The Filipino Friends Blog

Philippines top travel sites according to National Geographic

This is cool to be named by National Georgraphic that the Republic of the Philippines as one of the top travel sites for 2010!  Its truly an honor to be named as one of the top travel destination and we do have 7,100 islands of beautifulness!  😀 Here’s the article, that I found on Good News Pilipinas – photo courtesy of Wilderness Travel.

The National Geographic has chosen the Philippines as one of the “25 best new travel destinations in the world for 2010.”

In its November Adventure issue, the popular American publication cited the country’s “ancient cultures, structures and biodiversity” as key reasons to visit the country.

The Washington, DC-based magazine described the Philippines as “harboring as many islands as the Caribbean and some of the most spectacular reefs on the planet.”

It described the Philippines and the 24 other destinations as “just right for right now” for “travelers who want their dollars to do more – for others, for the planet and for themselves.”

Among the magazine’s other must-see places were Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Costa Rica, Iceland, Ireland, Kenya, Laos, Nepal, Peru, Slovakia, and Sri Lanka.

Last month, National Geographic-Traveler magazine named the Ifugao Rice Terraces as one of the “50 Places of a Lifetime: Greatest Destinations in the World.”

It described the rice terraces in the Cordillera Administrative Region, declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, as “masterpieces of agrarian art” and “natural poetry.”

Other “destinations of distinction and character” on the list are the South Pacific island of Aitutaki, Switzerland’s Mt. Rigi, the Yap outer islands in Micronesia, the Balkan country of Montenegro, the Gobi desert in Mongolia, Bwindi forest in Uganda, and the little-known islands of Lord Howe in Australia and Fernando de Noronha in Brazil, among others.

Torres ends Asian Track & Field Gold drought

This is incredible!!  I didn’t know that we’ve not won a Gold medal for 22 years??? WOW, and this Filipina woman did it! HHHOOOORRAAAYYY!!  Check out the story below from Good News Pilipinas – we are truly blessed that such milestone are being achieved by the younger people of the Philipines!!  They’re our future to where our country will be!!  Keep up the great work that all of you are doing and we will try to help along the way!

Marestella Torres ended the Philippines’ 22-year gold medal drought in the Asian track and field championships when she ruled the women’s long jump at the Guangdong Olympic Center in Guangzhou, China.

Torres, a 28-year-old veteran, leaped 6.51 meters in difficult conditions to beat Chinese Chen Yaling and Japanese Sachiko Masumi who each could only manage 6.28 meters.

The Filipina entered the event as a darkhorse with Chen expected to win before home fans.

But after Torres made the winning jump on her third attempt, the Chinese coach approached national coach Joseph Sy to congratulate him.

“Nang makatalon si Marestella ng 6.51 sa third jump, kinamayan na ako ng Chinese coach, alam nya, mahihirapan ang ibang athletes na humabol sa ganung condition ng panahon,” recalled Sy who headed the token five-man delegation.

It was a remarkable showing for Torres whose best finish in the event was third during the 2002 Asian championship in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The last time the Philippines won in the Asian event came in 1987 when the legendary Lydia de Vega completed a sprint double in Singapore.

Torres is the defending Southeast Asian Games champion and one of the country’s medal hopes next month in Laos.

Sy said Torres is motivated to perform well and look forward to the SEA Games.

“Na-correct lang namin ang mga dapat maayos para mas maganda ang maging performance nya,” he said.

MANNY PACQUIAO ~ SPECIAL BLOG ~ Filipinos celebrate boxer Pacquiao’s victory

Well, I knew the Pacman was going to be able to do this and even though I didn’t get to see the fight…I was very confident that he was going to win.. HANDS DOWN!  I had a few friends rooting for Cotto, of course, I would too if I was from Puerto Rico – but… the PACMAN has proven that he is THE MAN!!!  He has accomplished something that no one has done and I am PROUD to say a FILIPINO did it!!!!! HOOOOOOOOOOooraHHHHHHHHHH!!!  😀 Found the story from NewsDay.com – see story below By JOSH SEIDMAN

MANNY vs COTTO

When he landed a left jab, the fans punched the air in front of them. When he took a blow to the ribs, they cringed in their chairs. And when his combinations brought his opponent to the mat, they erupted with thunderous applause.

“Manny! Manny! Manny!”

“We all have one thing in common,” said Tony Enriquez, 51, who hosted a viewing party of the pay-per-view boxing match between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto at his home in Centereach on Saturday night. “We take pride in Manny and pride in our heritage. For 36 minutes we’re united as a country.”

More than 30 Filipino Americans joined together in Enriquez’s basement to watch their countryman, Pacquiao, use his lightning hand speed to solidify his name in boxing history. By pummeling Cotto throughout the match and forcing a 12-round stoppage, Pacquiao earned the World Boxing Organization welterweight belt and became the only boxer ever to win a world title in seven different weight classes.

“This win means that he is one of the greatest of all-time,” said Renato Compas, an engineer from Holbrook who has been watching Pacquiao compete since his debut in 1995. “What [Michael] Jordan is in America, Manny has become in the Philippines.”

Enriquez and his guests have been attending viewing parties of Pacquiao’s matches since his initial bout with Juan Manuel Marquez in 2004, Enriquez said. The pride and enthusiasm is always at a high level, he said.

“It’s always a party,” said Enriquez, who moved to the United States from the Philippines in 1985. “Some like to dance. Some like to eat. But, when the fight starts, we get into the serious business.”

From Michael Buffer‘s “Let’s Get Ready to Rumble” through the post-match interview with Pacquiao, Enriquez’s guests remained transfixed on the screen. In the match’s first crucial moment, which came in the third round, Pacquiao’s punches knocked Cotto to the mat. As the referee signaled for the match to continue, the guests urged Pacquiao to finish the champion off.

“Come on Manny! Take him down!”

“We want the big one!”

It was only moments before Pacquiao satisfied them with another knockdown of Cotto in the fourth round. As the rounds marched on, and the probability of Pacquiao’s victory was becoming more certain, the guests began counting down the final 10 seconds of each round, waiting anxiously to share in his triumph.

“Not everyone knows boxing or the strategy involved,” Enriquez said. “They watch because it’s entertaining and they know what he represents.”

Finally, 55 seconds into the final round, the celebration began in earnest. Hugs and high-fives filled the room and Enriquez threw seven fingers into the air to signify Pacquiao’s new record. Behind it all, in back corner of the room, a miniature version of the Philippines national flag stood proud.