KENNETH PORIO | the blog

Happy Six!

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Bernejay Porio) — Sat, 26 May 2012 03:15:00 +0000

My blog's now six years-old! How the years have gone!

This personal blog of mine may be quite inactive because of my work, I will not hesitate myself to post things that I am happy to share with in these past years.

For six years, this is where I share my stellar, wonderful life. It has been rocky, but I look ahead of a great journey.

Thanks for those who believed in me, and I am grateful for it.

Move on!

KENNETH

The Kenneth Porio Animations

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Bernejay Porio) — Sun, 13 May 2012 03:40:00 +0000

In celebration of my blog's Sixth Anniversary, I present to you a new series of Animations for you to enjoy. All of them are produced through Xtranormal on YouTube.

My first animation is called The Serious News, a non-conventional news bulletin, hosted by Fred and Anna. Here they present news and current issues in a way you will enjoy.

My next animation is called The Office Show, hosted by Jane and Andrew, where they discuss business news, and trends in the corporate office.

My third series is called My Urban Life, about a man named Jacko, sharing his life in the streets, and how he loves his girlfriend Ashanti.

So, don't miss all the excitement with my animation series. Enjoy!

KENNETH

Junk Food: More Fun in the Philippines?!

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Bernejay Porio) — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:48:00 +0000

CNN's Kyung Lah talks to a local woman seeking for pagpag.

CNN International has been running reports on the Philippines through its Eye On... series. The week-long coverage will cover the best sites of the Philippines, the emerging economy, its governance and current issues like poverty.

Speaking of poverty, the news network broadcasted this report by Kyung Lah about a practice that is happening in the depressed slums of Manila.

Pagpag is a Tagalog term which means "to dust off." But in the context of these poverty-stricken communities, pagpag is food thrown off by restaurants that are being recovered by these poor people and are being re-cooked for their consumption. Dennis Villegas made an excellent write-up on pagpag and how it has been affecting the urban poor community.

This report clearly shocked a lot of Filipinos who could afford to subscribe to cable television and watch CNN. Reactions from social media indicate this is a report that is an ironic and a deliberating blow to the tourism campaign It's More Fun in the Philippines, a campaign that has begun its international debut through CNN's Eye On the Philippines series. Commercials of the tourism campaign are currently being aired back-to-back with the reports. Many are saddened, disgusted, and flabbergasted of this sick condition.

In my opinion, while the series was intended to coincide with the Asian Development Bank Summit 2012 in Manila, and the It's More Fun in the Philippines tourism campaign, CNN had to present the extreme sides of the country's situation to bring more depth to an international view of the country. The news network is being broadcast in 280 million households, hotels, airports and ocean cruises around the world. CNN is a very trusted news organization by business experts, market leaders and consumers. Therefore, bringing this situation around the world makes a clear view on how to invest in the Philippines - by alleviating, or even eliminating the poverty its underprivileged citizens suffer. It's not just about the fun that may attract investors, it's also about the suffering, the sorrows, the pain that can give them a second look on the Philippines. It can start with this situation of hunger of these people looking for scraps.

What are your thoughts on this report? Is this damaging the reputation of the Filipino people? Will you think over on how you consume your Jolibee Chickenjoy, Greenwich Overload, Big Mac or Dunkin' Donuts? Can this be resolved? Think about it.

KENNETH

Athletes: More Fun in the Philippines (Part 2)

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Bernejay Porio) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 06:06:00 +0000

This is Part 2 of a series of posts about the curious case of celebrity among Philippine athletes. You are encouraged to read Part 1 of the series.

Volcanoes strut their stuff shirtless.

In my previous post, I introduced on why do a number of Filipino athletes are treated like celebrities. In the example of the Philippine football scene, the recent successes of the Azkals national team came fruit due to talented and incidentally good-looking players. In basketball, the arrival of Chris Tiu and Kiefer Ravena in the national side started a new generation of gwapo in the hard-court since the Alvin Patrimonio generation.

Now we continue the series with the case of our rugby and racing scene.

The Philippine Volcanoes and the Explosion of Rugby

Ned Stephenson of the Volcanoes in Bench undies.

Rugby football or simply "rugby" is little-known in the Philippines. It isn't as prominent or as widely-preferred as football or soccer, although they are both originated from England. But it gained so much attention when, in mid-2011, the national rugby union team, nicknamed the Volcanoes, made airwaves when some of its members posed in underwear for a local clothing brand, as part of a campaign in which the football national team captain Aly Borromeo was involved as well. It was shown in billboards in a major thoroughfare in Metro Manila which made some passersbys raise eyebrows. It was soon taken down by the authorities citing indecency.

Controversy aside, the rugby team soon gained a female fanbase as it happened that these players are also of mixed heritage like the Azkals. Most of them come from nations considered as rugby hotbeds: Australia and New Zealand. Like the Azkals, most of them have foreign fathers and Filipina mothers, although some are wholly Filipino who happened to grow up in these countries. With this, they finally got some attention from those who admire beautiful athletic bodies, and handsome faces. But for sporting pundits, it was perceived in another light.

Another English game is gaining ground in Filipino soil.

At that time, the rugby team was promoted to Division One for the Asian region after winning the Asian5Nations Division Two tournament. And it has been doing decent performances in regional competitions. Soon they also got some support from the private sector so as to have them participate in these international matches. This year, they are now vying for promotion to the Elite Five of Asia in order to qualify for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, the prestigious competition for rugby football, to be held in England. And that could be made through winning the Asian5Nations Division One tournament in which the Philippines is host.

Now the sport of rugby is being introduced to the country as a grassroots program is being developed. Interested kids are also being taught in free clinics organized by the rugby team. Rugby supporters are being formed. And a national rugby league is being planned as well.

In my point of view, the Volcanoes could be considered as another source of Pinoy pride in team sports, like the Azkals. Behind the incidentally good-looking boys are men who play for the nation's pride and honour. As they venture in better grounds, they need the support of the Filipinos as well.

Who knows? While we still anticipate the Azkals to have a breakthrough in qualifying for the FIFA World Cup, aren't we even prouder if the Volcanoes who play "soccer's cousin" would qualify for their sport's World Cup?

Pinoy Auto Racers Can be Glamour Boys, Too.

Marlon Stoeckinger: next Asian F1 superstar?

Many thought Filipinos don't have an advantage in auto racing. Its streets are crowded with traffic, a few expressways here and there and there isn't much big racing circuits to go into.

But here came a surprise package. Still considered young to drive, 21 year-old Marlon Stöckinger gained the attention of racing fans all over South East Asia. Why? He is the first Filipino to win a formula race in Europe.

Matteo Guidicelli was a champion racer before showbiz.

The lad, who has a Swiss father and a Filipina mother, was born and raised in Manila, but had experienced being trained in auto racing through his father, a businessman and a racing enthusiast back in Switzerland. Growing up, he was exposed to kart racing, and even became a fellow of now actor and commercial model Matteo Guidicelli, whose Italian father was also a racing enthusiast.

Although Guidicelli moved on to showbiz, Stockinger pursued a more prominent career path to become a professional auto racer. He moved to Europe when he turned 17 to compete in the Formula Renault series. In 2009, Stockinger made his debut in the UK in the British Formula Renault Series alongside promising newcomers Harry Tincknell, Matias Laine and Will Stevens. He placed 20th in his debut and eventually made his best record in that level as 11th place in Round 8.

In the following season in 2010, he was able to finish third at Rockingham Motor Speedway, his best result ever in two seasons. At the Croft Circuit in the 8th round, he started from pole and finished the race first, becoming the first Filipino to have won a formula race in the continent. He moved to the GP3 series in 2011 and is continually climbing up the ranks.

Here's the thing: auto racing is a very mentally and physically-demanding sport. It requires hand-eye coordination, upper body fitness and quick strategy. Aside from that, auto racing is considered a glamour sport, mainly supported by the higher class. And with that glamour comes fame and women. Yeah, you're thinking popping up a bottle of champagne over skimpy women in revealing dresses. Well, that happens in Europe. But in the Philippines and the rest of South East Asia? Women regard him as a gwapo boy made specifically for teenybopper publications. He has graced full spreads of teen magazines more than he does racing magazines the country. This guy actually has a fanbase in Malaysia and Singapore. He has guested in showbiz shows and was even linked to a teen actress-model.

Why the buzz, you see? Should he progress in this series, he progresses to more prominent motor-racing tiers until he reaches Formula racing status - and maybe make into Formula One. Who knows when?

Next in the series is the emergence of attractive Filipina athletes. Stay tuned!
KENNETH

Athletes: More Fun in the Philippines (Part 1)

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Bernejay Porio) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

This is a series of posts about the curious case of attractive Filipino athletes in the international scene. Part 1 discusses football and basketball.

James and Phil Younghusband, modern sports celebrities of Asia.

Admit it. We Filipinos have the best-looking athletes in Asia. We seem so blessed with talented people who happened to be raised with a foreign parentage on either side (father or mother), grown up somewhere else (particularly in Europe), and speak a different language other than those we used to speak. Lately, with the emergence of the Philippine national football team, fondly called the Azkals, it seemed there was a sudden boom of athletic talent and national pride that is topped with a certain sex appeal no sport pundit ever expected. Our country was soon littered with sport stars-slash-sex symbols.

In RJ Ledesma's recent column on the Philippine Star, where he interviewed Loyola Meralco Sparks and national team striker Phil Younghusband (right of above photo), Phil admits never expecting to become a "sex symbol" when he was growing up in England. He was just thinking around his football and having fun, and never bothered about his physique or how he would look like when he grew up as an adult. That could be the thought of his brother James (left) as well.

Footie Heartthrobs

Irfan Bachdim of the Indonesia national team.

Let's look outside the country first. I would like to share this case from Indonesia about footballer Irfan Bachdim. Bachdim has Dutch parentage through his mother, and grew up in the Netherlands. When the striker-winger arrived to play for the Indonesia national team a few years back, became a national sensation, not really because of his footballing skills (he has experience in the Dutch Eredivisie with FC Utrecht), but it was because of his looks - just because he was a "mixed breed" - particularly his "green eyes."

His performance for the Indonesia national team in the 2010 Suzuki Cup made him well known among the Indonesian public. He rapidly gained a large following, particularly among women. And with that came many commercial endorsements, like the Filipino booters. But it cost him a lot. He was recently suspended by the PSSI (Indonesia's governing body in football) for not showing up with the Under-23 team for the 2011 Southeast Asian Games, just for the excuse that he was going into a "photoshoot for a magazine."

Now, if you look at the Philippines' neighbouring countries, most of their football teams do have the skills but aren't appreciated well by the general public, especially the youth, outside their playing career. Yes, they do have commercial endorsements here and there but they don't incite this certain appeal that the Filipinos booters have. Bachdim is Indonesia's only "pretty boy" footballer out there. The likes of him are very rare in Indonesia where mixed parentage, whether for the reason of ethnicity or religion, is often discouraged. It happens in other countries as well. Plus, people in these countries suggest they are not "fan friendly," even while playing club football. Reports indicate they snub out fans who want autographs and take pictures with them.

PHL U-23 vice captain Manny Ott with Indonesian fans.

So here's where the Pinoy booters come into the picture. You could take away the advantages of some of them who grew up with mixed heritage, but you can't take away their being "fan friendly." It might be due to the character of hospitality and pakikisama in Filipino culture that helps these boys get appreciation by the public. Take a look at the Filipino Under-23 team of the 2011 SEA Games. They may be the tournament's doormat, but they certainly gained fans. I had a contact with an Indonesian fan who had met these boys during the SEA Games, and she said they are more handsome, but most certainly she insisted that they were more friendly and accommodating than her national team, who "do not like being disturbed." She already met the senior team during the 2010 Suzuki Cup and the feeling is still the same for her.

If not for their looks, foreign eyes would see these guys as typically skilled players who ply their trade in Europe or having a career in the local league. But now, they are seen as models of a new generation of celebrity sport stars, where skill and appeal come together for a total package. They are the new definition of the matipuno, the strong, manly physique that is now appreciated in world standards. They might certainly not pursue a showbiz career, but they enjoy a fanbase of Hollywood-like proportions.

Basketball Prowess, with a Hint of Gwapo

Jeremy Lin, the newest Asian craze in basketball.

Yeah, the Philippines is a basketball-crazed country, and I think will remain to be one. The NBA is still being broadcast on Filipino TV sets. The PBA is still active in AKTV (pun intended). But in recent years, foreign eyes seem to now view the Filipino cagers as "has-beens" - players who dominated in the past, but now being outplayed by bigger, stronger sides during international matches. Another disadvantage being observed is that, although Filipinos have the athleticism and determination to win, the dominant trait of having a short stature continues to come with them.

Now, with the craze encircling the popularity of Jeremy Lin, the Taiwanese-American player of the New York Knicks of the NBA, popularly called "Lin-sanity," it's becoming a slap on the face for Filipinos that their players could not even make the cut to the world's most popular basketball league. It's even sadder to think a Cinderella story could happen to this Taiwanese player who at the time was just doing his basketball at Harvard University. Our reason of height is to blame, but is the inferiority complex ingrained in Filipinos be blamed as well?

But what did the Pinoys do in recent years to beef up the team? Aside from naturalising skilled players from abroad, they recruited skilled and promising players from collegiate leagues (as usual), but with a twist. They turned out to be gwapo.

Chris Tiu, Pilipinas hard-court heatthrob.

Take a look at Chris Tiu, a player from the Ateneo Blue Eagles with Chinese heritage.He came into the limelight a few years back when the national basketball team, fondly called Gilas Pilipinas or Smart Gilas (for sponsorship reasons), was under scrutiny over very bad international losses. Tiu was a skilled player at the Ateneo de Manila University, but what was put in the mix for this guy was of his being attractive to young women back at AdMU, and now with the general female populace.

With him in the national team, popularity and interest of the sport increased, and extended to the then-young females who are well-attracted to "cute guys" in the collegiate league. This generated commercial income for Tiu, who became endorsers of numerous consumer goods, from telecommunications, to sportswear to mouthwash. He also became prominent in TV hosting as well, being seen in numerous general knowledge feature shows like the local adaptation of Ripley's Believe It... Or Not, although not well received by the critical viewing public.

Nevertheless, Chris Tiu is still a well-loved centerpiece for Philippine basketball. Although not yet playing professionally for the PBA, he is still well regarded as a skilled player.

In recent days, though, the Philippine international basketball scene became even more glamorous, thanks to the addition of another young player from Ateneo. His name: Kiefer Ravena.

Kiefer Ravena, the new boy-next-door of Pinoy basketball.

This young lad from the Blue Eagles was already a crazed personality back in university as he played for the team in the UAAP. His scoring and passing was impeccable, but his "charm" did wonders more for female fans. In that time, he was already gracing full spreads in teen magazines creating a bubbly giggle to them when they meet Kiefer during games.

When he was called up for the national youth basketball team during the 2011 SEA Games, it became a media frenzy not only in the Philippines, but also in neighbouring countries. Yes, they already expected the Filipinos to dominate as opposed to the football team. But adding spice to the concoction was the "cuteness" of Ravena that attracted fans from neighbouring nations during the tournament. News reports indicated that after games, the female fans flock into the hardcourt wanting to get near the team, especially Ravena, for autographs and pictures. Like the U23 Azkals, the Indonesian fan I had contact with also came to see the cagers.

It's so ironic to tell how Kiefer was being so attractive to female fans, given that he grew up here in the Philippines with no dominant foreign lineage whatsoever. Was it because he was already gwapo? or his boyish charm, or whatever? I don't know exactly.

Nonetheless, our basketball dominance is now added with that gwapo factor in which foreigners now appreciate.

Next in the series is the explosion of rugby football in the country brought up by the Philippine Volcanoes, the Pinoy racing wonder Marlon Stöckinger, and next to it is the healthy influx of Pinay athletes in the Pinoy sporting scene.
KENNETH

Moments of Dev Stress

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Bernejay Porio) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:33:00 +0000

There were times I just couldn't stand the stress of being in front of my dear lappie, typing and surfing the Web all day finding solutions to my dev problems.

I mean, how can you survive staring at that Notepad++ window seeing those eye-straining lines of colour-coded code depicted in oh-so-boring Courier New. Like, can we just change the font to a more legible one or put some colourful character to it as a background?

Or at those times when you were desperately looking for a decent WiFi connection around the city for you to download the latest IDE release, the latest XAMPP package, or the recent Ubuntu Linux version, wasn't it painstakingly done? That 800 MB installer through BitTorrent won't cut into your mobile broadband stick's data cap. What a shame.

Or fixing the problem with your slow, outdated computer, making stress of repairable defects. The headphone jack is loose, the LCD screen border just cracked, you hardly press the Return key. Can't help but whine over it.

In most cases, I would just have contracted symptoms of dev stress.

I'm a software developer. Not just a programmer who types lines of code. I have to plan. I have to think quick yet easy. With that, stress is inevitable. You feel uneasy. You feel irritated. You feel things can stop. Your body aches. Lots more.

What do I do to de-stress myself?

1. Have cups of tea. I'm more of a tea person. Coffee just doesn't really work wonders for me. That excess caffeine doesn't help me stay awake, it even makes me more sleepy. That's why I settled for warm tea, preferably green tea or orange pekoe tea. I don't really put much sugar in it; I like it more with cream and a squeeze of lemon or calamansi. I keep it full-bodied for that soothing yet uplifting flavour. Plus I get cathechins and other antioxidants in it! Perfect with light snacks of cookies or cupcakes!

2. Once in a while I exercise. I stretch my limbs and arms. I do neck exercises. I close my eyes for a while. During lab exercises in school, I don't really like staring at the screen most of the time. It's not good for the eyes. If possible, I wiggle my hands and toes just to keep the blood flow going and not let it go numb.

3. Keep a mirror handy. Even a glossy-screen gadget can do. Although I loathe glossy screens on laptops, it certainly doesn't for cellphones, as it can serve as a portable mirror as well. Once in a while, I stare at that glossy object and make faces, but never ever forget to smile! It's a great facial exercise!

4. Release my inner me on my code's comments! Unless your project's a very serious business application, I put some funny comments on my code just to release. Maybe some text art, jokes or cheesy lines that describe the code. For instance, in one of my Special Problem's modules which helps post feedback, I put something like this on the script:

public function insert_log($input)
    {
//When you want to send love, please use this.
//   ^^^^^^^^
// (== V == )/ ! --Paging the love bug... we need feedback
// << / ||| >>
//   ==   ==

        return $this->db->insert('contact_log', array(
            'name' => $input['name'], //Tell me your name...
            'email' => $input['email'], //...oh please tell me your name
            'subject' => $input['subject'], //what do you do for a living
            'message' => $input['message'], //what do you want me to do
            'company_name' => $input['company_name'], //are you mine?
            'sender_agent' => $input['sender_agent'], //what do you use?
            'sender_ip' => $input['sender_ip'], //your specific place in my heart
            'sender_os' => $input['sender_os'], //how you use your love life
            'sent_at' => time(), //remember the time we met together
        ));    }

Haha. But be sure you remove it on your final release. Unless your boss likes it.

5. Finally, think of the LORD always. Be reminded that He is always with you every step of the way.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

That's what He commanded to us. Communication with Him will help you settle these things.

Stress happens, but it can always be managed. Have a great day!
KENNETH

A Fresh Perspective

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Bernejay Porio) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 05:13:00 +0000

It's been a long time since I've been blogging here. I've been so busy working with my Special Problem, juggling with my academics, communicating with people in my new-found online communities, and enjoying a great journey in living my last few months of my college life in UP Mindanao.

I've moved on from the messy layout of my blog, and I'm now reverting to one of Blogger's default layouts - which is the dynamic views layout. I want a fresher, more streamlined experience for my readers. Something easier on the eye.

My blog will turn 6 this May, and I want to make it early to create this change. As days go by, I'll be sharing to you more of my thoughts about my life in UP, the Pinoy football scene, current affairs, and so much more.

So, how do you look at life? Hoping it stays fresh.

KENNETH

A Century of Paulino Alcántara

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Bernejay Porio) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 16:56:00 +0000

A hundred years on, his face still binds in the consciousness of Barcelona, and now lives in the new generation of Pinoy football players and fanatics.

Twenty-six years ago, the Filipino people united together in EDSA to peacefully put an end to a regime that has put the Philippines in chains for three decades.

But there was an event that was long ignored by Filipinos in the sporting world.

A hundred years ago, a Filipino made an impact to the nation as the youngest player to debut in one of the world's most prestigious football clubs. His name: Paulino Alcántara.

On February 25, 1912, at the age of 15 years, 4 months and 18 days, the Filipino-Spanish mestizo, capped his first game for F.C. Barcelona, one of the world's most famous, most wealthy, most influential and most revered football clubs, that currently boasts the likes of Lionel Messi of Argentina and Cesc Fàbregas of Spain. At a tender age, the Ilonggo-native not only capped for the team, but also scored three goals - a hat-trick - for the team, as he held Barça to a 9-0 win against Catalá SC in the Campionat de Catalunya (Catalan football championship) at the old Carrer de la Indústria ground.

He was born in Iloilo in October 7, 1896, to a Spanish father and a Filipina mother. Although he is a mestizo, a mixed-breed like a handful of players of the current Philippine national team, fondly called the Azkals, he wasn't muscular, tall or uniquely good-looking. Alcántara looks like the average Pinoy: a lanky build, an average height of 5'7", and an appearance of an ordinary citizen of the time. Despite his average appearance, it compensated for his excellent skills in handling and shooting the ball.

Modern legend Lionel Messi of Argentina still couldn't challenge Alcantara's record.

Barça's stunning success in the early times of professional football was attributed to the wonder kid. His records with Barça is still unbeaten by anyone, even with the modern day's most revered living football legend Lionel Messi. He is the youngest to debut for the club's first team at the age of 15, and the player with the most number of goals, scoring at least a goal each during his 357 appearances.

In the international scene, Alcántara capped for the national teams of Catalonia, Spain and the Philippines. Although there have been other footballers who featured themselves in European clubs at that time like Manuel Amachezurra and Eduardo Teus, only Alcántara was able to go back to his country of birth to represent it in international matches. During his stint with Las Islas Filipinas, he led the scoring in the 15-2 win against the Japanese national team during the 1917 Far Eastern Championship (the precursor of the Asian Games) in Tokyo, the biggest win for the Philippines up to this day. It was reported to be an embarrasment for the home team, and the loss was so intense, some of the Japanese players committed suicide through hara-kiri. During his stint with Spain, he is attributed for scoring a goal that not only found the back of the net, but also breaking it in the process, earning him the nicknames El Rompe Redes, Trencaxarxes, the Net-breaker.

El Rompe Redes

On July 5, 1927, at 31 years of age, he retired from playing football to pursue his medical career. In his honour, a testimonial match between Barça and the Spanish national team was held to dedicate to the legend whose unchallenged record was simply a sight to behold.

In the decades that followed, however, his memory and legacy faded in the consciousness of Filipinos as they become endeared to basketball, a sport that spread across the country due to the American influence. Unfortunately, the sport did not love them back, as it brought undesirable results through the years, just because the Filipino did not have the physical attributes to compete in a sport that prefers height. And during football's most prestigious event, the FIFA World Cup, Filipinos are more glued watching the NBA Finals (which happens to coincide with the tournament) than the Cup competition, which is more watched worldwide .

Here, a few Filipinos have realized that there is something wrong. Football should have been part of the Filipino consciousness. It should have been part of the Filipino sporting culture, which has degraded since basketball arrived. It should have made the country prosper.

Until the Azkals burst into the scene.

That miracle in Hanoi in 2010 brought back what was lost in the Filipino - the love for football and support for sport. With football back to the consciouness of the masses, it raised questions if, indeed, the Philippines had a history of the sport, and if there was a legend that brought a lasting foundation during those years. And they were brought back to Paulino Alcántara.

The Azkals brought Alcantara's memory back to Filipinos.

When Alcántara's memory faded away, it led the Philippines into the pit of the football arena. It lost its spark and glory. It lost its luster and prestige. And the national team became known as the Azkals, asong kalye, street dogs. Stray dogs searching for scraps. Men struggling to make a living. Footballers trying to bring honour to the nation at their own expense, only to be ignored, stepped on and being laughed upon. It became painful. Now that it has being brought to an end, Alcántara's legacy lives on to the new generation of Pinoy footballers who pursue a greatness that has long lost since the days of El Rompe Redes.

His memory still lives strong in Barcelona. He is still revered as a Barça legend, wonder kid and trailblazer. His memory still lived in the minds of a few Filipinos who dreamed of a day that the sport would be able to return to the nation, to be able to bring back pride and honour once lost. And it did, and no other way was possible to rekindle the passion back again than to introduce fellow Filipinos to the man named Paulino Alcántara.

So if someone tells you that the Filipino doesn't have a history in football, tell them about this man.

Mabuhay ka, Señor Alcántara!

KENNETH

Philippine Football in the Digital Age

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Bernejay Porio) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:54:00 +0000

Wonder why everytime these men flock together, fans flock together as well? Blame social media. (credits to jonny)

On that night on December 5, 2010, when the few Filipino football fans who have watched the Philippine national football team win against the national team of Vietnam, the then-defending Suzuki Cup champions, they logged-in to Facebook and Twitter and passed the good news of victory around the Internet. Minutes later, the national team’s well-known and well-loved monicker, the “Azkals,” became a trending topic on social media, and Google searches of almost every player of the national team surged. People started to get interested with the men who became a new source of Pinoy pride. A year on, the Azkals and the sport of football became one of the most talked-about topics in the Philippines today.

It’s all because of the Internet.

Since the 2010 Suzuki Cup, anything related to the Azkals and Philippine football trends in social media regularly.

Why do I credit the Internet? As I am an enthusiast of Information Technology, I believe technologies like this played a major role in inciting interest among Filipinos with the sport of football. With the Internet, the things that we have interest with are able to be shared across the world as long as you have access. With websites such as Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and online forums, we are able to share what we think, what we appreciate, what we criticize about things like Philippine football. This I never expected a few years ago.

The UFL, empowered by social media.

You may ask, “What’s the point here?” The point I want to emphasize with is that the social media scene is now a large part of the machine that pumps up the popularity of football in the country. Social networking sites help friends, relatives and colleagues connect in supporting football. Through a simple wall post, tweet, comment or blog post, these can impact the popularity of the sport, whether it could be about the national teams, the youth teams, the United Football League, or even the grassroots programs. Fans are being made through social media as they come together online to support their favorite team. Social media also created a system of discussion among people who wanted to share their thoughts about the beautiful game.

But there is something missing.

Message boards are everywhere.

Being a budding software developer, we should not just limit ourselves with social media this year 2012. There are numerous applications online that we must utilize and take focus in order to promote football in the country. With online forums and message boards about Philippine football springing up, we should participate with the discussions and commentary about the sport. Also, we can use them to be able to scout and recruit potential national team players; we may never know a skilled Filipino player from here or abroad becomes interested to join the Azkals or the Malditas, or even join the UFL.

Wikipedia: the go-to source.

Not only that, online reference tools such as Wikipedia can also be utilized to promote the national teams, the UFL, the clubs and its players. There is a serious need to promote them by making or improving their Wikipedia entries; all the users need is a thorough research, a little skill, and following the guidelines. No wonder we would see detailed, extensive entries sooner than we think.

Podcasting works!

As podcasting and video blogging continue to be a useful communication tool worldwide, there is an opportunity for us to share our thoughts through online multimedia. Fans can make their own audio podcast on anything football. Football leagues such as the UFL and its clubs can utilize these platforms to share match highlights, opinions, and fan support. Mainstream media can use podcasting as an alternative to what they broadcast on TV and radio. In due time, our football clubs will have their own show even over the Internet.

Why not develop you own football-related software?

To the geeks out there, ever wonder if football can help satisfy your passions? Why not help out the community by making your own information system, maybe something that dynamically records match statistics, analyzes player abilities, or organizes the league system? Why not build your own localized version of FIFA Soccer and Football Manager video games? Why not research on studies related to football in many areas such as in management, economics, statistics, mathematics, physics, computing and other forms of sciences? Why not help our local football associations and clubs build their websites to promote local development? The possibilities are endless, and it would definitely help not just our local football community but the whole world as well.

All it takes is your urge to help.

The Azkals wouldn’t have made this far if not for your continuous support through your use of technology. As they venture to more games this 2012, I expect that they need your utmost support – the support that they need for them to play better and bring pride to our nation. I expect that every wall post, every tweet, every comment, and every blog post you make, will leave a significant mark in this blooming community. I expect that in this digital age, Philippine football will be strengthened through our innovativeness and creativity.

Expect more trends this 2012. Never miss the chance.

KENNETH

Philippine Azkals: Rob Gier and the Good Ol' English Charm

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Bernejay Porio) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:22:00 +0000

Many Filipinos wondered why the Philippine national football team, fondly called the Azkals, had to have these good-looking, highly skillful men. Many question why these mixed-breed players should be there. Why the need? Improve the style of play? Definitely. Make the Philippine team win games? Surely. Raise consciousness of football in the country? Yes! But... make shrieking, swooning female fans? I'm not sure of that one, but it's strange but true.

In this world called football (soccer to some), there are the poster boys that would grace the conscious and the unconscious minds of football fans, whether they play the sport or not, support the national team or not or root for one club or not at all. These men have all the skills plus the looks that attract them. And the Filipino diaspora is lucky enough to produce offspring with traits that only heaven could buy to get it off. Traits that are inherent of the mixture of different genetic makeups of different races. Traits that culture, arts and science can only reminisce and reflect with.

Forget the Younghusbands for now. The Philippines is lucky to have Robert James Dazo Gier, nicknamed Rob.

Rob was born with an English father and a Filipina mother in the 6th of January, 1981, in Ascot, a town in the county of Berkshire in southern England. For those unfamiliar, Ascot is a town more famous for horse-racing. The Ascot Racecourse is home of the world's famous horse racing meets, dating back in the 1700s.

Ascot Racecourse

Not only that, consequently, the races attract famous people including the British Royal Family, and people in the higher social classes dress up in fancy hats made in Ascot. A number of fancy hats worn during the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton were made in this small town.

Fancy hats are a staple in Ascot during race days.

Shortly after, though, Rob was based in the famous city of Oxford, the city famous for its prestigious University of Oxford, the oldest in the English-speaking world.

The University of Oxford

Rob's senior football debut for Wimbledon (1999/2000)

Rob plays a defender, usually as a center-back or a right-back. In his younger years, he played for numerous football teams across the South East and the East of England, including Wimbledon (now Milton Keynes Dons), Rushden and Diamonds, Cambridge United, Woking, Aldershot Town, Grays Athletic and his hometown team Ascot United.

Rob celebrating his first ever goal as a pro footballer.

His most successful stints happened during his involvement with Aldershot Town and Grays Athletic, that won numerous awards during those seasons he played in, including a Conference Cup in the 2007/08 season for Aldershot Town. Because of his performance, he is well-revered by English media, including the BBC.

Aldershot Town FC as champions in the 2007/08 Football Conference South season

Rob in Grays Athletic kit. (2008/09)

Now then, with all these credentials, why he came up with the Azkals so lately?

Rob was a Johnny-come-lately in the Philippine national team, having come only in mid-2009. He has an adequate experience with English football that has well impressed the Azkals' coaching staff. So why the buzz?

Rob Gier (center) on his debut for the Philippines during the 2010 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers (2009).

In his words, he told DZMM that back in his days as a young player, he always wanted to play for his mother's national team. He has long searched for ways to look for the people to connect so he could get in and try out for them. Finally it came to him in 2009 when he got the contact for the Philippine Football Federation (PFF). He submitted his credentials without a little intervention from a fellow. The PFF did not search for him; it was Rob who came to the PFF. A volunteer of sorts was him for the flag.

“When I found out about the Philippine national team, I sent them an e-mail, with my resume, if you will,” says 30-year old fullback Rob Gier, who was already an experienced pro in his early 20s. “Not to brag or anything, but I was playing at a good level in England, and would they be interested in having me? I actually wish I had found out when I was a spring chicken.” (link)

Rob did not expect his first experiences with the team to be bread-and-butter. Because of its reputation to be underdogs in the Asian football scene, and being a basketball-crazed nation, he realised a painful truth. There was no support; there were no fans cheering, no interest. They pay their fares all by themselves, spend all they have for food, and sleep in the unworthiest of places. More so, they were battered heavily by their opponents in high margins.

However, those experiences would soon pay off, with the men who started it all.

Rob (#2) during the 2010 Suzuki Cup against Vietnam.

Rob was one of the starting XI during that match against Vietnam in the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup. There was no Pinoy fanfare, only screaming Vietnamese fans. And there, all he did was to stop any vicious attack from the men with red kits. And he did his all and won that game.

That started his new journey.

From being one of the nobodies of Philippine sport, Rob, along with his teammates, became hot property. Along with the handful of English-bred fellows in the team, he became more noticeable to Filipina fans, not only because of his almost Oxford-standard accent, but also for his peculiar facial structure that's a mix of a typical southern English lad and the Manileño maginoo of the 1950s Filipino cinema. It can be also attributed to his well-built body that has luckily graced the walls of a health store chain in Metro Manila.

Rob in his full shirtless glory for Health and Beyond.

Well, if the handful of Pinay fans only knew he is already married.

Rob on BC Mag Philippines featuring his wife Emma and baby Lily Grace

Rob married Emma, an English lady whom he met since their childhood days. After four years of marraige, Emma was soon found to be pregnant. At that moment, Rob had to call off his national team duty during the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers in Myanmar to attend to his wife back in England as she was found to have a delicate pregnancy. As days went by, and as Rob had to constantly fly in and fly out, he had to keep in touch with his wife through Skype, checking if she is alright. And before the 2011 Long Teng Cup came along, Rob had to call of once more, as his wife was about to give birth that month. He stayed so he could fully attend to her as she labours.

Rob with baby Lily Grace. (18 Sep 2011)

And that day came. Emma gave birth to a baby girl, whom they named Lily Grace. Such a happy father is he when she came into their lives. As of this day, he attends to his little girl whenever he is around in Oxford, learning the joys of fatherhood every step of the way.

As you can see, Rob is a family man. But maybe what can be more attributed to Rob's attractiveness is his seemingly well-mannered demeanour that is characteristic of both well-bred Englishmen and the typical Filipino maginoo. He seems very open to his fans and is friendly among his peers. He has also that seemingly apparent "gift of gab" that has made him the figure you see making the team speech before every game he's in. He also has the wits in helping out his fellow players and finding new ones. No wonder he was made one of the Azkals' scouts and the coordinator for European-based players.

And with that, in recent days, a fan club was formed. Aptly called the GIERfriends, they cheer for Rob and is solid for Rob. They come to Azkals games whenever Rob plays, and are there cheering for him with all the placards and whatnots. Now that Rob has signed with Filipino side Global F.C. in the United Football League, these fans will also cheer for him when he shall play for the club sometime.

Rob with the GIERfriends.

Why the charm, you ask? Rob, although reaching his prime age, is a true example for those who desire to help the country improve the level of play and promote the sport to every Filipino. And he's proud that he is attached to our country and wants to learn a lot from us. With his good experience with English football, an attractive appearance, and a Pinoy heart, no wonder our team's got the charm. The good ol' English charm, with a Pinoy flavour.

KENNETH

My Life in Twenty Eleven...in Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Bernejay Porio) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 08:05:00 +0000

Twenty eleven.

What a very significant year for me.

Here were the most significant points in my life this year, in simple words, in photographs:

January: I had my "new" laptop, a used Dell Latitude D420.

February: A black-and-white moment for UPMin seniors. My review with PhilNITS. Discussions with Mindanao issues.

March: Some fun & nostalgic moments with BACA 2010. My first PhilNITS attempt.

April: Practicum part 1. Abreeza just opened.

May: Practicum part 2. Some doughnut moments.

June: I turned twenty. My first sem as a "Super Senior."

July: I mesmerised with a new bus ride. Azkals became a pastime.

August: Kitties in the house. Backup trouble.

September: Proposal woes. DevCon.

October: I turned down my next attempt at PhilNITS. I heart Azkals. Seeing kitties in UPMin doing seductive poses.

November: Second semester. Proposal at the table.

December: Looking forward. New doggie in the house.

This is 2011. Looking forward for the coming year.
KENNETH

Philippine Azkals: The Men Who Started it All (Part 4)

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Bernejay Porio) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 01:06:00 +0000

This is Part 4 of a series of posts about the men behind the rise of the Azkals. You are encouraged to read Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 of this series.

Next on Hans Michael Weiss’s assignments was the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers. The qualifiers were done for the first time since 2002, wherein the nation was one of a very few that did not enter to qualify for the 2006 and 2010 editions. And during those attempts to qualify for the event in the past, the national team only got stuck in the first round, losing with big margins to Asian neighbours.

But with an even deeper lineup made by the man, Dan Palami, the coach was sure for his team to, at least, break the record to get to the second round.

Many of the Filipinos have wanted to see their team making it to the main 2014 World Cup tournament in Brazil. But he was pragmatic to say that it’s too early to say the Azkals would be there. He knows the team has potential, but it would take a very long time to see the results.

In the away leg in Sri Lanka, where the boys played at a very rocky pitch, they played for their lives surviving a dry, unwelcoming climate – both with the weather and of its citizens who support their national team. The Ceylon team scored against them, until new recruit Nate Burkey scored the equalizer.

That goal became a glimmer of hope when they went back to Manila.

The home leg was held at the Rizal Memorial Stadium for the first time since it was last used in the early 1990’s. The miracle in Hanoi gave Rizal a decent makeover, with a refurbished pitch that was good enough for a Premiership match. With a sold-out crowd, it was the Panaad experience all over again for the German.

It rained during that afternoon, which came out as a lucky charm for the Azkals. At those few minutes into the match, Chieffy Caligdong scored the first goal. Phil Younghusband gave the second. Ángel Guirado scored the third and Phil made the final goal through a penalty kick. With five goals to one on aggregate against the Sri Lanka team, it led the Philippine team to the second round for the first time.

It was indeed a victory for the team and the nation. But Weiss remained pragmatic, as he knew they will face a very tough team, the Kuwait national team, the Al-azraq (the “Blues”).

He knew he would face a team that has qualified for the World Cup main draw in the 1980s, a team that is a two-time Asian Cup titlist, and a team from a Middle-East football powerhouse with a football system way better than its neighbours in South East Asia.

Again, at the away leg in Hawaili, Kuwait, in a drier, more unwelcoming climate, with a forty-degree centrigrade temperature and a band of hostile fans, it became a tougher game for the boys, with skipper Aly Borromeo and midfielder Stephan Schröck suspended for defensive over-enthusiasm and ill-tempered behavior, respectively. The cauldron-like weather was unlikely for many of the boys who mostly are accustomed to temperate climates in Europe and America. Hooligans dared to pass through security to bring laser pointers to distract players, specifically goalkeeper Neil Etheridge. The complexion was not very calm and exciting without Aly and Schröcki; it was turbulent and chaotic.

But Weiss was calm and confident his team will not be massacred with a massive scoreline. The score: three goals to nil in favor of the Al-azraq. Blue Haired Fan and company did not walk out in frustration.

Then came that home leg back in Rizal Memorial. Aly and Stephan were back, but it was too late. They had to make crucial measures.

Things were still chaotic as the team could took their every ounce of energy to battle out the very strong Kuwaiti defense. At that dying minutes of the first half, all hope was lost until Schröcki gave it a shot from Chieffy's assist.

That goal sparked the hopes of a win, a win that would sure rise up the Azkals to its ranks. However, the Kuwaitis took its revenge and took the last laugh at a 1-5 aggregate loss.
The Azkals bade goodbye to their hopes of a World Cup, but never baded goodbye to a bright future ahead. And Coach Weiss entrusted it to his young wards.

Now, why have I brought up these men? Their money? Their effort? Their dedication? One thing. A faith. A faith that someday the Filipinos can be proud of how they look at their fellow countrymen. In this very competitive world, national pride comes with a price, a very hefty price. But these men gave everything for this. No way it shall hold them back. They are the main men behind these achievements, and everyone should be happy and proud of it.

Dan Palami. Simon McMenemy. Hans Michael Weiss. The men who gave what they had to bring up an awareness to the Filipino people that its fellow countrymen can do it. They gave their knowledge to these men so that unity, pride and honour will prevail. Until then, they will forever be remembered as the men who started it all for Philippine football.

KENNETH

Philippine Azkals: The Men who Started it All (Part 3)

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Bernejay Porio) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 07:10:00 +0000

This is Part 3 of a series of posts about the men behind the rise of the Azkals. You are encouraged to read Part 1 and Part 2 of this series.

As Englishman Simon McMenemy left his post as coach of the Philippine national football team, the Azkals, a German came to the scene. And upon his arrival, many of the football enthusiasts were curious on whom he is and what can he do to bring his new wards to greater heights.

He was part of an aid package by the German Football Federation (DFB) to the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) which includes some equipment, training camps, coaching courses, and an undisclosed financial grant, allegedly amounting to around €500,000. Therefore, the PFF did nothing to get this coach and all these perks into the team; it was because the PFF did something for the DFB to send these to help the Philippine team.

And that man is named Hans Michael Weiß.

(Yes, it should be spelled that way. But since many of our Pinoy readers don't know how to pronounce, or even how to type, the German character "ß", called an eszett or the "sharp /s/" sound, let's spell it as Weiss. Take note too, it must be pronounced roughly as /'vaisz/).

This 46-year-old, six-footer man, who was born in Dannenfels, a small town in the West German state of Rhineland, is not just some guy who came out of nowhere. His credentials as a football player and coach speak for itself. Even his academic credentials are definite assets as well, as he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Science, and a master’s degree in Physical Education in the University of Mainz.

In the days of his youth, he played as a goalkeeper in Kickers Offenbach and Vespar football clubs, now playing in the middle tiers of the German football system. (Credits to his height, I think so.)

As he moved on to be a coach in the late 1990’s, he first ventured the depths of the Japanese soccer system and became the coach of Kyoto-Sanga. When he guided the players from this soccer club, it became one of the most successful of the then-budding J-League. Japan is also the country where he met his wife, and brought them two beautiful girls.

He moved on to China, where he coached the China PR’s Under-20 and Under-23 national teams, which had a turbulent yet successful experience under his care. After such, he moved to the small African nation of Rwanda, a nation plagued with the horrors of the 1994 genocide and the scare of HIV-AIDS. Nevertheless, as he coached its Under-17 national team, he was also an agent of change in the nation in promoting football as a means of promoting livelihood and alleviating poverty.

And then the opportunity came when the DFB offered the Philippines the package it needed after the miracle in Hanoi in early December 2010. From a select pool of coaches under the German football body, he was chosen to coach the Philippine national team, with his salary taken care of by the DFB.

When he arrived in Manila in mid-January 2011, he immediately saw the situation of football in the country. It is not well-known as a sport, until the miracle in Hanoi happened a month ago. It is long been overshadowed by basketball and boxing, the most popular ones in the country. And it is not properly supported in terms of its finances, infrastructure and fans, as it has long been perceived as an elitist or a Bisaya sport, as it is played by either school-children in wealthy private schools around the country or in the outskirts of the Visayas region, particularly in the islands of Panay and Negros.

And he needed to break the chains of that perception.

His first assignment was the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup pre-qualifying leg against the Mongolia national team. The home fixture was due to happen in February 9 in the Panaad Stadium, at the football-crazy city of Bacolod. He fielded the regulars like skipper Aly Borromeo, Chieffy Caligdong, Ian Araneta, Anton del Rosario, the Younghusband brothers, Neil Etheridge, among others. Nothing out of the ordinary, so he thought. But little that this German knew was how he would react to the hospitable and celebratory culture that Filipinos are known for.

As it was a few weeks after the miracle in Hanoi, it was expected that this event would be a sold-out one. And it did. Fans and supporters of the Azkals, whether because of their football or their good looks, were filling Panaad to the brim. Television coverage was more than ready to send it to the masses around the country. Even the Philippine National Police (PNP) had to send around a thousand police officers to make sure nothing serious would take place. It was really a very strange surprise to Weiss, as all he knew that these situations only happen to his native land with crazy fans filling stadiums to support either their clubs or their national teams.

Minutes before kickoff, a strange-looking fan caught Weiss’s eyes. Clad in a blue wig, face painted with the colours of the Philippine flag, and crazy as a rabid dog, the man went around the track oval of the Panaad holding the Philippine flag, cheering for the Azkals. He was soon halted by the PNP officers, and was arrested. It shocked and angered fans live and on TV. That man, soon identified as Richard "Ebong" Joson, a Filipino, was soon tapped by the German, through the PFF, to form the cheering squad known to this day as the Kaholeros (from the Filipino word kahol which means “to bark” like a dog). And Ebong, after that incident, was given a new identity known today as The Blue-Haired Fanatic.

I credit the coach for giving birth to this fan. To this day the Blue-Haired Fanatic and the Kaholeros lead the Filipino contingent in the stands to cheer for the Azkals everywhere they go. And it is as rabid as ever.

Culture-shocked in a way, Weiss had the fondest experience starting with that fixture in Bacolod, feeling a love with the people who supported the Azkals all the way. As fireworks were lit as they won that match, he knew he will be able to lead the team to greater heights by qualifying for the tournament.

And it did. Through all the pains and challenges that ensue the team during the qualifying games, including the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan at the time they had a training camp in March, the Azkals qualified for the AFC Challenge Cup main draw for the first time ever. And winning this tourney will lead them to the AFC Asian Cup, with the 2015 edition to be held in Australia.

It was not yet over. A bigger road lies ahead. An interesting fact is that, the name Panaad is actually a Hiligaynon word for “promise.” Indeed it was a promising experience for the coach and the Azkals.

More on Part 4.

KENNETH

Philippine Azkals: The Men Who Started it All (Part 2)

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Bernejay Porio) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:06:00 +0000

This is Part 2 of a series of posts about the men behind the rise of the Azkals. Click here to go to Part 1.

At that very moment, Simon McMenemy, the coach of that team which would soon leave the dark age of Philippine football, stood on that ground that was a potential haven for emerging talent. Together with team manager Dan Palami, he wanted his team to be the best they are with.

Palami, that Waray manager who came to action for a struggling team, made huge sacrifices for his wards. He spent his own money to subsidize the air fares of majority of the players. He sponsored the meals of the players before and after every training session and every game. He sits down with the team at the sidelines during every game. He sometimes provides emotional support for those who miss their loved ones overseas. As I said previously, he takes care of these men like they were his children. With him on their sides, their morale just accelerated like an F1 racing car.

McMenemy, on the other hand, took the first step to improve that team. He took notes on his observations on the Azkals' previous fixtures - what worked, what didn't seem to work and what can be improved. What made him comfortable being with the team was the attribute of Filipinos being able to converse in English well. Language barriers didn't seem to bother Macca as he is able to talk to everyone without bothering delays.

And looking into the lineup that Palami conceived, he soon found out that their wards are more promising than before. Being with the English style of football for almost two decades of his life, Macca discovered a backbone that is surprisingly an infusion of both English and Filipino heritage and experience: a goalkeeper who plays for Fulham in the Premiership (Neil Etheridge), a centre-back who played for Wimbledon, a former Football League team (Rob Gier), a centre-midfielder who played for various mid-tiered English teams (Chris Greatwich) and a striker who is a former reserve player for Chelsea in the Premiership (Phil Younghusband).

With that lineup that was considered a rare find in the British isles and the Philippine archipelago, Macca was sure that his team had a serious potential many of the average Filipinos had not dared to know.

And that was not all. He made sure that the leadership was at its top shape. Co-skippers Chieffy Caligdong and Aly Borromeo were Macca's source of his hopes to make everyone in his team steady and aim for goals. His desire for Chieffy was to make him known as a man who could break in the defense and aim a shot. His desire for Aly was to keep a clean sheet for the team, having a defense line that's steady along with that British-laced backbone.

And everything was set. No-one from that team, even for Palami and McMenemy, would expect that their victories will soon wake up a deeply slumbering footballing nation that was the Philippines.

At that unchartered territory that was the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup main tournament, at the time Palami and his wards sang Lupang Hinirang amidst a rampaging, hostile crowd, everyone was set on a calm, aiming for a good run. While their opponents' fans continuously scream, make faces and put their thumbs down to the Filipino booters, the manager and the coach was confident as they ever was, knowing it will never be an ordinary battle for the Azkals.

And that miracle happened in Hanoi.

The Vietnam team was slaugthered right at home, and those shots from Greatwich and Younghusband silenced its hostile fans. As the Pinoy booters hug, kiss and wave at each other in victory, all they knew was they have just beated a more favoured team, a team that fans from every part of South East Asia (including skeptical Filipinos) expected to win. But little that they know that they just awakened a nation long deprived of football (soccer to most of us then).

Dan and Simon could not believe their eyes that their team just beat the defending champions. As they hugged each other in happiness and pride, they knew everything they sacrificed paid off. Simon moved on to greet Vietnam's team coach for the spirit of fair play, but he was soon given an unwelcoming gesture.

It was epic to see the begging-off of the coach who was just humiliated by "weaklings" led by a young, energetic coach and managed by a visionary manager. Everyone at My Ðính was silenced, except the Philippine team, who cheered in high heavens for that miracle.

All thanks to the man.

When the year ended, people had found out Macca's coaching license expired a long time ago, forcing him to leave the team. But while Macca may have moved on to other places, he just left a legacy, a legacy that the world will forever remember. His hyper-defensive strategy just worked well in style. A stylish start of football renaissance in the Philippines would have not been possible without the young man who was just there to guide a very promising team. He now passed on that experience with the Filipino booters to the teams he is currently holding. It was indeed a great boost to his career.

While away in Philippine soil, Macca still communicates with his former wards, especially through social media. Looking at his Twitter page, he still mentions many of the Azkals and its managing staff to know what they are doing and how they are improving football in the nation. Seems he couldn't let go of the Pinoy that has also ingrained in him.

Now he is forever in their hearts and our hearts as well.

He was then replaced by a German, a towering prowess of Teutonic efficiency and discipline. Little by little this man would lead the team to even greater heights.

More on Part 3.
KENNETH

Philippine Azkals: The Men who Started It All (Part 1)

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Bernejay Porio) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 07:59:00 +0000

All it took was a shocking, stunning, gut-wrenching, heart-stopping upset. Tens of thousands of Vietnamese at the My Ðính stadium in Hanoi, with millions who were watching on TV screens across South East Asia, could not believe their eyes as their team lost to whom they've called whipping boys, minnows, and weaklings. And those brave men whom they've labeled with came out in high spirits that they have finally overcome the odds. With that victory, the world had their utmost respect and appreciation. Who to thank for? The man who started it all, Dan Stephen Palami.

For many years the men we fondly call the Azkals had hoped for someone who would nurture them, support them and care for them, even if their fellow countrymen never dared to know them all. Someone who would be there all the way, through their ups and downs, through their joys and sorrows. Someone who will not be moved by the cruelties of the corrupt place that was Philippine sports. Someone who would sacrifice everything, even his own life, to lift up a team and a sport that has been in the dark for decades in the country. And finally, he came.

It was December of 2009. The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) was looking for that man who would take up the challenge to manage the national football team. That man must have a vision for football, and would be willing to help them against all odds. And they finally found Dan Palami, a Waray born and raised in Tacloban City. He is a businessman who was (then) the Chief Executive Officer of APT Global, a railways company that is involved with Manila's Light Rail Transit (LRT), and is the president of the Leyte Football Association (FA). He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) who graduated with a degree in Accountancy at the University of the Philippines (UP) Visayas - Tacloban College, and a former law student of UP Diliman College of Law. A football player in his youthful days, he is in active involvement with football in the Eastern Visayas through his leadership in the Leyte FA.

The PFF approached Palami to offer the job to manage the nationals, as he was fresh from managing the Under-19 national team then (which was also humiliated by that time during a certain regional tournament months before). However, it came with a very crucial condition - he must manage everything by himself and he must isolate from the intrigues the PFF was dealing with, including the alleged corruption of then-president Jose Mari Martinez. Palami was left with a critical task to do, that is to manage the Azkals like his multi-million peso company. With all his options on the table, he was ready to take up the challenge.

Way back then, the Azkals were a team that never seem to win, and were a team that was constantly humiliated even by its regional neighbours. With that in mind, Palami thought of strengthening the national team lineup. The national team already had skipper Aly Borromeo, who was already a skillful and influential leader. It also had defender Anton del Rosario who keeps the defense handy, and winger Chieffy Caligdong and striker Ian Araneta who were consistent goalscorers. In addition, they also just had Fulham goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, (then-) Grays Athletic defender Robert Gier, (then-) FC Veendam midfielder Jason de Jong, and brothers Chris and Simon Greatwich, who are playing in college soccer teams in America. The team's player pool was deep in itself but Palami thought it wasn't enough.

British-born former Chelsea reserves Phil and James Younghusband took a hiatus in international football in 2007 due to a row with the PFF, allegedly for corrupt practices and lack of support, and went on to take careers as commercial models. Fortunately, Palami approach them and encouraged them to return to the national team, and since then, their hopes in making football known in the country were rekindled. Palami is also credited to recruiting other foreign-based Filipino footballers, such as Manny Ott and Mark Drinkuth of Germany, Gino Pavone of America, and Ray Jonsson of Iceland. He is also a key influence of recruiting and re-recruiting local players such as 16-year-old goalkeeper Christopher Camcam from Southridge School (now at Kaya FC), veteran goalkeeper Eduard Sacapaño of Philippine Army, Jerry Barbaso of Global FC, Roel Gener of the Philippine Army, Mark Ferrer of Philippine Air Force, Nestorio Margarse Jr. of Philippine Army, Peter Jaugan of Philippine Air Force, and striker David Basa of the University of Santo Tomas, among many others.

As the lineup grew, another challenge was brought up. They needed another coach. British Desmond Bulpin had to leave the team, and someone had to fill in his position. With help from Chris Greatwich, he acquired the coach they were looking for, Simon Alexander McMenemy.

Then 33 years of age, he had coached Worthing FC, a non-league football club based in south-east England. Born in Haywards Heath, a small town in the county of Sussex just near London's Gatwick airport, Macca, as fans and team-mates call him such, was deemed as an energetic figure, a man worthy to see greater heights, and someone who can lead his team on top. He begun coaching due to his frustrations with injuries that made him left professional football at an early age. But that frustration never let him down, as he was expected to properly mentor a national team.

Knowing that he faces a team that didn't seem to win and a sport that didn't seem to attract Filipino crowds, he had to do something extraordinary. Together with Dan Palami, he made sure the team was in high spirits, as fit as can be, and has the urge to succeed for the pride of the country.

What Palami did was unbelievable, even for sporting honchos. He is always with the team. He joins the team during their travels. He sits with them on the bench. He made sure there was food after every training and every match they played. He, together with Macca, brought up the team like they were his own employees, or better yet, as if they were his children.

More of this story on our Part 2.

KENNETH

Philippine Azkals: The Captain

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Bernejay Porio) — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 08:35:00 +0000

Ah, yes. It's El Capitan. It's that man named Alexander Charles "Aly" Borromeo. We all know him as the captain of the Philippine national football team, the Azkals. Many know him as that six-foot-one-inch, 190-pound behemoth who leads the defense. Many know him as that man who has a don't-mess-with-me look that has infused with a spark of spunk and swag. A lot of people know him as the man with all the aggressive demeanor but topped with a handsome look (and an intriguing accent) that has caught many fans dead speechless. (Blame him being born in San Francisco, CA, and having a Spanish mestizo lineage.) A few have seen for themselves his buffed physique that has graced fans' eyes either through meeting him personally (shirtless or whatnot), or through the numerous endorsements that has garnered criticism from conservatives.

Yes, it is El Capitan Aly Borromeo. The captain we come to know and love.

Every time he is there, the style of play becomes a very exciting one, a very energetic one. The complexion of the fixture becomes interesting and sometimes, nerve-wracking. After all, he leads his fellows on the pitch, and he needs everything in order. He wants his fellow warriors to be prepared for the unexpected thing their opponents would do to them.

For me, a captain is a mediator, a bridge that should connect the gaps between every person he involves with. As said by the skipper himself, he establishes communication between the locally-bred players and the so-called "Fil-foreign" players. He talks to the coach, the manager, and all the staff of the national team and his club. Born in the States yet has spent most of his life here in the Philippines (he can speak Tagalog well, albeit the accent), that should be his asset there.

Leading a team was no joke for him. He had been through the teams lowest times, including those double-digit slaughters by Southeast Asian neighbours a few years back. He would have given up this footballing thing and take up basketball and play for the PBA and the Smart Gilas national team. But he didn't give up. He committed to don the flag for football no matter what. And now, he is reaping the perks of the teams' highest times. And it was overwhelming.

It made him cry. For a man who wears his emotions on his sleeve.

Fans now love Aly to pieces after that fairy tale journey at the 2010 Suzuki Cup. A lot of fans, mostly the females, would love his face and physique before his kind of football. But for me, hardcore fans and football purists, we love his dedication to the country, his passion for football, his love for the Filipino people. Inspite of all the criticisms, he stays firm to his being Pinoy.

But what if El Capitan wasn't there?

During the World Cup Qualifiers, where he served a one-fixture suspension for being booked twice, all for defensive over-enthusiasm, the feel of the match quickly became turbulent. No-one came to the rescue at keeping the defense steady. No-one kept the complexion to a calm. At that cauldron that was Kuwait, Aly felt he wanted to get off the sidelines and be an emotional prowess for his suffering brethren.

And when he finally got on the pitch at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, it was too late for Aly. All things were uncertain. But when his fellow Stephan Schroeck got the icebreaker at the first half, he had a glimmer of hope, that unfortunately faded when the Al-azraq took their revenge and scored two goals. That second and final goal of Kuwait made his emotions quiver as he pitied over the fallen Ray Jonsson on the goal post. It was over for them.

But that hope never died down. He knew it was just the beginning of something better.

He reaped victorious runs on the 2011 Long Teng Cup in picturesque Kaohsiung National Stadium and the friendlies against Singapore and Nepal. The 4-0 Nepal run was explosive enough that he made a leap twice his height. (We know we have seen Aly jump like that already, and it sparks joy to our faces.)

All things went well until the unexpected happened.

When I first saw the look of the Kaya FC skipper after he fell down and crouched and groaned at the same Rizal pitch during their match with Diliman FC that Saturday afternoon, I was alarmed. That pain in his right leg must have been extreme for him to bear. It could be something worse.

And yes, the unexpected happened. He tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

Everyone was shocked and worried about Aly. Numerous well wishes were sent to his Facebook fan page and Twitter account. A lot of cheer-me-ups were given to this guy. But it will never hasten the reality that his injury will take half-a-year at least to heal.

Now his long, excruciating wait from the sidelines will bring a massive hole in both his club and the national team. With the upcoming 2012 AFC Challenge Cup finals in Nepal, it will be uncertain if Aly will be leading the team.

Says my fellow from the Usapang Football forums, aptly named "wiking":

Even if he is up and about just before the AFC CC finals, It's doubtful he will be match fit, but I'm hoping for a happy ending so even if he can play 20-25min a game would be great especially against a team that doesn't pressure well.
So far 5 months away we've got the locals(barring injuries in the UFL season): delRo, Sabio, Fernandez, Leonora, Unabia, Basa(capped), Barbaso(anyone else I failed to mention?). James Yh, but I'm hoping he stays at mid(coach!!!!)
Speculation 1: Maybe Oliver P, since he plays for an amateur and lower tiered(6th) team, same with Rob G(9th), might be able to come on down for the AFC games??? Yes Rob isn't that fast anymore but then again his speed was only exposed against a very very good team in Kuwait. We are not facing any team of that caliber in the AFC competition, plus his veteran presence, leadership and familiarity with the players and coaches should help. I dare say he could be a 'Captain' of the defense at the very least.
Speculation 2: Dan 'the Man' Palami, surprised us with Carli and OP, could they surprise us again? There are still 5 more months to wait...
The Bad: The Superliga starts its season in March 6. That concerns Jerry Lucena and Dennis Cagara folks. 2.Bundesliga(aka Stephan S and Rolan Mueller) will have games on going in March. Carli's, Tercera division will also be in league play at this time
The Good??: The Icelandic premier league season is off in March and resumes in May. Ray Jonsson should be around. Rolan Mueller if he doesn't get to be promoted 2nd GK for MSV Duisburg should still be able to come. Looking at it through MSV's perspective, by him playing in the AFC should gain him valuable playing time without loaning him out(just putting a positive spin on things gents).
The NT is used to playing with a holding midfielder, that gives us 5 players on defense that should help overall. As the coach and Mr Palami has said, maybe borrowing a player for 1 or 2 games can help. If we can't have them for the whole duration but maybe against a 'stronger' team we can schedule them to come down.
Your thoughts...
add: If Jason de Jong doesn't put himself in coach W's doghouse again, he playing in the March '12 games should be a great possibility. He is playing for a youth team now(unless he gets promoted) so obviously playing in an international like this would be better competition for him than playing another youth team. His team should be happy for him to gain more experience this way. Again I'm just putting a positive spin on my speculation.

We are hoping everything will be set in place while Aly won't be around.

Aly will be dearly missed. But then, he is after all El Capitan.

KENNETH

Special Problem: The Proposal

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Bernejay Porio) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 11:23:00 +0000

Hello folks!

It's been a turbulent semester for me lately, that's why I have not been blogging here for the past few months, but I was able to post things in my Tumblr log to keep myself going. On my Tumblr log was all about the Azkals and their rise to fame, not to mention some comic relief from all the stress of schooling.

Anyways, this semester marked the start of my very challenging journey towards graduation from UP Mindanao.

And it starts with my Special Problem Proposal.

All the ideas were pouring in from all sides, from algorithm studies, the UPMin CSRS, biodiversity systems and many others. But one thing came into my mind... my contribution to Himati, our University's official student publication.

I am a member of the publication since last academic year and it paid off with a successful run of my video blog The ISKOnnector. But things have changed lately and I have changed my intentions as I rejoined the team this year. I was now there to help revamp Himati.

I am saddened that Himati could not set its plans really well considering our campus has only a meager population. We are short of funds, short of staff, but we were not short of hope that one day, Himati will be recognized as a pioneer in promoting Journalism 2.0 in the Davao region.

We have started it with Himati's Facebook and Twitter sites, HimatiVlogs, and the electronic version of Himati via Scribd. Now that the first steps have been stabilized, now it's the time to move forward.

We have been planning to make an official website for Himati. All the funds and assistance have been in place, but no-one cared about how to maintain it and how to implement it. There I said to myself, "I have to give Himati more than a website, more than a Content management system-backed platform. I want to give them an computerized system to do their processes including those of the print publication. Something to make Himati and other student publications can use and enjoy."

So I planned the topic to be:
"A Web Portal for Student Publications..." (Sorry I can't give you the title in full...)

And I will christen the final product to be iHimati.

A system that will help Himati ease up the process of submitting and evaluating articles, and communication through social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter.

I envision the system to be the a new way for Himati staff to process articles and enhance communication. I'll construct it with a two-tier architecture - a public layer which contains the official website and the the content of the Facebook and Twitter sites. The private layer, on the other hand, will be the backbone system wherein the staff can submit articles, evaluate articles, manage staff members and communicate through social media tools.

During the proposal process, I had a very difficult time searching for literature as there are few published academic papers that focus on the combination of journalism process with computing technology. All I know is that major news outputs such as wires like Associated Press, Reuters and Agence-France Presse use proprietary technologies to process their news.

What I want is a open-source and low-cost alternative - which will greatly benefit small organizations such as Himati.

The hard part was to explain the intricacies I want to convey for the system. All the diagrams, database illustrations and all other drawings I had to produce to make the paper as clear as possible.

Well, it had been a bloody ride there, but I had survived as I was able to reach the point that I defended the proposal.

And I can't thank enough for this than to my family who supported me all they way no matter what circumstances I have gone through this past semester.

And I thank the LORD for everything He has done for me this far. Thank You for the strength.

On to the finish line!

KENNETH

Philippine Jeepneys and the Homeless World Cup

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Bernejay Porio) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 07:59:00 +0000

Filipinos have been keeping their eyes glued to football (or soccer) these past few months after the senior national football team, the Philippine Azkals, grabbed local, national and international headlines since their miracle victory in Hanoi, Vietnam during the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010. Fans, supporters, sponsors and funds started to pour in from all sides since then, and changed the Pinoy's world-view of football forever.

Although the Azkals recently failed to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, football fanatics in the Philippines continued to believe that football is being reborn and being cultivated as it was overshadowed by basketball in the past century. High hopes have been made for football to make ground in the country, and it will start with the improvement of local leagues and grassroots development, and the increasing media coverage of local and international football leagues to the Pinoy masses.

At this time of posting, Filipino footie fans are now keen in supporting the Philippine contingent to the annual Homeless World Cup, held this year in Paris, France. Nicknamed the Philippine Jeepneys (named after the most ubiquituous form of public transport in the country), they compose of mainly local players from different parts of the country. But what makes this team special is that all these players are currently homeless. That means, they don't have a permanent home to live in and no decent work or education, (and a few of them have no relatives to support them). These attributes make up some of the qualifications for playing in this charity-backed football tournament.

With them is coach Rudy del Rosario, a former skipper of the national team in the mid-1990s and currently the coach of United Football League club Kaya FC (where prominent national players like current skipper Aly Borromeo and defender Anton del Rosario are currently in). He and his coaching staff have been searching for potential players since late last year in key cities in the country like Manila, Barotac Nuevo in Iloilo, San Carlos City in Negros Occidental, Cagayan de Oro and Iligan. Around 250 to 270 players joined in the tryouts.

He says that the most important thing that the team takes away in the tournament is "the pride and honor of representing our country in a big international event, and knowing that in spite of their current life situation we are just all the same human beings everywhere."

With the team in Paris is Azkals team manager Dan Stephen Palami, who has been called the "saviour of Philippine football." Recently, Palami treated the team with some food from KFC (yes, that Kentucky Fried Chicken) and a city tour around Paris, something that these underprivileged kids will never forget. Seems that Dan Palami, who is in fact an Accounting graduate of University of the Philippines Diliman, is really devoted to keep the spirits of these footballers alive through his apparent generosity.

As they conquest for success, the Philippine Jeepneys will also pursue to gain their status in life through this tournament. After the competition, they will be expected to be assisted as they transform into better individuals. Opportunities for education and work, livelihood assistance and even stints with local clubs and national teams will be in store for them. Since the Philippines' first stint in the Cup in the Melbourne games in 2008, many of these players lives have been changed and their football careers improved. Now that Philippine football has been showering with sponsors and supporters, the future is even brighter for these kids.

These grassroots players are part of the future of Philippine football. We should support them every step of the way in the competition. Who knows when these players will also play for the Azkals someday? Only God's time will tell.

Mabuhay Pilipinas Futbol! Mabuhay Philippine Jeepneys!

Why not watch the Homeless World Cup online? They now offer online streaming of all their games (fixtures, as called technically) through the Internet. For more of the action visit http://www.homelessworldcup.org/paris-2011/video

Want to get this widget for your blog or website? Click here for details.

Para sa manlalarong Pilipino,
KENNETH

Philippine Azkals: The Accents (4)

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Bernejay Porio) — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 13:47:00 +0000

I should have stopped the Azkals Accents series a few posts back. But, there are still a lot of people I want to commend with with their accents, or their manner of speech. As I said here, being a cultural melting pot, Filipinos have to embrace everyone's accent, and not ridicule it.

I want to commend first the "Iceman," Ray Anthony Jónsson, a Filipino-Icelandic.

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

In this above video during their 2nd leg match vs. Indonesia in the AFF Suzuki Cup semis last year, I watched the interviews of Oxford-speaking Rob Gier, Dutch anglophone Jason de Jong and Estuary-speaking Neil Etheridge.

But what caught my attention is Ray Jónsson, who spoke in Cebuano. He may be born from an Icelandic father (a rare feat in fact; you won't find a lot of Fil-Icelandics out there), but he got the privilege to learn Cebuano when he lived in Liloan, Cebu until age 8 because of his Cebuana mother. Around in the middle of the video, he spoke to fellow Cebuano Chino Trinidad, "important kaayo ang game karon, hopefully maka-score kita, duha ka goals." (Today's game will be important, we hope that we would score two goals.)

Icelandic is a Scandinavian language, and a heavily glottal and alveolar one. So you will really notice the heavy accent he does to his Bisaya. The plosives /b/, /d/, and /g/ are voiceless and differ from /p/, /t/ and /k/ only by their lack of aspiration. So you will notice it's heavy and thick-sounding. Nevertheless, it's interesting indeed he speaks another Filipino language.

Now, let's go to Filipino-Scottish Azkals trainee and U-23 hopeful Mark MacMahon.

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

In this video of some the team members taking cameo roles for an upcoming movie, we see mixed-accent Aly Borromeo, and Ilonggos Chieffy Caligdong and Ian Araneta. But what made special was Mark MacMahon, who was raised in Glasgow, Scotland to a Scottish father and Filipina mother.

In Scotland, English is blended with the phonology of Scots languages, most especially Gaelic. So you will notice the distinctions of the Scottish accent in contrast with the accents of England. /ɛ/, /ɪ/, /ʌ/ are distinct, /or/ and /ur/ are contrasted, and /ʊ/ is replace with Scot-sounding /u/. I actually admire standard Scottish pronunciation of English more than all other accents in the UK. Its very pleasant yet not that farmer-ish.

Well, I really appreciate how these men come from diverse parts of the world and coming together to promote football in the Philippines. At sana nga matututo sila ng kahit mga basic na kaalaman sa aking Pambansang Wika para mabigyan sila ng karunungan at mapalaki pa ang kanilang pagmamahal sa bansang Pilipinas.

Cheers,

KENNETH

Philippine Azkals vs. Philippine Dragon Warriors

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Bernejay Porio) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 07:46:00 +0000

Here's a repost from a Tumblr log about comparing the Philippine National Football Team, the Azkals, and the Philippine National Dragon Boat Racing Team, the Dragon Warriors:

Why compare NT Azkals to the Dragon Boat Team▬crab mentality strikes

These past few days,I’ve seen some posts about the comparison between Azkals and Paddlers. It’s getting viral;from twitter,facebook and now here in tumblr. I just don’t get it when they compare those two different Sports Team.

It goes like

Sasagwan ka ba sa karangalan o sisipa sa papogian?

PH Dragonboat team (2011) : 5 Golds, 0 commercials, 90% Pinoy
Azkals : 0 Golds, 0 trophies, 5 TV ads, 20% Pinoy

this issue is really getting into my bones!!

Azkals didn’t got this far because of their looks alone,for your information they went from nothing;nothing as in NOTHING.

1st of all,its not easy for a football team to get a gold medal.I mean in football they have lots of qualifying rounds before they compete to the finals.

2nd,don’t blame the Azkals for having tons of product endorsements,TV ads etc. They’re not the one who went to those product company and beg to get them as the endorser..deal with it▬they’ve got the looks.

lastly the percentage of the Pinoy blood is ridiculous, 20% for the Azkals;the fact that most of them were half-breeds.

(So let say that the team only has 50 players and all of them were half-breeds. The Pinoy blood percentage of the whole team should be 50%,since they’re all half Pinoy.)

Why compare the Football team to the Dragonboat team;why can’t they just support all teams that represent the Philippines. Besides both teams strived so hard just to get where they are now.

▬Crab Mentality has to stop▬

Here's my few cents to this issue.

The Azkals started out with nothing too. They had no support whatsoever even if they had these (admit it, people) good-looking players.

Azkals' team captain Aly Borromeo, a Spanish mestizo by lineage, would tell local media that the team used to sleep in undesirable conditions you could imagine. Whether it could be the bleachers of a stadium, sidewalks that "smell like piss," anywhere there's somewhere to lie your head on except a matress and a pillow, that's where they slept when they had no financial and moral support.

Some members of the Dragon Warriors also confessed that they had trained in dire conditions, like the murky waters of Manila Bay and the Pasig River. They had no funds for them to eat a decent meal. They bring canned goods and instant noodles as meals on their trips.

Same thing with the Azkals, right?

That's how this country is prioritizing the sports programs, relishing more in basketball and boxing, than to more popular and more contemporary sports like football and dragon boat racing.

Alright, let's target 3 key points of this argument:

Sponsors and Commercial Endorsements

Up until now, a lot of people have been complaining how these men (including their current coach Michael Weiß) had gained popularity through commercial endorsements.

In the name of commercialization and profitability, and for the sake of helping the team in terms of finances and other forms of support, there will naturally come commercial endorsements. If the team does sell because of their skills and not just looks, these men have the potential to sell and be sold for more funds to come in to help in their trainings, their travels, the tournaments they will undertake.

It's not just because of their looks or physique, it's their dedication for them to play better. And take note: they had these endorsements boom only after they did sell. And it's not because of the Younghusband brothers who came before the others like Aly Borromeo and Neil Etheridge, who are now endorsing underwear! James and Phil did sell but not significantly beforehand.

For the Dragon Boat team to sell, they have to prove themselves worthy. And they did. A lot of companies are already tapping the team, such as Cobra Energy Drink of Interbev, a subsidiary of Asia Brewery. It's still beginning, and they'll be like the Azkals as well in the near future. They have the physique and the brawn, and that's good for them, too.

Awards

Dragon boat racing is way to different from football (or "soccer," as most Americans call it.). Many would say it can take forever to score a goal in football. There are a lots of possibilities for a scoreless fixture. But that makes it more exciting.

Sport is more than just the physical aspect: height, speed, stamina and strength. It's also a mental and an emotional challenge, which entitles its players to think, strategize, and plan. It can break them down or lift their spirits up.

And that makes each of them unique in every way.

Their Filipino identity

Like I said in a previous post, the Azkals, together with the Dragon Warriors, have all the reasons to call themselves Filipino, regardless of what racial mix they have.

Why complain about their ethnicity? Why complain about the color of their skin? Why complain about their beefed-up physique? Why complain about their accents?

Check your kokote, people. There is nothing to complain about.

Why not ask basketball cagers Chris Tiu and James Yap who are Filipino-Chinese, or a bunch of Fil-Americans in the PBA? Why not ask your lovely Fil-American actor Gerald Anderson and Fil-Chinese actress Kim Chiu? Why not ask your favoured beauty queens Malay-infused Miriam Quiambao and Arab-infused Maria Venus Raj? Why not ask a classmate who happens to be a foreign exchange student? Why ask a number of Igorots, Aetas, Maranaos, T'bolis, Tausugs, and all other indigenous peoples around?

Are they part of this nation, too? Yes, indeed they are. Including the Azkals and the Dragon Warriors.

They chose to represent the country. It's already a cliché already to see people bash these lads. It's irritating and heartbreaking to see our own people crushing each other. It's devastating to see people show off their crab mentality and chauvinism to bring down these people whose intention is to improve whatever potential field this country has, in sports, in the arts and the sciences, and in the cultural aspect.

So please, whoever you are, stop being a basher.

As President Noynoy Aquino would say in his 2011 SONA, crab mentality has to stop.

We need a place to breathe. We need a place to improve. So there is no reason to block them off.

Cheers,
KENNETH

What I've Been Doing Lately

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Bernejay Porio) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 07:37:00 +0000

Hello there!

As I am about to finish my studies in UP Mindanao, I am to develop a system that should contribute to the software development community and the I.T. community in general.

While I've been appreciating the Philippine National Football Team, known more as the Azkals, I've been very busy on how I'll be taking more opportunities of improving myself as a future changemaker in the IT industry through my studies.

During the past few months, I've been already thinking on what I want to do for my Special Problem. Then I've been thinking more of our University's student publication, Himati.

Right there and then, I was already thinking of a system that would help the publication improve its coverage and its reach to the UP community and beyond.

During the previous semester, for our CMSC 128 (Software Engineering) class, I developed a Publication Content Management System for the publication. (Seen on the above image). The system intended to help the writers and editors to manage the articles brought up by the publication.

While it was not fully implemented around Himati, it was just a starting point of something better.

The publication gave me a new position in the publication. I'm now newly assigned as the Website Development Director. This means my new job for Himati is to develop the official website of the publication.

But with the system I've made last semester, I thought of making something better.

Why not develop a web portal?

A web portal or links page, like the likes of Yahoo!, AOL and Netvibes, is a website with integrated features such as search, e-mail, news, and the others. With that in mind, I plan to make a multi-platform system for the publication, combining inner processes of Himati, and the web services used such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

I envision a Himati that is reaches more people, a Himati that crosses borders of social media, a Himati that encourages contributions from its audience.

With this system I'll be developing and proposing as a Special Problem, I hope it will improve the coverage of the publication and increase the prominence of UP Mindanao in the community.

Wish me blessings!

KENNETH

Philippine Azkals: The Accents (3)

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Bernejay Porio) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 08:11:00 +0000

This is the 3rd installment of posts regarding the accents of the Philippine Azkals. Click for the 1st post and the 2nd post.

On my previous post, I talked about the Estuary English of Neil Etheridge, Phil Younghusband and James Younghusband, the Californian accent of Anton del Rosario, the Dutch manner of speaking by Jason de Jong, and Persian cliques of Misagh Bahadoran.

By now, let's cure more of your curiosity.

Many wonder how the recent goal-maker for the team, Fil-German midfielder Stephan Schröck, and the German coach Hans Michael Weiß (pronounced as /'vaisz/, also spelled Weiss) speak English. Well, I wondered, too, how they speak when I first heard of them. Luckily, I found a video from a TV Patrol report. (Last interview clip shows James Younghusband, the Middlesex boy.)

Anyhow, Stephan, while having a deep but sharp, gritty voice, has a thick German accent. His glottals and dipthongs are typical of a south German (He hails from Fürth, in Bavaria); /g/ and /t/ are sharp, /ai:/ and /oi:/ are fluid.

On the other hand, the Dannenfels, Rhineland-Palatinate native Weiß has a thicker accent, mainly because of his countryside origins. His alveolars are not strong, glottals and velars are prominent, and the short-E split exists typical of German amateur anglophones.

And common to these two, they don't seem to velarize /l/ and /r/. But they're comprehensible at least; we still understand what they are saying. (I'll find a video clip sometime with the non-native English speaking Azkals speaking in their "mother", er, "father" tongue.)

Let's now go to the locals.

The above video is a clip from TV Patrol Negros, so the report is in Ilonggo, also known as Hiligaynon. This was about their game vs. Mongolia at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod. Here the almost-Oxford-sounding Rob Gier commends Barotac Nuevo-native midfielder Chieffy Caligdong as the "man of the match." Then Chieffy comments in Ilonggo that he takes the game seriously.

You can tell that Chieffy has the phonology of Hiligaynon and Kiniray-a (a sub-dialect common to people outside Iloilo City in Panay). This language or dialect is very particular with stressing syllables and intonations have to be clear. The vowels /e/ and /i/ are usually interchanged in some words, and /g/ and /k/ are velar. You will be able to notice it when he tries to speak Tagalog.

Now this above video depicts forward Ian Araneta talking on his experience in Kuwait before their 1st leg match there. Ian is also from Barotac Nuevo, and he also has the phonology of Ilonggo creeping in his Tagalog. Never mind that anyway.

Now this video depicts second choice goalkeeper Paolo Pascual. He is speaking here about being in the Philippine Under-23 team and the Azkals. He hails from Cebu City; therefore, he has the accent of a Sugbuanon or Cebuano. Native Cebuanos sometimes have difficulty in conversing with Tagalog-speaking people due to strict implementations of speaking Cebuano (or Bisaya to most Filipinos) in the island province. While it is so, Paolo, like younger Cebuanos of this generation in which Tagalog is sometimes mixed into their school curricula, can sometimes lose distinctions of Cebuano. While the velars and glottal are thick like /g/, /k/ and /l/, his vowels are loosely resembling Tagalog in which /e/ and /i/ are not stressed.

Now, the wrap-up.

Skipper Aly Borromeo's accent might make a non-Filipino linguistics junkie go ask "Is he from Spain or is he from Ireland?" (citing his occasional open aired /e:/ in "best" or "name", or his velarized /k/ in "scraps".) Or non-linguists here in the Philippines might just conclude that the accents of Neil, Phil, James, Simon, and Rob are the same "sexy, nosy British" variant, or Jason Sabio's and Anton's are the same "American" tone. Or "expert anglophone" people would laugh at thick European or Middle-Eastern accents of Jason de Jong, Misagh, and Stephan. Or Tagalogs might despise the vowel switching of the Ilonggos Chieffy and Ian, and Cebuano Paolo. This is often percieved as discrimination or racism. It might make people like or dislike these people.

Nevertheless, they are Filipinos. Filipinos by choice, then Filipinos by right. They chose to play for the Philippines, no matter what their color of their skin is, what culture they are brought with, or what language they primarily speak.

It's about dedicating themselves to the nation.

It's about promoting the once-popular football that captured many Filipino hearts.

It's about making football known in this basketball-crazy nation.

They desire unity among the Filipinos all over the world.

And that is what makes them unique.

Cheers, Azkals! We believe.

KENNETH

Philippine Azkals: A Heartbreaking yet Inspiring Loss

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Bernejay Porio) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 16:17:00 +0000

Angel Guirado Aldeguer hugs a crying Misagh Bahadoran after their loss to Kuwait on 28 July 2011. (interaksyon.com)

It's finally over. Their dream to reach the 2014 World Cup has finally come to a heartbreaking but inspiring end.

After a 5-1 aggregate in favour of Kuwait, all hopes broke down as the Philippine National Football Team or the Philippine Azkals bowed down to Middle East superpower the Kuwait Al-Azraq for the home leg of 2nd round of the World Cup 2014 qualifiers. Although a glimmer of hope was lit as German 2nd Division Bundesliga midfielder Stephan Shroeck striked a 25-yard goal at the last minute of the 1st half, it was backfired by goals by Yousef Naser and Waleed Jumah on the 2nd half.

Indeed, it was not yet their time.

How heartbreaking their loss be, the cheering Filipino audience at the Rizal Memorial Stadium never stopped chanting "Azkals! Azkals!" in support of their national team, together with a standing ovation. It was nevertheless a proof of the Azkals winning Filipino hearts and bringing their consciousness to football.

Over the web at that moment, the hashtag #azkalswebelieve trended worldwide on the social microblogging site Twitter. Messages of support, sympathy, and affection poured in from all walks of life in the social web. No wonder Filipinos have this much support that can shake the world by storm. Other nationalities might wonder who they are, what teams they have battled with, and the challenges they have gone through if this continues.

This is just the beginning of marking football as one of the sports in which the Filipino can shine and unite. From their outstanding win in the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup, to this inspiring loss in the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers, these fixtures have struck the consciousness of every Pinoy who believed in them. Who knows what goes ahead of them.

For now, the Azkals will focus on the following competitions:

AFC Challenge Cup
AFF Suzuki Cup
Long Teng Cup
The 1st ever Manila Beer Cup invitational games

...and the list goes on.

The Philippine National Football Team have gone a long way. This was the first World Cup qualifier they participated in eight decades. Maybe in the future editions of the World Cup we would finally see them play in the finals.

It's not yet now. It will be on God's own time.

Tuloy ang laban! We believe!

Cheers,
KENNETH

Of Philippine Football and Hooliganism

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Bernejay Porio) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 09:28:00 +0000

"Football hooliganism is unruly and destructive behaviour—such as brawls, vandalism and intimidation—by association football club fans."- Wikipedia

I do not know (yet) how to play football (soccer in the US). I intended to enroll on a PE course of football in where I am studying, but my schedules and finances didn't allow me to. I watch football every time CNN or BBC reports about some team/club plays against this team/club. I am actually bored at the constant wins of Manchester United on the English Premier League, or how national teams played head on during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa (which I religiously followed via CNN's extensive coverage). But my journey to be a follower for football skyrocketed when the Philippine national football team a.k.a. the Azkals qualified for the semi-finals in the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup.

The Azkals led me to know that the Philippines, known to be religious in basketball and boxing, can compete in this world-famous sport. This sport led met to know how social media (my current interest for my study) can impact the popularity of this football team which composes of men from local and foreign football clubs, many of which are prominent including Fulham and Chelsea, the same clubs BBC would talk about during EPL. This team led me to know how to study the spread of social media messages in the form of graphs or trees (as we define it in Computer Science) and how they affect the knowledge of its users. These events led me to appreciate the sacrifices, the losses and the victories the Azkals have gone through in a short span of time.

Now they are eyeing to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, I am getting a realization that football in the Philippines is getting a renaissance, a re-thinking. a re-realization. We used to play football and rise in football until America took hold of our nation. We thought of rising in basketball which we are still not capable to rise and shine as of now. We are now seeing a paradigm shift in sport.

Aside from that, these equally good-looking men, some come from foreign lineages like in Britain, Germany, Spain and America, and some come from all walks of life in the Philippines, are true to their intention to play for a nation who looks at football as a sport only for rich kids like golf or sailing. Some of these men sacrificed their careers at their high-profile clubs to represent this third-world country. This is a breakthrough for us, as this is an impossible task.

Now they are facing a Goliath team, Kuwait, they should be prepared for a tough road ahead if ever they would win against them in this second round of the qualifiers. Also, players from prominent clubs are to be prepared for this unexpected thing we call hooliganism.

Hooliganism is violence common in professional sports, especially football. It ranges from slurs and shouts, to fistfights and brawls, to shootouts and stampedes that can claim lives. Hooliganism stems either between rival football clubs or between rival national football teams. Hooliganism has been the cause of football's worst disaster to date, the Hillsborough Disaster of 1989, a disaster which sourced between fans of Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. This disaster claimed 96 lives and injured 766 others, making it the deadliest and the most violent in history.

I do hope disasters like this won't happen when the Philippine team will have an equal share of successes in the sporting scene.

Filipinos are known to be emotional and celebratory people. When someone from our country holds a victory, we rejoice with them. But at a time they lose in the race, we turn our backs and mock them or the other team that made them lose. We tend to have a crab mentality, utak-talangka, that tends to let our own people down. This mentality has destroyed our society for ages.

With the recent victories of the Azkals, they are to expect hooligans to arise against their fans, maybe from other countries, or even from our own race. They are to expect fans to fight against each other either with racial slurs, condemnations, blame-throwing, or worse, fistfights or killings. We must not let this happen. The Philippine government must act to protect the lives of the Azkals and the Azkaleros, the Azkals fanatics. They are to protect the dignity of the team and the sport they are representing. We are to be responsible.

If the Philippine Azkals ever proceed to the World Cup, we are to prepare. We are to be vigilant against those who are to destroy our team, our enthusiasts, and our country.

KENNETH

Philippine Azkals: The Accents (2)

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Bernejay Porio) — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 07:01:00 +0000

This is Part 2 of a series of posts about the Philippine Azkals' accents. Click here to go to my 1st post.

Hello there, Azkaleros!

Well, my previous post talked about the accents of some prominent members of the Philippine Azkals, the men's national football team. Last time we talked about Aly Borromeo's accent that's like a mix of Californian, Hispanic and Bisaya. We appreciated the ruff-and-tuff Southeastern American accent of Jason Sabio. We are tickled by the quirky Sussex accent of Simon Greatwich. And we do love the almost-Oxford-standard accent of Rob Gier.

Now let's get into another set of players. First up, the prime goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, the 21 year-old lad from London. Now, let's go back to that video starring him in 2008 (We'll observe, too, the other person interviewed here.)

As I've been observing his interviews every now and then, I am able to think that Neil's delivery of the language is close to what they call Estuary English. Estuary English refers to the dialect commonly encountered through South East England, particularly among the young and the working-class. It's called as such since it refers to those living in the estuary of the river Thames. Distinctions include /T/-glotallization (/T/ is heard as glottal rather as alveolar), broad /ɑː/, intrusive /R/, H-dropping and /l/-vocalisation. That's why you can really tell that he's from London and he's young that you can distinguish him from the elder Londoners.

Side note: The other person interviewed in the video is Phil Greatwich, brother of Simon Greatwich. Like I said in the previous post, he also has the Sussex accent like his brother.

Next stop: Anton del Rosario, the 29-year-old defender from San Francisco, California. The video below shows Anton promoting Alter-Space, a Facebook app made by Filipinos.

While preserving Californian distinctions of American English unlike his fellow Aly Borromeo, he somewhat tends to go near making /ɪ/ and /æ/ distinct, and do occasional glottal stops. Many would say Californians of Filipino descent tend to mix some features of Philippine English, that is /t/, /d/, and /g/ are glottal than alveolar.

Next, Phil and James Younghusband. They're born in Middlesex, South East England. So, you do expect Estuary English, right? Not quite.

In this above video from loqal.ph and Yahoo! Philippines, Phil and James teach football to young kids as part of their job as co-founders of the Younghusband Football Academy. Apart from that, their accents are quite interesting as well. Although somewhat very close to Estuary English as Neil, being West Londoners (as opposed to being North Londoner as Neil) makes their accent close to someone from the Midlands of England. Theirs /t/-s are alveolar, their /aʊ/ is prononunced, and they have yod-coalescence. However, it's interesting and not bad at all; it sounds pleasant anyways.

Next up, let's give the floor to some of the team's non-native English speakers. We'll get into Filipino-Dutch midfielder Jason de Jong, and Filipino-Iranian forward Misagh Bahadoran. Below videos are interviews they took before their match versus Kuwait.

Since Dutch and English belong to the same Germanic language family, many people in the Netherlands are able to converse in English properly. Jason de Jong's accent closely resembles the accents of many Dutch anglophones which tend to somewhat miss to velarize /l/, and his dipthongs are close to Amsterdam Dutch, but it's not badly delivered as opposed to those from cities close to Germany. Jason does it well, though.

Misagh's native tongue is Farsi (also called Persian). It belongs to the same family as Urdu and Dari. If you are able to study Farsi phonology, you would expect an Iranian to speak English in a style close to someone in Pakistan or Afghanistan. Their accent tends to flap or trill /l/ and /r/, /w/ tends to sound like /vh/, and they monophongitize some dipthonds like /au/ and /ou/. But in the case of Misagh, it's a little jilty but comprehensible.

That's it for now. Coming up, we'll be knowing about the accents of our full-blood Filipino players. We'll scrutinize the Hiligaynon accents of Chieffy Caligdong and Ian Araneta, the Sugbuanon glides of Paolo Pascual, the Manilenyo Tagalog of Christopher Camcam and many more. So, stick around, fans!
KENNETH