Carlos Yulo Becomes First Filipino Male Athlete to Win Olympic Gold

Nahimong mananaog ang Zamboanga del Norte Police Provincial Office (ZNPPO) Team batok sa 97th IB Team sa gihimong championship kagabie sa Dodong Glenn Omaña 3rd Basketball Tournament (Inter Goverment Office) didto sa Omaña, Compound, Manukan, Zamboanga del Norte.

Sa una ug ikaduha nga kwarter dikit ang iskor sa duha ka team apan pag abot sa ikatulo hangtod sa katapusang kwarter gilampaso na ug sugod sa taga ZNPPO ang taga 97th IB sa iskor nga 89 ug 60 pabor sa ZNPPO.

Misulay pa unta ug arangakada ang taga 97th IB Team nga ma apas ang biya pero sa katapusang kwarter gikuso-kuso ug gilabhan sila pag ayo hinungdan nga nabiyaan ug 29 puntos.
Nakuha sa ZNPPO ang kampyonato nga may ganti nga 50mil, ang 1st runner-up 30mil ug ang 2nd Runner-up 20mil.

Ang ganti ug tropeyo gidawat ni PLTCol Philmore Dumagat nga gitunol mismo ni konsehal Glenn Omaña.

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Kining tanan nga papremyo gikan sa kaugalingong bulsa ni Manukan Councilor Glenn Omaña isip pasalamat alang sa nag singabot niya nga adlawng natawhan.

Mapasalamaton siya nga nahimong malampuson ang nasangpit nga kalihukan ug nalaom amg batan-ong konsehal nga mapadayon kini niya matag tuig uban sa giya ug grasya gikan sa kahitas-an.

Sa maong higayon anaa usab ang presensya ni ZNPPO Provincial director PCol. Glenn Dulawan ug ni 97th IB batcom LtCol Jimmy Sanz.

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DAPITAN CITY (PIA) — Dapitan, renowned in the nation’s history as the exile site of Dr. Jose Rizal by Spanish colonial authorities, recently hosted the inaugural Handuraw Invitational Arnis Tournament, paying homage to the national hero’s expertise in martial arts, particularly arnis de mano or stickfighting.

Handuraw, a Cebuano term meaning “to reminisce,” is an annual celebration in Rizal’s honor in the city.

Arnis took the spotlight in the recent Rizal Day celebration due to Rizal’s practice of the martial art during his era.

Grand Master Efren Apresto, vice-president for Mindanao of the Philippine Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (PEKAF), stated that the new generation of arnisadors considers Rizal as their grand master.

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“Dr. Jose Rizal as our national hero was well-versed in arnis kay according sa mga record niya, tanan nga natad sa martial arts iya gyud gi-apilan ug usa niini ang arnis, as a Filipino Martial Art nga iyang gi-develop (Dr. Jose Rizal, our national hero, was well-versed in Arnis according to his records. He actively engaged in various martial arts, and one of them was Arnis, which he personally developed),” Apresto added.

The competition drew approximately 102 participants from Sultan Kudarat province, as well as the cities of Ozamis, Oroquieta, and Dipolog, and various campuses of Jose Rizal Memorial State University (JRMSU). The competition featured categories for ages 10-12, 13-17, and 18 and above.

The primary goal of the event is to groom young arnis enthusiasts aged 17 and above for upcoming arnis competitions.

Photo by By Clennkei Peñalosa

“We want to discover potential athletes kay daghang nakahelera nga dula national ug international (We want to discover potential athletes because there are many national and international games that are waiting),” Apresto said.

Organizers also aim to divert children from excessive gadget use by providing alternatives. Instead of being glued to electronic devices, the activity encourages them to set aside gadgets and engage in stick fighting, distancing themselves from the potentially harmful effects of radiation and promoting physical activity.

Tournament Director Leovemar Cris S. Hamoy stressed that Arnis is not merely a game but a coordination of the eyes, hands, and feet.

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A participant from the Filipino Art of Modified Arnis Federation (FAMAF) Team Tacurong City shared that Arnis helps boost her confidence and provides knowledge about martial arts.

Sheena Belmonte, also from FAMAC and a member of the Philippine Arnis Team in Taguig Manila, expressed happiness participating in the Handuraw competition. Belmonte, who won a gold medal for Mindanao in the recently concluded Philippine National Games in 2023, was grateful for the invitation from Mayor Seth Frederick Jalosjos.

“We’re happy that we were invited by Mayor Seth Frederick Jalosjos na makapag compete dito at ma-represent ang Sultan kudarat. Home of champions pa rin ang Mindanao para sa amin (We’re happy that we were invited by Mayor Seth Frederick Jalosjos to be able to compete here and represent Sultan Kudarat. Mindanao is still the home of champions for us,)” Belmonte said.

Tournament Director Hamoy mentioned plans to host the competition for the second time in July next year and elevate it to a national level.

“The participants gave me a word that if we [Dapitan city] will have a second competition, full support sila ug mas daghan ta. We are aiming to make this a National Invitational Arnis Tournament. (The participants gave me a word that if we will have a second competition, they will fully support us and we will have more participants),” Hamoy said.

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Photo by Clennkei Peñalosa

He emphasized that the Handuraw Invitational Arnis Tournament, once a dream, became a reality for Dapitan through the support of Mayor Seth Frederick Jalosjos, City Tourism Officer Apple Marie Agolong, and City Administrator Atty. Amalou Tumapon-Monroyo.

Arnis, a Filipino martial art, continues to gain popularity in the Zamboanga Peninsula and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. In 2019, the arnis team of Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat, brought home 15 gold medals in the 1st PEKAF World Invitational Competition, surpassing athletes from 11 countries. (NBE/EDT/CCP/PIA9 with photos from the city government of Dapitan)

DIPOLOG CITY (PIA) – Known as the GATEWAY to Western Mindanao, the City of Dipolog boasts numerous attractions for tourists. From the enchanting Sunset Boulevard to its rich cultural diversity, it serves as the ideal gateway to the Zamboanga Peninsula.

Regrettably, the prevailing stigma and apprehensions about Mindanao have dissuaded tourists from venturing south on several occasions.

Fortunately, University Games (UNIGAMES) President Roger A. Banzuela has firsthand knowledge of the authentic Dipolog experience, having spent time in the city previously.

Collaborating with UNIGAMES Coordinator Jan Hendrik Vallecer, they explored the possibility of hosting the UNIGAMES’ silver anniversary in the Orchid City itself.

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Originating from the necessity to enhance the athletic skills of collegiate athletes through competitive sports, UNIGAMESA began among various universities in the Negros and Panay Islands. Later, they recognized the need to assess the caliber of athletes from provincial schools against the best athletes and teams nationwide.

University of Mindanao athletes erupt in cheers as they support their schoolmates (Photo by: Dipolog City Government)

Today, the UNIGAMES celebrates its 25th year, with over 30 schools participating from across the Philippines, including sports powerhouses like the University of the Philippines – Diliman and the University of Santo Tomas.

Banzuela highlighted that they thoroughly examined the facilities and their maintenance as one of the key considerations. However, it was the city’s sports program that truly captured their attention.

“I am very happy with the program of the mayor here in the grassroots,” expressed Banzuela during the press conference.

The program encompasses year-long training for student-athletes in various sports, including sepak takraw, gymnastics, volleyball, and table tennis, among others.

“Winning is important, but preparation is vital,” emphasized Banzuela.

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He also noted that their purpose extends beyond providing entertainment; they aim to learn from the locals and dispel misconceptions about Mindanao.

With over 30 schools and more than 1,000 participants, excluding their families and chaperones, when the games reach the semi-finals and finals, more than 50 percent of them will become tourists after elimination, allowing them to fully appreciate the city.

“Sports is peace; sports is friendship. Ito ay (This is) brought together for unity and peace,” asserted Banzuela.

The UNIGAMES are currently ongoing throughout the City of Dipolog at various venues, and admission is free for spectators. Tickets for the semi-finals and finals are reportedly priced at only P20. (RVC/EDT/PJF/PIA9-Zamboanga del Norte)

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