Banario ready for first title defense

WITH Asia's largest mix martial (MMA) arts promotion returning to Manila on May, Igorot fighting pride Honorio Banario is set to defend his title against a Japanese submission specialist.

Banario, winner of the first featherweight belt in One Fighting Championships (One FC), will battle Koji Oishi when the promotions returns to the fight capital of Asia at the 20,000-seater SM Mall of Asia Arena in what is expected to be the greatest fight card ever compiled in One FC history.

Pulag to welcome trekkers anew

THE country's second highest mountain peak, Mt. Pulag, will once again be a busy venue as outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers for the Akiki Extreme Adventure Trek scale its heights on April 28 to 30.

Considered the most difficult route towards the peak of Mount Pulag, seasoned hikers claim it as one hasn't conquered Mount Pulag unless one traversed the Akiki Trail.

Vinluan: Precautions during summer heat exercise

SUMMER is the time when most people are enthusiastically participating in different sports activities, the time of year when people indulge themselves in adventures, in the outdoors camping, running, swimming, etc. yet few understands the environmental problems associated with exercising in extremely hot climates. It may be fun, but without taking the proper precautions may not only lead to discomfort but also serious injury or even death.

Summer sports activities are to be chosen and know about the activity more before indulging yourself to avoid problems. Because in general, an individual's ability to perform physical activities or exercise affects the physiological acclimatization of the individual in hot climates, high altitudes, cold weather etc. where proper precautions should be taken.

Cordi bets eye better finish in 2013 Palaro

CORDILLERA region formally gears up and try to better their 11th place finish last year in the upcoming Palarong Pambansa to be held in Negros Oriental from April 21 to 27.

One hundred eighty-three elementary and 211 high school student athletes from the six provinces and Baguio City will comprise bulk of the region’s delegation which starts to ship out to Dumaguete today, Wednesday, until the weekend.

Kiko football camp draws huge crowd

WITH the purpose of promoting and developing football in the grass roots level, the 2013 Kiko Summer Football Camp has drawn the largest numbers of participants coming from all over since it started in 2008.

The weeklong football camp which started April 8 and ends April 12 has been a regular fixture of summer clinic with 350 upcoming football players enrolling in La Trinidad which the Benguet State University (BSU) is graciously hosting.

Belingon batters foe in One FC grand prix 

AS IF fighting for dear life, Igorot mix martial arts fighter Kevin Belingon scored another sensational win by stopping his opponent in the second round of the One Fighting Championship’s (One FC) ‘Kings and Champions’ during the weekend.

Belingon imposed his striking power against the Viet-Aussie Thanh Vu via a referee stoppage contest in the first minute of the second round to advance in the One FC Bantamweight Grand Prix final at the jam-packed Singapore Indoor Stadium during the weekend.

SLU-LHS, UC devour foes in 4th Miners Cup

THE University of Cordilleras (UC) and the Saint Louis University-Laboratory High School (SLU-LHS) hoopers showed no mercy against their opponents during the opening games of the annual Miners Cup Basketball tourney, April 6, at the BCNHS gymnasium.

With seven teams vying for this year’s top post in the 16-under and 14-under categories, SLU-LHS fielded three teams in the 16-under category and one in the 14-under division. While host Baguio City National High School (BCNHS) was the lone contender in the 16-under division.

Mantilez, Bengtay dominate 2nd Ugo Trail run

USING his familiarity with the course, Dino Mantilez bested other runners and recorded a feat in topping the full marathon in the staging of the 2nd Mt. Ugo Trail and half marathon recently.   

Firing off in Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya, the 42 and 21 kilometer race was an out and back trail run which is part of the King of the Mountain-Trail Run Philippines Series.

Mandapat rules 3rd Apache Golf

FIRING away a five over 66, Bong Mandapat carded in the best score for 49 Molave points to win the overall championship in the third Apache Golf Tournament.

The former DOTC cordillera regional director was five points better than Buster delos Santos, who went home with the class A title in the Apache's A division.

Ex-Lady Jag seeks funding for Russian tilt

DEAD serious on her campaign abroad, former University of the Cordilleras top spiker Cindy Benitez is knocking on good Samaritans’ doors to help finance her trip to the World University Games in July this year.

Benitez, together with her partner, will represent the country in Kazan, Russia for the international competition which is dubbed as the Olympiad for University students.

Realty firm backs football clinic

WITH the success of their different football tournaments, realty firm Goshen Land is once again coming up with another Summer Football Clinic at the Melvin Jones football field later this month.

Two modules will be part of the clinic scheduled on April 15 to 26 and the second module is on April 29 to May 10.

Families seen to grace 3rd Bishop Cenzon Run

PUTTING a premier on family values, the third Bishop Cenzon Run is all set to fire off runners on Sunday, April 7, at the Burnham Park Lake Drive.

Prizes and surprises await all runners in the three-kilometer (3K), 5K, 10K and 21K event with a special 3K family package add on in the fun run, which was added  to focus on the need to inculcate among the family members the importance of excellent health.

2 Ibaloy war and sports heroes

IN HIS editorial for the Mountain Breeze, the student publication of what is now the Benguet State University (BSU), journalist Primitivo Mijares wrote in 1948 or 49:

“If you look at Willy Faustino, the best in the 1500 m. run in the Philippines today, you will not think he is really the Philippines’ best. It is not that he does not deserve it because he ran against the best in the open meet but it is because Willy Faustino is so unassuming he is even shy talking about his laurels.”

Padilla: Viloria defense title fight vs Estrada set tonight in Macao

THE much awaited title defense fight of Fil-Am World Boxing Organization and World Boxing Association Champion Brian Viloria against Mexican challenger Juan Fransisco Estrada will take place tonight at the Venetian Macao, a sprawling luxury hotel and Casino. Macau, a former Portugese domain is presently famed as the Las Vegas of Asia.

“I have done my homework and I know how to pull off a win,” said the 32-year-old WBO-WBA world flyweight titlist, whose parents roots are from Narvacan, Ilocos Sur. Of course and from all indication, Brian is the heavy favorite to win the rumble against his respected opponent.

Mt. Province boxer upbeat despite loss in Africa

DESPITE giving his all, Mt. Province boxing pride Dayer Gabutan fell short of a possible title match when he lost to African Vusi Malinga for the IBF bantamweight title eliminator in Brakpan, Gauteng, South Africa recently.

It was Gabutan's second career loss after racking up 12 straight victories since his first defeat in 2009 with a 113-115, 111-117, 112-116 unanimous scoring in favor of the older Malinga, who improved his record to 21 wins including 12 knockouts, four loses and a draw.

Benguet councilors honor Caraa medalists

FOLLOWING their second place finish, Benguet officials penned a resolution commending their athletes’ effort in the 2013 edition of the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (Caraa) held in Luna, Apayao.

Benguet barely escaped Apayao for the number two spot with 434.60 points after winning football, women’s artistic gymnastics, sepak takraw, and tennis boys (tied with Mt. Province) in the elementary division while the secondary squad took the chess girls, softball, volleyball boys crown.

Local boxing promoter honored in Thailand

LOCAL boxing promoter and manager Brico Santig recently received another major boxing award following the accomplishment of his boxers in local and international shores.

For the second year in a row, Santig received the coveted "WBC Asia-Pacific Promoter of the year Award" during a formal awards ceremony held at Asia Hotel in Bangkok, Kingdom of Thailand recently.

It’s foreigners vs locals in TNF 100

ELITE runners from around the globe are set to arrive in Baguio City early next week as The North Face 100 (TNF 100) ultra-trail marathon sees action from April 20 and 21 at the Camp John Hay.

Leading the cast of world class ultra-marathon runners include Diane Van Deren, a member of the TNF Global Team.

Vinluan: The need for nutrition information

“DID I eat that?” Spelled as “DIET,” this was of little interest to people until research showed the relationship between diet and health problems such as heart disease, obesity, diabetes, etc. Unfortunately, along with the growing public interest, a widespread nutrition misinformation and nutrition myths have made it difficult to determine the validity of statements of the so called nutritional experts.

Large field seen in North Face 100 

THIS early, close to 1,300 elite ultra-runners from across the globe test their mettle in the 2013 staging of The North Face 100 (TNF 100) on April 20 and 21 in Baguio City.

Expected to draw huge participation from foreign runners, TNF 100 is the first ultra-trail running marathon series in the Asia Pacific region with four race categories including the grueling 100-kilometer (100K) run starting at Camp John Hay.

Belingon readies bid for One FC

KEVIN Belingon’s hunt for a possible world title formally opens as he takes on a known Viet fighter on Friday, April 5, at the Singapore Stadium in One Fighting Championship (One FC) event dubbed Kings and Champions.       The reigning flyweight champion in the Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC) is set to take on Vietnamese-Australian Thanh Vu for the One FC Bantamweight Grand Prix semi-final fight with former lightweight world champion from the United States, Jens Pulver taking on Japan’s Masakatsu Ueda.

Lang-ay Festival set, features ‘moto-cause’

MOUNTAIN Province celebrates its 46th founding anniversary in the Lang-ay festival April 1-9 showcasing the province's rich cultural heritage, and for the first time will feature a “moto-cause” event - a double fun and adventure bike race with a humanitarian cause.

Provincial Information Officer Angel Baybay disclosed aside from cultural presentations, street dancing and agri trade fair, a “moto-cause” was staged on Monday.

Paralympians honored in simple rites

FOLLOWING their recent gold medal haul, Baguio City officials took time out to honor a group of paralympians after their recent feat in the 2nd PhilSpada National Paralympics Open recently.

The city bagged home 12 gold, six silver and eight bronze medals during the 2nd PhilSpada at the San Luis Educational, Cultural and Sport Village in Sta. Cruz, Mani.

Third Bishop Run for a cause slated

PITCHING in his support for the environment, Bishop Carlito Cenzon of the Baguio–Benguet Vicariate fires off a series of run-for-a-cause in Baguio City.

With four categories, the third offering of the Bishop Cenzon Run is expected to lure elite runners in Baguio and Benguet for the 21K and 10K event that will also include 3K and 5K.

Remembering 2 Ibaloy war and sports heroes

(As Cordillera athletes gear up for the “Palarong Pambansa” this April in Dumaguete, and as Baguio and the rest of the region prepare to mark the liberation of the city and the region at the end of the second world war, the young may draw inspiration from two guerrilla fighters whose sports glories in the ‘50s are recalled in this two-part series.)

THE late Igorot champion wrestler and shotokan karate blackbelt James Brett used to say Ibaloy trackster Melecio Besara had won more medals than you could pin on his chest and back.

Lady Cardinals win TCS beach volley

BUCKING off a poor start, University of Baguio’s (UB) Joan Lunday and May Madulid stormed the sand in the second and third set to hack out an 11-21, 21-15, 15-7 victory and win the highly competitive division of the first TrueColors BBEAL Panagbenga Women's Beach Volleyball at the Baguio Athletic bowl Monday.

Despite a strong start, the pair of Roxanne Almonte and Maureen Agudia of the University of the Cordilleras (UC) who failed to sustain the gains of their counterpart in group B of the event was delayed by three weeks and further delayed by the rains which put construction to a grinding halt for two days, Friday and Saturday.

Out of towners dominate City High open

A NOVO Ecijano and another visiting Bulakeño topped their respective divisions at the close of the 2013 Regional Open Chess Tournament over the weekend at the Baguio City National High School Library.

Ronn David Sebastian and Van Luzon from Talavera, Nueva Ecija and Del Monte, Bulacan, respectively, scored 6.5 of the possible seven points to win the seven round Swiss Tournament organized by the BCNHS MAPEH teachers.

Baguio boy grabs record high in Paralympics

PHYSICALLY challenged athletes in this mountain resort proved handicap is no excuse in excelling in sports.

Eight differently-abled athletes brought home pride and honor to Baguio City once again in the 2nd Philippine Sports Commission-Philspada Para National Games last March 15 to 23 in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

Lady Jaguars wax hot in TCS volley tilt

VETERAN Roxanne Almonte and Maureen Agudia made their presence felt in scoring victories after victories for the  highly competitive Group A of the TrueColors BBEAL Panagbenga Women's Beach Volleyball Sunday at the Baguio Athletic Bowl. 

Almonte even survived a fall and score for the team as they beat University of Baguio 2, 21-15, in their opening game.

Anton, Potenciano top San Pablo race

CHAMPIONS in different races, Carlos Anton and Mike Potenciano drove to excellence during the weekend and take the top honors at the close of Race of Champions held in San Pablo Laguna. 

Using a Chevy Cruze car, both accomplished race car drivers posted their fastest times thru the highly technical autocross track set up in town center of San Pablo.