amazing how these women delivery partners show that they are just as capable as men in this line of work. We pay tribute to the amazing mothers in our delivery fleet because they represent the resilience and dedication we admire,” said foodpanda logistics Rider Experience Lead Ron Sanders.

In addition to rewarding the moms, foodpanda logistics also provided special Quests for its delivery fleet, allowing them to earn extra income by completing a series of orders on Mother’s Day last May 12. Raffle entries were also available for a chance to win one of the brand-new motorcycles.

“On Mother’s Day, we honored the exceptional contributions of Ka-panda moms and extend a warm invitation to aspiring mothers to become part of our Ka-panda community,” Sanders emphasized.

Visit the foodpanda riders Facebook page to discover the compelling stories of these Ka-pandas, alongside other Ka-panda mothers.

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