By Ellen Tordesillas, VERA Files Video by Mario Ignacio and Mario Espinosa
YOU will know it’s Zumba time at Fitness First Southmall every morning of Monday and Tuesday because women are in their stylish gym attires as if they are going to a party.
And, it’s not just any party. Usually it is a themed party.
Last week, it was Polynesian. Women in floral headdress were gyrating to the tune of Conga Remix. In the next Zumba class, they looked alluring in off-shoulder blouses. Earlier, their theme costume was a necktie — worn, of course, over gym outfits.
Hilda Oraya, a Zumba devotee, says the vivacious beat of Zumba shakes off one’s inhibitions. “Masaya (fun) and inspires you to dress up.”
One overweight male journalist thought it was the best place to ogle at shapely beauties. He later realized, as he was sweating and panting, that there are less strenuous ways to indulge in girl-watching.
Vanessa Agdon, a group exercise instructor at Fitness First Southmall and Alabang, said you get most of your efforts in a gym than when you do it on your own without the guidance of experts.
The Pinoy sense of humor in overdrive in social mediaAfter the Pacquiao-Bradley fight that stunned the boxing world, especially Filipinos, Abigail Valte, deputy spokesperson of President Aquino, struck again.
She issued her own statement: “Together, let us pray for Manny’s immediate recovery and return to form. During your next fights, and during the challenges that will undoubtedly come your way in the future, you can certainly count on us to stand by you. Manny is still our one and only People’s Champ; and we are proud of him.”
As a number of journalists remarked, “Feeling.”
What do we care about Valte’s views on anything. We would be interested on the President’s reaction. She is not even the spokesman (who would have the right to issue his own statement).
As deputy presidential spokesman, Valte is supposed to release or read the President’s statement. The public is not interested on her thoughts or feeling about matters of national concern.
Aquino arrived yesterday from the United States and United Kingdom, so I suppose he still has to shake off his jet lag. That would explain his lack of reaction to an event that is of interest to Filipinos not only here but all over the world.
As what happened on the conviction of Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona when Valte beat him by a day in issuing a statement on such an important happening, we expect a statement from him later.
Using God for political plans?Sabi ng boxing champ na si Saranggani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, nag-uusap daw sila ng Panginoon.
Sabi niya sinabi daw ng Panginoon sa kanya na huminto na siya sa boxing. Natutulog daw siya ng sinabi sa kanya ng Panginoon itong mensahe.
Ang pinagtataka ko, bakit ngayon lang ba niya narinig yun? Matagal na yan sinasabi ng Nanay Dionisia niya at ng kanyang trainer na si Freddie Roach. Sinasabi rin sa kanya yan ng boxing writer at analyst na si Ronnie Nathanielz. Lumabas yan sa mga media.
Saan nga ba patungo ang direksyun ng buhay ni Pacquiao? Tumatanda na siya. Kahit ano pang galing niya, ang boksing na sports ay para sa mga bata. At ano pa ba naman ang gusto niya, lumalangoy na siya sa pera.
Cristy RamosMabuti naman at hindi pinalampas ni Cristy Ramos ang pambabastos ng dalawang miyembro ng Azkals sa kanya.
Kahit na ba magaling sila mag-football at malaki ang nagawa ng Azkals para buhayin ang laro sa bansa, hindi yun lisensya para magiging bastos sila sa kababaihan.
Si Cristy ay anak ni dating Pangulong Fidel Ramos at dati ring pangulo ng Philippine Olympic Committee. Opisyal siya ngayon ng Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) na siyang namamahala ng football sa buong mundo.
Sa kanyang reklamo na isinampa sa Asian Football Confederation, ikinuwento ni Ramos na siya ang napiling Match Commissioner sa laro ng Philippines (Azkals) at Malaysia noong Pebrero 29 sa Rizal Memorial Footbal Stadium.
Bilang Match Commissioner, trabaho ni Ramos ang i-inspeksyunin ang lahat na gamit at suot ng mga players. Sa kanilang miting, isang araw bago ang laro, sinabi ni Ramos na dahil siya ay babae sa isang laro na puro lalaki ang players, sasamahan siya ng isa pang opisyal na lalaki.
Before the Belo makeover, 2010.Thanks to Malaya for photoBirthday ni Jinkee Pacquiao at ng kanyang kambal na si Janet Jamora noong Huwebes (Enero 12) at pinakita sa television silang magkatabi.
Hindi nga naman masyadong malayo ang mukha. Maayos ang trabaho ni Vicki Belo.
Nag-uusap kami ng aking mga kaibigan tungkol sa report kung paano pinaganda ni Belo si Jinkee at naawa kami kay Janet.
Di ba ibang-iba na ang mukha ni Jinkee. Sexy at glamorosa. Kailangan daw gawin ito ni Jinkee dahil malikot daw ang mata ng boxing champ sa mga sexy na artista na nakakasalamuha sa showbusiness. Di ba showbiz na rin si Pacquiao?
Sabi ni Jinkee dati, ng tanungin siya tungkol sa mga balita sa mga babaeng nauugnay sa asawa niya, “Ayaw kong magalit. Magpaganda na lang ako.”
Thanks to Abs-Cbn online for Reuters' Steve Marcus photoBoxing is too brutal a spectator sport for me but I’m thankful for the Pacquiao-Marquez fight yesterday.
No, I didn’t watch the third encounter of our very own Manny Pacquiao and Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez. But I enjoyed the free-flowing traffic because almost everybody was glued to television starting early morning. I left Las Piñas 7: 30 a.m. for an 8:30 a.m. breakfast meeting with friends at Italianni’s at Greenbelt 2.
I took the bus and made it to Makati in less than an hour!
There was a little problem though because Italianni’s was reserved for those who wanted to watch the fight so we transferred to Mary Grace, where we had a delightful breakfast of bangus and Vigan langgonisa concluded by hot chocolate and ensaimada.
Sports heroes with a heartAll the more that I love the Azkals.
Not only have they brought honor to the country and revitalized football in the Philippines without depending so much on the government, we are about to experience their concern for others.
On the third week of this month, there will be a 3-team friendly soccer tournament at the Rizal Memorial Stadium featuring the Azkals, Kaya Futbol Club, and Global Futbol Club for the benefit of IcanServe Foundation, a non-stock, non-profit organization composed mostly of breast cancer survivors who are into information crusade about breast cancer and the benefits of early detection.
On Sept. 19 (Monday), it’s the Azkals vs KayaFC ; Sept. 21(Wednesday), Azkals vs GlobalFC , and on Sept. 24 (Saturday) KayaFC vs GlobalFC. The two-hour games will start at 3:00 pm.
I had the pleasure of watching this team, composed of Army men, win the International Dragon Boat race in Boracay last summer. Their dedication to the sport and determination to win honors for the country is so admirable considering that they do not get adequate support from the government.
Congratulations!
In Boracay, while participants from other countries were billeted in resort hotels, the Army team (who was the champion) as well as the Navy team (if I’m correct, it came second) were billeted in public school buildings and were content with economy meals.
Thanks to Philippine Daily Inquirer for the photo by John Bedaure.
The Philippine Dragon Boat team bagged another gold medal in the ongoing International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) 10th World Championships in Tampa Bay, Florida.
This time, the Filipino paddlers won first place in the Premier 200-meter mixed event with a time of 57.07 seconds.
OFW powerNever mind the 3-0 score. What was amazing in Kuwait last Saturday was OFW power for the Azkals.
The photos posted by “Pamatay Homesick” in his Facebook Wall give us an exhilarating feeling.
Filipinos in Kuwait came in droves, most probably took a day off from work, to give moral support to the team that is now giving Filipinos a new sense of pride.
“Pamatay Homesick”, an interior designer and project design coordinator, posted on his FB wall: “Binabati ko ang lahat, sa matagumpay na kaganapan sa larong football dito sa kuwait.Natalo man ang ating Azkals, nakita ko naman ang pagsasama sama ng ating mga kababayan dito sa kuwait.Mabuhay!”
He added: “Kahit tayo ay nasawi, tayo parin ang nagwagi!”
That’s the attitude.
The Azkals have already achieved something priceless – making Filipinos proud of being Filipino. That, by itself, is already a score.
