2007 Yonex-Sunrise Philippines National Open Badminton Championships

It's finally here! Now on its fourth year, the 2007 Yonex-Sunrise Philippines National Open Badminton Championships will be staged from October 20-28, 2007 at the Yonex Philippines Badminton Club on Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City. As of now, there is still no news on the featured events, but I will be updating as soon as I get more info. It is one of the most awaited local badminton tournaments of the year since it features an "Open" category showcasing the best of the local talents.

---

Sorry guys, haven't posted in a while. Been absolutely busy with work. I barely have time to eat and sleep when I get home, and then I'm off to work again. Shucks. I hope to post a more meaningful entry soon! Taa taa...

From the Courtside: Humorous Pics from the 2007 Bingo Bonanza Philippine Open (Part 3/3)

Of course with all the pictures I took during the 2007 Bingo Bonanza Philippines, there were bound to be some pics which were kinda funny. I took the liberty of adding some funny captions. "Bato bato sa langit, ang tamaan wag magagalit."

FVR while combing his hair
During the Mixed Doubles Event...


During the Men's Doubles Event...

Look at how high Tan Boon Heong can jump...

You wouldn't believe what else happened during the tourney. It has been tagged as the case of the "suicidal rat." During the WD match between Novita/Polii of Indonesia and Zhao Tingting/Yang Wei of China, while Polii was trying to request for a break, a rat suddenly fell down seemingly out of nowhere!!! The eyewitness account (pls scroll down and look for the topic "suicidal rat") was so funny. Apparently, the rat looked like it fell from the ceiling. Imagine the consternation of the lady players upon seeing a rat inside the badminton court!!! Oh dear. I hope you guys enjoyed the pics featured above. Tata! Till the next tournament!

From the Courtside: More pics from the Bingo Bonanza Philippine Open 2007 (2/3)

As promised, I am posting more pics I took during the 2007 Bingo Bonanza Philippine Open Badminton Tournament. These pics were taken during the finals held on 22 July 2007.

Men's Singles Finals: Lee Chong Wei (Malaysia) def. Chen Hong (China)

A heart-warming scene: Lee giving Chen Hong a hug after the match Women's Doubles Finals: Yu Chin Chien and Wen Hsing Cheng (Chinese Taipei) def. Pan Pan and Qing Tian (China)

Zhou Mi of Hongkong who bagged the Women's Singles Title

Mixed Doubles Finals: Lilyana Natsir and Nova Widianto (Indonesia) def. Yu Mi Hwang and Sang Hoon Han (Korea)

Finally, the Men's Doubles Finals: Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong (Malaysia) def. Zhendong Guo and Zhongbo Xie (China)

Men's Doubles Champions being awarded by Former First Lady Amelita Ramos

It was a very successful tournament. I leave you with some snippets from the very exciting Men's Doubles game. Enjoy! Have a happy weekend everyone!

From the Courtside: Bingo Bonanza Philippine Open 2007 (Part 1)

Here are some pics I took while watching the 2007 Bingo Bonanza Philippine Open Badminton Tournament at the Philsports Arena (formerly Ultra). These are from the Semi-Finals last Saturday. It was unfortunate we were only able to watch the last 3 games that day because we were late. Not our fault since it was raining so hard and my husband's car had a flat tire, so there.

A shot of the audience who trooped to the Philsports Arena despite the pouring rain outside

Zhongbo Xie of China giving a hand signal to his partner Zhendong Guo

Defending champions Susanto Njoto and Yohan Wiratama of Hong Kong (former players of the Indonesian National Team)

Another shot of the Men's Doubles game between China and Hong Kong

Yu Chin Chien and Wen Hsing Cheng of Chinese Taipei (who won that day and eventually bagged the Women's Doubles title the following day.)

---

On a different note: I just finished reading Harry Potter Book 7 today! Finally, I can now function properly. Don't worry, you won't find any spoilers in this post. I just have this to say -- J.K. Rowling is such an excellent storyteller. I'm so sad this is the last installment in the Potter series.

My Most Expensive Pictures Ever

Caught your attention 'ei? Well, you have to read the rest of my post to understand.

18 July to 22 July 2007 saw the staging of the 2nd Bingo Bonanza Philippine Open Badminton Tournament at the Philsports Arena (formerly Ultra). My husband was able to watch it since Day 1. But since I couldn't get off work to watch the games with him, I had to content myself with watching the weekend games. The semi-finals was scheduled last Saturday, while the finals was scheduled last Sunday. I will be posting more pictures during the event in my succeeding posts.

Badminton fanatic that I am, I was able to convince my hubby to wait for the champion of the Men's Doubles event (Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong of Malaysia, now ranked #3 in the world) to emerge from the press conference room and have my picture taken with them. Here are the pics:

With Koo Kien Keat of Malaysia

With Tan Boon Heong of Malaysia

While my husband was busy taking these pictures, he felt someone's hand brush up his butt but took no notice of it since he wanted to appease my desire to have my picture taken with these world-class players. Immediately after taking these photos, his hand went to his pocket to check if his wallet was still there, but lo and behold...it was already gone!!! Some evil conscience-less person picked his pocket despite the presence of several police officers in the vicinity !!! Gggrrrr...I hope whoever did this rots in hell!!!!

Fortunately, my hubby was not yet able to withdraw so there was only a minimal amount of cash in his wallet. But it wasn't the money we were worried about but all the hassle of having to replace his ID, driver's license, ATM cards and credit card. Aside from anger at the person who did this, I also felt guilty because my hubby wanted to go home immediately but I convinced him to stay so that I could have pictures for posterity. Sheesh! If only we'd gone home immediately after the games. (Ang pagsisisi talagang laging nasa huli.) I should have listened to my "gut feel" telling me not to wait for these players and go home already. But I didn't listen. Instead, I persisted with the original plan. A lot of "if-only"s and "what-if"s.

So, yeah, these pictures truly are unforgettable and my most expensive pics ever. Lesson well learned indeed.

End of summer and holdapan blues...

The reason for my long absence??? I've been trying to enjoy the last remaining weeks of my maternity leave, taking care of things that need to be taken care of, before I go back to work and before my husband and I could even think of conceiving another baby.

First off, I had to have my impacted molar removed. Ouucchhh...that was really such a painful experience. What does it have to do with getting pregnant again? Well...nothing really, except that I read in the book "What to Expect When You're Expecting" under the section "Preparing for the Next Baby," the authors advised women to go see their dentist and have any necessary work, including X-rays, fillings and dental surgery completed so that it won't have to be done during pregnancy. Believe me, the pain was unbelieveable even after the surgery and I could not imagine having survived it without painkillers afterwards. Remember when I had to have my dermoid cyst removed???

I was also busy helping my husband arrange a mini-badminton tournament for all of his students at the Kimoni Badminton Academy. Kimoni Badminton Academy was estalished by Kimon Philippines in order to give high-quality badminton lessons in their headquarters in Sta. Mesa Heights, QC. They have tapped the services of former national players to teach its clientele the rudiments in badminton. The mini-tournament was a lot of fun since beginners were given a chance to experience how joining a tournament feels like.

Jojo Mance (in the middle) with the rest of the participants

Unfortunately, the day was not without its hitch. A couple who joined the tournament arrived late. Apparently, they had lunch in this small restaurant along Kamagong St. in Makati which was held up by 2 armed men aboard a motorcycle. The customers were told at gunpoint to give these 2 armed men their wallets and cellphones. The cashier (of the restaurant) was left unharmed. Tsk tsk tsk...to think that this restaurant is just near the Makati Police Station. According to eyewitnesses, this restaurant was already held up twice already in the past. Unbelievable.

So, beware when eating out in restaurants. Me? I prefer to dine inside malls or established restaurants where there is sufficient security.

Badminton...for a cause

The 1st LifeBridge Badminton Tournament was held last Saturday at the Greenhills Badminton Court. The Tournament Director was no other than my hubby (Jojo Mance). I have to admit that I knew nothing about this organization when I first heard about it. I decided to tag along since I needed to keep myself busy.

When I arrived at the Greenhills Badminton Court, the venue of the tourney, I was able to talk to the organizers of the tournament. I learned that LifeBridge is a non-governmental Christian organization helping people who were in need. For this particular badminton tournament, the proceeds will go to the Cornelia de Lange Syndrome Support Group headed by Mr. Don Suarez. When I talked to Mr. Suarez, the first thing I asked was what the Cornelia de Lange syndrome (“CDLS”) is all about.

What is CDLS?

Cornelia de Lange syndrome is a developmental disorder that affects many parts of the body. The features of this disorder vary widely among affected individuals and range from relatively mild to severe.

Cornelia de Lange syndrome is characterized by slow growth before and after birth, mental retardation that is usually severe to profound, abnormalities involving the arms and hands, and distinctive facial features. The facial differences include thin, arched eyebrows; long eyelashes; low-set ears; small, widely spaced teeth; and a small, upturned nose. Many affected individuals also have behavior problems similar to autism, a developmental condition that affects communication and social interaction.

The parents of children afflicted with CDLS created a support group in order to help one another. Moreover, since children with CDLS require constant care all throughout their life, it causes quite a financial strain on the family. The support group is a critical component of caring for the children. My discussion with Mr. Suarez was very uplifting and reminded me all too well of the tragedy that befell my son. It aroused in me the desire to reach out to others.

I also got to meet the consultant of the CDLS support group, Dr. Eva Cutiongco-de la Paz, who, aside from being a doctor, also happened to be a genetic counsellor. I believe that this was no ordinary coincidence. Jojo and I really need to see a genetic counsellor and we had no idea who to go to. Aside from this, I was also toying with the idea of forming a support group here in the Philippines for parents of children who have trisomy 18 or Edward’s syndrome. I mentioned this to Dra. De la Paz and she thought it was a good idea. She said she could help me since she has several patients who were also parents of children with trisomy 18. I really hope that our plans would push through. For the first time in months, I went home that day full of hope.

All in all, the tournament was a success. Here are some pictures from the tournament.

The organizers, tournament director and coordinator of the 1st LifeBridge Badminton Tournament

Jojo having an animated conversation with Mark Anthony Fernandez.

(Oh, did I forget to mention that some celebrities also participated in this event?)

Daisy Reyes with a crazed fan (???!!!)

Belated congratulatory post

I know, I know. I haven't been a dutiful wife lately. This is a very belated congratulatory post. I would like to congratulate my hubby Jojo Mance and his partner Melvin Llanes for winning the Men's Doubles Open Category at the Powerade Badminton Cup 2006 held last December 2006 at the Yonex Badminton Court in Mandaluyong City.

Jojo Mance and Melvin Llanes (Champion in the Men's Doubles Category)
Irene Chiu and Jaime Junio (Champions of the Mixed Doubles Category)
Photos courtesy of Powerade, Kimoni and Yourbadminton.com

Champions of the Men's Doubles Category together with the organizers
(From left to right: Jojo Mance, Jenny Cinco of Coca-Cola Phil., Melvin Llanes,
Sharon Lee of Kimoni and Emma Mina of Mindworks)

Congratulations Honey! Unfortunately, I was not able to watch the games and cheer them on because I had to stay at home and rest from the operation I had last year (removal of my dermoid cyst). I'm starting to think that my husband gets lucky whenever I don't get to watch his games....hehehe. I broached this topic with my husband, and of course, he laughingly brushed it aside saying that I can never bring him bad luck. (Aww....sweet noh.) Anyway, you can read more of their feat at this website http://www.yourbadminton.com/article52.php

tag category: badminton tournaments

Finally!

Many of you might be wondering the reason behind my absence in the blogosphere. Don't you worry guys, I'm still alive and kicking! :-)

Let me start my post with what happened last Sunday. I accompanied by husband to the GO! Badminton Tournament held at Powersmash Makati where he paired off with Rocky Magnaye in the Open Category.

Rocky Magnaye and Jojo Mance

They both tried their best. Unfortunately, they did not win in their cateogry. Youth simply proved superior at this point. But to me guys, you're still the best!

After the tournament, I suddently realized that I was not feeling well. Aside from the hunger pangs I was experiencing, I also felt nauseated. We decided to eat at the food court in Glorietta. Suspecting something, I asked my husband to pass by the drugstore first before going home, to which he readily agreed.

So, after passing by Watson's drug store in Greenbelt 1, we immediately went home. Upon arriving home, I fell asleep from exhaustion. I woke up at 6 P.M., went to the bathroom to pee...and to administer the home pregnancy test kit that I bought at Watson's.

After performing this test for about a year, I was already used to seeing a single line in the test kit to signal that I was not yet with child. When I finally saw 2 red lines on the test strip, I cried like crazy and felt extremely happy that God has finally granted our wish -- to have a child. I immediately went to my husband and told him the good news. He was also very happy with the news and excited too.

So that's what's been happening to me guys. For the past four days, I have been swept in this wonderful feeling of euphoria. Unfortunately, it is not without its accompanying discomfort. I always feel nausea, my taste buds are askew and I've been feeling very sleepy lately. But believe me, these are sacrifices I'm willing to make for the realization of a dream. Finally!

Rexona Cup and MAP Badminton Tournament

Last Sunday was a very busy day for my husband and I. First off, we had to go to Club 650 Badminton Court along Libis, Q.C. for the Rexona Cup. No, my husband did not join that tournament because it wasn't open for national and ex-national players. Instead, they were part of an exhibition team, the PB Shuttlers, to be launched that day. As mentioned in my earlier post, the PB Shuttlers are composed of former ex-national champions and players who were tapped by Pinoy Badminton Inc. to perform badminton exhibition matches (ala Harlem Globetrotters style.)

I am happy to announce the PB Shuttlers received very good feedbacks during the exhibition match. They did not just exhibit their talent in the court, they also elicited guffaws and thunderous applause from the audience because of their funny, yet unstaged (*wink*wink*), antics. Here they are:

Badong "The Magician" Banquiles

Jojo "The Gentle-" Mance

Ronald "McDonald" Magnaye

Rocky "Balboa" Magnaye

After their exhibition match, we had a light lunch and proceeded to the MAP (Malaysian Association of the Philippines) Badminton Tournament held at Powersmash Makati. My husband paired off with Denden Dimarucot, the #1 varsity player of University of the East.

Jojo Mance and Denden Dimarucot

Unfortunately, they were immediately pitted against the Indonesian pair, Rudy Wijaya and Kwee Tek Min, former members of the Indonesian National Team. What can I say? They really tried their best but they eventually lost to the Indonesian pair.

Rudy Wijaya and Kwee Tek Min

Even the powerful duo of Ian Piencenaves (2006 JVC Champion) and Jaime Junio, current member of the national team, were no match against the Indonesian pair. Piencenaves and Junio even won the first set. The game went to a deciding set but was eventually won by the Indonesian pair.

Ian Piencenaves and Jaime Junio

The winners of the tournament? The Indonesian pair of Rudy Widjaya and Kwee Tek Min. Filipinos have yet to go a long way in becoming world caliber badminton players. The Asuncion siblings (Kennevic and Kennie), are one step closer since they are currently ranked #20 in the world, according to the 24 August 2006 ranking issued by the International Badminton Federation. Unfortunately, we do not have the opportunity to shine in regional tournaments because the world champions are also from Asia (China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Korea, among others.) But at least, our Filipino shuttlers are trying their best. They need more support from the government if we ever dream of bagging the World Championship, the Olympics or the Thomas and Uber Cup someday.

Tag category: Badminton Tournament ; PB Shuttlers

2006 MBC Celebrity Badminton Tournament

The MBC (Manila Broadcasting Company) Celebrity Badminton Tournament was held last Saturday, 15 July 2006, at the Smashville Badminton Court in Pasig City. The event was, of course, sponsored by MBC/DZRH, with Nadia Montenegro as the Events Organizer and Jojo Mance as the Tournament Director. While there were a few mishaps and temper tantrums on the side, the event was a resounding success. The antics of john “Sweet” Lapuz (with his high-pitched screams when he would commit an error, and he would always grab the microphone from the commentator to make funny comments) proved to be a welcome respite from the high-intensity badminton games.

Here are some of the pictures from the tournament:




the MBC Celebrity Badminton Tournament poster





















the celebrities during opening ceremonies...




Anthony Suntay with Jojo...










the champions of the Class A Division...
Emilio Garcia and Jestoni Alarcon










the powerful duo of Glydel Mercado and Karla Estrada











buti nakahabol pa si Janno Gibbs....










tournament director Jojo while relaxing and sharing light moments with Ian Veneracion and Jong Cuenco (the flutist, whom we discovered is a distant relative of Jojo)...








Aaron Villena with Robin Da Roza

Tag Category: Badminton+tournament