NEWS
Norway ends PH campaign in Women’s World Cup with 6-0 rout
July 30, 2023 5 p.m.
AUCKLAND – Fighting for its survival, Norway vented its wrath against the Philippines Sunday night with a clinical 6-0 win that ended the Filipinas campaign in the FIFA Women’s World Cup on a downbeat note at the close of Group A action at Eden Park here.
Finally living up to their lofty pedigree, the Grasshoppers were dominant from start to finish, with striker Sophie Roman Haug doing most the damage with a hat trick in the sixth, 17th and 95th minutes as they fashioned the much-needed lopsided win.
Celebrated striker Caroline Graham Hansen had a blistering goal for the other marker in the 31st minute while Guro Reiten converted a penalty kick in the 53rd minute that boosted the former World Cup champions to second place on super goal difference and into the next round.
On a miserable night for the plucky charges of coach Alen Stajcic, defender Alicia Barker came off the bench and scored an own goal in the 48th minute during a goalmouth while substitute Sofia Harrison was flashed a red card 11th minutes later that left them with only 10 players on the pitch.
Also seeing their bid of advancing to the next round cut short were the hometown Ferns, who were held to a frustrating scoreless draw by Switzerland at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
Thanks to largely to their 1-0 win over the Philippines in the same venue last week, the Swiss sealed top spot in the group with five points while the Norwegians took second with four points on superior goal difference as they both made it to the knockout round.
New Zealand, which finished third, and the Philippines were left out in the cold.
At the post-match press conference, Stajcic conceded that they played to a much superior team.
“As we said, they are a very classy team. They were favorites to win this group and they showed some of their class today,” he noted. “They really picked us apart in some of the battles in the box early and this allowed them to be more creative as the game went on. “
But he praised his squad for fighting till the end despite being outclassed and outmanned, especially in the second half.
“We tried to fight to the end with 10 players and we kept them out from 25 to 30 minutes. I am so proud with the heart and spirit of the team. They fought till the end, to the death, and from that perspective it has been an amazing World Cup,” the coach stressed.
Haug, who plays for AS Roma in the Italian Serie A, Haug, opened the floodgates in scoring two consecutive goals in the first 17 minutes, booting the icebreaker with a left-footed flick inside the box in the sixth minute then did it again 11 minute later with a glancing header almost from the same spot.
A star at Barcelona, Hansen blasted a sizzling roller from the right side of the fringe of the penalty area in the 31st that gave Norway an imposing 3-0 lead.
The Norwegians padded that lead to 4-0 when Barker couldn’t clear the ball in the face of intense pressure that she accidentally drove the ball into the Philippine goal three minutes into the second half, after which Reiten added the fifth with a penalty kick off Anicka Castaneda’s tackle inside the box.
Fittingly, it was Haug who scored the last goal with a stunning strike five minutes into injury time.
Among the changes that the Stajcic made was giving youthful striker Isabella her first start after coming off the bench in the game against New Zealand, giving the squad another option on offense, but apparently went for naught.
The Filipinas seemed energized from the huge crowd of Filipinos, numbering in the thousands, who came out to watch them play and hopefully prayed that they would pull another milestone.
Just like in Wellington, they paraded around the arena early in the afternoon, wearing the red-and-white and blue national colors and brandishing flags and flaglets, some of them wearing the traditional “salakots” to identify themselves as coming from the Philippines.
And they just kept on cheering them on even when the outcome was beyond doubt,
Among those in the huge “hometown” gallery were Sen. PIa Cayetano, the head of the PH contingent, Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richard Bachmann, who arrived from Manila last Saturday night, and UAAP executive director Rebo Saguisag.
NEWS
Agoda: Cebu is tourist favorite to welcome ‘The Year of the Snake’
10:30 a.m. January 13, 2025
As the Lunar New Year approaches, digital travel platform Agoda unveils Cebu to be the most sought-after destination for international visitors celebrating the start of ‘The Year of the Snake’ in the Philippines. Agoda further reports that, based on accommodation searches made on the platform, Manila is the top-searched domestic destination, with Hong Kong being the most popular among Filipino travelers looking to spend the Lunar New Year holiday abroad.
International travelers are increasingly looking to the Philippines as a Lunar New Year destination, with accommodation searches growing 19% compared to the previous year. The archipelago draws the most visitors from South Korea, United States and mainland China. Cebu, with its world-renowned beaches, marine life, and cultural heritage continues to charm as the top destination for international travelers during the holiday period, with accommodation searches rising 15% from last year.
Domestic travel during the Lunar New Year holiday is also increasingly popular in the Philippines as witnessed by a 52% rise in accommodation searches on Agoda. The most popular destination for domestic travel is Manila, with a nearly 50% increase in searches compared to last year. The capital is a favorite among Filipinos looking to usher in the Lunar New Year in what is said to be one of the oldest Chinatowns in the world, featuring traditional dances, lantern-lined streets and festive fare.
For Filipinos looking to celebrate ‘The Year of the Snake’ abroad, Hong Kong slithers into the lead with a 120% growth in accommodation searches compared to the previous year, overtaking Tokyo. With its impressive skylines and melting pot of cultures, Hong Kong offers an exciting array of festivities including fireworks, parades and performances to usher in a prosperous new year. Overall, outbound accommodation searches increased by 67%, indicating Filipino travelers’ growing desire to spend the holiday period abroad.
Mike Hwang, Country Director, Philippines at Agoda said, “The Lunar New Year holiday is one of Asia’s most popular travel periods and it’s great to see growing interest in the Philippines from international and domestic travelers alike. Cities like Cebu and Manila showcase the wonderful diversity of experiences in the Philippines, from stunning island escapes to cultural festivities in the heart of the capital city. Whether celebrating the new year from the Philippines or traveling abroad, Agoda offers travelers great deals on flights, accommodations and activities to usher in the Year of the Snake.”
The Lunar New Year holiday marks new beginnings and the arrival of Spring, making it a significant travel period as people look to reunite with family and friends. ‘The Year of the Snake’ symbolizes rebirth and transformation and is said to present an auspicious opportunity for embracing self-discovery and exploring new horizons. Known for their association with good fortune, snakes inspire travelers to shed the old and welcome the new — whether by rediscovering familiar places or venturing abroad during this festive season.
Looking at the combined preferences for Asian travelers, Japanese cities in particular emerged as favorites for the Lunar New Year holiday, with Tokyo taking the crown followed by Bangkok (Thailand), Osaka (Japan), Fukuoka (Japan), and Seoul (South Korea).
As travelers prepare to shed the old and embrace the new, Agoda offers exceptional deals for their Lunar New Year holiday on over 4.5 million holiday properties, more than 130,000 flight routes, and over 300,000 activities and experiences that are available on the platform. The latest deals are available in the Agoda app or on agoda.com/deals.
NEWS
PAL Interclub’s return to Bacolod celebrates triumph of human spirit
4:22 p.m. January 10, 2025
When the Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub returns to Bacolod next month, the triumph of the human spirit will be at the back of most players’ minds as the last time the event was held there, action at Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club and Bacolod Golf and Country Club was one of the last events held before COVID-19 ground all of sports in the world to a halt within the next few days.
Less than a week after Manila Southwoods and Canlubang won the Men’s Regular and Seniors divisions titles, respectively, that lockdowns were ordered worldwide because of the pandemic that would drag for more than two years.
And from Feb. 7 to 21, the courses formerly known as Marapara and Binitin will again be the venues for the event’s 76th playing where Southwoods shoots for a fourth straight crown and Del Monte a repeat of the upset it posted on home turf last year in Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon.
“Bacolod has been the site of many memorable Interclub championships and we are sure of having the same keen competition this year,” PAL president Stanley K. Ng said. “As we return to the City of Smiles, let’s also celebrate the triumph of the human spirit through the sport we love as we wish every team the best out there next month.”
Known as the country’s unofficial team golf championship, the Interclub was forced to take a two-year leave because of the pandemic and resumed in 2023 in Cebu where Southwoods again ruled regular play and Luisita dislodged Canlubang.
Seniors action gets going first on Feb. 10, with the men starting their 72-hole championship eight days later.
Competition in the 55-and-over division is deemed to be a wide-open race this year with some of the talents that have beefed up Cangolf and Luisita either begging off or playing for other squads.
Canlubang and Luisita have combined to win a total of 29 titles, with the Sugar Barons holding an 11-5 edge since 2006 after snapping the Luisitans’ six-year reign that started in 2006.
In 24 years, only Del Monte was able to break that dual stranglehold of Senior play, and the Bukidnon-based bets will come to Bacolod with basically the same lineup that posted that upset last year.
NEWS
TCL to Inspire Greatness at CES 2025 with latest products, innovations
4:39 p.m. January 7, 2025
TCL Electronics, a leading consumer electronics brand and the world’s top two TV brands, today announced its attendance at Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 which takes place in January.
TCL has participated in CES for 31 years, during which the brand has consistently showcased its latest innovative display technologies and a full range of smart home products to global visitors.
As a highlight of this year’s showcase, TCL will reveal its innovative QD-Mini LED technologies and products that deliver an unparalleled visual experience.
The display innovations TCL is bringing to CES 2025 are sure to excite both professionals and home entertainment enthusiasts alike. They cover almost every form factor, from professional monitors to in-car displays, mobile phones, tablets, smart watches, smart projectors, and RayNeo AR glasses. TCL will also display its award-winning NXTPAPER technology and officially unveil its revolutionary NXTPAPER 4.0 at CES 2025.
Underscoring its innovations in the AI field, TCL is bringing its latest AI advancements in new product categories as well as partnerships with world-renowned technology brands.
Additionally, TCL will unveil the integration of its smart home ecosystem with intelligent solutions designed to enhance energy efficiency and enrich the user experience, which includes air conditioners, built-in refrigerators, washing machines, smart locks, and mobile routers.
Leading up to Super Bowl LIX, TCL’s partnerships with renowned global partners, including its role as the Official TV Partner of the National Football League (NFL) in the United States, will also be a major highlight of the exhibition.
Through these partnerships, TCL is developing cutting-edge technologies to enhance viewer experiences and engage fans across a range of interactive on-site activities and online campaigns that aim to build global connections and inspire greatness in everyday life.
For more details, please see below:
TCL CES 2025 Press Conference:
● Date & Time: 11:00 – 11:45 AM (PST), January 6, 2025
● Location: Mandalay Bay, South Convention Center, Ballroom E (Level 2)
TCL CES 2025 Booth:
● Date: January 7-10, 2025
● Location: Las Vegas Convention Center, Central Hall, Booth #17704
Agoda: Cebu is tourist favorite to welcome ‘The Year of the Snake’
PAL Interclub’s return to Bacolod celebrates triumph of human spirit
TCL to Inspire Greatness at CES 2025 with latest products, innovations
