Nadal's Presence at the Olympics

What begun in the grass courts of the French Open, extended to Center Court of Wimbledon and climaxed at the medal’s stand of the on-going Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

Last Monday, August 18, 2008, Rafael Nadal of Spain won the Olympic gold to his streak of Grand Slam victories. Between the trophies of the French Open and Wimbledon, I would say that the Olympic Gold to be more prestigious, as it happens only every fours years. London would present the next challenge for today’s top ranked tennis players.
Photo of Nadal from REUTERS/Reinhard Krause (CHINA)

Nadal defeated Chilean Fernando Gonzalez in the men's singles final. He also earned the world number one ranking for the first time. He has won four consecutive French Open titles and his first Wimbledon this year, which pushed him to the top of the men’s ranking in tennis.

"It's more than my best dreams so I want to enjoy the moment. I know how difficult it is to win these things, especially here. Winning for me is unbelievable," says the 22-year old Nadal (from Yahoo News).

During the 2004 Athens Olympics Games, the Spainiard was an unknown. These days, his presence is one of the most sought-for in the Olympic Village.

Go Toni!

Here's wishing the best of luck to Antoinette 'Toni' Rivero as she fights battles Sandra Saric from Croatia. Isn't that Vlade Divac's country?

They will meet at the Science and Technology University gym in Beijing tomorrow morning. Toni would need four straight wins to bag the gold and three for the silver.

According to Yahoo news, if Rivero defeats Saric, she will meet Hwang Kyung Seon. She is South Korea's two-time world champion. Rivero lost to Hwang four years ago during the Athens Olympics.

Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) president Robert Aventajado, said Rivero has become a more mature fighter since the setback. "Toni was only 16 in Athens," said the PTA head. "Besides, she was coming off a loss in the semifinals and had to fight Hwang right away with little rest. Hwang was a lot fresher."

Filipinos will surely pray hard to make Toni's presence be felt strongly in Beijing!

Phelps Gold

Michael Phelps is today’s most popular athlete competing in the Beijing Olympics. And is probably on his way to breaking the record of Mark Spitz in the Olympic Games. Photo from http://www.whitehouse.gov/

Called the “Baltimore Bullet,” he was born in 30 June 1985, in Batimore, Maryland. Now, where was I during those years? Hmmmm, still with the Manila Bulletin.

As of this day, Phelps has won the Olympic Golds in 400 m individual medley, 4 x 100 m freestyle relay, 200 m freestyle, 200 m butterfly and 4 x 200 m freestyle relay.

Four years ago in Athens, he also won golds in the 100 m butterfly, 200 m butterfly, 200 m individual medley, 400 m individual medley, 4 x 200 m freestyle relay and 4 x 100 m medley relay, plus many other medals.

47 reasons

There are many reasons to celebrate today, but the most important reason is the life and love that I share with Cecile Gabutina-Velez, more fondly called Chief. I have shared the last 7 years of my life with Chief, from Tagaytay, where our best friends first witnessed our relationship to Saigon, where we shared our first Greenhome at Tran Nhat Duat to Hung Vung 3 at the outskirts to Ho Chi Minh City to our present Greenhome at the heart of Makati City.

47 years ago?

Yup, 47 years ago, today, the eldest child of Hector and Meya Velez was born! Can I scream Yahoo! But we didn’t have Internet during the 60s nor heard of brand called Yahoo! Now, 47 years later, I am working on that brand.

Am sure my Lolo Perico Velez was happy and Lola Fermina was smiling from the clouds. Tatang Sotero (my mom’s dad) was also surely happy.

Gosh, I need to look for baby pictures and upload here.

Soon.

Bishop Joel Baylon's Presence

Bishop Joel Baylon’s Presence

Chief and I walked from Makati Shangrila Hotel at the heart of the Makati Central Business District (CBD) to catch the 6pm anticipated mass.

Bishop Joel Baylon was celebrating Mass, as part of the 25th year anniversary celebration of the Greenbelt Chapel.

The Chapel was full and we were standing outside the chapel, together with a couple of hundred other parishioners and visitors around Greenbelt.

Bishop Baylon introduced himself as the bishop of Masbate…. Even describing his youthful activism during the 80s. Just like me, when I joined all those rallies along Ayala Avenue and Mendiola!

47 tomorrow?

Tomorrow am turning 47.

Not sure what Chief has planned for us tomorrow. Maybe, a long drive and a weekend in Tagaytay. Taal Vista Lodge? Actually, I was looking for a nice hotel in Tagaytay for the weekend, but I really didn’t have time to browse through the yellow pages and make reservations.

Friday was extra busy.

An early meeting with Junie and Angie at Starbucks Legazpi Street (really just a few meters from our Greenhome) for the EON@10 Program on Tuesday.

And then rushed off to McDonald’s Quezon Avenue, with Yaan Sarmiento, to catch the 6th Anniversary of McDonald’s Delivery Service. Adi Timbol and Paul Garilao were working together on this media event.

And then, back to Tuscan Bldg for a 1:30pm concall with the Visa client.

Then, dinner at Junie del Mundo’s place. A post-birthday celebration.

Other option for tomorrow, maybe, spend a long lazy evening in Makati Shangrila? Pamper ourselves under the sheets, while watching the sporting events at the Beijing Olympics… and enjoy a good view of the Makati skyline.

And cap it up with a really nice and sumptuous breakfast at the Circle’s Restaurant.

Whatever the plans, just to be present together with Chief would be the best gift of all!

Athletes Presence

For the next few days, 10,500 athletes will make their presence felt in Beijing, People's Republic of China from August 8 to August 24, 2008

They are expected to compete in 302 events in 28 sports, one event more than was on the schedule of the 2004 games. There will 9 new events and these includes 2 from the BMX cycling. I remember Jose Sumalde, the former back to back King of Tour of Luzon back in the 70s who made his presence on the road around the routes of that cycling event. What ever happened to that event? Probably, no more sponsors. I also used to have a BMX bike.

This edition also marks the third time that Olympic events will have been held in the territories of two different National Olympic Committees (NOC), as the equestrian events will be held in Hong Kong. My best friend Bien Perez, who writes for South China Morning Post, (unless he is in Beijing with his wife Arleen) will probably be watching this event in HK?

Wishing the Philippine team the best of luck to go for gold and make the country proud!

Would you believe, when I pressed my thumb at the biometrics this morning, the clock read 8:08! Wow... that is really a lucky number!

Secretary Angelo Reyes

I did a Servant Leader profile on Secretary Angelo Reyes.

Will post my published article soon.

US$ 14 million babies

Knox Léon and Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt, the twins of Brad Pitt and my favorite action celebrity, Angelina Jolie, are gaining a 14 million dollar presence in the world! And this amount is being given to charity, according to their parents.

And they are just 3 weeks old. Wow!

There are more exclusive photos and interviews of the celebrity couple in the issue of People Magazine. In fact, 19 pages of photos.

Cover image of the magazine issue from www.people.com

I still have Lara Croft presence in our greenhome!

Dolphy at 80

Chief and I were watching the TV special, "Dolphy: The King of Comedy at 80." And I looked back and said to myself, I have not yet scribbled my thoughts and words about the presence of the King of Comedy. How could I have missed writing about Dolphy? Already, I had one student last year, who had written and successfully defended a thesis on Dolphy.

Now, am writing a few words about JOhn Purungtong!