Boracay is 98% Untitled

Titling application has been a big issue on Boracay Island since Presidential Proclamation 1801 was issued in 1978 and Philippine Tourism Authority Circular No. 3-82 implementing Proclamation 1801 in opposition to applications for confirmation of imperfect title or free patent on the Island. This Proclamation 1801 declares certain Islands, coves and peninsulas in the Philippines as tourist zones and marine reserves under the administration and control of the Philippine Tourism Authority.

In the early part of 2006, a new Proclamation No. 1064 was issued which concerns land valuation and titling procedures such as Administrative Titling through Free patent and Judicial Titling through local courts which have all been made possible through P.D. 1064.

Except for those persons who have acquired their land from owners holding regular titles, property holdings in Boracay Island are evidenced through another form of government recognized evidence of ownership, which is the "tax declaration". While tax declarations do not provide the declared owner or possessor of land with the security of indefeasible title provided by the Torrens system of land registration, it is however, the next best thing to a Torrens title. It is widely recognized in Philippine jurisdiction as evidence of ownership and possession. This being so, it is an inherent consequence that a persons "title" over the land by "tax declaration" may be subject to direct and collateral attack by adverse claimants. Tax declarations are not generally acceptable to Banks for applying mortgage. The property surveys privately commissioned by holders of tax declarations while never conclusive as to actual boundaries of properties or their declared areas are nevertheless best proof of the metes and bounds of the property covered by the "tax declaration". One common problem with regard to this is boundary disputes with adjoining property owners. In this case, it is imperative for land buyers to investigate if the land area that they are buying is exact as reflected on its tax declaration. To ensure this, buyers need to gather the signatures of the adjoining neighbors to sign on the latest land survey map and to an Affidavit of Adjoining owner as evidence that they have no boundary dispute with them (neighbors).


Just recently, the Supreme Court of the Philippines, in the case of The Secretary of DENR vs. MAYOR JOSE S. YAP et. al, came out with a ruling upholding Proclamation No. 1064 of 2006 issued by President Gloria Arroyo. Proclamation No. 1064 classified certain parts of Boracay as alienable public lands and opened the same to private ownership. While this presidential proclamation declared parts of Boracay as government lands, the Supreme Court clarified that this does not mean automatic ouster from the residential, commercial and other areas occupied by private individuals and corporations. The proclamation actually paves the way for the consolidation of ownership and titling of lands by the present occupants as the Supreme Court upheld the right to possess and the right to claim good faith as builders of improvements. Consistently with this ruling of the Supreme Court and to protect the private investments in Boracay, the Philippine Congress is enacting a law to entitle present occupants to acquire title to their occupied lots or to exempt them from certain requirements under the present land laws. Whether that bill or a similar bill will become a law is for Congress to decide.

SPR real estate, being an experienced agent with these problems has a careful and a more professional approach in securing these requirements, which will protect your property in any anticipated land problems in the future.

DENR set to conduct Boracay cadastral survey

Philstar.com - Saturday, May 2

MANILA, Philippines – A cadastral survey will be conducted in Boracay in preparation for the titling of land on the resort island.
ADVERTISEMENT

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has presented stakeholders three options:

• Land titling through sales patent, where stakeholders would buy the property or land from the government;

• Judicial confirmation, where the court would simply acknowledge the stakeholders’ tax declaration; and

• Issuance of Forest Land Use Agreement for Tourism Purposes for properties in declared forest lands.

During a dialogue with stakeholders, Environment Undersecretary for Administration, Finance and Legal Mary Anne Lucille Sering said they are now ready to enforce last year’s Supreme Court decision declaring that Boracay belongs to the state.

Dr. Orlando Sacay of the Boracay Foundation Inc. said DENR representatives and the stakeholders met recently to find a “common solution” to the issue of land titling to legitimize the claim of resort owners and other individuals and groups in Boracay.

“The development of Boracay will be back on track due to these actions by the DENR,” he told reporters.

“Hopefully, this would help alleviate the fears and put to end wild speculations that the government will take over Boracay, which have driven away billions of pesos worth of investments, and also hopefully help us amid the economic crisis, considering the contribution of a robust tourism to our economy,” he added.

Sacay said the SC ruled that the tax declarations held by claimants could not be eligible for judicial confirmation.

“Nevertheless, (these options) give a lot of comfort that we will have a piece of paper to legitimize our possession and development of the (beachfront) area (where majority of the resorts are located),” he said.

In upholding Proclamation No. 1064 on Oct. 8, 2008, the SC said Boracay belongs to the state, and that the current residents cannot claim ownership of parcels of land based on years of occupation.

Proclamation No. 1064, issued by President Arroyo on May 22, 2006, classifies 60.94 percent of the 1,032-hectare area of Boracay (628.96 hectares) as alienable and disposable, but retains the remaining area under state ownership as forest land.

However, the SC also said Congress may enact a law to entitle private claimants to acquire titles to the lots they occupy or to exempt them from certain legal requirements.

Private claimants cannot apply for judicial confirmation of imperfect title under Commonwealth Act (CA) 141, the Public Land Act and neither do they have vested rights over the lands they occupy, the SC added.

The SC said under CA No. 141, the two requisites for judicial confirmation of imperfect or incomplete title are:

• Open, continuous, exclusive, and notorious possession and occupation of the subject land by himself or through his predecessors-in-interest under a bona fide claim of ownership since time immemorial; and

• Classification of the land as alienable and disposable land of the public domain.

However, the SC also said that it does not mean private claimants can be evicted from the residential, commercial and other areas they now occupy.

The SC decision reversed and set aside the decision of the Court of Appeals affirming the ruling of the Kalibo, Aklan regional trial court granting the petition for declaratory relief filed by Mayor Jose Yap, Libertad Talapian, Mila Sumndad, and Aniceto Yap, for the survey of Boracay for titling purposes.

The SC said prior to Proclamation 1064, the island of Boracay was an unclassified land of the public domain, which is considered public forest under Presidential Decree 705.

Proclamation 1801 issued by President Ferdinand Marcos in 1978, or the Philippine Tourism Authority Circular 3-82, did not convert the whole of Boracay into an agricultural land, the SC added. - By Katherine Adraneda (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

Survey begins to settle Boracay land row

By Alcuin Papa
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 18:38:00 05/01/2009

Filed Under: Conflicts (general), Tourism

MANILA, Philippines—Resort owners in Boracay and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) have taken the first step to a final solution in the dispute over the ownership of properties in the island.

In a recent dialogue with stakeholders, the DENR said it will begin the cadastral survey of Boracay, a requirement before titles to land can be given out.

The agency also said it would draft the implementing rules and regulations to enforce last year's decision of the Supreme Court (SC) affirming Proclamation No. 1064, a presidential edict handed down last May 22, 2006 that classifies 628.96 hectares of the 1,032 hectare Boracay Island as alienable and disposable while classifying the remaining area as forestland under state ownership.

Dr. Orlando Sacay of the Boracay Foundation Inc. (BFI), told the reporters that the DENR and the island's stakeholders met recently "to find a common solution to the issue" of land titling and legitimize the claim of resort owners and other individuals and groups in Boracay.

According to Sacay, DENR Undersecretary for Administration, Finance and Legal Mary Anne Lucille Sering said during the dialogue that the agency is likely to begin the cadastral survey process soon. A bidding process to determine the company undertaking the survey, an important step to titling lots in Boracay, was already underway, Sacay quoted Sering as saying.

Sacay also said he learned in the dialogue that the DENR was already drafting the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the proper implementation of the SC decision.

"The development of Boracay will be back on track due to these actions by the DENR," Sacay told reporters in an interview.

Sacay claimed that resort owners and other stakeholders lauded such development as well as the creation by the DENR of a committee, which consisted of representatives from different interest groups in Boracay that will work along with the agency in finding ways to facilitate prompt titling of certain portions of the island.

"Hopefully, this would help alleviate the fears and put to end wild speculations that the government will take over Boracay, which has driven away billions-pesos-worth of investments; and also hopefully help us amid the economic crisis, considering the contribution of a robust tourism to our economy," he likewise said.

Sacay said three options for claimants to land in the island surfaced in the dialogue.

First is land titling through sales patent where stakeholders can purchase property from the government. Then there is judicial confirmation where a court can acknowledge the stakeholders' tax declaration. And finally, the issuance of a Forest Land Use Agreement for Tourism Purposes (FLAgT) for properties in declared forestlands.

While the SC had already ruled that tax declarations being held by claimants could not be eligible for judicial confirmation, Sacay said they can seek the opinion of lower courts to resolve the issue of their tax declarations.

"These options give a lot of comfort. We can secure a piece of paper to legitimize our possession and development of the (beach front) area (where majority of the resorts are located)," said Sacay, owns the Waling-Waling Beach Hotel.

On Oct. 8, 2008, the SC affirmed Proclamation No. 1064 and ruled that Boracay belongs to the government. The High Court also said current residents cannot claim ownership of land based on years of occupation.

However, some Boracay resort owners called this decision "unfair."

On the other hand, the Supreme Court said Congress can pass a law that allows private claimants to acquire land titles to lots they occupy or to exempt them from certain legal requirements.

The SC also said private claimants cannot be easily evicted from the residential and commercial areas they are occupying.

Aklan vulnerable to H1N1 Influenza

KALIBO, Aklan - The apparent lack in equipment and knowledge on the dreaded H1N1 Influenza A virus (swine flu’s technical name) has made the provincial government feel that the province is vulnerable to the said disease.
During the weekly Kapihan Forum, the Kalibo Council disclosed that it called for an urgent session yesterday to ask the Department of Health and other agencies to install a thermal scanner at the Kalibo International Airport.
The thermal scanner is meant to detect sick passengers and civilians which may have acquired the H1N1 virus.
Engr. Percy Malonesio, chief of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, said the Council’s move is a great help for the airport.
“The Kalibo International Airport receives international flights from Taipei, Taiwan and sometimes from South Korea. There is also a plan for chartered flights from Hong Kong and other destinations soon. These developments underscore the need for a thermal scanner,” he explained.
Majority of these flights are bound for Boracay Island, the premier tourist destination in the country.
Last week, some Boracay stakeholders were alarmed when a Finnish reportedly died after experiencing sudden difficulty in breathing.
Attending doctors, however, said the victim’s death is not attributed to the H1N1 virus

Kalibo airport battles H1N1 via forehead thermal strips

MANILA, Philippines — At Kalibo International Airport in Aklan, thermal strips, instead of thermal scanners, are being used to detect symptoms of the A/H1N1 (swine flu) among arriving passengers.

Online news site The News Today (www.thenewstoday.info) reported that airport personnel hand out the thermal strips for the passengers to place on their foreheads.

Kalibo’s airport, the gateway to world-famous Boracay Island, is the only airport in the Western Visayas region servicing international flights.

There are four international flights to and from the airport every week, during Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Dr. Lino Gregorio of the Bureau of Quarantine said the strips will help them detect influenza-like symptoms, particularly high fever.

Passengers will place these strips on their forehead upon arrival. A change in color indicates high body temperature, which in turn indicates fever.

Gregorio said they opted not to install thermal scanning devices because the terminal building is not air-conditioned.

Thermal scanning machines may register high temperatures even if the passengers do not have fever, as the area is not air-conditioned, he explained.

Gregorio said another method of checking a person's temperature is to stick a probe into the ear, but this is "quite intrusive and inconvenient."

The Kalibo local government earlier called on the national government to install thermal scanning equipment at the airport because of the A/H1N1 scare. - GMANews.TV

CEBU TOP TOURIST DESTINATION IN RP: Cebu has more visitors than Boracay, Davao

Cebu Daily News
First Posted 11:05:00 05/11/2009

Filed Under: Tourism

Cebu has become the country's top tourist destination based on tourist arrivals, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT).

The province led 14 other key tourist destinations in the country, including the world famous Boracay Island, in

volume of tourist arrivals from January to March 2009.

Data from the DOT for the first quarter showed that 422,239 tourists went to Cebu, nearly 3 percent higher than

the 410,597 tourists who went to the province during the same period in 2008.

Boracay was second with 158,030 arrivals, followed by Davao City (156,468), Camarines Sur (140,220),

Zambales (88,718), and Bohol (71,876).

The increase reflected the growth in overall tourist arrivals in the country during the period reaching 10.33 percent

or a total of 1.3 million from 2008's 1.1 million, the DOT said.

Cebu was also the most frequently visited destination by foreign tourists with 184,790 arrivals or drawing nearly

half of the 383,608 foreign tourists that visited the country. It was followed by Boracay (63,903), Zambales

(25,252), Camarines Sur (24,976), and Bohol (24,350).

Overall, the volume of domestic tourists visiting key destinations grew faster at 13 percent while foreign arrivals

recorded a 4 percent increase in the first quarter.

Eduardo Jarque, DOT undersecretary for planning and promotions, credited the growth of tourist volume in the

regions to more and cheaper direct flights and better infrastructure including hotels, pensions houses and

ancestral homes opened for tourists.

"Manila has become a stop-over for leisure travelers who proceed to the regions like Cebu," Jarque told the

Inquirer yesterday

Tourism Undersecretary Phineas Alburo gave a similar assessment in an earlier interview.

Cebu continues to generate high tourist arrivals because of diverse attractions and more direct flights ensuring

accessibility," Alburo said.

Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air have several daily flights to and from Cebu. There are also direct flights

from Cebu to Manila, Bacolod, Iloilo, Surigao, Davao, Palawan and Cagayan de Oro, and vice versa among

others.

There are international flights to Bangkok, Thailand; Osaka, Japan; Incheon, Korea; Hong Kong; Singapore,

Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and China.

Jarque said expatriates and other tourists prefer to the provinces and beaches for a vacation.

Cebu has become a center of the tourism upswing because it combines a rich historical backdrop, modern

infrastructure and varied destinations, according to Jarque.

But he said tourist arrivals in Boracay Island were also growing with more hotel rooms needed because the

hotels there were always fully booked.

"Everybody who wants to party wants to go to Boracay," said Jarque.

Edwin Trompeta, DOT regional director in Western Visayas, said it would be pointless to compare Cebu, a

regional hub for the Visayas and Mindanao, and Boracay, a 1,032-hectare island-resort, because the two were

meeting two different tourism needs.

"Among island-resorts, Boracay remains the top tourist drawer with tourist arrivals growing by an average of six

percent annually for the past decade," Trompeta said.

In its report, the DOT said room capacity in key tourist destinations for the first quarter expanded with the opening

of new hotels and resorts, which created more jobs.

During the period, 1,231 additional rooms were opened costing P8.016 billion and generating 1,286 jobs.

These include the opening of the P3.18-billion Imperial Palace Water Park, Resort and Spa in Cebu, which

increased the room supply in the province by four percent to 14,792.

The San Remigio Beach Club in northern Cebu also opened new facilities costing P8.5 million during the first

quarter. This includes a convention facility for international meetings, conventions and exhibitions.

Boracay boosted its room capacity with the opening of the Shangri-la's Boracay Resort and Spa, a high-end

217-room resort on the island.

The DOT expects 2,315 more rooms to be operational nationwide by the end of the year requiring an

additional 1,946 employees.

In an earlier interview, Tourism Secretary Joseph "Ace" Durano said foreign tourist arrivals in the country grew by

an average of 10.6 percent from 2004-2008, considered one of the best performing destinations in the world.

Domestic tourism also grew by an average of 18 percent yearly, he said. /INQUIRER

FOR 1ST QUARTER OF 2009: Cebu now RP’s top tourist destination

By Nestor P. Burgos Jr.
Inquirer Visayas
First Posted 21:53:00 05/10/2009

Filed Under: Tourism

ILOILO CITY, Iloilo—Cebu has become the country’s top tourist destination based on tourist arrivals, according to the Department of Tourism.

The province led 14 other key tourist destinations in the country, including the world-famous Boracay Island in tourist arrivals from January to March.

Data from the DOT on tourist arrivals for the first quarter showed that 422,239 tourists went to Cebu, nearly 3 percent higher than the 410,597 tourists who went to the province during the same period last year.

Boracay was second with 158,030 arrivals, followed by Davao City (156,468), Camarines Sur (140,220), Zambales (88,718), and Bohol (71,876).

The increase reflected the growth in over-all tourist arrivals in the country during the period, reaching 10.33 percent or a total of 1.3 million from last year’s 1.1 million, the DOT said.

Cebu was also the most frequently visited destination by foreign tourists with 184,790 arrivals, or drawing nearly half of the 383,608 foreign tourists who visited the country. It was followed by Boracay (63,903), Zambales (25,252), Camarines Sur (24,976), and Bohol (24,350).

Overall, the volume of domestic tourists visiting key destinations grew faster at 13 percent while, foreign arrivals recorded a 4-percent increase in the first quarter.

Eduardo Jarque, tourism undersecretary for planning and promotions, credited the rise of tourist arrivals in the regions, especially Cebu, to more and cheaper direct flights, and better infrastructure, including hotels, pensions houses, and ancestral homes to accommodate tourists.

“Manila has become a stopover for leisure travelers who proceed to the regions like Cebu,” Jarque told the Inquirer in a phone interview on Sunday.

He said it has developed into a lifestyle for expatriates and other tourists to head to the provinces and beaches for a vacation.

Cebu has become a center of the tourism upswing because it combines a rich historical backdrop, modern infrastructure, and varied destinations, according to Jarque.

But, he said, tourist arrivals on Boracay continue to grow with more hotel rooms needed because the existing hotels are always fully booked.

“Among island resorts, Boracay remains the top tourist drawer with tourist arrivals growing by an average of 6 percent annually for the past decade,” said Edwin Trompeta, tourism director of Western Visayas.

European tour agents in Boracay

Cebu Daily News
First Posted 12:17:00 05/07/2009

Filed Under: Tourism & Leisure, Tourism

ILOILO CITY — More than 200 travel agents from the biggest European tour wholesaler are on a familiarization tour of Boracay Island in what tourism officials expect to be a big boost in drawing more Europeans to the resort.

Around 260 tour agents and counter staff of tour consolidator Meier's Weltreisen arrived on the island on Tuesday for a three-day familiarization tour and seminar on the island, said Edwin Trompeta, regional director of the Department of Tourism, said in a telephone interview.

The tour for travel agents and staff from 220 travel agencies in Germany and Austria is part of the company's 20th annual Far East Live Seminar (FELS). The group arrived in Manila on May 3. /Inquirer

European tourism junket ongoing on Boracay

By Nestor P. Burgos Jr.
Inquirer Visayas
First Posted 16:46:00 05/06/2009

Filed Under: Tourism

ILOILO CITY, Philippines—More than 200 travel agents from the biggest European tour wholesaler are on a familiarization tour of Boracay Island in what tourism officials expect to be a big boost in drawing more Europeans to the resort.

Around 260 tour agents and counter staff of tour consolidator Meier's Weltreisen arrived on the island on Tuesday for a three-day familiarization tour and seminar on the island, Edwin Trompeta, regional director of the Department of Tourism, said in a telephone interview.

The tour for travel agents and staff from 220 travel agencies in Germany and Austria is part of the company's 20th annual Far East Live Seminar (FELS). The group arrived in Manila on May 3.

Travel writers from Germany and Austria and travel trade press representatives also joined the seminar.

The participants are billeted at the newly opened Boracay Shangri-la Resort and Spa, the main venue of the seminar.

They have been doing their rounds of the bars, restaurants, hotels and the beachfront "to get a pulse of the place and the people," according to Trompeta.

Trompeta said the tour was expected to have a big impact on tourist arrivals from Europe especially in Boracay because Meier's Weltreisen accounts for 30 percent of tourist arrivals in Asia.

He cited the impact of Meier's FELS on destinations where it conducted its seminars.

Vietnam's tourist arrivals increased by 40 percent after the 2006 FELS in the country, he said. Tourism also rose in Khao Lak in Thailand after the 2007 FELS there.

He said the activity is estimated to initially bring in around P15 million in tourist revenues to the country.

Germany and the United Kingdom are among the country's biggest tourist markets in Europe. Around 55,000 Germans visit the country each year with more than 5,000 also going to Boracay, according to Trompeta.

Foreign tourist arrivals in the country grew by an average of 10.6 percent in 2004-2008, considered one of the best performing destinations in the world, according to Tourism Secretary Joseph "Ace" Durano in an earlier interview.

Domestic tourism also grew by an average of 18 percent yearly with Boracay Island among the top tourist destinations.

Boracay has reported high occupancy for its 5,800 hotel rooms, and 340 more rooms are under construction.

The tourist arrivals have been boosted by direct flights from Taiwan and Shanghai to the Kalibo airport on the Aklan mainland.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last March announced that investors are also coming in to develop an international airport in Caticlan, the jump-off point to Boracay. Another airport is being eyed on the nearby Carabao Island.

Anti-flu monitoring ongoing in Panay

Cebu Daily News
First Posted 10:26:00 05/06/2009

Filed Under: Swine Flu, Health

Iloilo City — Health officials and local government units have been monitoring international airports and ports on Panay Island to prevent the entry of persons infected with the influenza A (H1N1) virus.

The Department of Health (DOH) has started screening passengers and crewmen of ships from other countries docking at the Iloilo International Port in Barangay Loboc, La Paz District.

Dr. Lino Gregorio, chief of the Bureau of Quarantine of the Department of Health in Western Visayas, said passengers arriving at the Kalibo Airport in Aklan were also being monitored.

Gregorio said starting Wednesday, officials would use thermal strips, that measure people's temperatures, to test passengers from Taipei going to Kalibo.

Thermal strips are placed on people's foreheads to measure their temperatures.

The local government of Kalibo has requested that a thermal scanner be installed at the airport but Gregorio said it won't work because there's an open space at the town's airport.

Thermal scanners work in closed spaces.

Dr. Ariel Valencia, DOH officer-in-charge in Western Visayas, said measures are in place in response to a World Health Organization warning against a possible H1N1 pandemic.

At a briefing, government officials and journalists agreed to come up with guidelines on coverage and reporting on H1N1 to prevent panic and ensure the privacy of persons believed to have been infected with the virus.

Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas Sr. and Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas on Monday presided over a meeting to coordinate contingency plans in the city and province.

Tupas said officials will adopt the protocol defined during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak.

Treñas said the city government has organized an inter-agency task force to focus on preparation and response.

He said there would be a massive information campaign.

Dr. Lino Gregorio, of the Bureau of Quarantine, said international ships can't dock in the Port of Culasi and Loboc Port unless quarantine inspectors were allowed on board and give the ships clearance to dock. /Inquirer

Briefing on influenza A (H1N1) in Boracay May 18

By Francis Allan L. Angelo




THE Department of Health (DoH) and Boracay Foundation, Inc. (BFI) will mount a briefing on influenza A (H1N1) May 18 to prepare Boracay Island against the spread of the disease.



Glen Alonsabe, regional epidemiologist of DoH in Western Visayas, said the BFI and Department of Tourism (DoT) requested their office to hold the briefing because of the influx of foreign tourists in the island resort.



“We consider Boracay Island and the municipality of Malay as a critical point in our surveillance on the entry of A H1N1 flu in Western Visayas because of the airport and jetty port in Caticlan. The business community must be educated on the virus and how to react should there be suspected cases of infection,” Alonsabe said.



The Kalibo airport also caters to bi-weekly flights of Mandarin Airlines from Tapei to Kalibo, the capital town of Aklan province.



Dr. Adrian Salaver, Malay municipal health officer, said the briefing is part of their A (H1N1) flu preparation plan aside from monitoring foreigners bound for Boracay.



The Kalibo municipal government has requested for the installation of a thermal scanner at the airport.



But Lino Gregorio, chief of the Bureau of Quarantine regional office, said this is not feasible because the airport’s design will affect the sensors of the scanner.



“For the meantime, the thermal scanner is not feasible because of the humid environment in the Kalibo Airport. It should be placed in an air-conditioned area to monitor the temperatures of incoming passengers from regional flights,” Gregorio said.



The Kalibo airport is constructing a new passenger terminal building which is expected to operate October 2009.



Boracay Island is the country’s second top tourist destination for the first four months of 2009.



DoT data show that 158,030 tourists, including 63,903 foreign visitors, went to Boracay in the first quarter of this year.

Superbods 2009 - Century Tuna
Event Schedule - Century Tuna Superbods 2009

April 4, 2009 Go-see/Final Casting
Manor Eastwood, Quezon City (9am-6pm).
April 6, 2009 Announcement of Finalists
May 2, 2009 Century Tuna Superbods ’09 Finals
Plazoleta Beach Resort and Pearl of the Pacific, Boracay
- Superbods Challenge
- Superbods Finals Night
- After Party

Congratulations to the hottest and smartest winners
of the Superbods'09 Bods & Brains Challenge -
the best embodiment of the Century Tuna healthy lifestyle!








Van Victor Leaño



Theresa Marie Fenger

Century Tuna 2009 Superbods Winners

Check out who won in the Century Tuna 2009 male and female Superbods search.

The Century Tuna Male Superbod 2009 is…



…24-year-old Van Victor Leano. Van stands 6″ tall and works as a businessman. The first runner up is Martin Richard while second runner up is Rey Talosig.

The Century Tuna Female Superbod 2009 is…




…21-year-old Theresa Fenger. Theresa is a Fil-Canadian singer and beauty queen. The first runner up is Cherry Ann Kubota while the second runner up is Khai Lim.

Both Van Victor and Theresa won P500,000.00 in cash and the privilege to appear on the next television and print ad campaign of Century Tuna.

Century Tuna Superbods 2009: On with the show despite the rain

y CRISPINA MARTINEZ-BELEN
May 8, 2009, 1:00pm
Attachment Size
Attachment Size
Century Tuna Superbods 2009 winners: Theresa Fenger and Van Victor Leano 36.39 KB
Century Tuna Superbods 2009 winners: Theresa Fenger and Van Victor Leano
Century Tuna Superbods 2009 winners: Theresa Fenger and Van Victor Leano

Boracay – Despite the inclement weather, the grand finals for the “Century Tuna Superbods 2009: Bods and Brains Challenge” went on as scheduled last May 2 at the Pearl of the Pacific and Plazoleta in this island paradise. The competition was a celebration of healthy minds and bodies as Century Tuna picked its next male and female Superbods with Superbrains to replace Patty Ortega and Ram Sagad, Superbods 2007 winners.

On the finals night, the organizers anticipated the rains that fell intermittently and so they set up tents at the beachside fronting the Pearl of the Pacific resort hotel. The ramp however was left open to the elements but the 20 hopefuls gamely strutted their winning forms under the rain. They were in fact unmindful of the drizzle, giving the audience the feeling that they even welcomed it as a blessing from the heavens.

Said Ted Po, son of the Century Tuna owner, “We anticipated the rain, so we set up tents. But I hope the rain stops… thank you for coming despite the bad, uncooperative weather…”

After lunch on that day at Plazoleta, the candidates battled it out in the Superbods Challenge, hosted by TV personalities Rovilson Fernandez and Reema Chanco. The Superbods Challenge consisted of five larger-than-life obstacle course of puzzles and challenges. The winners received instant prizes from Century Tuna. Participating in the challenges was Superbods ’06 winner, now ABS-CBN star Jon Avila.

During the Superbods Challenge, Century Tuna entertained spectators with street magicians as they rooted for their favorite contestants.

The 20 finalists, who were presented to the press during the welcome dinner at Edd Fuentes’ elegant and very impressive Sun Village Villa, were Van Victor Leano, Terrence Lloyd, Rex Flores, David Nagtalon, Joseph Kidwell, Mychal Nubla, Ervic Vijandre, Laxie Villar, Martin Richard, and Rey Talosig, Theresa Fenger, Kristina Gonido, Karen McVie, Patricia Ejercitado, Halley Chiappiazzi, Kate Bautista, Cherry Ann Kubota, Bianca Paz, Abbey Cruz and Khai Lim. And the winners are…

This year’s Century Tuna Superbods titles went to Theresa Fenger and Van Victor Leano. (Online winner was Ervic Vijandre, Marian Rivera’s former boyfriend of seven years, whose facial similarity to Dingdong Dantes was specially noted). 1st runners-up were Cherry Ann Kubota and Martin Richard. 2nd runners-up were Khai Lim and Rey Talosig.

The finals night was hosted by Marc Nelson and Joey Mead. Judges included former Miss Universe Gloria Diaz, whose daughter Isabelle Daza has been Century Tuna image model for two years now; famous designer Rajo Laurel, Angela Gamboa, Century Tuna’s Senior Brand Manager; Sid Maderazo, PC&V’s Ariel Comia, and Cosmopolitan editor-in-chief Zo Aguila.

The After-Party held at Plazoleta after the coronation of the 2009 Superbods winners was star-studded and went on till early morning the next day. The contestants and the winners themselves celebrated the event with celebrities and other guests.

Boracay vacationers and residents had another exciting weekend as they got to get a glimpse of not only the Century Tuna Superbods contenders but celebrities and showbiz personalities as well. Spotted were Bernard and Mico Palanca, JM Rodriguez, Victor Neri, Carlos Morales, Rachel Alejandro, Joem Bascon, Phoemela Baranda, MTV VJ Kat Alano, and Ginger Conejeros of ABS-CBN, among others.

By the way, the Century Tuna Superbods 2009 was made possible by Pearl of the Pacific, YKL Fujifilm, ETC, C2, A&F magazine, E-games, and Havaianas.

* * *
New FAMAS officers

With the sudden demise of incumbent FAMAS Pres. Art Padua last month, an election of new officers was needed and it was held recently with the following result:

Angelo “Eloy” Padua, president; Ms. Alice H. Reyes, 1st vice president; Ms. Elvie Gonzales, 2nd vice president; Florence Tanagras, secretary; Amy Rosales, treasurer; Art Tapalla, auditor; and Dennis Aguilar, PRO. The board of directors is composed of Col. Apolonio Reyes, Willy Villamin, Ninoy Sofranes, Rey Duque, Edgar Godin, Willy Villamin, Mer Jedeliz, and Efren Montano.

The new president, who’s the son of the late Art Padua, is the executive assistant of Usec. Clarence Paul V. Oaminal who’s vice chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board. Eloy is also the secretary of the Rotary Club of Metro Cubao (Rotary International – District 3780). In addition to this, he is the pursuivant of the Order of the Knights of Rizal Quezon City Chapter and board director of the Aliw Awards Foundation, Inc. and Gumil-Metro Manila, an association of Iluko writers.

A three-time FAMAS board director, he is also the treasurer of the San Sebastian College Alumni Association, Inc., past Grand Cervus of the Lex Cervus Fraternity (SSCR); editor of Asian Voice in California, USA; correspondent of Bannawag magazine, editor-in-chief of FAMAS People magazine; and member of the National Press Club of the Philippines, Inc.

Boracay sets stage for 3rd Century Tuna Superbods

MANILA, Philippines - All roads lead to Boracay as Century Tuna, the country’s leading canned tuna brand, holds the most anticipated search this summer dubbed Century Tuna Superbods 2009: Bods and Brains Challenge tomorrow.

This is the third time that Century Tuna is staging the exciting event on the paradise island, which has become the preferred summer destination for vacationers and celebrities.

The breathtaking scenery and the festive ambience that Boracay never ceases to exude have made it the perfect venue for a summer sizzler like the Century Tuna Superbods.

This year, Century Tuna promises an even hotter and more exhilarating Superbods search as it chooses the next male and female Century Tuna Superbods who personify not only a healthy body but a healthy mind as well.

The 10 male finalists competing to become the next Century Tuna Male Superbod are Van Victor Leano, Terrence Lloyd, Rex Flores, David Nagtalon, Joseph Kidwell, Mychal Nubla, Ervic Vijandre, Laxie Villar, Martin Richard, and Rey Talosig.

The 10 female finalists vying for the title of Century Tuna Female Superbod are Theresa Fenger, Kristina Gonido, Karen McVie, Patricia Ejercitado, Halley Chiappiazzi, Kate Bautista, Cherry Ann Kubota, Bianca Paz, Abbey Cruz, and Khai Lim.

The event will kick off with the Superbods Challenge, where the finalists will compete in larger-than-life obstacle course of puzzles and challenges that will start off at the Plazoleta and will send them off on a race all over scenic Boracay.

Come nighttime, the event will culminate in the Century Tuna Superbods 2009: Bods and Brains Challenge Finals Night to be held at the Pearl of the Pacific, where the finalists will get to show off their fit bodies and intelligence before a crowd of Boracay habitues and an elite panel of judges, composed of distinguished personalities from the world of showbiz, print media, modeling, and fashion.

Winners of the Century Tuna Superbods 2009: Bods and Brains Challenge will be chosen according to the following criteria: beauty, healthy body and healthy mind, which will be based on how they fare in the puzzles and challenges in the Superbods Challenge, the question and answer portion, and their personality.

The winning male and female contestants will be hailed as Century Tuna Superbods 2009 and will each go home with P500,000 in cash.

The Century Tuna Superbods 2009: Bods and Brains Challenge is made possible by Pearl of the Pacific, YKL Fujifilm, ETC, C2, A&F magazine, e-Games, and Havaianas.

Visayas scores Nestea beach volley sweep

By Romina Austria
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:01:00 05/10/2009



BORACAY - University of San Jose Recoletos and University of Southern Philippines Foundation completed a title sweep for the Visayans by ruling their respective divisions in the 13th Nestea Fit Beach Volleyball finals here Saturday.

USJR’s Ariel Carumba and Loujei Tipgos employed what they called a “mind game” in toppling last year’s men’s champion Foundation University, 21-14, 21-17.

It was the first loss in eight matches for FU’s Buensuceso Sayson and Arnel Amadeo since the Mandaue City qualifier in April where they beat the same USJR pair twice.

Erika Camille Verano and Apple Saraum gave USPF its first national championship in the women’s division as they bested the weary Adamson University duo of Angela Benting and Lizlee Ann Gata, 21-17, 23-21.

The victories marked the second time that Visayas swept the national championships, which awarded P100,000 each to the winners and P65,000 to the runners-up.

During the eighth edition in 2004, USJR won the second of its three men’s titles while four-time winner Southwestern University bagged the women’s plum.

“We didn’t go to the net as often as we used to,” said USJR coach Grace Antigua. “We moved the ball around and forced Foundation to run. We didn’t match their power game because however strong or subtle our attacks are, it would still be worth just one point.”

USJR and Foundation battled through 12 deadlocks in the second set, the last at 13-11, before a 6-2 run put the reigning Cebu varsity champions on top for good, 19-15.

Carumba and Tipgos had not explored Boracay since arriving here on May 4 as they had to be in bed by 10 p.m. and wake up at 6 a.m. Last night, they finally got the chance to party.

Cebu guzzles Nestea

By Mike T. Limpag

BORACAY—The University of Southern Philippines (USPF) and the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) didn’t expect to figure prominently in the Nestea Fit Beach Volleyball National Finals after finishing third in the Visayas eliminations.

They ended up anchoring a Cebuano sweep of the men’s and women’s titles yesterday to earn P100,000 each.

For good measure, the University of the Visayas (UV) salvaged third place in the men’s division with a 19-21, 21-14, 15-11 win over the Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi.

"The Manny Pacquiao Blog". Click here for stories and updates on the Filipino boxing champ.

USPF, coached by Thelma Datig, banked on Erika Verano’s courage and 17-year-old Apple Saraum’s maturity for a 21-17, 23-21 win over Luzon champion Adamson University (ADU) in the women’s final.

From 11-10 in the first, USPF, which defeated Visayas champion University of Negros Occidental Recoletos, 21-17, 29-17, in the semis, posted a 15-11 lead and kept at least a two-point lead.

Saraum’s block got them to 20-17, while Verano ended the set in 15 minutes with an ace.

“I just told them to play. Not to pressure themselves and to use their common sense,” said Datig after her team lost a seven-point lead in the second set.

Sweep

Datig, who just aimed for a top four finish, now has four national titles—three with her previous team, Southwestern University (SWU).

Verano ignored her injured ankle and her quickness in getting from defense to offense had USPF up, 14-8, before a series of errors and Lizlee Ann Gata’s spikes had ADU up, 16-17.

The teams caught up at 19-all and until 21-all before Angela Benting’s spike went long and Saraum found an open spot for their hard-earned 23-21 win.

“At first, I was really pressured but I just tried to stay calm and to perform what I was supposed to do,” said Saraum. The newbie started teaming up with Verano in beach volleyball just two months ago.

After the Cebuanas, it was USJ-R’s turn and they too won in straight sets over defending champion Foundation University (FU), 21-14, 21-17.

Arnel Amadeo started strong for FU as he forced a 2-2 tie with a powerful spike and an even stronger block of Ariel Carumba, and punctuating it with a glare at the Cebuano.

Amadeo would pay for that insolence in the second set.

From 5-5, the Cebuanos banked on Loujie Tipgos cheeky tips to the baseline and open area as they slowly began to break away to take the first set, 21-14, in 15 minutes.

“Wa mi nagpadala sa ila power, amo lang gi hinayhinayan (We didn’t get overwhelmed by their power, slowly we fought),” said Carumba.

Pressure

Things got more competitive in the second set with USJ-R holding a 17-15 lead. Another signature tip from Tipgos made it 18-15, while Carumba won the battle at the net for 19-15. FU cut the lead, 19-17, and a quick point from Carumba made it 20-17.

At match point, the Cebuanos showed their never-say-die spirit, scrambling near the net post to extend a rally. Carumba sent the ball to an open spot but Amadeo managed to save it.

However, his partner wasn’t paying attention and the ball landed harmlessly at their side.

This time, Amadeo glared at Sayson as their title retention bid ended on an error.

Visayas teams dominate Boracay beach volley finals

MANILA, Philippines – The Visayan party pushed through in the 13th Nestea Fit Beach Volley tournament.

University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) defeated Adamson University, 21-17, 23-21, to win the women's crown and ensure an all-Visayan domination in the national finals of the yearly tournament.

In the men's side, University of San Jose-Recoletos dislodged last year's champion Foundation University, 21-14, 22-12, in a battle of two Visayan teams for the title.

"Parang kinapos ang mga bata, kulang talaga sa practice. Napagod dahil napakainit din," said Adamson coach Minerva Dulce Pante, whose wards pocketed P65,000 for their second place finish.

Erika Camille Verano, who teamed up with Apple Saraum, in ensuring USPF's first national title in the tournament said that they did not expect to win because this is their first tournament of their new partnership.

"Masaya kasi hindi namin expected na mananalo kami," explained Verano after winning the P100,000 cash prize.

Meanwhile, USJR coach Grace Antigua, also a former national player, said their tactic of playing far from the net worked well and gave them the advantage against the power playing Foundation University.

"This victory shows that beach volleyball is not all power. Sometimes you have to use a different tactic to win games just like what we did today," Antigua, a Cebu Hall of Famer, said.

Ariel Carumba, who together with Loujei Tipgos gave USJR its third national title, added that they focused on trying to make their opponents run and go for the kill when given the opportunity.

"Pinatakbo namin talaga sila, dahil alam namin na kinakapos sila sa hininga," said Carumba, who added that he will initially deposit in a bank his part of the P100,000 top cash prize.

The tactic worked well as USJR easily took the first set then rallied in the second to complete their title run.

Even when Foundation took a brief 13-11 lead, Carumba and Tipgos did not gave up and rallied to erase the deficit en route to overthrowing 2008 champions Foundation, which pocketed P65,000.

The last time two Visayan teams swept the national titles was in 2004 when USJR won the men's crown and Southwestern University bagged the women's title

Meanwhile, Univesity of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, a 21-17, 29-27 loser to USPF in the semifinals, salvaged a third place finish in women's play when it dominated University of San Agustin, 21-12, 21-17. USA bowed to Adamson, 21-17, 21-18 in the other semis match.

In the men's competition, University of the Visayas, which suffered a 21-17, 29-27 loss to USJR in Final Four, posted a podium finish after beating Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi, 19-21, 21-14, 25-11 in the battle for third spot.

MSU-T was relegated to the consolation match when it suffered a 19-21, 21-14, 15-11, defeat against Foundation, 21-15, 22-21. – Perry Legaspi, GMANews.TV

San Agustin, UV earn podium finishes in Boracay

05/09/2009 | 02:48 PM

MANILA, Philippines – University of San Agustin (USA) and University of Visayas salvaged podium finishes on Saturday during the medal round of the 13th Nestea Fit Beach Volleyball in Boracay.

USA’s duo of Krystle Marie Suizo and Jackielyn Estoquia defeated University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (UNO-R), 21-12, 21-17 to salvage a third place finish in the women's division.

While the UV pair of Jade Becaldo and Precioso Bendijo Jr. rallied from an opening set loss to beat the Mohammad Reza Asakil-Halim Khan tandem of Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi, 14-21, 21-14, 15-11, to post a bronze medal finish in the men's side.

Adamson University, the only team outside of Visayas to reach the semifinals, sent USA to the consolation match with a 21-17, 21-18 triumph in their Final Four match and will dispute the women’s title against University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) which downed UNO-R, 21-17, 21-19, in the other semis match.

In the men's side, the Foundation University pair of Arnel Amadeo and Buensuceso Sayson earned the chance to defend their title when they brought down MSU-T, 21-15, 23-21, in their semifinal match and secure an all-Visayan final.

University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) defeated University of the Visayas (UV), 21-17, 21-19, to arrange a finals showdown with the reigning titlist. – Perry Legaspi, GMANews.TV

USJR, FU make semifinals

By Charles Raymond A. Maxey

BORACAY -- The University of San Jose-Recoletos pair of Ariel Carumba and Loujei Tipgos stunned the Far Eastern University tandem of Joshua Alcarde and Jan Berlin Paglinawan in straight sets, 21-17, 21-16, to barge into the semi-finals of the 13th Nestea Beach Volley National Circuit 2009 Finals here Friday.

Carumba and Tipgos played cohesive ball all throughout in beating their FEU counterparts and their victory earned them a shot at the men's finals against Jade Becaldo and Precioso Bendijo Jr. of the University of Visayas.

"The Manny Pacquiao Blog". Click here for stories and updates on the Filipino boxing champ.

Incidentally, both Becaldo and Bendijo Jr. are roommates of Carumba and Tipgos at the La Carmela de Boracay Resort Hotel where players competing in the tournament and members of the press are being billeted.

"They are our roommates, but this is going to be war tomorrow (Saturday). We will play our best to beat them," Carumba said in the vernacular.

"We will work hard to advance to the finals and hopefully claim the championship," added the 20-year-old Carumba, a third year student taking up Business Management.

They are indeed up against a formidable opponent in Becaldo and Bendijo, who earlier beat them in the elimination Thursday in straight sets.

The UV pair advanced to the semifinals after defeating Alcarde and Paglinawan earlier in the day also in straight sets, 21-18, 21-19.

Defending champion Foundation University likewise moved in the final four.

Represented by Arnel Amadeo and Buensuceso Sayson here, FU toppled Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi's Mohammad Reza Asakil and Halim Khan, 21-16, 25-27.

The University of Mindana-Davao pair of Paul John Saraga and Galileo Mascardo absorbed another defeat, this time at the hands of Colegio de San Juan de Letran's Eden Canlas and Erickson Joseph Ramos to bow out of contention.

Mykah Ramos and Aiza Armacion of the Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) dropped their match against Anna Camille Abanto and Marigail Tolentino of Far Eastern University, 9-21, 18-21, to also kissed the championship goodbye.

The Nestea Fit Beach Volley 2009 Circuit is sponsored by Ipanema, Mikasa, Speedo, Parkmall in Mandaue City, Cebu, La'Oreal Paris Elseve, Nautilus by PJ Aranador, D'Mall D'Boracay, Tagum Beach Volleydrome a Century Park, Hey! Jude Resort and La Carmela de Boracay Resort Hotel.

Limpag: Stiff neck and cramps in Boracay

Mike T. Limpag
Fair Play

BORACAY - It was a dark and stormy night.

The wind blew like there was no tomorrow, while the rain dropped by the bucket, for hours.


Welcome to Boracay, the climate change era.

Like Cebu, Boracay is experiencing “weather on steroids.” In the first two days, it was sunny and windy, and after you blinked, it got dark and was raining.

Short of doing the sun dance, organizers of the Nestea Fit Beach Volleyball National Finals can do nothing about this weird weather, but to, well, weather it out.

Fortunately, the weather god must have been sated the other night since it got sunny yesterday—at least until the time I
wrote this—though dark clouds are just over the horizon.

The wind, though, is making its presence felt. And if you’d go kite surfing, or parasailing, I think you might end up somewhere in New York or Mars.

For the beach volleyball player, it’s a curse. A strong wind makes the ball’s trajectory go haywire. A sideline winner goes out, while an easy reception becomes a winner.

Coach Raffy Briones of the University of the Visayas said his team prepared hard for weeks for the national finals, but adjusting to the wind has been a bitch.

As for me, I love the wind.

You may get sand in your eyes, but a strong wind opens a lot of opportunities, to put it mildly.

But whether the weather is weird or not, Boracay is as good as advertised.

I think my neck muscles haven’t had a workout like this in years. Though, I’m sure that if the weather wasn’t this bad, there would be a lot of sun worshipers exposing their body to the sun and I have yet to catch my first bikini-challenged Amon Ra worshipper.

I’m writing this in front of the Nestea sand court at Station 2, and there’s a pathway between me and the court. Because of that, I’m having trouble finishing this column.

It seems a visually distracting member of the opposite sex walks by every 45 seconds. Oops, there goes another one, and another one, and another one…

I guess, it’s a blessing Boracay isn’t under Cebu Province.

I’m here to cover the beach volleyball game, and going to the venue, you sort of cover beach volleyball, your eyes won’t stay in one direction. It’s a good 10- to 15-minute walk to the sand court, but you won’t feel the distance, even if you walk alone.

I never expected though, that Boracay will make you feel fat.

For years, I’ve been quite comfortable with my one-pack. Here, it seems the rule is if you have a six-pack, you walk around without a shirt on and you have to wear your shorts really low to expose the V formed by your abdominal muscles.

If you have a litro pack like the rest of the population, you keep your shirt on. Unless you want to spoil somebody’s lunch.
Something funny also happened to me the other day.

Boracay is one giant beach front and you walk all day. And in my second day here, my legs were starting to cramp from all the walking. Seriously. My slippers are a couple of sizes too big and my toes sort of tighten with every step.

I was looking for an ATM machine the other day when it happened. I had to stand still for a few minutes then walk slowly since it would have been pretty embarrassing to say you suffered cramps, from walking.

Maybe I should start exercising again. Reporters and editors of Sun.Star Cebu got the running bug and are planning to join a run this year and invited John Pages for a briefing on the sport last week.

I guess it wouldn’t hurt if I suggest that we’d join a run, in Boracay.

Hot chase for 3 Cebu teams

By Mike T. Limpag

BORACAY - Three Cebu teams are still on the hunt for the P100,000 top prize as they made the semifinal round of the Nestea Fit Beach Volleyball national finals.

The University of the Visayas (UV) and the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R), who share a room, will be going for each other’s throats in the men’s division, while the University of Southern Philippines (USP) will be up against a familiar foe in the women’s division.

"The Manny Pacquiao Blog". Click here for stories and updates on the Filipino boxing champ.

UV and USJ-R made it to the final four and will be facing each other for the second time. UV won the first encounter in three sets.

Yesterday, UV’s Jade Becaldo and Precioso Bendijo Jr. only needed to win one match to book their seat, while USJ-R’s Ariel Carumba and Loujie Tipgos had to overcome two teams to advance.

Other semis

The other semifinal will be between defending champion Foundation University and Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi.

Becaldo and Bendijo started their roll with a 21-18, 21-19 win over Far Eastern University (FEU) in the first game, keeping alive a four-set streak since losing the first set to USJ-R yesterday.

After losing to UV, Carumba and Tipgos picked up two straight wins. First to fall was Mahardika Institute of Technology, 21-13, 21-14, setting up a match against FEU.

FEU earlier defeated Holy Cross of Davao College, 21-9, 21-18, to stay alive.

However, the champion from Luzon was no match for the second Cebuano team it faced yesterday, and lost, 21-17, 21-16.

“We are a little bit challenged because we have one loss and if you haven’t lost, you tend to get complacent,” said Carumba
After a 10-10 standoff, USJ-R called for time and the short talk worked as they took the lead, 18-13.

“We were still reading their game then,” said Tipgos.

After drawing close to 20-16, Tipgos ended the first set with a spike.

Open spot

The second set was only competitive in the early part as Tipgos routinely won the battle at the net and kept finding the open spot, while Carumba’s diving digs foiled FEU’s potential winners.

After a 4-4 tie, USJ-R took the lead, 10-6 and FEU never got closer than three points as the Cebuano ended the set in 14 minutes to set up a rematch with UV.

“They have to communicate well tomorrow (today) because that’s very important,” said USJ-R coach Grace Antigua, who is hoping to end her three-year title drought in the Nestea national finals.

In the women’s side, USPF lost to University of Negros Oriental-Recoletos (UNO-R), 14-21, 21-18, 15-8, but came back strong in the afternoon match with a clinical two-set win over the University of the Cordilleras.

Erika Verano, who injured her ankle in the morning game, showed no signs of slowing down as she and Apple Saraum won, 21-13, 21-14, in just 27 minutes.

The two will next face Visayas champion UNO-R in the semis, while Adamson University faces the University of San Agustin in the other semifinal.

USJR, AdU advance in Nestea beach volley

By Joey Villar Updated May 09, 2009 12:00 AM



BORACAY, Philippines – University of San Jose-Recoletos and Adamson University essayed a pair of contrasting wins to barge into the semifinal round after sorry misses last year as action picked up in the Nestea Fit Beach Volley National Circuit here yesterday.

Ariel Carumba and Loujei Tipgos of USJR bucked the strong winds and the challenge of Joshua Alcarde and Jan Berlin Paglinawan of Far Eastern U, completing a straight-set 21-17, 21-16 victory and reaching the semis of this 13th staging of the annual tournament among the country’s top beach volley teams.

The perennial Cebu champions, who wound up fifth last year, actually bounced back from the losers’ bracket to remain in the hunt for the top P100,000 purse.

Angela Benting and Lizlee Ann Gata of Adamson, meanwhile, battled back from a set down to repulse Krystle Marie Suizo and Jackielyn Estoquia of University of San Agustin of Iloilo, 16-21, 21-18, 15-13, for their second straight win and a spot in the semis.

“We lost a three-setter to La Salle-Bacolod last year. Had we won that game, we would have been in the semifinals,” said Carumba, a fourth year business management student, in Filipino.

The 22-year-old Tipgos, a business administration junior, said they learned a lot from last year’s debacle.

“It taught us to work hard, play as a team and give it everything,” said Tipgos.

USJR lost to regional rival University of Visayas, 19-21, 21-23, 15-17, in last Thursday’s rain-hit double-loss elimination round but will try to get back at the Jade Becaldo-Precioso Bendijo Jr. pair in the semis.

The UV tandem breezed through with a 21-13, 21-19 win over Joshua Alcarde and Jan Berlin Paglinawan of Far Eastern U.

The Lady Falcons, winners of the Luzon qualifier but who placed sixth here last year, opened their bid with a 21-19, 21-12 demolition of Mykah Ramos and Aiza Armacion of Holy Cross of Davao College Thursday but had to work doubly hard to get past Suizo and Estoquia.

“We’re out to win the championship and bring it back to Luzon,” said Adamson mentor Dulce Pante, referring to the San Marcelino-based school’s victory in 2002 and St. Benilde’s title romp in 2005.

The tournament is sponsored by Ipanema, Speedo, Parkmall in Mandaue City, Cebu, L’Oreal Paris Elseve, Nautilus by PJ Arañador, Mikasa, D’Mall D’Boracay, Tagum Beach Volley Drome at Rotary Park, Hey! Jude Resort, Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel, La Carmela de Boracay Resort Hotel and Crystal Sand Beach Resort.

Defending men’s champion Buensuceso Sayson and Arnel Amadeo of Foundation University of Dumaguete City beat Mohammad Reza Asakil and Halim Khan of Mindanao State U-Tawi-Tawi, 21-16, 29-25, to likewise advance to the next round.

Sayson and Amadeo will try to make it two in a row against Asakil and Khan, who stayed alive by eliminating Eden Canlas and Erickson Joseph Ramos of Letran in a marathon 21-17, 17-21, 21-16 win.

“We saw how they beat us, we know their game. Hopefully we could beat them in our rematch,” said MSU-Tawi-Tawi coach Edward Lee.

Julie Anne Billote and Ruby Rose Bordon of University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, the Visayan Leg titlist, also marched into the semis by overcoming Erika Camille Verano and Apple Saraum of University of Southern Philippins Foundation, 14-21, 21-12, 15-8.

Visayas teams book semis spots in beach volley league

05/08/2009 | 09:12 PM


MANILA, Philippines – The 13th Nestea Fit Beach Volleyball is shaping up to be an all-Visayan show.

On Friday, all Visayas men and women teams booked semifinal berths with defending champion Mindanao State University-Tawi Tawi and Adamson University of Luzon as the possible spoilers in the both divisions in the tournament being held in Boracay.

MSU-T was actually on the verge of being eliminated after absorbing a 21-16, 27-21 against defending champion Foundation University, which booked the first semis berth.

But after that defeat from the Foundation pair of Buensuceso Sayson and Arenel Amadeo, the MSU-T duo of Mohammad Reza Asakil and Halim Khan earned themselves the last semis spot by eliminating Luzon's Letran in three sets, 21-17, 17-21, 15-12.

“Dapat nga panalo pa kami laban sa Foundation, but we were not able to use our weapons effectively," said MSU-T coach Edward Lee. "Mohammad was not able to execute his jump serves and yong mga spikes namin hindi rin masyadong nagamit."

Lee is hoping that during their rematch with Foundation in Saturday's semifinals, they will be able not only avenge their defeat but also book a finals berth. "I believe that we can win against Foundation. Basta gumana lang ang aming mga sandata."

University of Visayas and University of San Jose-Recoletos, the two other Visayan teams in the tournament, will dispute the other finals spot, ensuring the region of at least one team vying for the title.

UV's Jade Becaldo and Precioso Bendijo Jr. defeated the Far Eastern University duo of Joshua Alcarde and Jan Berlin Paglinawan in one of the morning matches, putting the Tamaraws’ chances of entering the semifinals in jeopardy.

The Tamaraws were eventually eliminated when they absorbed their second defeat from another Visayan team, this time from USJR’s Ariel Carumba and Louijei Tipgos, who penciled a 21-17, 21-16 triumph in the afternoon match.

Luzon elimination round runner-up Letran finished fifth followed by FEU, University of Mindanao-Davao, Mahardika Institute of Technology and San Beda College.

In the women’s side, Visayas leg top three finishers University of Negros-Recoletos (UNO-R), University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) and University of San Agustin (USA) all made it to the Final Four.

The UNO-R duo of Julie Ann Billote and Ruby Rose Bordon made it to the semifinals after defeating USPF's Erika Camille Verano and Apple Saraum. But USPF, likewise, forced a rematch against their tormentor when it demolished University of the Cordilleras, 21-13, 21-14 in their battle for the last semis spot.

Adamson, the 2002 champion in the tournament, reached the final four after surviving USA, 16-21, 21-18, 15, 13. The Lady Falcons Angela Benting and Lizle Ann Gata will try to spoil an all-Visayan final when they again face USA, which earned a rematch following a win against the FEU team of Anna Camille Abanto and Marigail Tolentino.

University of the Cordilleras eventually finished fifth followed by FEU, University of Mindanao-Tagum, Holy Cross of Davao College and University of Mindanao-Davao. – Perry Legaspi, GMANews.TV

Foundation tossers, Adamson near final

By FRANCIS SANTIAGO
May 8, 2009, 5:55pm


BORACAY – Defending men's champion Foundation University and Luzon women's leg titlist Adamson University moved a win of reaching the 13th Nestea Fit Beach Volley National Finals Friday with contrasting victories.

Behind a rock-solid defense and brilliant net assaults, the Foundation U pair of Buensuceso Sayson and Arnel Amadeo overwhelmed Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi's Mohammad Asakil and Halim Khan, 21-16, 27-25, to clinch the first Final Four berth.

“We had some hard time during the second set when they forced us to the limit, but we still pulled through because of our great defense,” said the-20-year old Amadeo, whose powerful smashes made him an instant hero in island paradise.

“We're a bit pressured going into the semifinals because there's a lot of expectation,” said the rookie Sayson, a commerce student, whose partnership with Amadeo also earned them this year's UniGames title.

FU, gunning for its third title after winning the crown in 2001, will face the winner between MSU-T and Letran Saturday, May 9.

While FU had a relatively easy going, Adamson's new pair of Angela Benting and Lizlee Ann Gata, the main core of the Lady Falcons who triumphed in the Shakey's V-League last year, needed a extra set to nip University of San Agustin's Krystle Marie Suizo and Jackielyn Estoquia, 16-21,21-18,15-13 to also cruise to the semifinals.

The Lady Falcons will face the victor between University of San Agustin and Far Eastern University in the Final Four.

In other women's play, Julie Billote and Rubie Bordon of Visyas leg champion University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos likewise made it to the Final Four following a 14-21,21-17,15-8 thrashing of University of Southern Philippines Foundations' Erika Verano and Apple Saraum.

In the other men's action, University of Visayas' Jade Becaldo and Precioso Bendijo Jr. also eased though the next stage after surprising Joshua Alcarde and Jan Paglinawan of Luzon leg champion FEU 21-18, 21-19.

UV will face darkhorse University of San Jose-Recoletos' Ariel Carumba and Loujei Tigpos who dumped FEU, 21-17, 21-16 in the losers' bracket later in the day.

(Photo by NOEL CELIS)

Beach favorites rip foes

Foundation U crushes; FEU falls
By Romina Austria
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:20:00 05/08/2009

Filed Under: Volleyball

BORACAY - Foundation University pushed San Beda to the brink of elimination yesterday as all but two of the six leg topnotchers won their opening-day matches in the 13th Nestea Fit Beach Volleyball national finals here.

Despite lacking practice, Foundation downed Luzon third-placer San Beda, 21-14, 21-18, and advanced against Mindanao State University-Tawi Tawi today.

MSU-Tawi Tawi, the Mindanao men’s winner and 2007 national men’s champion with a different set of players, prevailed over University of Mindanao Davao, 21-12, 21-16.

San Beda and reigning NCAA winner Letran, a 17-21, 12-21 loser to University of San Jose Recoletos, were scheduled to meet last night with the winner staying alive and the loser ending up ninth and last.

“We only had a week’s practice because we really got tired after the Visayas leg,” said Foundation U’s Buensuceso Sayson, a 19-year-old junior commerce major. “We rested and resumed training just a week ago.”

Sayson was referring to the April 16-18 qualifier in Mandaue City where temperatures rose as high as 36 degrees. Sayson and partner Arnel Amadeo, a three-year veteran, swept all their matches there.

The day’s biggest upset, however, was recorded by three-time Boracay qualifier University of San Agustin which downed back-to-back UAAP women’s champion Far Eastern University, 22-20, 21-19.

The USA pair also eliminated 2008 women’s national winner Southwestern University in the Visayas leg where it wound up third.

“We took advantage of the (afternoon) downpour,” said USA coach Jessie Lemana. “We made FEU run because we know it was difficult to move on wet sand.”

Krytle Marie Suizo and Jackielyn Estoquia repeatedly frustrated FEU's Anna Camille Abanto and Marigail Tolentino with baseline shots.

FEU held a 12-9 advantage in the second set but the high-flying Suizo took over with powerful smashes, allowing USA to move ahead.

Rainy day, perfect start

By Mike T. Limpag

BORACAY - It wasn’t a perfect day at the beach, but the University of the Visayas (UV) and the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) had a perfect start at the Nestea Fit Beach Volleyball National Finals.

UV defeated the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R), 19-21, 23-21, and 17-15, in the men’s division, while USPF won over the University of Mindanao-Davao (UM-Davao), 21-13, 22-20, in the women’s side.

"The Manny Pacquiao Blog". Click here for stories and updates on the Filipino boxing champ.

In the other games, it was defending men’s champion Foundation University over San Beda College, 21-14, 21-18;

University of Mindanao-Davao over Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi, 21-18, 21-16; and Far Eastern University (FEU) over Mahardika Institute of Technology, 21-15, 20-22.

“They had many errors in the first set since the boys are still adjusting, but they were able to show what they can do,” said UV coach Raffy Briones, who won the women’s title in 2007.

Conditions

Though Ariel Craumba and Loujei Tipgos practiced for weeks in Cebu, Briones said they had difficulty adjusting to the conditions here.

“Everything is different in Boracay, it’s a different type of sand. We also had to adjust to the wind since it was very strong,” said Briones. “The team that adjusts well will have the advantage.”

The two teams played closely in the third set with neither taking more than a one-point lead.

Jade Becaldo’s reception error and a well-placed shot by Tigos broke a 9-9 deadlock for an 11-9 USJ-R lead, forcing Briones to call for a timeout.

“I told them that we can still win this and it was good that they responded,” said Briones.

UV caught up at 12-12, then at 15-15 before Becaldo scored on a spike and a soft tap to an open spot for their three-set win.
UV will next face FEU, while USJ-R, which defeated Letran, 21-17, 21-12, in the first game yesterday, will take on MIT.

If USJ-R wins, and UV loses, the two will meet again for a spot in the semis.

Rainy

Meanwhile, the rain poured in the early afternoon, but USPF got a lucky break as it was after its game against UM-D, the champions from Mindanao.

USPF coach Thelma Datig said Apple Saraum and Erika Verano only had a week of practice for the national finals, but the lack of preparation didn’t show in their 30-minute win.

From 10-8, USPF broke away to 20-12 before Janice Arnaiz ended the first set in a little over 13 minutes with a service error.

The second set got a bit more competitive as UMD saved three match points to force a tiebreak, 20-20.

However, UMD wasted its chance with yet another service error, while Verano ended the match with her signature spike.

“We only had a one-week practice since the two also competed in the national Prisaa (Private Schools Athletic
Association),” said Datig, who is hoping for a top four finish this year.

Saraum, who is on her first national finals, and Verano will next face the winner of the match between Visayas champion University of Negros-Oriental and UM-Tagum today.

Bad start for Davao spikers

By Charles Raymond A. Maxey

BORACAY -- Buensuceso Sayson and Arnel Amadeo opened their bid for another crown for Foundation University (FU) on a bright note Thursday.

Sayson and Amadeo crushed Leonel Evan Laraya and James Christian Lorca of San Beda College (SBC) in straight sets, 21-14, 21-18, at the start of the 13th Nestea Fit Beach Volley National Circuit Finals in this summer paradise.

"The Manny Pacquiao Blog". Click here for stories and updates on the Filipino boxing champ.

Amadeo is paired with Sayson for the first time, but the two tossers performed as if they were playing together for a long time in scoring their first victory in the men's division of this three-day championship. FU had already won two national crowns and is gunning for a third one on the Amadeo-Sayson tandem.

University of Visayas (UV), represented by Jade Becaldo and Precioso Bendijo Jr., also got off to a rousing start following its thrilling 19-21, 23-21, 17-15 win over Ariel Carumba and Loujei Tipgos of the University of San Jose Recoletos (USJ-R).

As the Cebu pairs had a great opening day, spikers from Davao City got spanked and are in danger of bowing out early in the competition.

The University of Mindanao (UM)-Davao suffered defeats in both the men's and women's divisions. UM's Paul John Saraga and Galileo Mascardo went down in straight sets to Mohammad Reza Asakil and Halim Khan of Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi, 12-21, 16-21, in a morning match.

UM-Davao's Janice Arnaiz and Jennifer Conde, who topped the Mindanao leg of the event last March, also dropped their match against Erika Camille Verano and Apple Saraum of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF), 12-21, 20-22, in women's action in the afternoon.

Mykah Ramos and Aiza Armacion of Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) were set to play Adamson University's Angela Benting and Lizlee Ann Gata late in the afternoon, hoping for a win to stop the Davao bleeding.

The winners in both divisions here will receive P100,000, while the second and third placers are assured of P65,000 and P35,000, respectively.

The Nestea Fit Beach Beach Volley National Circuit is sponsored by Ipanema, Speedo, Parkmall, La'Oreal Paris Elseve, Nautilus by PJ Aranador, Mikasa, D'Mall D'Boracay, Tagum Beach Volleydrome at Rotary Park, Cebu Volleyball Association, Hey! Jude Beach Resort, Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel, La Carmela de Boracay Resort Hotel, and Crystal Sand Beach Resort.

Nestea beach volley finals begin

By Romina Austria
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:45:00 05/07/2009

Filed Under: Volleyball

BORACAY—Foundation University shoots for a third national title with a new duo in the 2009 Nestea Fit Beach Volley finals which starts today in this famous island paradise.

Arnel Amadeo and new partner Buensuceso Sayson topped the Visayas leg on April 18 and drew a first-day bye along with Luzon topnotcher Far Eastern University and Mindanao winner Mindanao State University-Tawi Tawi.

Amadeo teamed up with Rolando Agos when Foundation beat University of Southern Philippines Foundation in the 2008 finals, seven years after ruling the event for the first time.

“Sayson plays almost like Agos so I still have a good team this year,” said Foundation coach Dwight Sun.

Foundation can expect tough competition from FEU, also the 1999 winner and UAAP champion in 2006 and 2007, NCAA champion Letran, two-time national winner University of San Jose Recoletos which also topped the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi); and 2007 champion MSU-Tawi Tawi.

Letran is fielding the players who ruled the NCAA, Joseph Erickson Ramos and Eden Canlas. USJR retained the 2008 tandem which ruled Cesafi, Ariel Carumba and Loujei Tipgos.

A new women’s division champion will be crowned this year after 2008 champion Southwestern U failed to hurdle the Visayas qualifiers. Adamson and FEU are the top favorites.