NEWS
Obiena leads PH’s most productive day in SEA Games
May 14, 2022 7:23 p.m.
HANOI – Olympian Ernest John Obiena easily retained his pole vault title and the Philippines, in its most productive day yet, also struck gold in triathlon, jiu-jitsu, fencing, and gymnastics Saturday to boost its bid for a top-three finish even as host Vietnam moved out of reach in the 31st edition of the Southeast Asian Games here.
Kim Mangrobang, at 30 still very much competitive, broke away from the pack in the bike leg of the 1.5K swim, 40K bike, and 10K run event and won her third straight SEA Games crown pulling away while Fil-Spanish Fernando Tan Caseres, 26, proved to be a very able successor to compatriot John Leerams “Rambo” Chicano, topping the men’s race in 1:56.57.
The twin victories, which duplicated the two-gold sweep by triathlon in the 2019 Philippine Games, started the ball rolling for the Filipinos, who also got gold medals from jiu-jitsu fighters Meggie Ochoa in the women’s minus 48kg class and Annie Ramirez in the women’s minus 62kg division and fencer Samantha Catantan in the women’s foil event.
As dusk set in, Fil-Am Aleah Finnegan, a former US national team member, led the national team to the gold medal in women’s artistic gymnastics at the Quan Ngura Sports Palace with a score of 184.500. Vietnam settled for the silver with 183.800 while Singapore was third with 182.500 points.
Finnegan also won the all-around silver medal, scoring 48.250 points in four apparatus – balance beam, floor exercise, vault, and uneven bars – with the gold going to Indon Rifda Irfanaluthfi who scored 49.650.
The last time the Philippines won a medal in women’s artistic gymnastics was in the 2001 Kuala Lumpur Games, with Pia Adelle Reyes leading the way.
The seven-gold medal haul raised the country’s total to 12, counting the gold medals retained by kickboxers Gina Iniong-Araos and Jean Claude Saclag after midnight last Friday.
Obiena, one of the world-class stars on the national team funded by the Philippine Sports Commission, found no worthy opposition and handily won the gold with a leap of 5.46 meters at the My Dinh National Stadium, his every leap lapped up by the appreciative crowd.
He tried to set a new Asian mark, raising the bar to 5.94 meters, but failed after three tries although this hardly mattered as he successfully defended his title won in a breakthrough performance in 2019 back home.
“I’m relieved and happy to win the gold. I came here as a favorite and finally delivered. Mission accomplished,” said Obiena, 26, the Asian record holder at 5.93 meters.
Pinoy athletes also added six more silver medals to the mix, two of them courtesy of triathlete Andrew Kim Remolino and wushu practitioner Agatha Wong, along with six more bronze medals for an overall tally of 12-18-17, good for fourth.
With its athletes boosted by hometown fans, Vietnam improved to 34-21-28, with Indonesia a distant second (13-16-4) and Malaysia a fighting third (13-7-20). Thailand was running a close fifth with a 10-13-25 tally.
What started out as a good day, however, ended badly for the Philippines as the Gilas men’s and women’s 3×3 teams failed to retain the crowns won in 2019, depriving the Philippines of at least two more gold medals.
The Gilas women’s team was beaten by Thailand in the semifinals, their 14-21 loss reducing some team members to tears. Thailand eventually won the gold at the expense of Vietnam while Gilas was shut out, losing to Indonesia 10-16 in the battle for third.
The quartet of Janine Pontejos, Afril Bernardino, Clare Castro, and Angelica Surada, who also lost by the same score to the vastly-improved Thai side last Friday, finished with an even 3-3 mark in the eliminations for the No. 4 spot in the semifinals, being ranged anew against the Thais.
The Thais got back at the Filipinas, who defeated them for the gold medal three years ago in the Philippine SEA Games.
The Gilas men’s team of Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, Jorey Napoles, Marvin Hayes, and Reymar Caduyac lost to Thailand 17-21 in the semifinals and settled for the bronze after beating Indonesia 14-10.
Basketball action takes a one-day break before the start of the 5-on-5 tournament on Monday.
The Gilas Pilipinas men’s squad, backed by a mix of players from the PBA, Japan B. League, and the cadet pool of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, arrived here early Saturday morning.
The Gilas Pilipinas women also arrived here, even going to the 3×3 tournament to support their teammates that will also be playing in the 5-on-5 battle.
Remolino of Cebu, 22, retained the silver medal he won in the 2019 Philippine SEA Games by clocking 3:59.16 while Wong, considered the face of wushu after dominating the taijiquan event in the 2017 and 2019 games, lost her grasp on the gold, scoring 9.69 points for the silver. The gold went to Alisya Mellynar of Indonesia, who scored 9.71.
The victory of the women’s gymnastics team came a day after Caloy Yulo won the men’s all-around individual title.
Yulo will be back in action Sunday, competing in the floor exercise finals where he once reigned as world champion; pommel horse and rings. The action starts at 2 p.m.
On Monday, he sees action in the vault, where he is the reigning world champion; parallel bars, and high bar.
NEWS
BFAR, British Embassy Manila advance fisheries innovation, global collaboration in SAFET 2026
8:30 a.m. July 20, 2026
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) and the British Embassy Manila have partnered to co-host the Seafood and Fisheries Emerging Technologies (SAFET) Conference 2026, set from September 8 to 10 in Cebu.
The event will bring together world-leading expertise from the UK’s Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) with on-ground operational experience from the Philippines to advance sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, responsible seafood sourcing, blue finance linked to marine protected areas, and emerging opportunities from marine energy
The partnership underscores a shared commitment between the Philippines and the United Kingdom to tackle the most pressing challenges facing the Indo-Pacific fisheries sector.
“SAFET 2026 reflects the Philippines’ commitment to building a modern fisheries sector where technology directly benefits both people and the environment. Through collaboration with global partners, we aim to accelerate practical innovations that strengthen fisheries governance, improve seafood traceability, conserve marine resources, and create better opportunities for our fisherfolk and coastal communities,” said BFAR National Director Elizer Salilig.
“We welcome our partners from around the world to join us in Cebu as we work together to turn innovation into meaningful action,” said Inga Wise, SAFET Executive Director.
“We cannot solve the complex challenges facing our oceans in silos. The SAFET Conference is a unique convergence point where market-driven technology meets government initiative. By bringing global tech innovators to the table alongside fisheries authorities, we are fostering the exact partnerships needed to build transparent, resilient seafood supply chains and secure thriving coastal livelihoods for the future,” she added.
Through SAFET 2026, BFAR and the British Embassy Manila will facilitate dialogue that includes coastal communities, technology developers, and policy-makers, ensuring that new tools are accessible, scalable, and tailored to the needs of the local fisheries sector.
“The challenges facing global fisheries require stronger partnerships and smarter solutions. SAFET 2026 provides a unique platform where governments, scientists, technology innovators, industry leaders, and fishing communities can work together to transform promising technologies into practical actions that strengthen the fisheries sector. We are proud that the Philippines is hosting this important global conversation and invite everyone to join us in shaping the future of sustainable fisheries,” said Philippine Agriculture Undersecretary for Fisheries Drusila Esther Bayate.
Advancing the Digital Shift
SAFET’s conference theme “From Innovation to Implementation: Powering Responsible Fisheries, Markets, and Livelihoods,” reflects the Philippine fisheries sector’s shift from manual processes to a comprehensive digital ecosystem.
BFAR is currently leading this transition by deploying cutting-edge tools, among them the Electronic Catch Documentation and Traceability System (eCDTS) and the Fisheries Integrated Information Management Center – Vessel Monitoring System (FIIMC-VMS).
By integrating the latest technologies such as artificial intelligence, satellite observation, and IoT-enabled monitoring, the Bureau is actively strengthening law enforcement, combatting illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and ensuring that Philippine seafood meets the highest international trade standards.
As the Philippines advances its digital transformation, SAFET 2026 reaffirms the country’s growing leadership in science-based fisheries management and its commitment to building a resilient, transparent, and prosperous future for all Filipino stakeholders. #
NEWS
Jordan Brand announces return of The One Tournament for 2026
4:11 p.m. July 19, 2026
Jordan Brand is running it back for the next iteration of The One—its premier one-on-one basketball tournament celebrating the intersection of the game, court culture, and community. In 2026, it’s louder, faster, and on a larger global stage.
As The One continues to grow, it remains rooted in a singular idea: to show who’s next and inspire a new generation to take their turn. At its core, The One reflects an incredible origin story. The inspiration is born from Michael Jordan’s legendary one-on-one battles, where every loss fueled something greater. That same mentality lives on in every matchup, every move, and every moment of this tournament.
In the Philippines, The One returns following a breakout year that saw young Filipino hoopers capture attention through fearless performances, underdog runs, and moments that resonated far beyond the court. In that inaugural edition, De La Salle Zobel and Gilas Youth standout Bonn Earvin Daja and UAAP Juniors Season 88 MVP Riri Perez crushed it to win the men’s and women’s tournament, while Perez and men’s finalist JM Tumabang from Adamson University High School went on to chase greatness in the global tournament in New York.
For 2026, the competition expands with two regional qualifying events across Cebu (25 July) and Manila (28-29 July) and a national qualifier at Jordan store, Metro Manila (1 August), opening the stage to even more athletes across the country. Ballers will be tested not just on skill, but on resilience, instinct and presence: the qualities that define greatness.
Following the national qualifiers, the 4 best athletes (2 male, 6 female) will compete in a ‘Final Elimination’ round on the 8thAugust at Jordan store in Metro Manila. They will go head-to-head in fierce competition and from this, two ballers (1 male, 1 female) who rise above the rest will earn a place on the ultimate stage: The One Global Finals, on August 29, 2026 in Shanghai.
To give them the best chance at the Philippines ballers taking the crown on the global stage, Jordan Brand are setting these two ballers up with an incredible training and mentor journey. Over the three weeks before the big competition, they will get the chance to train and learn from both Kiefer Ravena and Lethal Shooter, giving them an edge over the rest.
Registration for the Philippine qualifiers opens on July 18. Open to boys and girls ages 14 to 18, the tournament challenges hoopers to embrace pressure, showcase individuality, and compete for global recognition.
Alongside the competition at each stop will be programming that underlines how basketball influences the world beyond the court, including live performances, athlete appearances, and many other surprises along the way.
For ballers, register now: https://www.jordanbrandtheone.com/
NEWS
Canon PH renews support for Philippine Red Cross to aid Mindanao Earthquake Relief and Recovery
6:19 p.m. July 13, 2026
Canon Marketing (Philippines), Inc. (CMP), together with Canon Business Service Centre Phils., Inc. (CBSC), has renewed its partnership with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) to support relief and recovery efforts for communities affected by the recent earthquake in Mindanao, including Sarangani and General Santos City.
The donation underscores Canon’s continued commitment to standing with Filipino communities in times of crisis and delivering timely assistance to those in need.
“Our commitment to the philosophy of Kyosei means standing together with communities, especially in times of uncertainty,” said Anuj Aggarwal, President and CEO of Canon Marketing (Philippines), Inc. “Through our continued partnership with the Philippine Red Cross, we hope to bring not only essential relief but also hope to families as they recover and rebuild their lives. We are honored to support the invaluable work of the Philippine Red Cross in reaching those who need it most.”
Philippine Red Cross Chairman Richard Gordon welcomed Canon’s continued support, highlighting the impact of sustained collaboration between the private sector and humanitarian organizations in disaster response.
“We are grateful to Canon for its continued partnership with the Philippine Red Cross,” said Gordon. “Canon has consistently demonstrated its commitment to humanitarian action, having also extended its support during the Cebu earthquake response. Together, we can provide timely relief and help communities recover stronger from times of crisis.”
Guided by its corporate philosophy of Kyosei, living and working together for the common good, Canon remains committed to supporting initiatives that create meaningful, lasting impact. Through this partnership, Canon reaffirms its commitment to helping Mindanao earthquake-affected communities recover, rebuild, and emerge stronger.
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