The Filipino Friends Blog

Nevada sports body clears Pacman of steroids use

Now, I didn’t know that he was accused of using steroids? Why do people accuse when a person wins?  Or is it a case of being a “sore” loser?  🙂 Didn’t he think that maybe Manny practiced hard for this bout?  What proof does this person have, all bouts are tested?…  Well, here’s a story that was put on FB and it was from the ABS/CBN News!

MANILA — No less than the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), which is the preeminent state sports body in the US, has cleared Manny Pacquiao of steroids claims made by controversial boxing trainer Floyd Mayweather, Sr.

“All I can tell you is that Pacquiao, every time he’s fought here [in Nevada, has] been tested, as well as his opponents,” said NSAC executive director Keith Kaiser.

“He passed every drug test we did to him, every steroid test we did to him,” he added to counter allegations made by Mayweather Sr. that Pacquiao was into performance enhancement drugs.

Mayweather Sr. is the father of former world champion Floyd Jr., whom Pacquiao succeeded as the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter.

According to Wikipedia, the NSAC is regarded as the preeminent state athletic commission in the US because of Nevada’s role as a center for combat sports. The commission regulates all boxing matches in the state of Nevada and has the final authority on licensing matters, having the ability to approve, deny, revoke, or suspend all licenses for boxing bouts.

Kaiser stressed that the NSAC conducts stringent drug tests on boxers before allowing them to fight within the jurisdiction of Nevada.

“[On] title fights [we have] tests for steroids and drug abuse. [We look out for] marijuana, cocaine,” said Kaiser. “We collect urine [for tests] before and after the fight.”

Still at it

Mayweather Sr., meanwhile, insisted that Pacquiao used “some sort of supplements” which is why he was able to maintain his punching power despite climbing several weight divisions.

“He’s never been that kind of puncher and all of a sudden he’s a gigantic puncher,” said Mayweather Sr. Pacquiao, who first became a world champion as a flyweight, climbed the welterweight division and defeated Oscar de la Hoya in eight rounds. He also stopped Ricky Hatton, a natural junior welterweight, in two rounds.

“I felt that he was on steroids or some type of supplements or some type of enhancement drugs… believe me when I tell you, he’s going to get caught,” said the controversial boxing trainer.

Liable for slander

Pacquiao’s coach, Freddie roach, said a slander case s already in the works against Mayweather Sr. “I am going to talk to my lawyer, there could be a slander case here, and we will sue him,” Roach told Brad Cooney of 8CountNews and Examiner.com.

The Hall-of-Fame coach said Pacquiao agrees with him that Floyd Jr.’s father should be held liable for his comments. “I talked to Manny, and I talked to an attorney, and we are all on board here. This is all over the place now that Manny is on steroids, it’s defaming his name,” said Roach.

The Filipino boxer earlier said that he has also sought legal advice on Mayweather Sr.’s comments.

“Kinonsulta ko ang abugado ko para suriin [ang sinabi ni Mayweather Sr.] at kung lumabag siya ay kelangan niyang panagutan,” he said. Pacquiao said he never considered using steroids and has consistently passed medical test for his fights in the Philippines and abroad.

“Lahat ng laban ko, lahat ng medical ko wala namang problema, pero itong si Floyd Mayweather [Sr.] parang may diperensya doon sa mga sinasabi niya,” said the boxer.

With a report by Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN NewsMANILA

25 Pinoy artists win Taiwan art honors

If you don’ have FB – you need to become a fan – The Philippines – where i found this article.  Its great to hear that this generation has many talented artists… 🙂 just makes me more prouder to be a Filipina!

Twenty-five young artists from the Philippines brought honor to the country winning top honors in the 40th World Schoolchildren’s Art Exhibit in Taiwan.

Their artworks gained recognition from a pool of 44,446 entries from 54 countries, the most number of participants the Republic of China Association of Children’s Art received since the contest began four decades ago.

Among the winners were 16 students from Chiang Kai Shek College, five students from La Salle Greenhills, two pupils from Assumption College, and a lone winner from St. Jude Catholic School in Manila.

Gold, silver, and bronze certificates of recognition were given to 92 art entries while 2,061 artworks were selected for special citation. The Philippines garnered one bronze prize from the entry of 13-year-old Mikel Villamora, and 24 “selected” certificates.

In his message, Ambassador Donald C.T. Lee, representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines congratulated the parents and teachers for their pivotal role in honing the skills of their young charges through art.

Among the youngest honorees was seven-year-old Miguel Carlos who sent the entry “Building a New World for a Better Tomorrow,” a masterpiece done entirely with crayons. Miguel’s mother, Carol Sevilla, said Miguel has always been interested in drawing. They encourage him by exposing him to photos and other artworks. She said Miguel’s painting was also inspired by different styles of drawing which he saw from other works, but the concept was entirely his.

Evelyn Hocson, mother of 15-year-old Fatima Arianne Hocson of Assumption College, another budding artist, said since receiving the award, her daughter, who has always been artistically inclined — has shown a renewed interest in expanding and exploring her craft.

Celebrating Filipino industry at the Met

Here’s another interesting article, that I found that will surely peek an interest…if you’re anywhere in Manila, I recommend you all to check it out!

Celebrating Filipino industry at the Met

(The Philippine Star) Updated September 14, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines – In celebration of the Filipino’s enterprising spirit, the Metropolitan Museum of Manila presents “Sigla at Sikap: Exulting the Filipino Industry,” which is on view until Jan. 30, 2010 at the Galeriya Bangko Sentral of the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Complex, Roxas Blvd., Malate, Manila. The show features more than 30 Bangko Sentral artworks that capture the Filipino at work. “Sigla at Sikap” celebrates the resilience of the Filipino worker — the mat weaver, the food peddler, the farmer and the vegetable seller — who have made the country’s regional economy vibrant throughout the different stages of Philippine history. As it displays works of artists from different time periods and persuasions that extol the varied forms of Filipino industry, the exhibit captures the Filipino worker at his finest — diligent, patient, honest, creative, and optimistic. As a collateral to the exhibit, the museum will offer a bag-making workshop slated on the first half of the month of October. The workshop will employ used paper like old newspaper and magazines as the main material in the production of bags. It will run for 12 sessions with each intensive session lasting for three hours. The Bag-Making Workshop will be held at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila from Oct. 6, 8, 10, 13, 15 and 17, and will be facilitated by bag expert Lulu Ocampo. The morning session is at 9 a.m. to 12 noon, while the afternoon session will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. The fee for the bag-making workshop is P5,000 per head which is inclusive of materials. A group discount of 10 percent is given to groups of five people and also to those who register for the program on or before Sept. 22. Registration entails full payment or a 50 percent down payment. For inquiries, call 523-0613 or 521-1517.