Eight year-old Ilonggo, National Taekwondo gold medalist

BY ELYROSE S. NAORBE

“No pain, No game.”

A very recognizable yet powerful line uttered by an eight year-old Elisha Venice E. Aguilar, a national champion and gold medalist in Taekwondo during the National Poomsae competition in Manila wherein she represented the Western Visayas region.

Aguilar, a grade three student of Ateneo de Iloilo with a height of 136 centimeters, had already attained different awards in the field of Taekwondo. Tracing back her roots, Elisha Venice Aguilar is a proud daughter of Mr. Alvin Aguilar, the first Ilonggo participants of Ducati Cup Circuit race wherein he also bagged series of awards.

Elisha Venice Aguilar, national Taekwondo gold medalist.

The young taekwondo gold medalist posted her best scores 22, 27, 24 during the Integrated Meet 2014. Her mother, Tisha Aguilar is the one who accompany her daughter every time she has a game as she provides everything needed in the competition.

She started playing or practicing Taekwondo at the age of 6 years-old. At an early age, Aguilar joined lots of Taekwondo competition and successfully finished atop among other players. In fact, she was already a recipient of many awards and medals. Aside from being a national gold medalist, some of her major achievements include the following: Iloilo PRISSA 2012 and 2013-Gold medalist, Iloilo Integrated competition-gold for individual poomsae, silver for the team poomsae and silver for sparring, Iloilo ISSA 2013-gold individual poomsae and gold for the sparring.

According to Aguilar, she likes Taekwondo because she wants to defend her family and also herself. She also believes that she will have a career in Taekwondo proof that even at an early age, she became a gold medalist.

“I’m very happy because my family is very supportive every time I have games. As of now, I will never stop training and will always work hard as I enjoy what I am doing,” said Aguilar.

Boracay paddlers submerge other teams in Dragon Boat Competition

                                      BY ELYROSE S. NAORBE

With a blistering 43.45 seconds finish in men’s division of the recently concluded DoubleDragon Boat Competition in Iloilo River Wharf, the Boracay Sea Dragons out paddled 12 other competitors as they proved supremacy grabbing this year’s crown.

Men's champ Boracay Sea Dragons.

Closing the gap with just 43.97 seconds, the Boracay All-Star failed to defend their back-to-back title aspirations as the Dragons battered a late surge in the finals, while the Bohol Paddlers finished third in 44.96 seconds.

On the other hand, the Boracay All Stars made up for its huge loss in the men’s event after ruling the mixed category for the second straight year after clocking 44.57 seconds leaving Philippine Marines to second in 45.59 seconds and Bohol Paddlers to third with 46.54second finish.

JBLFMU-ILOILO paddlers.

In the women’s category, the Philippine Marines dominated the race from start to finish capturing the championship in 58.2 seconds while Manila Wave (1:03.1) and Philippine Titans (1:06.19) placed second and third, respectively after a weedy finish.

          Moreover, Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said that he is looking forward to have more water sports events in the Iloilo River given that it is now a good place for water sports activities.

After finishing the race, the Sea Dragons paddled their way as they brought home the crown.

“ Kung sang una wala sang may gapalapit sa Iloilo river kay mahigko kag mabaho, subong sa bulig man sang advocacy nga ginapatigayon sang city council damu na nga mga tawo ang gusto magpalapit diri,” added Mabilog.

Present also in the event were Senate President Franklin Drilon and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo.

The event was organized by the Office of the Senate President, the DoubleDragon Properties Corp., the Philippine Sports Commission and the Iloilo City government who are also planning to invite international teams for next year’s dragon boat race edition.

San Mig Super Coffee Mixers finally defeats ROS Elasto Painters

By Elyrose S. Naorbe

PBA Cup 2014 Champion!

After showing a dominating performance in game six, the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers blasted off the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 93-87, to bring home the PLDT MyDSL 2014 PBA Philippine Cup championship, Wednesday, at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

Finals MVP Coffee prince Mark Barroca led the way as he finished with 24 points, five assists and two steals. Rookie Ian Sangalang and Joe Devance set up 15 and 12 points respectively, as they combined for nine rebounds and five assists. PBA Sakuragi Marc Pingris managed o established 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Big Game James Yap accumulated 10 points.

San Mig Coffee showed some extreme passing techniques around the post, often finding Joe Devance, Marc Pingris and Rafi Reavis to get an easy two. The Mixers' frontcourt combined for 14 points while the Elasto Painters shot blanks, 22-12. Ryan Araña though halted the tide with an and-one at the 3:21 mark, but James Yap hit a triple to highlight an 8-2 run, as the Mixers led 30-17 after the first frame.

Early in the second quarter, JR Quiñahan picked up a foul at with 11:39 on the clock, while contesting a Pingris floater. Already exasperated at the officiating in the first period, Coach Yeng Guiao led his team in a march back to the bunker. The situation was soon resolved though as Rain or Shine returned to the court, hit with a warning for delay of game. The strategy worked briefly through Jeff Chan and Ryan Arana’s hit tough buckets in the paint to narrow the lead to single digits, 31-22.

The coveted PBA Cup 2014 Trophy finally settled in San Mig Coffee Mixers hands

As the third period started, the Mixers led by no more than six points, 58-52, after a James Yap easy lay-up. But along the play, San Mig Coffee began to buckle under the defensive pressure and surrendered a 13-4 rally, due to turnover lay-ins and punctuated by consecutive treys from Lee and Chris Tiu, 65-62. However, the Elasto Painters couldn't sustain the pace, allowing PJ Simon and Mark Barroca to narrow the gap to one after three quarters, 67-66.

In the fourth quarter, Beau Belga led a late comeback try for Rain or Shine, but it ultimately fell short. As the game went down the wire, Barroca and Belga furiously traded and-ones and threes, until Pingris made charities at 1:07, 91-86, forcing Rain or Shine to call timeout trailing 91-86.

The Mixers called timeout and triggered the ball to Barroca, who was fouled, and split from the line, 92-86. Rain or Shine then burned their last timeout with 29.4 left on the clock.

After San Mig Coffee Mixers clinched the championship, the winning coach Tim Cone's record 16th championship, and named as the winningest coach in the PBA History surpassing the previous mark set by Baby Dalupan.

 Photo by Dennis Sebangan

Yolanda Relief Operation

Elyrose S. Naorbe, RAC WVSU

 These past few weeks, the Philippines especially in the Visayas Region were shocked as the undeniably super typhoon Yolanda destroyed a lot of properties, infrastructures and worst, claimed thousands of lives of Filipino people. It caused communication breakdown, power supply destruction and some first necessary commodity such as foods, clothing and shelter shortage.

Aside from Leyte, Cebu and Samar, the northern part of Iloilo, also suffered a total devastation after Yolanda and cleated the same scenario mentioned above.

The Rotaractors together with the Rotarians during the relief goods operation.

After a tragic event and hearing those heartbreaking situations of the affected areas, the Rotary Club of Metro Iloilo in partnership of Iloilo Chamber of Commerce, Red Cross and with the help of Rotaract Club of West Visayas State University organized a relief good operation and medical mission. This is to extend our help especially in giving foods, water and clothing to the victims and give free medicines and consultations to the affected areas.

Around 6 o’clock in the morning when we departed the City of Iloilo heading to Northern part of Iloilo. Our target towns were San Dionisio and Concepcion. It’s  a 2-3 hours travel just to reach the area so what we did was to hope for a safe trip that we may be able to reach the destination and bring a good intention to the victims.

When we entered Barotac Viejo, the first municipality of the Fifth District of Iloilo, we saw some destroyed houses, fields and properties caused by super typhoon Yolanda. We can’t deny the fact that they were really affected by the calamity. In fact, we are very sad upon knowing their real situation given that they told us that what we saw was just a minimal effect as if it’s an article, it’s just only an introduction.

We passed by towns of Ajuy and Sara. Same thing happened- a total devastation. Houses were down; roofs bring crumpled and new infrastructures being ruined. The people don’t know how to start or what to do after the landfall of Yolanda.

We also helped in giving free medicines and consultations to the victims.

We thought that those scenarios were shown or happened only in a movie or television but, reality strikes. It’s not just only a sort of fiction. We saw children along the road holding tin cans and begging for help— a food and water perhaps. Upon seeing those children, we can’t help but pray that they can easily recover in their miserable situation. We observed also that there are words being printed on roads and piece of paper. Some words are being told “Please help us, we need food and medicines”.

At around 9 am, we set our foot to Concepcion. We settled first and started to put up medical area. We also unloaded over relief good operations. During the distribution, we observed that it was not properly organized. The crowd or the victims are increasing and that there are some conflicts on the process or system to avail the relief goods. We saw that the people are starving and that they really need help—food, water and medicines. After the distribution, we proceed to San Dionisio and as we entered the municipal hall, we saw that there are also groups who are giving the same needs. There, we talked to some victims and that they are asking help from us since they are not listed on the registration area. Again, we met some conflicts regarding the dissemination because we want to go on the coastal part of the town because there are already groups in the town aiding the people by giving goods. 

We decided to unload some goods and divided our group, one who will stay in the municipal town and other to coastal area. I, together with Sir Allan, Sir Paul and other Rotarians and fellow Rotaractors, went to the coastal area of Barangay Sua, San Dionisio. We passed along the rough road heading to the remote area of the barangay.

          When we reached there, we started to give foods and water to the victims. Unlike to the previous operation, this was the organized one. Pal, who also lived in the neighboring barangay, helped us in giving goods. We saw smiles from the victims uttering a “Thank You” after receiving goods even their heart is breaking.

A happy faces of children after our Relief good operations.

After the operation, we don’t mind how many hours we traveled, how many sweats being poured out or how much effort we gave. The important thing is that we serve as an instrument of kindness and generosity for others’ sake. Even we can’t provide their full needs; at least, we lessen their sufferings and starvation. I believe that small things for us might be a big help for them. We took some photos inside the car along the way for our documentation. As what Sir Allan had stated and I quote, “We post pictures not to brag what we have done, but to inspire more people to HELP. We were spared for a reason, to help the victims of typhoon Yolanda in any way we can”.

The mystery behind Alkansyang Kawayan

     Everytime the sun rises in the east from the horizon where the South China Sea can be seen, the everyday life of Jose, a 12-year old child started. He is a typical boy who are longing for the love and care of his father though they’re living in the same roof. Jose was a child of Mang Nick. Her mother died when she was giving birth to her younger sister, Mary Li. They lived in an old Nipa hut where if it rains, it will directly pour inside their house for there’s a series of holes therein. Mang Nick earned their living by catching fishes together with their neighbour. He earns an amount which is not even enough to pay for their loans and everyday needs. And if there are times where there are few fishes catch, Mang Nick would always get home drunk and due to too much liquor intake, he will end up hitting his child Jose. After wailing and crying in pain, Jose will get inside their room and will get his Alkansyang Kawayan and tries to talk to it as if it has a life. He considered his Alkansya as one of the important memories left by his younger sister Mary Li when she was alive. He is also aware that he is the reason why his father always beat him.

       His younger sister died because of her fault. Mary Li died when she was six years old after he was drowned in the sea. Jose was collecting seashells that time together with his sister because they will sell it to the ornament shop and that the money they earn will be put in their Alkansyang Kawayan. They both wrote words to their Alkansya “To Tatay from Nene and Toto”. They decided that the money from their Alkansya will help their family especially to their Tatay. They were very happy that time when suddenly, while Jose busy picking up shells along the shoreline, he noticed that his sister was no longer at his back as what he was thought. It was too late because he found out that his sister’s body was already floating in the shallow part of the sea. Losing a daughter, his father blamed Jose for disobeying him that he will always look and guard his sister. It’s hard for him to accept the fact that his only daughter died. The sacrifice of his wife to risk herself for the sake of their daughter’s life was turn into nothing. Jose then, can’t imagine and accept what had happened. He was silent and shock. He himself can’t believe about the accident.  After the burial, things went wrong inside the house. Mang Nick would always go home late and drunk. He always punches and beat Jose because everytime he looks at him, he remembers that he is the cause of his daughter’s death. On the other side, Jose bears the pain inside. If his father can’t move on about what happened, how much more on his part. He blamed himself and it’s very hard to accept that it’s his fault.

       One day, same thing happened. Mang Nick comes in their house drunk and when he found out that there’s no food on the table, he looks for Jose. Everytime it will happen, it created a trauma on Jose. If he hears the footsteps of his father, he will automatically hide on his room holding his Alkansya and howling. When his father enters the room, he saw Jose. As what he was expecting, he was battered by his father. The worst thing happened is that his father saw the Alkansya and forcefully gets it from him. At first, he hides it from his back but soon, he left with no choice but to give it to his father. After that, he saw that his father throws the Alkansya a distance from their house. He was worried because it might be seen by people who pass by. It was the only memory left by his sister Mary Li and he needs to find it as soon as possible. One morning, he woke up early just to find his Alkansya and luckily, he saw it on the grassy part at the back of their house. He was very thankful to see that it was not destroyed nor broken. After the death of his sister, he continued collecting shells, sell it and put the money inside the Alkansya.

       As days goes by, he can’t bear the pain everytime he was beaten by his father. The next thing he does is to avoid residing in their house instead he stayed on the shoreline where the accident of his younger sister happened. He was holding his Alkansya and talk to himself. He said that if only he was careful that time, his sister will not die. If only his sister was alive now, his father will not be like that. After that, he decides to go home and there, he saw his father peacefully sleeping. He slowly gets his clothes, put it in his old bag and decided to stay away from their home and left his father. But before he left, he put his Alkansyang Kawayan inside an aged wood cabinet and kisses his father to bid goodbye.

      Days and weeks had passed; Mang Nick tried to look for his child Jose but he can’t find him. He was also attacked by an illness cause of too much liquor intake and it affects his whole body. He was then realized that he should appreciate the love of Jose. He should take good care of his child because they are only two of them left. But it was too late. Jose was gone. One morning, when Mang Nick was preparing his jacket because they will put out to sea, he accidentally opened the wood cabinet and there he found out an Alkansyang Kawayan. Tears ran down from his face as he was reading the words written there, to Tatay, from Nene and Toto.

     Mang Nick does not value the existence of his child Jose because he is still living and remembering the past- the past that will not come to pass again.

Kamias as an anti stress formula

                                                        By: Elyrose S. Naorbe                                       

      “You have to have a heart. It’s better to have a good heart in order to help other people because money is not really important but your willingness to help other especially the poor,” an encouraging lines from Ms. Corazon Sinson Juadan, the great woman behind the success of Camias Jigger and turmeric which gained good impression from the customers upon its manufacturing.

        Ma’am Cora as what her students and friends had called her is a retired teacher in Capiz State University wherein she taught fruit processing and preservation. She started doing this kind of business as an experiment because she had noticed one day that there are abundant Camias fruits in Roxas City where she lived. That’s her starting point to make a candied fruits from Camias and along the way of making those candies something pop out in her mind that what if she converts the Camias juice into Camias jigger.

         So what she did is everytime she make camias candies, she also make jigger out of its juices. The name became jigger because according to ma’am Cora the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) advised her that she will name her product as jigger instead of wine because jigger refers to a medication or healing supplement and will not labelled as alcoholic drink. She started experiment this camias jigger within the span of 30 years.

       “I tried to use my products for my own consumption and I found out that it can be a good healing supplement for it heals my illnesses especially stress and migraine.Actually the doctor told me that I have a cyst in my neck part but when I consult for another check-up, it turns out that my illness already disappears through the help of my very own products.” Ma’am Cora explained.

      She get all his fruits within Roxas City because people their do not mind about the existence and great help of this fruit. Her other friends also give her camias which in return, she will give them wine or jigger. Other processed products she sells are tamarind, camote, bignay, tambis and balimbing candies, five fruit cinder, instant salabat, and turmeric. All these processed products are manually made through the help of his nephews and other relative since she doesn’t have her own family.

      She has a lot of fruits and products in her so called laboratory in their house but she has limited financial or budget in the manufacturing of her own products because there are no bottles available for her jigger. As year goes by, all her products became bestsellers especially her wine and jigger. Apparently, through the help of Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Science and Technology, Bureau of Food and Aquatic Resources and Philippine Export, Ma’am Cora has already registered as the manufacturer of those products. Department of Science and Technology give her a presser in order for an easy working during its manufacturing.

    “There’s come a point in time when I feel of giving up due to financial aspects, requirements and processing but because of my prayers, little help of my friends and healing power of my products, I overcome with it. A lot of people who knows my product will visit my house to buy them because they believed that my products will cleanse their bodies and give them a healthy life.” said Ma’am Cora.
  
     “My products are very affordable for it only cost P35.00 to P150.00. My Camias jigger is a better supplement because these fruits are rich in vitamin C. It fights cholesterol and it is used a tonic and a laxative. Syrup made from the fruit is used in French Guyana to cure ailment from jaundice. The fruit is also known to stop internal bleeding in the stomach. As sleep inducer, drink one jigger before sleeping in order to achieve good sleeping habit. The turmeric, also known as curcuma, produces a root that is used to produce the vibrant yellow spice as a culinary spice so often used in curry ideas. Turmeric is a native to India and parts of Asia, and is relative to cardamom and ginger. Laboratory studies have found out that it protects the body from oxidative damage. It also inhibits the development of cataracts, breast cancer, colon cancer, and lymphoma. In one study, smokers that took just one teaspoon of turmeric a day for 30 days had lower level of cancer causing mutagens. The usual dosage is 445 milligrams in capsules or one teaspoon of extract three times a day, or one teaspoon of turmeric powder in warm milk as a digestive aid, “she added.

      Ma’am Cora is now maintaining to have good quality products because she firmly believed that a healthy lifestyle comes from an easy and clean preparation of your products. If you feel weak, pale and stressful, taste some of her products. You can visit her house at Catmon Street, Brgy. Tiza Roxas, Capiz City.

An act of kindness

      There’s no shop that sells kindness. We must build it within ourselves. We can transplant hearts but we can’t transplant a kind and a warm one. We go as we come to this world. In the end nothing is ours to keep. So let’s share what we have to those who have not.

     This story had happened last month when I’m about to go home in Miag-ao. Everytime i go home, it’s my hobby to buy foods to munch and a drink since the travel usually consumes an hour and a half. That particular day, i was very hungry and tired because i did not take my lunch for the reason that we have straight classes. When i reached the terminal or parking area of the jeepneys at around 8:00 PM, i quickly find my wallet inside my bag and look for something to buy and eat. I thought that there are no available stores or kiosks since it’s already late but fortunately, i found a mini store. What i did is look for bread or something that will full my stomach and get some drinks. When I’m done buying my foods, i get inside the jeep so that i can sit comfortably for i know that it will be full of passengers later because students or even workers will also go to their respective homes since weekdays is over.

      While i was started to open my bread and take some bite, i was distracted by a little boy who appeared outside the jeepney and was offering his palm as a sign that he wants also to eat as he was saying “Nong pangayo ko bi, gutom na gid ko. Wala pa ko ka panyaga kag panyapon”. At first i look at the boy’s face. He was like a typical street child. I think that if i will give my food to that boy, i will end up hungry for the rest of my travel but because he looks like really hungry, i gave my food to him and buy another food for myself with some money i left in my wallet. As i gave the food to that boy, i was very happy that i helped him in my own little way. On the other hand, the boy was also very happy to received the food proof that he eat the food quickly and said, “Salamat gid nong may panyapon na ko”.
    
      Upon hearing those words, i can say that what i did was right and no regrets in my part.

      Another act of kindness that I’ve experienced was when i was riding in a jeepney going to school. At first, i think twice if i will really go inside since it seems that all seats are fully occupied. But because i feel that i will be late for my first class and that we will have my exam, i take the jeepney. As what i have expected, it’s very crowded inside the jeep. I feel uncomfortable. It’s very hot and that i can smell the different scents of the passengers. Some are good to smell and there are also foul odours which i thinks causes by the warm weather.

       Along the way, a woman about in the early 40’s, caught my attention. Based on what she wears i can really say that she is an office worker. She caught my attention because of her good-looking face and stunning beauty. She was still smiling despite of the crowded situation. After 30 minutes, all passengers drop by and only the two of us left inside the jeepney. When she was about to stopped the jeep because she’s already in her office, i saw a pink wallet drop by the woman. So what i did was to immediately stop the jeepney and called the woman as i give her wallet. I think that she needs her wallet because i can see some receipts and cards inside for it was not fully closed. After i gave her wallet, he uttered a simple thank you to me. I feel great upon hearing those words. I can say that indeed, it’s good to help other people not just because you want a thank you from them but because you had helped those people who really need your help.

        It’s great to help other people even in your own simple way. Things happen because we choose to. We are where we are because we brought ourselves there. You can’t easily find a person who possesses kindness nowadays but still, it’s great to find one who is willing to help no matter what and without expecting in return. That act of kindness, even it is simple must be appreciated as well for we are giving an opportunity to help other people.

       Indeed, it’s better to give than to receive. It’s overwhelming on the part of the giver and the helper to give kindness to those people who wants their need.