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PH boxers shift focus on SEA Games, Women’s World Championships

April 10, 2022 4:35 p.m.

The Philippine national boxing team seeks to fine-tune its game as it goes into the final stage of its rigorous preparations for the 31st Southeast Asian Games as well as the 2022 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships next month.

This after a victorious campaign in the recently-concluded 2022 Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament held at the luxurious Angsana Laguna Phuket Resort Hotel where 14 Filipino pugilists joined, with five of them clinching podium finishes.

Rogen Ladon (men’s flyweight), Riza Pasuit (women’s light) and Hergie Bacyadan (women’s middle) snared gold medals while Ian Clark Bautista (men’s feather) and Aira Villegas (women’s fly) seized silvers, resulting in the country’s best finish in the prestigious tournament organized by the Thailand Boxing Association headed by its president and concurrent Asian Boxing Confederation chief Pichai Chunhavajira.

Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) secretary-general Marcus Manalo said the Thailand Open tested the Pinoy boxers’ current mettle and that gave them a clearer view of what to work on after a two-week pre-competition training camp in Muak Lek, just outside Bangkok.

“There’s some catching up to do particularly on the conditioning side. What happened here in this Thailand Open is really a feedback for us. Whether we won or we came up short, it’s feedback,” said Manalo, who led the Philippine delegation along with ABAP president Ed Picson and veteran boxing official Karina Picson.

“‘Yung mga early losses natin it’s an indication lang na some of the boxers are not yet there in terms of their peak performance, which is fine. The reason why we joined here is to know where we are right now,” added Manalo, a mental performance coach and a graduate of sport and exercise psychology from Texas Tech University.

The morning after the Thailand Open, the national pugs immediately went back to Muak Lek where they would resume their training for four to five weeks before flying straight to the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi for the SEA Games scheduled on May 12 to 23.

Meanwhile, Villegas flew back to the Philippines along with coach Reynaldo Galido to arrange visa requirements for the Women’s World Championships on May 6 to 21 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Head coach Don Abnett said the athletes’ base fitness is fine and they will make the most out of their limited time to bring them back to tip-top shape.

“They’ve done general training before they got here so the base fitness is okay. Next week we’re gonna get into the boxing specifics. We’ll see what happens in the next few weeks,” said the Australian tactician, who is getting a lot of help from coaches Roel Velasco, Ronald Chavez, Mitchel Martinez and Galido.

“Would’ve liked to have it (training camp) four or five weeks longer. But we’ll do what we can with the time that we have,” he added.

Manalo lauded the Thailand Boxing Association for hosting the training camp as well as the Thailand Open that drew 14 boxing federations across Asia, Europe and Oceania, including the Philippines’ Southeast Asian rivals in Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore, besides host nation Thailand.

“Good thing our friends from the Thailand Boxing Association offered this opportunity to train in Muak Lek. That really provides us with the best challenge that can push our boxers to be at their best pagdating ng SEA Games and also the Women’s World Championships,” said Manalo.

NEWS

Rep. Atayde draws Iglesia Ni Cristo endorsement

2:33 p.m. May 9, 2025

Quezon City First District Rep. Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde has received the endorsement of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) for a second consecutive term, joining the ranks of several local candidates who have secured the influential church’s support ahead of the 2025 elections. 

Atayde also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Iglesia Ni Cristo.

“Lubos po ang aking pasasalamat muli sa tiwalang ipinagkaloob ng mga Kapatid sa Iglesia Ni Cristo, lalo na kay Ka Eduardo V. Manalo,” said Atayde.
“Ang inyong suporta ay inspirasyon namin upang ipagpatuloy ang tapat at maagap na serbisyo para sa bayan. Sama-sama tayong kikilos, aksyon agad!”

Atayde, who won his first term in 2022, is seeking a second term on the back of both his legislative record and the successful implementation of district-level programs that have focused on employment, health care, education, and food security.

The legislator reiterated his commitment to “sustain his ongoing projects, fulfill his legislative duties, and continue delivering honest public service” in Quezon City’s first district.

Among his major legislative accomplishments are authorship or co-authorship of key national laws such as the Eddie Garcia Law, the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, the Internet Transactions Act, the Regional Specialty Centers Act, the SIM Registration Act, the Ease of Paying Taxes Act, and the New Government Procurement Act.

In his first term, Atayde also spearheaded local initiatives that provided direct aid to thousands of residents. These included emergency employment for 11,498 workers under TUPAD, job opportunities abroad for 1,500 applicants through the Taiwan Job Fair, livelihood training for 1,100 residents via TESDA, and capital support for 245 small entrepreneurs through the Sustainable Livelihood Program.

The lawmaker also launched and maintained key welfare programs: free dialysis treatment for 60 patients daily at the district’s new facility, medical assistance for 75,466 individuals, CHED aid for 4,598 students, scholarship support for 1,410 others under Tulong Dunong and SMART, rice aid for 132,567 families, over 65,000 meals served through Kusina on Wheels, and seasonal gift-giving that reached 64,000 families.

In times of crisis, Atayde’s office also responded to the needs of 7,789 families affected by fire, extended burial assistance to 3,501 families, and provided financial help to 40,684 individuals for various needs.

Atayde is running under Team Aksyon Agad alongside Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and six councilors in the district—all of whom also received the coveted INC endorsement.

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Converge continues to draw young talents, seeks out electronics engineers 

11:20 p.m. May 7, 2025

Coming off a student-led hackathon in Ateneo de Manila University wherein it shared its expertise as a tech company to young software developers, Converge once again collaborated with bright young minds as it engaged with the University of the Philippines student chapter of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of the Philippines (IECEP). 

Invited by the student body of the UP-IECEP, Converge was among the leading sponsors of the ‘Get Licensed: Geared Up for the Future’ event held at the UP School of Statistics. ‘Get Licensed’ is a preparatory event / seminar for Electronics Engineering students from across the metro, including Technological University of the Philippines, De La Salle University-Manila, Mapua University, and other top engineering schools.  It is aimed at preparing ECE students for their licensure exam. 

“Filipinos have the right talent, and they’re capable of innovating world-class solutions. At Converge, we see the potential of every Filipino – including yours, the youth – and it is our prime directive to give them the digital launchpad, and become the catalyst for intellectual property creation,” said Converge Chief Network Transformation Officer, Paulo Martin ‘Santi’ Santos, himself a graduate of Materials Engineering at the University of the Philippines. 

Apart from the opportunities available at Converge, students were given a glimpse of how Converge grew exponentially especially during the pandemic. While many industries and sectors were rendered inefficient by the global health crisis, fixed broadband, particularly in driving digital transformation, grew by leaps and bounds. It proved to be an ‘industry of the future’, and is poised to see further expansion in the years to come. 

Converge set up a booth in the lobby of the UP School of Statistics, giving away company merchandise and briefing the students of openings in the company. This is part of the company’s ongoing campaign to recruit from among the best schools in the country to beef up its workforce. 

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Infinix Campus Cup 2025 to unleash next generation of esports legends across southeast Asia

12: 44 p.m. May 3, 2025

Infinix, in collaboration with Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), proudly kicks off the Infinix Campus Cup (XCC) 2025—a bigger, bolder evolution of the former Infinix University League (XUL), built to level up the student gaming experience across Southeast Asia.

Running from May to July 2025, XCC 2025 will set the stage for passionate student gamers across Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and the Philippines to rise to esports stardom. Fueled by the high-performance Infinix GT series, this tournament is dedicated to empowering the next generation of players. Gather your squad, register, and take your shot at becoming the next campus esports legends.

“XCC was born from our belief that the future of esports starts on campus,” said Tony Zhao, Infinix General Manager.“From the beginning, it has been about empowering the next generation of esports legends and bridging the gap between young gamers and the professional scene. As we expand across Southeast Asia, we at Infinix remain committed to growing this platform, inspiring the youth to step into the spotlight, chase their dreams, and build their future in gaming.”

After igniting the Philippine gaming scene in its previous editions, XCC 2025 expands its reach across Southeast Asia, charging into new territories, with the Philippines as this year’s host nation. The goal is to bring together the region’s most passionate student gamers and turn their dreams of esports stardom into reality.

At the heart of the competition lies Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB)—the region’s most beloved mobile MOBA title—providing the perfect arena for student teams to showcase their skills, strategy, and teamwork. More than just a tournament, XCC 2025 serves as a launchpad for aspiring esports professionals, designed to spotlight rising stars and elevate the campus esports scene across Southeast Asia. Participants will compete using the upcoming high-performance Infinix GT Series, a cutting-edge gaming device that reflects the brand’s commitment to empowering gamers with tools built for victory.

XCC 2025 sets the tone for a season filled with intense rivalries, unforgettable plays, and life-changing opportunities—this is #WhereLegendsRise. Infinix envisions the tournament as more than just a competition—it’s a movement to empower youth, fuel their passion for gaming, and unlock future career paths in esports.

Three Stages, One Path to Glory

Local Open Qualifiers & Group Stage (May–June 2025)

Student teams from across the five participating countries will enter the tournament through open qualifiers, battling their way through national-level group stages in pursuit of a coveted spot in the finals.

National Finals (May–June 2025)

Top contenders from each country will clash in their respective National Finals, where pride, passion, and the title of National Champion are on the line.

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