NEWS
Diaz to spearhead PH’s SEA Games’ campaign
April 18, 2022 8:06 p.m.
OLYMPIC gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz will be at the forefront of the 13-man Philippine weightlifting team eyeing at least four to five gold medals in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam next month.
The 31-year-old Diaz is going to defend her gold in the women’s 55-kg class, and is considered by Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella as the top bet of the Filipino weightlifters aiming to surpass the two gold medals they won during the 2019 edition of the biennial showcase here in the country.
Puentevella said in the virtual Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday the federation is looking at a minimum of two golds and maximum of four to five gold medals.
“Fearless forecast… ang tingin ko minimum of two gold medals, and then laban kami sa four or five na golds. Baka maka-tsamba. Kung ibigay ng Panginoon ang mas malaki, why not? So minimum of two golds and maximum of four or five,” the former mayor and congressman of Bacolod said.
Diaz is part of the seven-women team seeing action in the May 12 to 23 meet that’s also composed of Mary Flor Diaz (45 kg), Rosegie Ramos (49 kg), Margaret Colonia (59 kg), Elreen Ann Ando (64 kg), Vanessa Sarno (71 kg), and Kristel Macrohon (+71 kg).
Olympian Nestor Colonia (67 kg), meanwhile, spearheads the men’s team of six, along with Fernando Agad Jr. (55 kg), Rowel Garcia (61 kg), Lemon Denmark Tarro (73 kg), John Paul Padullo (89 kg), and John Dexter Tabique (+89 kg).
Puentevella mentioned Ando, Sarno, Macrohon, Ramos, and Colonia as among the possible gold medalist together with Diaz.
Like Diaz, Macrohon also won gold in the 2019 SEA Games, while Sarno bagged a gold in the Asian Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan last year.
“You never know. Si Ramos at Colonia matapang din na mga bata, and with all the training they have at Rizal Memorial, I feel baka suwertihin because I know they also aspire to follow the footsteps of Hidilyn,” said the weightlifting chief in the public sports program presented by San Miguel Corporation, MILO, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Unilever, Amelie Hotel Manila, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.
Among the men’s, Puentevella is not discounting the chances of Garcia, Tabique, and Colonia.
“Sa lalaki we can pull off surprises because these boys also aspire and dream. And they’re doing well in training,” said Puentevella, adding the country used to win gold medals in men’s weightlifting in the past through the late Jaime Sebastian.
Looming as the biggest threats in the country’s bid are host Vietnam, Indonesia, and comebacking Thailand, which skipped the SEA Games three years ago after volunteering not to take part in the aftermath of the doping controversy that rocked the team.
Vietnam and Indonesia topped the event three years ago with four gold medals each.
Diaz, according to Puentevella, requested to travel to Vietnam at least 10 days before the weightlifting competitions, scheduled May 19 to 22, in order to get acclimatize to the surroundings.
The country’s first ever Olympic gold medal winner will also be bringing along her own team, that includes sports psychologist Karen Trinidad and nutritionist Jeaneth Aro, whose expenses will be paid by Diaz herself.
At the same time, Puentevella disclosed the SEA Games also serves as a tryout for the national team members to the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China in September.
“Modesty aside, tinitingnan ko ito as their tryouts sa Asian Games. Manalo sila ng gold and silver, diretso na sa Asiad,” said the 75-year-old former lawmaker.
NEWS
SmarTrade Talks Financial Literacy with Future Business Leaders at National Teachers College
7:28 p.m. July 11, 2025
SmarTrade, a leader in empowering Filipinos with comprehensive financial education, trading insights, and market strategies, continues its university outreach initiatives to help young individuals make informed financial decisions and develop essential skills for their futures.
The company was at the National Teachers College (NTC) in Mendiola for the school’s “The Professional’s Playbook in Action” Leadership Series where Ed Saguibo, SmarTrade’s Head of Learning and Development, was invited as guest speaker for the special segment “LEFT BRAIN FOCUS: Financial Precision”.
Saguibo’s talk, attended by Business Administration students, focused on the timely and relevant topic of “Quantitative Decision Making and Identifying Poor Decisions in Financial Choices,” a critical area of knowledge for future professionals navigating today’s increasingly complex financial landscape. He emphasized how data-backed decisions can positively impact personal and business finances, providing technical insights combined with real-life scenarios and common decision-making pitfalls to offer practical tools that students can immediately apply.
“It’s not just about making smart decisions, it’s about making informed ones. When students learn how to analyze numbers and spot red flags in their financial behavior early on, they are better prepared to lead successful financial lives, whether as entrepreneurs, professionals, or investors,” said Saguibo.
This is SmarTrade’s third campus engagement for the year under its nationwide campaign P.A.R.T.N.E.R. Summit (Profitable Alliances: Reshaping Trading Networks for Endless Rewards), which aims to promote financial literacy and readiness among students and young professionals. The campaign is built around a vision of equipping Filipinos with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate and thrive in the trading and investment world. By incorporating school engagements, SmarTrade continues to lay the groundwork for a financially empowered generation.
“We’re proud to bring this advocacy to institutions like the National Teachers College,” said Joyce Mayo, President and CEO of SmarTrade. “Education is at the core of what we do, and through our P.A.R.T.N.E.R. campaign, we aim to go beyond trading to build a community of financially literate Filipinos. These students are the future, and it’s our role to help shape that future through opportunity and learning.”
To inquire on how your college, university, or student organization can be part of the P.A.R.T.N.E.R. Summit campaign, email events@smartrade.com.ph. To learn more about SmarTrade and its services, including free training sessions and personalized coaching, visit www.smartradeph.com or follow their official Facebook and Instagram pages.
NEWS
Political Pump makes waves at PH Blockchain Week
7:30 a.m. July 10, 2025
In a sea of short-lived hype cycles token launches, Political Pump is emerging as a cultural movement for the next generation of crypto enthusiasts. Showcased at Philippine Blockchain Week 2025, the platform brings a new, safer frontier for meme coin lovers, one where you can buy, hold, and sleep soundly.
Political Pump is not just another meme coin, it’s a decentralized collectible platform where political figures meet blockchain in a unique blend of satire, scarcity, and community governance. Each politician-based micro memecoin has a fixed supply and is launched without presales or insider allocations. True to the spirit of decentralization, 100% of liquidity is burned, ensuring fair, transparent, and tamper-proof tokenomics. It’s not just a token. It’s a conversation. A collectible. A piece of digital history.
(Photo from Philippine Blockchain Week: Jose Manuel Torres, Co-Founder of Political Pump)
“This isn’t just another meme coin. It’s a statement,” said Jose Manuel Torres, Co-Founder of Political Pump. “We launched without presales, private allocations, or team-controlled wallets. Every coin is market-driven, with all liquidity burned, ensuring there’s no room for manipulation. No secret deals, no backroom games—just pure, transparent crypto play. We don’t believe in governance tokens or centralized control. We believe the people should speak through the free market.”
From left to right: Chezka Gonzales, Vice President of Blockchain Council of the Philippines and Co Founder of Philippine Blockchain Week, Donnalyn Bartolome, multi-talented Filipina personality, Jose Manuel Torres, Co-Founder of Political Pump Political Pump piqued interest and stood out alongside other noteworthy innovations and meme coin activations at Philippine Blockchain Week 2025, a true celebration of culture, technology, and community-led finance. If you missed out, learn more by visiting www.politicalpump.com.
NEWS
Makati Business Club believes Customs chief Nepomuceno can reform, modernize agency
5:39 p.m. July 26, 2025
In a strong show of confidence from the country’s premier business group, Makati Business Club (MBC) Executive Director Rafael “Apa” Ongpin praised Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno during a recent high-profile interview, calling him a man of “great integrity” and a capable leader poised to reform and modernize the agency.
“We discussed him in Makati Business Club. Quite a few members are familiar with him — apparently, he came from the private sector. He has a good reputation,” Ongpin said, speaking on behalf of the business community’s early impressions of the newly appointed Customs chief.
Ongpin commended Nepomuceno’s intelligence and openness to innovation: “Apparently he’s very bright, he’s very up to date with technology — and he has great integrity. So, we have high hopes for this guy, Mr. Nepomuceno.”
Commissioner Nepomuceno, who previously held key roles in both government and the private sector, has been widely expected to bring a more results-oriented and transparent leadership style to the BOC. The endorsement from the MBC — an influential voice in Philippine economic policy and governance — adds momentum to ongoing reform efforts at Customs, long seen as a critical chokepoint in trade facilitation and anti-smuggling operations.
Observers note that such public praise from the business sector underscores the importance of trust and modernization in government institutions.
Commissioner Nepomuceno, meanwhile, has previously vowed to lead the BOC with transparency, digitalization, and accountability as top priorities.
SmarTrade Talks Financial Literacy with Future Business Leaders at National Teachers College
Political Pump makes waves at PH Blockchain Week
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