Pacquiao Plays Host to Matthysse in Prelude to Kuala Lumpur Battle

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Filipino sports icon Manny Pacquiao rolled out the red carpet to Lucas Martin Matthysse at the start of the two-city press tour and challenged the Argentine for his World Boxing Association welterweight title at the City of Dreams Grand Ballroom Wednesday April 18, 2018.

As a new boxing promoter, Pacquiao welcomed first-time Manila visitors Matthysse and his team led by Golden Boy Promotions President Eric Gomez and Matthysse's manager Mario Arano in a lavish and eventful press conference.

From being a promoter, Pacquiao transformed into Matthysse's challenger that will headline the battle dubbed "Fight of Champions."The glitzy 16,000-seat Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur will be the venue for the fight on July 15 (July 14 in the US), which will also feature three other world championship title fights.

Pacquiao was all business in bidding to win an unprecedented 11thworld title and vowed to give it all for his boxing fans around the world. The 39-year-old fighter from Sarangani province broke all records by becoming the only boxer in history to have won titles in eight different weight divisions from 112 lbs. to 152 lbs.

Pacquiao and his MP Promotions company is hoping to equal if not surpass the expectations leading to the epic Muhammad Ali-Joe Bugnerre match which was also held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 43 years ago.

The press tour shifts to Kuala Lumpur on April 20.

"We are excited to showcase to our Malaysian brothers a roadshow that hopes to match the excitement of the Ali-Bugner fight in 1975," added Pacquiao.

Matthysse is a 35-year-old champion nicknamed "La Maquina," who has displayed machine-like precision in beating 39 opponents, 36 of whom he knocked out--an amazing 92.3 percent demolition rate. He has lost four times only.

Not present is trainer Joel Diaz who is preparing training camp. Diaz has trained Timothy Bradley, whom Pacquiao has faced thrice in the past.

“This is the fight I have always wanted. The opportunity to fight a future Hall of Famer such as Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao inspires me to work harder than ever to earn a victory for my fans. I know that it will not be easy. But I will defend my title with honor and represent my country Argentina with pride,” said Matthysse.

Pacquiao was with his long-time trainer Restituto "Buboy" Fernandez.

Rich Franklin's One Warrior Series Finale Awards Three Prospects with USD $100K+ ONE Championship Contracts

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The finale of the first season of Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series, which took place Saturday, 31 March in Singapore, was recently concluded. After an exciting evening filled with thrilling bouts showcasing promising young talents, three winners of ONE Championship contracts were announced. Rockie Bactol, Woonkyum Kim, and Daesong Park all received USD $100,000+ ONE Championship contracts as overall winners of the reality documentary series.

Episodes of Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series are available on ONE Championship’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/OneFCMMA

Rich Franklin, CEO of ONE Warrior Series, stated: “This event just proved that scouting is not a perfect science. While Rockie Bactol and Woonkyum Kim were both prospects in which I see promise, we initially passed on Daesong Park in the tryout process only for him to come back and blow us all away with his indomitable spirit. Congratulations to all three for earning their contracts in our first event, as well as JD Hardwick, Shahid Siddiqui and Faizan Khan on earning their Warrior Bonuses. Our first season was an incredible success and was a terrific experience for myself and the entire ONE Warrior Series team. Looking forward to doing it all again in the coming months.”

Jonathan Fong, Director and Co-Host of ONE Warrior Series, stated: “Our goal for ONE Warrior Series was to highlight Asia’s most promising young talent and to prove to the world that martial arts is more than just a sport in Asia, it’s a lifestyle. I believe we achieved that and so much more with the great group of guys we were able to work with in the first season. We would like to thank and congratulate all the warriors who competed in the inaugural ONE Warrior Series event. We saw an amazing night of competition from hungry competitors vying for their spot on the global stage.”

19-year-old Rockie Bactol, a Filipino martial arts prospect who lives and trains in Bangkok, first discovered martial arts to learn self-defense after experiencing childhood bullying. At the Season 1 Finale of Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series, Bactol turned in a spectacular performance, defeating opponent Mark Cuizon by first-round americana.

South Korean prospect Woonkyum Kim went through a troubled childhood after his parents got divorced at a young age. After discovering martial arts however, Kim was able to change his circumstances and now leads a life of discipline and honor. In the finale, Kim faced Sanjidul Islam, winning by first-round technical knockout.

Although impressive, South Korean prospect Daesong Park was initially passed on by the ONE Warrior Series judges in the January tryouts. However, he was selected as a late filler to compete against Eto Kimihiro, who was deemed as one of the top contestants. In the bout, Park overcame two illegal blows below the belt and an eyepoke to take victory in the first round by technical knockout.

In addition, athletes Shahid Siddiqui, JD Hardwick, and Faizan Khan each received a Warrior Bonus, a cash award of variable amount, for their incredible performances, displaying unbreakable will and perseverance through adversity.

Rich Franklin's ONE Warrior Series is a new travel series talent search which runs in 30-minute episodes. The show aims to discover new martial arts talent across Asia, providing promising young athletes with the platform to unleash their martial arts greatness. Franklin, who serves as the show’s host, travels across the Asian continent with co-host Jonathan Fong, searching for talent, experiencing local cultures and testing their boundaries.


Season 2 of Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series will begin filming later this year.


For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Complete Card Announced for One: Unstoppable Dreams Set for May 18 in Singapore

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship (ONE), has just announced the complete card for ONE: UNSTOPPABLE DREAMS, set for 18 May at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. The absolute best in local and international martial arts talent are ready to showcase their incredible skills on the largest global platform of martial arts competition. In the main event, reigning ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion “Unstoppable” Angela Lee makes her highly-anticipated return to action to defend her title against Japanese veteran Mei “V.V” Yamaguchi in a rematch.


Ticket information for ONE: UNSTOPPABLE DREAMS is available at www.onefc.com.


Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, stated: “I am thrilled to announce ONE: UNSTOPPABLE DREAMS, which is shaping up to be one of the biggest nights in the history of martial arts. Three world title bouts are set to take place in Singapore. Headlining the card is Asia’s biggest martial arts star, ‘Unstoppable’ Angela Lee, as she continues to embody the true warrior spirit of martial arts. She returns to the ONE Championship cage to resume her incredible career. Mei Yamaguchi is ready to give her a tough challenge however, and the two have danced inside the cage once before. Also, I am pleased to announce that Martin Nguyen will face Christian Lee in defense of his ONE Featherweight World Championship title. Martin has just come back from a tremendous battle with Bibiano Fernandes last March, and has made a quick turnaround to defend his featherweight title like a true world champion. Finally, we are set to crown the inaugural ONE Super Series Muay Thai Flyweight World Champion, as Sam-A Gaiyanghadao and Sergio Wielzen vie for the title. It’s going to be a phenomenal night of action for sure, and fans will not want to miss the excitement at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.”

21-year-old “Unstoppable” Angela Lee of Singapore is considered one of ONE Championship’s most outstanding athletes. She captured the inaugural ONE Women’s Atomweight World Championship with an awe-inspiring victory over Mei Yamaguchi in 2016, and has since then defended the title successfully on two occasions. Lee’s beautiful combination of elite striking and grappling has proven to be a potent formula for success, as she has remained unbeaten in her career. In the most recent bout of an impressive run, Lee dominated top contender Istela Nunes, showcasing her wide array of skills. She is widely-considered on a global scale to be one of the biggest names actively competing in the sport. She is set to defend her title next against Yamaguchi in a rematch.

35-year-old Japanese martial arts veteran Mei “V.V” Yamaguchi is a female atomweight standout and a former ONE world title challenger from Tokyo. She is the DEEP Jewels Featherweight Champion, and owns seven submissions and two knockouts in her 28-bout professional career. In 2016, Yamaguchi challenged Angela Lee for the inaugural ONE Women’s Atomweight World Championship in an epic showdown that would later win multiple ‘Bout of the Year’ honors from international media publications. In her last outing, Yamaguchi thoroughly defeated Gina Iniong of the Philippines to win impressively by unanimous decision after three rounds. Yamaguchi is now set to take on champion Angela Lee in a highly-anticipated rematch.

34-year-old Sam-A Gaiyanghadao is a Muay Thai legend and multiple-time Lumpinee Stadium world champion who is regarded as one of the best strikers in the world. As a Muay Thai practitioner, Sam-A owns a record of 364-46-9, and was known for his strong defense and counter offense. An instructor at Evolve in Singapore and a member of the prestigious Evolve Fight Team, Sam-A made his first ONE Championship appearance last January against Joseph Lasiri in the first-ever Muay Thai bout inside the ONE Championship cage. Sam-A is set to lock horns with Sergio Wielzen, whom he will compete against for the inaugural ONE Super Series Muay Thai Flyweight World Championship.

Lion Fight Muay Thai World Lightweight Champion, Sergio “Little One” Wielzen of Suriname is a Dutch-based martial artist training out of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. With a professional kickboxing record of 45-18-2, Wielzen has built a reputation as being an explosive striker with stunning knockout power. Despite being physically smaller than most of his opponents, Wielzen has won many of his bouts by knockout. He is also a former It’s Showtime 61MAX world champion. Wielzen is set to make his ONE Super Series debut opposite Muay Thai legend Sam-A Gaiyanghadao.

29-year-old Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen is one of the most highly-regarded martial arts champions in the world. With an impressive 10-2 professional record, which includes three submissions and seven knockouts, Nguyen’s all-around skill set allows him to perform at the highest level of competition. All of Nguyen’s wins have come by exciting finish. Last November, Nguyen scored a scintillating knockout victory over the Philippines’ Eduard Folayang to become the first man in the history of ONE Championship to hold two titles simultaneously in different weight divisions, reigning as both ONE Featherweight & Lightweight World Champion. In his last bout, Nguyen figured in a historic showdown with ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano Fernandes in Bangkok. Nguyen now makes a quick turnaround however, jumping right back into action as he defends his featherweight title against Christian Lee.

19-year-old Christian “The Warrior” Lee, younger brother of reigning ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion “Unstoppable” Angela Lee, began his professional career on an absolute tear, railing off five straight victories by thrilling finish. He has impressed fans with his ability to seek out stoppage wins over top-caliber opponents featuring an exciting fan-friendly style. A former Pankration World Champion, Lee toppled Japanese veteran Kazunori Yokota in his most recent bout, winning via second-round guillotine choke to improve his record to 9-1. Riding an impressive four-bout winning streak with all four wins coming by finish, Lee is set to showcase his skills once more inside the ONE Championship cage. In his next bout, Lee has the chance to become a world champion when he challenges Martin Nguyen, the only man to ever defeat him, for the ONE Featherweight World Championship.

32-year-old Yodsanklai Fairtex is one of the most recognizable names in the world of Muay Thai. Known by the moniker “The Boxing Computer” as a testament to his impeccable in-ring techniques, he has won numerous championships in his stellar kickboxing career, including the WBC Super Welterweight Muay Thai World Championship and the coveted Lumpinee Stadium World Championship. Yodsanklai will face Chris Ngimbi in his ONE Super Series debut.

Chris “The African Warrior” Ngimbi is a Congolese-Dutch kickboxer who hails from Eindhoven, Netherlands. Having nearly 70 bouts under his belt, Ngimbi has a long list of international accolades as a competitor. He looks to bolster his glowing repertoire as a global kickboxing superstar, as he battles Muay Thai legend Yodsanklai Fairtex in ONE Super Series.

Global martial arts veteran Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki of Shizuoka, Japan, is one of the world’s most decorated athletes. He is a DREAM Lightweight Champion, Shooto Welterweight Champion, and former ONE Lightweight World Champion. The 34-year-old Aoki is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under the famed Yuki Nakai, and has won multiple grappling tournaments all over the world. Aoki also holds a black belt in judo and is widely considered one of the best pure grapplers in professional martial arts competition today. In his next bout, Aoki looks to regain his status among the promotion’s top lightweights as he takes on Rasul Yakhyaev.

26-year-old Rasul Yakhyaev of Grozny, Russia, is a lightweight competitor who has racked up a solid following over his seven-year professional career. A jiu-jitsu and combat sambo practitioner, he is adept in both striking and mat techniques, and is considered a solid contender with tremendous combat skills. A well-rounded warrior, four of Yakhyaev’s victories have come by submission while three have come by knockout. After establishing a name for himself in Eastern Europe, he made his ONE Championship debut in December of 2015. In his most recent contest, Yakhyaev defeated highly-regarded lightweight Shannon Wiratchai by unanimous decision. He now seeks to take his career to the next level against former world champion Shinya Aoki.

Former ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang of the legendary Team Lakay in Baguio City is one of the Philippines’ most experienced martial artists. After nearly a decade of competing in various promotions, Folayang has amassed an impressive 18-6 professional record. The 34-year-old veteran has reinvented himself by transitioning from a pure striker to an all-around martial artist, showcasing a highly-improved wrestling and grappling arsenal. Now set to return to the ONE Championship cage in Singapore, Folayang will face Kharun Atlangeriev with the intention of putting himself back in the world title picture.

25-year-old Kharun “Predator” Atlangeriev of Russia is an unbeaten martial artist with a perfect 11-0 record. Atlangeriev has gone the distance just once in his professional stint, as ten of his 11 career wins have come by way of finish. He eyes to make an impact in his ONE Championship debut by defeating a former world titleholder in Eduard Folayang.

23-year-old Singaporean top lightweight contender Amir Khan is a martial artist with a stellar professional record of 9-3. He is considered one of the most promising young talents to represent Singapore on the global stage of martial arts. Khan has won an impressive six of his last seven bouts, and owns eight spectacular finishes on his resume. A certified action star, Khan’s record includes one win by submission and seven devastating knockouts. Next in line for Khan is newcomer Sung Jong Lee.

Sung Jong Lee of Cheonan, South Korea, is a 32-year-old martial artist set to compete in the talented lightweight division of ONE Championship. Lee holds a professional record of four wins and one loss. Always looking to finish on the mat, Lee is a dangerous grappler who is capable of ending matches in a variety of ways. Lee steps inside the ONE Championship cage for the first time at ONE: UNSTOPPABLE DREAMS as he is set to face Singaporean hometown hero Amir Khan.

Singtongnoi Por Telakun is one of the most popular Muay Thai practitioners in Thailand, winning numerous prestigious titles throughout his celebrated career, such as the Lumpinee Muay Thai World Championship and WMC Muay Thai World Championship. Famous for his relentless style in the ring, Singtongnoi has beaten some of Thailand’s biggest Muay Thai superstars. Singtongnoi will make his ONE Super Series debut opposite Joseph Lasiri.

A product of the flourishing Muay Thai scene in Milan, Italy, 26-year-old Joseph Lasiri has become one of Europe’s most well-respected kickboxing competitors. Under the tutelage of Diego Calzolari, the first Italian to ever win at the world-famous Rajadamnern Stadium in Bangkok, he captured the WBA Super Bantamweight and interim WBC Super Bantamweight Muay Thai World Championships. Lasiri made his first ONE Championship appearance last January against multi-division Lumpinee World Champion Sam-A Gaiyanghadao in the first-ever Muay Thai bout inside the ONE Championship cage. In his next outing, Lasiri seeks to redeem himself as he takes on Thailand’s Singtongnoi Por Telakun in ONE Super Series.

Huang Shi Hao of Singapore is a 25-year-old martial artist set to compete in ONE Championship’s stacked bantamweight division. A decorated Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner, Huang hones his skills to be a complete martial artist at the Singapore BJJ gym. After dominating the amateur ranks with his exquisite talent, Shi Hao fully realizes his dream to be a professional athlete, as he is scheduled to make his ONE Championship debut against China’s Xie Bin.

20-year-old Xie Bin of China is one of the most talented young fighters to come out of Tianjin. He started off his martial arts career with a victory over compatriot Ma Shuang at ONE: DYNASTY OF CHAMPIONS and has since put on several thrilling shows as a professional. In his last bout, Xie submitted Cambodia’s Chan Rothana with an impressive second-round Brabo choke. He is currently riding a two-bout winning streak and will look to push it to three when he takes on Huang Shi Hao.

Indonesian martial arts veteran “The Terminator” Sunoto is a ONE Championship bantamweight and a former WKF Indonesia Champion. Representing IndoGym and Team Phantom, Sunoto features a style that combines elements of kickboxing, karate, and jiu-jitsu. With a penchant for scoring spectacular finishes, five of Sunoto’s eight victories have ended before the final bell. The 33-year-old is known as an aggressive warrior who never backs down from a challenge. In his last outing, Sunoto continued to impress on the global stage, defeating Hisyam Samsudin by unanimous decision. His next bout will be against Roel Rosauro of the Philippines.

29-year-old Roel “Akiyama” Rosauro of Cebu City, Philippines, is a Filipino martial arts prospect who trains in the art of Yaw-Yan. A striking specialist, Rosauro is known for his powerful hands and lightning-quick punches. Rosauro made his promotional debut at ONE: QUEST FOR GOLD opposite China’s Li Kai Wen, joining a growing list of promising talents in ONE Championship. He now returns to action as a bantamweight, seeking victory against Indonesian martial arts veteran Sunoto.

ONE: UNSTOPPABLE DREAMS

Friday, 18 May, 7:00 PM local time

Singapore Indoor Stadium

Main Event

Angela Lee vs Mei Yamaguchi

ONE Women’s Atomweight World Championship

Global Rule Set: 52.2kg

Main Card

Sam-A Gaiyanghadao vs Sergio Wielzen

ONE Super Series Muay Thai Flyweight World Championship

ONE Super Series: 61.2kg

Martin Nguyen vs Christian Lee

ONE Featherweight World Championship

Global Rule Set: 70.3kg

Yodsanklai Fairtex vs Chris Ngimbi

ONE Super Series: 72.5kg

Shinya Aoki vs Rasul Yakhyaev

Global Rule Set: 77.1kg

Eduard Folayang vs Kharun Atlangeriev

Global Rule Set: 77.1kg

Amir Khan vs Sung Jong Lee

Global Rule Set: 77.1kg

Prelims

Singtongnoi Por Telakun vs Joseph Lasiri

ONE Super Series: 61.2kg

Shi Hao Huang vs Xie Bin

Global Rule Set: 65.8kg

Roel Rosauro vs Sunoto

Global Rule Set: 65.8kg

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

ONE Championship VP of Medical Services Says Athlete Health and Safety is Top Priority

Wazzup Pilipinas!

As martial arts continues to introduce revolutionary developments in its rapid evolution over the last few years, safety for athletes has become even more paramount to the sustainability of the sport. When Dr. Warren Wang came on board ONE Championship as Vice President of Medical Services, the renowned physician saw plenty of opportunities to improve upon the promotion’s medical practices.

“It’s about making the sport safer for all participants,” said Dr. Wang. “Martial arts is a full contact sport, and athletes are its most important components. Whenever we have an opportunity to make the sport safer for athletes, we have to explore every possibility.”

Wang is an experienced physician in the field of Emergency Medicine with over 10 years of knowledge and practice under his belt. He joined ONE Championship in 2015 but has been with the company since 2014 under a different capacity.

He is also no stranger to martial arts, having trained in the art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu since 1996. Based in Taiwan, Wang helped bring martial arts to mainstream public consciousness with his work as Founder of the Taiwan Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy and Tournament Director of the Taiwan BJJ Open.

Needless to say, when it comes to martial arts, he certainly knows a thing or two.

“I know the specific risks that athletes take whenever they step into the cage. I am able to identify which areas of the sport require critical focus,” said Dr. Wang.

One of the major revolutions in ONE Championship’s safety procedures is the complete ban of weight-cutting by dehydration. Dr. Wang was part of the team that revolutionized ONE Championship’s weigh-in program a couple of years ago. Today, athletes are happier, healthier, and most importantly safer in competition.

“It’s developments such as this that is the future of martial arts,” said Dr. Wang. “I am proud of my team and what we have accomplished. My dream is for this to catch on with other organizations. Weight-cutting by dehydration is one of the most unsafe practices that has plagued combat sports, such as boxing for example. Here at ONE, safety is our top priority.”

Although relatively unseen cageside, Dr. Wang moves like a shadow watching matches closely as they unfold. At a moment’s notice, he’s always ready to swoop in and handle all situations as they arise. While most everyone else is fixated on the action inside the cage, Dr. Wang is busy making sure athletes are safe, amidst all the action.

“It’s my job to stay attentive. We can’t get carried away with the excitement of these bouts, although it’s very easy to fall into that,” said Dr. Wang. “Our team has to be focused on every athlete. Could they be hurt? Are they able to defend themselves properly? Are they too exhausted to compete? These are the things we watch out for.”

At any given event, ONE Championship has up to three doctors and a nurse backstage in the post-bout medical room ready to lend a helping hand. As such, Dr. Wang has the authority to halt any bout and check on the athletes should he notice anything of concern. He is also responsible for determining if athletes are able to continue or not.

“It’s my job to protect our athletes. Our martial artists are tough people, they will soldier on despite injury and will sacrifice a lot to get the victory,” concluded Dr. Wang. “So it’s my prerogative to have the better judgement.”

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Tech101-NCR Demo Day of Technopreneurship 101

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The University of the Philippines - Diliman thru its Technology Business Incubator and accelerator UP Enterprise, the partner of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for the TechHub Project in NCR, invites you to the Demo Day of Technopreneurship 101 on 19th April 2018 / Thursday at the UPSCALE Innovation Hub, GF National Engineering Center, UP Diliman Campus, Quezon City.

Technopreneurship 101 program is part of the establishment of Technopreneurship Hub (TechHub). It aims to train engineering faculty members who will support innovation and technology transfer and teach the technopreneurship subject to be required by CHED as a GE required course starting 2018.

We launched the Tech101-NCR last January 22, 2018. We have 20 participants from 10 schools in Metro Manila. They are progressing technology cases in the areas of agriculture, electronics, energy, e-commerce, etc.

For the Demo Day, the cohort will pitch their ventures, including their prototype/design, proposed business model, and market feedback, in a 5-minute elevator pitch.


The proposed event program is as follows:

2:00 Registration
2:25 National Anthem
2:30 Welcome Remarks by Luis G. Sison, PhD
2:40 Tech101-NCR Overview
2:50 AVP
3:00 Pitches
5:30 Dinner and Networking


The following venture teams from different universities from NCR will be pitching:

1. Automated Drug Dispensing System -	A drug dispensing system for OTC drugs to reduce the long queue lines in pharmacies.
2. Vehicle Hydro Protect	Protect the vehicle from flood causing mechanical and physical damages
3. LockIT -	A Self-Service Locker
4. FunduSpec -	An imaging device capable of detecting minuscule damage in the retina.
5. Baconet -	A geotextile from banana and coconut fiber used for slope protection
6. BiogenFer -	A biogenic fertilizer that conditions the soil and promotes plant growth organically.
7. AMPS -	Analytics Monitoring for Power Systems
8. Elixir -	An Electronic Meter to Detect Cacao Pod Maturity for Harvesting
9. Automated Coco Coir Machine	An automated coconut husk defibering and drying machine
10. Pro-ject -	Portable Projector with APPS for Retail Marketing
11.Geopolymer	- Alkali-activated Geopolymer Concrete: Sustainable Construction and Building Material for Extreme Environment

Things You Need to Know About ONE Super Series’ Much-awaited Debut in Manila

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Launching at ONE: HEROES OF HONOR is the highly-anticipated ONE Super Series, a celebration of the world’s most effective striking arts as it invites the very best martial artists from Muay Thai, kickboxing, Karate, Taekwondo, Wushu, Sanda and more to showcase their skills on ONE Championship’s global media platform.

ONE Super Series was created to showcase the adrenaline-pumping action of top-notch martial arts on the biggest and most prestigious stage of competition, designed to showcase the purest forms of world-class striking.

As it makes its debut in Manila, Philippines on Friday, April 20, here are some of the important details that martial arts fans should know about ONE Super Series.

Four exciting bouts

Introducing a new global league specially for elite strikers, ONE Championship has booked four exciting striking-only contests.

The premiere offering for Manila’s ONE Super Series is a three-round kickboxing encounter, featuring international superstar Giorgio Petrosyan of Italy who takes on “Smokin’” Jo Nattawut of Thailand.

In other ONE Super Series match-ups, celebrated Thai kickboxer Nong-O Gaiyanghadao is scheduled to duke it out with French-Italian dynamo Fabio Pinca in a three-round Muay Thai tussle.

Elliot Compton shares the ring with Cosmo Alexandre in a Muay Thai clash, while Brad Riddell locks horns with Regian Eersel in a kickboxing showdown.



Introduction of ONE Super Series ring

Aside from the marquee talent debuting at ONE Super Series in Manila, the organization will also unveil its brand new five-rope ring.

Up until this point, the promotion has held martial arts bouts inside the famed ONE Championship cage, but in its 13th venture on Philippine shores, a new battlefield will be revealed.

The ONE Championship ring measures by an external dimension of 28 feet by 28 feet, while its internal dimension is 24 feet by 24 feet.

Surrounded by five ropes in bright white, the ring canvas is light gray, in typical color of the traditional ONE Championship cage.

All 11 bouts at ONE: HEROES OF HONOR are expected to be held inside the new ring, including matches that are officiated under the organization’s Global Rule Set.

For the first time in ONE Championship history, mixed martial arts contests will be held in the ring instead of in the cage.


Gloves and rules

ONE Super Series athletes will either wear eight-ounce or ten-ounce boxing gloves depending on the weight of the athletes. Ten-ounce gloves will be required in matches above 65.8 kilograms.

Handcrafted by Bangkok-based combat sports brand Boon, ONE Super Series gloves will be in all black with laces.

Unlike its mixed martial arts counterpart, Muay Thai and kickboxing matches in ONE Super Series will be scored in a ten-point must system and will be contested in three three-minute rounds.

Moreover, an in-ring competitor who is knocked down three times in the same round will be declared knocked out by the referee.

Elbow strikes will only be allowed in Muay Thai bouts as kickboxing matches in ONE Super Series will follow the heavily-praised oriental rule set, which was famously used by the now-defunct K-1 organization.



​For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship. ​ ​

Advocating Education for the Filipino Youth, One Diploma at a Time

Wazzup Pilipinas!

For Filipinos, education is considered as a symbol of wealth that parents can bequeath to their children. As such, every family, as well as the government and civic organizations, are actively doing their best to make this precious wealth accessible to everyone, regardless of their status in life.

Through the Free Tertiary Education Bill, government programs, and our State Universities and Colleges, the government strives to make attaining a college degree possible. However, there is still so much to be done. A recent survey conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) revealed that one in every 10 Filipinos, aged 6 to 24 years old, is out of school due to the high costs that go with the pursuit of an academic career. The survey also showed that more than 50 percent of out of school youths belong to families whose income falls at the bottom 30 percent of the entire population, based on their per capita income.

To help in advocating education, Prestone, a known brand for trusted and quality auto care (Motor Oil, Brake Fluid, and Coolants) products, launched its Anak ng Mekaniko Scholarship Program as part of its 90th Anniversary celebration. It is a grant that aims to pay tribute to the country’s auto mechanics in the automotive sector by giving their children a chance to earn a tertiary level education.

Monique Gonzales, Brand Manager of Prestone, said that they owe a lot of their success to the auto mechanics, who continuously trust and patronize their products in ensuring vehicles are in good condition all the time.

“It is our time now to give back through this initiative and provide a ground for a brighter future for their children through education,” added Gonzales. 

After receiving applications from across the country, Prestone is set to announce the nine deserving ANAK NG MEKANIKO Scholars, who will be granted a full scholarship to a four-year course of their choice in any STI Colleges campus nationwide. These recipients will be flying in Metro Manila early this May to personally receive their awards.

“Prestone is driving this project to help ease the burden that comes with having to pay for education, especially for low-income families. We want to make a positive impact in the lives of these students by helping them succeed through good and proper education”, said Gonzales. “In such a competitive world, getting a good job becomes increasingly hard and education can help pave the way for these nine deserving scholars to achieve their goals for their family.”

To learn more about PRESTONE® and its other products, visit their website at www.prestone.com.ph or follow them on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/prestonephilippines.

Hoppler at Art in the Park 2018

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Online real estate brokerage’s Junior Art Center a big hit among art fair–goers and kids

Art in the Park, dubbed as the country’s most important affordable art fair, was recently held at the Jaime Velasquez Park in Salcedo Village, Makati, where online real estate brokerage Hoppler successfully organized its Junior Art Center activity—a huge hit among fair-goers and their kids.

At Hoppler’s Junior Art Center, kids stayed for free art sessions. Parents who signed up with the online real estate brokerage received art kits composed of canvas and paint materials, modeling clay, and origami paper. Hoppler also put up a Community Wall where fair-goers were able to doodle or draw things about home that inspire them—a project that is in line with Hoppler’s mission of promoting an engaged and cohesive community.

CEO Ramon Ballesca Jr. said: “Hoppler is committed to community building by making sure that Filipinos find that perfect home in the right community and by connecting them only with duly licensed and reliable real estate brokers and agents. A home is very much like an artwork. It starts like a blank canvas where every family imagines itself living in, gradually taking form, until it becomes a tangible place where children are raised and nurtured.”

Like its previous editions, this year’s event was set to celebrate all kinds of art with the goal of making contemporary pieces more accessible Filipinos and aspiring collectors. According to the event’s organizers, Art in the Park 2018 makes art even more affordable by prescribing a cap of Php50,000 on art pieces. The event is also for the benefit of the Museum Foundation of the Philippines.

The 2018 fair featured up-and-coming local artists, 59 galleries, and student groups who exhibited their own unique art pieces in the event, among whom are this year’s two featured artists: Tekla Tamoria and Jacob Lindo.

Tamoria, who has participated in numerous group shows and has been working on developing a unique relationship with paper and fabrics, transformed her feverish energy into obsessive focus on her installation titled “Colony”— intricately made hives attached to a tree.

On the other hand, painter and sculptor Lindo’s work similarly represented the best in Art in the Park: finding new in the familiar. Lindo is fast becoming known for his collages, some of which feature meticulously cut illustrations from old used books presented in new and exciting ways.

Petron Turbo Diesel Field Test Delivers Outstanding Results!

Wazzup Pilipinas!

As a fuel innovator, industry leader Petron Corporation is continuously looking for ways to provide Filipino motorists with the best possible products in the market. Having achieved recognition as the best gasoline in the country for its Petron Blaze 100 Euro 6, the company’s R&D team recently enhanced the formulation of its premium Petron Turbo Diesel to be the best diesel in the Philippines. Thus, last January, the Petron TriAction Performance Run – Diesel Edition took off from Manila to Baguio for a week-long series of tests on challenging mountain roads from Baguio to Ambuklao, and then from Baguio to Halsema, the highest elevation in the Philippine highway system, before finishing with a fuel economy run from Baguio back to Manila.

Outstanding Performance Across Vehicle Types

Faced with the challenge of measuring improvements in engine power, engine response, and acceleration, test drivers were asked to rate the performance of different diesel fuels in a stringent double blind procedure. Using a different diesel fuel each day for four days, the drivers drove the same winding, uphill-downhill route from Baguio City to Ambuklao Dam and back. All these while keenly observing whether there was an immediate engine response when going uphill after slowing down on a sharp curve, or if the engine does not feel strained when carrying a full load, or if the vehicle is able to accelerate smoothly even on long uphill climbs.

To ensure that Petron Turbo Diesel is able to deliver optimum performance across vehicle types, different vehicle categories and brands were included in the field test. The test vehicles consisted of a BMW X1, a European luxury subcompact crossover; a Toyota Innova,  the market leading utility vehicle; a Honda CR-V Diesel, the 2017 Car of the Year-Philippines; a Nissan Urvan, a popular people-mover; a Ford Everest and Ford Ranger to represent the American brand; Isuzu mu-X and Isuzu D-MAX for the leader in commercial vehicles; and a Ssangyong Tivoli XLV, a Korean SUV model.
When asked to rank the test fuels—designated only by letter codes—in the daily runs, the consolidated results indicated that Petron Turbo Diesel was rated by the drivers as delivering the best performance in terms of power, engine response, and acceleration.

Improved Fuel Economy

Following the test protocol of the Department of Energy (DOE) Fuel Economy Run, the vehicles traversed some 230.7-kilometers from the Petron station on Kisad Road, Baguio City, going through the relatively busy Marcos Highway, then on to the Tarlac-Pangasian-La Union Expressway (TPLEX), the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), ending at Petron NLEX Southbound in Bocaue, Bulacan.

All vehicles delivered outstanding results, averaging 20% better than the official Fuel Efficiency Ratings (FER) posted in the 2017 DOE Fuel Economy Run. For example, the BMW X1 achieved 34.08km/L, which is 43% better than the 23.88km/L recorded in the DOE Run. The Honda CR-V’s fuel consumption improved by 19% to 28.52km/L from 23.96km/L. The fuel efficiency results were similarly impressive for the other vehicles, as follows: Ford Everest – 27.21km/L; Toyota Innova – 23.4km/L; Ssangyong Tivoli XLV – 22.6km/L; Isuzu mu-X – 19.97km/L; Isuzu D=MAX – 18.44km/L; Nissan Urvan – 17.22km/L; and Ford Ranger – 17.08km/L.

The Petron TriAction Performance Run – Diesel Edition was observed and certified by representatives from Department of Energy (DOE), Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP), and the Car Awards Group Inc. (CAGI).

Enhanced Diesel Formulation

Petron Turbo Diesel has been further enhanced as a high-performance, technologically-advanced fuel. With robust multi-functional additives in its improved formulation, this superior diesel fuel has been designed to unleash the full power and optimum performance of the most advanced and sophisticated diesel engines.

Petron Turbo Diesel has high ignition quality and combustibility that maximize fuel energy conversion for maximum engine power and efficiency. It has the ability to effectively clean up and keep clean the fuel injection system to deliver exceptional protection and sustained optimum performance.

Like all other Petron fuels, the enhanced formulation of Petron Turbo Diesel allows motorists to enjoy greater benefits from Petron’s TriAction Advantage which are: (1) better engine protection for longer engine life; (2) better mileage for longer drives; and (3) better power.

In real world driving conditions, through the most challenging uphill-downhill and winding terrains, Petron Turbo Diesel has proven that Filipino motorists can enjoy more savings on maintenance and fuel consumption while getting the best driving experience from their vehicle.

E-Power Mo Baguio City

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Energy (DOE) continues its series of impactful Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaigns empowering energy consumers and stakeholders all over the country.

After its soft launch during the National Information Convention last February in Davao City, E-Power Mo takes up to the North in the summer capital of the Philippines – Baguio City on 24 April 2018, Tuesday at the Hotel Supreme Convention Plaza with the theme: “Communicating Efficiency Across the Energy Sector.”

The E-Power Mo Conference will be attended by various energy stakeholders including: energy companies from power, renewable energy, coal, petroleum, natural gas, alternative vehicles and energy efficiency industries, partners from the national government agencies, energy associations, among others.

Registration will start at 8:00a.m., the E-Power Mo conference is open to all media on the following events:

*Preliminaries (Invocation-Open Forum, Diamond Grand Ballroom, 9:00 a.m.-10:30:00 a.m.)

*Lunch/Press Conference (Jasper room, 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.)

*Concluding Ceremonies (Coffee Break- Plenary Session Diamond Grand Ballroom, 3:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m.)

Kindly click this link to register: http://bit.ly/EPowerBaguio