Just Play Vol. 8

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WRITERS The Official Sports Magazine of the Heraldo Filipino

EDITOR Krizza Mae Bautista WRITERS Krizza Mae Bautista, Fernan Patrick Flores, Anri Ichimura, Queenee Manaog, Chelsea Ann Montilla

Fernan Patrick Flores

CONTRIBUTOR Marc Daven Agdasiw

PHOTOGRAPHERS Rigel Almira, Kathelyn Ann Bravo, Patricia Loise Lucero, Jerome Quinto, Roxanne Valerie Rasco

ARTISTS Chandler Belaro, Ricardo Martin Cabale, Pamela Joven, Christian Mateo, James Fidel Tan, Alphonse Leonard Topacio, Camille Joy Gallardo

LAYOUT ARTISTS Ricardo Martin Cabale, Pamela Joven, Alphonse Leonard Topacio

ABOUT THE COVER

The cover features DLSU-D’s resident utility man, Herculano “Kuya Loloy” Balaba. He has been working for the Patriots for over a decade.

Queenee Manaog

Chelsea Ann Montilla

COVER PHOTO BY Jerome Quinto

Anri Ichimura


EDITOR’S NOTE Sports is eternal. Long before you were born and past the day you leave this world, it already exists and will continue to live on. The same thing goes for being a Patriot—we entered the University with the varsity teams already constituted with a strong foundation and after we graduate, still, their legacy will surely continue through the years. As I tracked the history of the Patriots, I have seen incredibly talented players like Jennifer Manzano, Iari Yongco, and Ran Abdilla make it to the big scene. In the eighth installment of Just Play, we featured three of our prime teams and the ace players that wowed us with their astonishing performances and game plans—all promising enough to appear next in the limelight. This issue also serves you the slices of the Patriots success, the people who made it possible, and those who witnessed it, as well as other fun and informative subjects related to sports. As I previously mentioned, sports is eternal and all the moments we grasp today are just small pieces in the never-ending horizon of the Patriots’ journey. I’ll just end it here—go flip the pages where infinity awaits.

Krizza Mae Bautista Sports Editor


CONTENTS THE HERALDO FILIPINO

The Official Student Publication of De La Salle University-Dasmari単as

Founded: June 1985 Member, College Editors Guild of the Philippines EDITORIAL BOARD AY 2014-2015 Crisselda F. Robles, Editor in Chief Denise Anne A. Valentino, Associate Editor Sheena Faye G. Lopez, Managing Director Daniella Shaira T. Cortez, Copy Editor John Paul R. Gonzales, Office Supervisor Florence Rio D. Bistoyong, News Editor Patricia Mae M. Estenoso, Features Editor Maria Anthonette B. Gadon, Literary Editor Krizza Mae M. Bautista, Sports Editor Chandler M. Belaro, Art Director Ricardo Martin O. Cabale, Chief Layout Artist Patricia Loise A. Lucero, Chief Photographer

SENIOR STAFF Katherine Anne Aboy, Danielle Vince Capuno, Jeff Treat Dimaano, Fernan Patrick Flores, Pamela Joven, Mary Jo Lara, Cerisse Madlangbayan, Chelsea Ann Montilla JUNIOR STAFF Rigel Almira, Ishiel Ani単on, Lynoelle Kyle Arayata, Kathelyn Ann Bravo, Lexzene Dela Cruz, Patricia Anne De Leon, Carl Andrew Diaz, Yngwie Eusebio, Camille Joy Gallardo, Anri Ichimura, Christian Paul Macapagal, Felix Malicsi, Queenee Manaog, Christian Mateo, Nishtha Nigam, Jerome Quinto, Roxanne Valerie Rasco, Wenchie Tacate, James Fidel Tan, Enrico Paolo Topacio, Erika Uy Dr. Lakandupil C. Garcia, Adviser

18 COVER STORY man of the hour 18 The Kuya Loloy takes a break from duty

The HERALDO FILIPINO has its editorial office at Room 213, Gregoria Montoya Hall (Administration Building) De La Salle University-Dasmari単as, Cavite, Philippines 4115. Telephone: +63 46 481 1900 local 3063 Email: officialheraldofilipino@gmail.com Contributions, comments, suggestions, and signed letters should be addressed to the editor in chief.

MORE

14 Sports bloopers 24 Wear it right, play it right 29 The human mechanism


ON THE COVER

21 FEATURED

06 Troop of unfailing hoops 10 Paddlers in their prime 12 A legendary journey 21 The overhaul IN EVERY ISSUE

30 STANDPOINT Marc Agdasiw: On the right lane 32 BLEACHERS 34 HEALTH A Menu for Disaster

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FEATURED

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f o p h o o g Tr n li mph

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Fernan Patrick Flores Rigel Almira and Jerome Quinto

From the time James Naismith invented the basketball up until this generation, men originally reign the 48-minute thrilling action inside the court; but today as we see more women take over the court, we realize the extent of their skills in the basketball scene. DLSU-D’s women’s basketball team has been executing remarkable performances in several tournaments and has never failed to defend the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) throne not just in the provincial level, but even in the nationals’ bout. This just proves the flaming passion of the Patriot cagebelles and warns everyone not to underestimate them.


Knowing the team’s brain Inside the 28 m by 15 m court, intense offense and defense thrill the crowd as the pressure for the team's coach amplifies. DLSU-D basketball women’s head coach Tito Reyes climbed the peak of success, together with his team when he managed the Patriot cagebelles in 2006 and they remain there. Reyes launched his coaching career in 2004 as the De La Salle Health Sciences Institute Crusaders head coach. With the green-and-white blood running in his system, Reyes pumped in shots as a shooting guard during his college days at DLSU-D from 1999 to 2004 while he pursued Bachelor of Science in Sports Management in the University. “After graduation, ‘yon na ‘yung nakita kong career para sa akin. Parang ‘di na ako makaalis sa linya ng basketball,” Reyes said as he recalled the great influence of basketball in his life. A basketball player has a different personality inside and outside the court, according to the cagebelles coach. Noticing his own opposing identities, Reyes is a competitive cager, as he possess the eagerness to win every fight they face, while you could see a silent Reyes outside the court. His love and passion for the sport makes him an exceptional coach to the cagebelles and a father to his family at the same time. However, the head of the two groups shared, “Sa team ikaw ‘yung magli-lead, ikaw ‘yung mag-ga-guide sa players mo. Sa family naman, ikaw ang magpo-provide sa mga anak mo, sa family mo. Iga-guide mo rin sila para sa tamang paglaki.”

“Ang basketball, nag-e-evolve [kaya] kailangan tuloytuloy [ng pag-aaral] para makasabay sa pagbabago.” Beyond baskets The tension of defending their crown always rises, but their unwavering confidence always persists in every battle they encounter. This year, the cagebelles once again ruled the nationals stage in the PRISAA-Nationals held in Iloilo City. Showing his winning secret formula, Reyes described the way they face the ups and downs they encounter during their training sessions. “Siguro, tuloy-tuloy lang ng pag-aaral. Kasi para sa akin, ang basketball, nag-e-evolve [kaya] kailangan tuloy-tuloy para makasabay ka sa mga pagbabago.” He clarified that there are no unique drills in their system because playing efficiently is the important aspect of playing inside the court. "Siguro kaya kami laging nananalo, constant [ang drills namin] at lagi kaming nagpe-prepare

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nang maayos at ibinibigay ang 100 percent sa every game namin.” Meanwhile, the hired physical therapists monitor the diet of the cagebelles to maintain their healthy bodies.

Facing downfalls Preserving their title, the green-and-white cagebelles still encounter problems which affect the performance of the team. Reyes expressed his thoughts about their experience during games and practices. “Maraming challenges kasi iba’t ibang players ang hina-handle mo at iba’t ibang ugali. Challenge ‘yon kung paano mo mase-set ‘yung mind nila para sa isang goal lang. Every year, halos may pumapasok na bagong players.” As the team’s coach, Reyes also set a goal of preparing his players’ mind for any circumstances. He also shared that losing some star players of the team because of low academic records almost drained their hopes of sustaining the PRISAA title. As a solution, he monitors the term grades

8 | JustPlay

of his players to know if they can meet the demands of their academics with the extra-curricular load. If the time will come that the team has to step down from their throne, looking at the brighter side of losing will serve as their motivation. “Siyempre, hindi namin masasabi [kung kailan kami matatalo]. Tina-try namin ‘yung best namin para manalo. Matatalo kami kung hindi namin susundin ‘yung system na matagal na naming ginagawa. Siguro, magiging learning experience na lang namin ‘yon para maitama namin sa susunod na game ‘yung mga pagkakamali namin,” he said confidently as he anticipates the rise and fall of their journey. *** The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. The Patriot cagebelles are like the five fingers of a hand which coordinates to create a mighty fist. It is not the individual outstanding performance which makes the team, rather, it is the unwavering cooperation that leads them to their seemingly unending PRISAA streak.


ACE PLAYERS

Cliford Castro

"You need a lot of energy and adhere to the strategy ... It can get painful because it is physically demanding [but] it is exciting because of the opportunities and possibilities to play with your basketball idols as a teammate."

Age: 25 Birthdate: February 5, 1990 Birth place: Liloy, Zamboanga Del Norte CYS: MKA44 Height: 6’0” Weight: 75 kg Playing since: First year high school Awards/Achievements: 1st place 3 on 3 - NCRAA 2015 1 silver and mythical five - PRISAA Nationals 2014 1 gold, mythical five, and MVP - PRISAA Regionals 2014 1st place 3 on 3 - NCRAA 2014 2nd place - UCAA 2014 1 silver - PRISAA Regionals 2013 1st place 3 on 3 - NCRAA 2013 1st place and mythical five - UCAA 2013 Other sport/s: None Hobbies: Singing, dancing, playing DOTA, and watching movies. Favorite sports icon: Kobe Bryant and the USA Basketball Team Motto: If you can’t stand the pain, don’t play the game.

Divine Diaz

"Basketball is a sport that needs cooperation. A single point reflects the whole team."

Age: 18 Birthdate: March 19, 1997 Birth place: Las Piñas City CYS: CRI22 Height: 5’1” Weight: 45kg Playing since: First year high school Awards/Achievements: Champion- PRISAA Nationals 2015 Champion and mythical five- PRISAA Regionals 2015 Champion- PRISAA Nationals 2014 Champion- PRISAA Regionals 2014 Champion and mythical five- PRISAA Provincials 2014 Champion - UCCL 2014 Champion - NCRAA 2013 Champion- PRISAA Provincials 2013 Other sport/s: Triathlon Hobbies: Hanging out with friends, running, surfing, watching movies Favorite sports icon: Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls Motto: Hard work never stops. JustPlay | 9


FEATURED

Paddlers in their prime Braced for victory Anri Ichimura 10 | JustPlay

Kathelyn Ann Bravo


This year, the DLSU-D paddlers fought hard at the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) – Nationals in Iloilo City. The team may have fallen short in the said league but still determined to push their limits, the paddlers are also aiming for the team’s qualification to international tournaments. This year’s team has produced such gifted players that one in particular is being primed for the Summer Universiade that will be held in Korea— Rosalyn Zapanta. Zooming into the paddlers, you’ll see that their success and overall improvement can be pinpointed to one element—the team’s revamped training drills courtesy of coach Celjun Ortalla.

New Coach on the Block Coming from a family of sportsmen, Ortalla claims the country’s source of top-notch athletes as home—General Santos City. Born on March 3, 1985, Ortalla has been a smashing success in the sport of table tennis ever since he entered the ring of college sports. In his formative years at the University of Santo Tomas (UST), he competed in table tennis for five years in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). He reigned as a UAAP backto-back champion in table tennis, and bagged the award for UST’s Most Valuable Player in his college days. Graduating from table tennis player to coach at San Beda College in Manila, Ortalla joined the Cavite sports scene just over a year ago as the coach of DLSU-D’s own table tennis varsity team.

The Game Plan With Ortalla’s induction to the DLSU-D community, he noticed a missing factor in the table tennis varsity’s practice—physical training. “Walang sports na walang physical training,” says Ortalla, “Chess nga nagja-jogging.” Knowing that an athlete’s bodily strength is boosted with physical training, newly built drills for the team includes physical workout like jogging before table practice,

and nutritious dieting. Two or three months before a game, the team undertakes tough physical training to become fit enough to move swiftly against their opponents. The restructured and strict training regime is a part of the unwritten rules of practice. Players who fool around, chat on their phones, or fail to appear at practices will face a scolding from the coach. Indeed, nothing less than the team’s undivided attention is expected on the table. As for how the paddlers handle the new training system, it varies by player. The older players in their third and fourth academic years adapted quickly. For the rookies, Ortalla classifies them into two kinds of players: the beginners and the recruits. The beginners, drafted from the University, found it harder to adjust to the training and keep up with the other players. In contrast, the recruits drafted from outside DLSU-D were primed for training before joining the team. Despite the broad range of skill levels, all the paddlers have one thing in common—their teamwork. “Ang kinalakas talaga ng team ngayon [ay] buo [sila]. ‘Saka ‘yung training nila sakto kaya confident ako na may chance talaga,” states Ortalla.

seems contradictory to the typical image of the athletics-focused varsity team, yet the players are discouraged from slacking in their schoolwork. Ortalla rationalizes that you cannot triumph at national and regional competitions if you fail or get kicked out of school. And so, putting “101 percent [effort in] studies” is a paddler principle. The paddlers celebrate their wins with nights out, food feasts, or simple outings; yet, no athlete is ready for the blow of a loss – just like what they have suffered in the recent PRISAA nationals. A few wise words from Ortalla help ease the team’s pressure: "Sa lahat ng game, any tournaments, laging may nananalo at natatalo. Kahit gaano

Beyond the Table

ka kagaling." For the paddlers, the remedy to a loss is to give your all to the game beforehand. If you don’t give your 100 percent to the game and you become a sore loser, then you lose twice. “Pero [kapag] during the game, natalo ka pero maganda naman ‘yung attitude mo, natalo ka nga sa game, pero nanalo ka sa attitude mo,” says Ortalla. Win or lose, any true athlete values good sportsmanship. *** With vigorous training, the right attitude, and full-blown effort, the paddlers will soon find themselves skyrocketing in the national table tennis sports scene. As the team lunges to new heights, spectators should eagerly anticipate their victories as they push the limits.

As every athlete knows, the game does not end off the field, but carries on outside the four edges of the table. “Alam mo naman ‘yung ibang players umiinom, [sinasabihan ko na lang sila]. Naiintindihan naman nila (the team) ‘yan.” Ortalla furthers that if a player wants to improve, they must take matters into their own hands. “Ngayon kung athlete kayo, bisyo dito, bisyo doon, gimik dito, gimik doon, hindi kayo puwedeng maging successful athlete.” Understanding that prohibitions can lead to rebellion, the coach does not forbid his players of any vices; instead, he leads by example, which motivates them to make wise choices in life. For the paddlers, though, their path doesn’t only center on their sport; they are all expected to place their studies as their first priority. It

"Ang kinalakas talaga ng team ngayon [ay] buo [sila]. ‘Saka ‘yung training nila sakto kaya confident ako na may chance talaga."

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FEATURED

A legendary journey Coach Ben closes his coaching book Krizza Mae Bautista

Kathelyn Ann Bravo

Honing swimmers for 55 years, coach Ruben “Mang Ben” Luna finally arrives at the end of his career’s road. From Jaro, Iloilo, to Manila, and finally, to DLSU-D, mang Ben’s contribution for the Philippine swimming community has been evident no doubt why he was one of the first hall of famers in swimming for Philippine Swimming League. At the age of 85, the still sharp and passionate coach of the DLSU-D swimmers shared the glitz and glory of his long journey, and now that he officially signs off from the coaching line, he let us peek on his swimming life and how it took him to different places—and showered him with lots of achievement. First steps Coming from a family with no athletic history, a teenage coach Ben sailed to a new wave when he decided to take chances and left his hometown, Jaro, Iloilo, in 1948 to pursue his studies and swimming career. The then 12-year-old coach Ben traveled alone, carrying a heart filled with determination and dreams. In the year 1949, coach Ben's playing stint started in the Young Men’s Christian Association in Manila as a diver. Also a diver in his high school, his journey continued and in 1952, he clinched the gold medal in Spring Board Diving. By 1960, he became an official swimming coach.

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Gold mine Ever since coach Ben held the power to train athletes, it seems like he also discovered a gold mine. Starting from training his own children to teaching players, he produced well-molded swimmers who compete in different leagues spectacularly. Luckily, in the last chapter of his coaching career, the green-andwhite tankers had the chance to be trained under the legendary coach. Mang Ben started sharing his passion for swimming with his four children— Grace, Philip, Richard, and Elizabeth— who also found their swimming journey at an early age, then started competing by the age of eight. He said that at first, they just considered swimming as a family bonding activity until his children's interest grew to joining competitions. The Luna siblings have always brought home the gold medals; They fought in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and Palarong Pambansa and as for Richard, he even became a medalist during a match in the SEA Games. Several amazing players underwent coach Ben's training and for him, the remarkable ones are Christine Jacob, Akiko Thomson, and DLSU-D's very own, Jerome Magallanes. Thomson became a part of the Philippine swimming team, while coach Ben proudly interjects Magallanes’ reign in the Private Schools Athletic Association - Nationals as a five-peat MVP. These swimmers have made coach Ben's swimming career goals achievable—not to mention the numerous awards he has been receiving and the fact that all teams he handled unsurprisingly become champion teams sharing his swimming prowess with his players. *** For a coach who has been in his field his whole life, retiring was the last option he could think of. Aging and health issues may have dictated that this is the time for coach Ben to step back but as he said, he will still visit his green-andwhite tankers from time to time and with high hopes, he trusts that these swimmers will live on the important winning formula he has shared— training and undying perseverance.


ACE PLAYERS

Adrian Villanueva Age: 20 Birthdate: March 16, 1995 Birth place: Dasmariñas City, Cavite CYS: BPE31 Height: 5’8” Weight: 68kg Playing since: First year high school Awards/Achievements: 1 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze - PRISAA Nationals 2015 4 gold and 1 silver - PRISAA Regionals 2015 3 bronze, 1 silver and 1 gold - PRISAA Nationals 2014 6 gold and 1 bronze - PRISAA Regionals 2014 3 bronze and 2 gold - PRISAA Regionals 2013 Other sport/s: Triathlon Hobbies: Hanging out with friends, biking, running, reading books. Favorite sports icon: Nathan Adrian, USA Swimming National Team Motto: If you’re going to do it tomorrow, why not do it now.

"It takes time to build endurance, and you have to swim fast with less effort. It is worth doing because it keeps me fit and helps me to inspire others."

Eddiemar Kasim Age: 19 Birthdate: May 3, 1996 Birth place: Luukpandan Bongao, Tawi-tawi CYS: CRI12 Height: 6’1” Weight: 65kg Playing since: First year high school Awards/achievements: 1 bronze medal - PRISAA Nationals 2015 1 gold medal - PRISAA Regionals 2015 1 gold medal and MVP - PRISAA Provincials 2014 1 silver medal - UCCL 2014 Other sport/s: Basketball Hobbies: Internet surfing Favorite sports icon: Karch Kiraly Motto: No pain, no gain.

"Volleyball is my life. Without volleyball, I can’t study here in DLSU-D, this is my way to help my parents ... it will guide me to be a successful man someday."

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Sports bloopers

10 remarkable mishaps in sports history Fernan Patrick Flores

James Fidel Tan

People keep an eye on athletic clashes because of incredible performances, thrilling action, and astonishing triumphs. But sometimes, athletes do fumble and expected glorious sports moments turn into embarrassing—and funny—instances. Get ready to see different sports troubles starting from victorious blunders to dreadful stumbles which turns one man’s pain to another man’s delight. To show you how the view on sports can be transformed from something serious into something hilarious, we have listed down 10 catastrophes.

Chicago with a chance of popcorn Can you imagine your life in the animated film Cloudy with a chance of meatballs—complete with the machine that creates food? In the world of sports, an NBA mascot somehow made a parody of this movie with popcorn as the main course instead of steak. This Chicago Bull mascot held two large bags of popcorns while making his way in the middle of a crowd of red and yellow. Unfortunately, the big and cuddly bull lost balance and spilled snacks to sports aficionados. The Chicago supporters were shocked but immediately cheered as if a win was made. Watching an intense basketball game is better with snacks, but the fun will be doubled if it rains with free snacks.

Letting a skater go When the world of figure skaters and wrestlers collide, it will be very pleasing to watch a nerve-racking wrestling fight inside the slippery ice field. A Russian ice skating duo made this rare combination possible through an ice-breaking routine flop in the 2009 World Figure Skating Championship League. A heartstopping stunt climaxed the smooth start of their performance as the skater girl effortlessly flipped her partner upside down, but to everyone’s surprise, it turned into an explosive Undertaker’s finish after losing grip on her partner and dropping him head-first to the frosty rink like a perfect wrestling act.

Big bang ‘bromance’ Constant skin-to-skin friction, incidental hugging, and bumping of sweaty bodies are usually awkward when it comes to basketball, but two players actually took it to the next level— San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili and Sacramento Kings’ Derrick Williams. These two hoopsters shared a bittersweet moment when their faces accidentally collided and they felt each other’s lips after attempting to snatch the ball. Ginobili fell on the court while Williams expressed mixed emotions after the crash, making it a scene to remember. 14 | JustPlay


The lucky blocker Facing a strong hit is upsetting but it proved to be a powerful blocking strategy for a volleyball player—literally. Serbian wingspiker Milos Nikic discovered his awesome guarding skill in the London Olympic Games 2012. The 28-year-old athlete constructed a sturdy defense to block the hit from the opponent but instead of his palms, his face walled the attack. Luckily, the amazing facehit of Nikic landed inside the rivals’ territory which made his unintentional debacle worth the pain. Nikic’s career continues its walloping journey in the roster of Turkey Fenerbahçe Grundiq Club at present to perfect his solid palm blocks—not face attacks.

The selfie punch Perfect timing and powerful angle is the optimum formula of a boxer when knocking out an opponent, but failure to meet the exact calculation might cause ridiculous blunders like this British boxer Tyson Fury during his game in a boxing league in London. In the middle of his match during the fourth round, Fury dominates the boxing ring as he cornered his opponent and showered him with intense combinations when tables suddenly turned—the punch-soaked rival Derek Chisora maintained his defense that led a miscalculation to Fury’s blazing uppercut which directly flashed his own face. This counter attack of Chisora dazed Fury through his own knockout punch.

A sprinter’s tripped victory Not all gymnasts tumble and turn inside the gym; some enjoy running in the track oval. The real scene behind this is the heroicturned-tragic moment of a trackster who almost broke his leg after his flexible accident in a European Athletics Championships 100-meter sprint event. This sprinter almost notched the victory, but he lost control of balancing his speed that bent his right leg elastically and made him stumble a few inches away from the finish line. Well, we can consider him a winner anyway because he sort of learned how to do gymnastics while running for athletics.

The toothless goalkeeper Strong teeth may stand against terrifying cavities—but not against solid goal steels. An Australian footballer experienced the metallic nightmare after his deficit in defending the goal during the 2013 Champions League against Napoli. Borussia Dortmund’s 26-year-old goalie Mitchell Langerak was helpless midway through the second half to stop an insane Lorenzo Insigne free-kick in the top corner of the turf. Only some witnessed the goalkeeper’s face planted on the goal post after failing to stop the ball. Consequently, Langerak’s collision with the post still made him smile despite having chipped both his front teeth and a 1-2 loss against Napoli.

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The bitter shot When it comes to confidence, Los Angeles Lakers' Nick Young must have had a tremendous amount of coolness during their battle against the New York Knicks in NBA 2014 Season Regular Series, second game. The NBA scoring guard confidently celebrated his shot as soon as he unleashed a three-pointer. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a miss. As the clock slowly expires in the third quarter of the Lakers' blowout win over the Knicks, Young unleashed a buzzer-beating three-pointer, turned his back on the hoop and raised his arms like a real champion but one thing led to another—when the ball touched the basket, it unfortunately went out. Despite his overflowing confidence inside the court, the Lakers still overruled the game posting a 127-96 victory against Knicks.

The sniping golfer A hole-in-one is a golfer’s objective every time they aim at the deceiving target. Firing a shot like a sniper, a golfer miscalculated and turned the golf ball to a bullet-like attack—shooting a man within the entire golf course from a long distance that happened in a Professional Golfers’ Association Tour game. He struck the ball effortlessly before his shot landed to a supporter’s shoulder and almost knocked him to the grass. From the relaxing breeze of wind and ambiance inside the golf course, everyone can think that golfing is safe but you never know when a tiny but heavy ball could be coming at you at an intense speed.

Lover’s lane A famous singer once said they found love in a hopeless place, but in this scenario, two runners accidentally found remarkable memories in a decent lane. It was a fine day for German long jumper Kofi Amoah Prah to conduct running drills and a body warm-up before his sprinting event in an indoor meeting at Stuttgart on 2001 when one of his practice runs collided him to Romanian runner Gabriela Szabo across his lane. Szabo left the track after her competition finished while Prah ran for his attempt. Prah was too focused on the first few meters of his sprint, clueless that a different finish line would flash before his eyes—the Romanian athlete. Stumbling on the ground together like in a romantic movie scene, these two athletes fell—not in love but on the ground.

16 | JustPlay

References: www.bleacherreport.com www.bofunk.com www.101greatgoals.com www.totalprosports.com www.mashable.com

www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKAmePdiiw www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVd82ALUV_4 www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9_yarjL3RQ


Maribeth Lara

ACE PLAYERS

Age: 20 Birth Date: October 28, 1994 Birth Place: Quezon City CYS: CRI42 Height: 5’7” Weight: 64kg Playing Since: Third year high school Award/achievements: Champion - PRISAA Provincial 2012 Best Attacker - PRISAA Regionals 2012 Best Attacker and MVP - PRISAA Provincial 2013 Champion - Petron Beach Volley 2013 Champion - NCRAA Beach Volley 2012 Champion - NCRAA Beach Volley 2014 Best Attacker - PRISAA Regionals 2014 Best Attacker - PRISAA Nationals 2014 1st Runner Up - PRISAA Regionals 2015 2nd Runner Up - PRISAA Nationals 2015

"Track and field is the sport where I started. To be a strong athlete, you need to maintain your training and spend more time in practicing different kinds of techniques."

Other Sports: Basketball, Chess Hobbies: Singing Favorite sports icon: Darwin T. Campana Motto: Empty your mind.

Ralph Gesulgon Age: 22 Birth Date: January 26, 1993 Birth Place: Valencia Miagao, Iloilo CYS: CRI21 Height: 5’10” Weight: 74kg Playing Since: Grade 4 Award/achievements: 5 gold - PRISAA Nationals 2015 Outstanding athlete of the year - PRISAA Nationals 2015 3 gold and 1 bronze - UniGames 2014 1 silver- Philippine National Games 2014 4 gold - PRISAA Nationals 2014 Outstanding athlete of the year - PRISAA Nationals 2014 4 gold - PRISAA Regionals 2014 3 gold and 1 silver - PRISAA Regionals 2013 Other Sports: Basketball, volleyball. Hobbies: Playing basketball Favorite sports icon: Kobe Bryant Motto: Do right, do your best. Treat others as you want to be treated.

"What I love about playing this sport is meeting new people, and developing strong friendships that could last a lifetime. Sport isn’t about the fitness; it’s about the fun and the teamwork." JustPlay | 17


COVER STORY

The man of the hour Kuya Loloy takes a break from duty Krizza Mae Bautista

Patricia Loise Lucero

When the crowd goes wild, you might not notice him beside the bench, cheering for the Patriots. When the athletes embrace their victory, this man shares their joy in silence, while he hastily organizes the team’s equipment. Whatever happens inside and outside the court, one thing is for sure—he is a part of it. We usually infer that those kinds of scene just reflect another story of coaches, parents, friends, or anyone else, but this time, we leave the common notion behind as we focus mainly to a silent hero. He is one of the persons we barely notice beyond the court yet shares a big involvement in DLSU-D’s history as he witnesses their achievements firsthand—the Patriots’ resident utility man.

Hailing from the land of Guindulman, Bohol, 49-year-old Herculano “Kuya Loloy” Balaba shares how his dedication and incomparable love for sports brought him to the green-and-white teams’ territory, and how spending a decade with different varsity teams as their all-around companion feels like.

KL: Before pa sa La Salle, nag-PBL (Philippine Basketball League) ako, utility. Minsan lang, kapag utos ng coach, magre-referree ako.

JP: May pagkakataon po bang naisip niyong lumipat ng school o mag-retire?

KL: Kung hindi pa ‘ko tatanggalin ng La Salle, nasa La Salle pa rin

Just Play (JP): Gaano na po kayo katagal na nagse-serve sa La Salle? Kuya Loloy (KL): 10 years … 2005 [ako nagsimula ng] June. Actually,

November [ako nagsimula] kaso allowance lang [ang] binibigay sa ‘kin kasi wala pang open ‘yung utility [post] sa University. Pagdating ng June, saka ako nagpasa ng resume, saka ako tinanggap. JP: May nag-recommend po ba sa inyo o nag-apply lang po talaga kayo? KL: Ako lang mismo. Nag-try lang ako. May tinanong akong isang player ng basketball na kung puwede akong mag-apply na [utility] kasi nakikita ko sa game nila na walang utility na tumutulong, so nag-try ako. Pinapunta ako ng Monday [ng] umaga, 6:00 AM, tapos sabi ng sports coordinator [noon], si Sir Joey Legaspi, wala pang open [noong mga panahong iyon], magkakaroon sila baka June. Pagdating ng June, kinuha naman nila ako. Six months akong walang suweldo, tiyaga lang ako nang tiyaga [kahit ang] binibigay lang sa ‘kin, allowance. Pagdating ng June, doon na ako naka-start ng suweldo (sic) … pumirma na ako ng kontrata. JP: Ano po ‘yong dati niyong occupation? 18 | JustPlay

JP: KL: JP: KL:

[ako]. Wala naman sa isip [ko na lumipat] kaso lang ang naririnig ko ngayon sa mga balita na sa 2016, magkakaroon ng K-12, magbabawas daw ng part-time. Kasi part-time lang naman ako sa La Salle, nag-isip din ako na mag-apply sa iba [para] ‘pag bigla akong tanggalin ng La Salle, may lilipatan ako. Ano po ‘yong nag-i-inspire sa inyo para maging loyal sa La Salle? Sa mga kasamahan ko, mabait naman sila sa akin. Nirerespeto.y. May mga naging problema po ba kayo sa trabaho? Minsan, pakikisama sa players. Nagseselos sa akin [‘yung ibang team], bakit daw sa basketball lang [ako nag-a-assist]. Actually, sa basketball talaga ako nag-apply, sa basketball ako lumapit. Ngayon, kung gusto niyo magpa-assist, a-assist-an ko kayo. Kaso lang ‘yung ibang players sinasabi, porke basketball ka lang, ‘di na kami [naaasikaso]. Sabi ko, hindi naman. Lahat naman kapag open ako binibigay ko naman ‘yong kagustuhan niyo, sabi kong gano’n. E biro mo, ako lang mag-isa kasi sa lahat. Nagseselos sila, pinapaliwanag ko na lang sa kanila. Alam din ng coach, naunawaan nila ako pero ‘yung ibang player, ‘di maunawaan na busy ako. Actually, talagang pahinga ko lang ay pag-uwi sa bahay tapos kinabukasan, umaga.


JP: KL:

JP: KL:

JP: KL:

Hapon, papasok ako sa trabaho ko. Ang oras ko lang 3 hours per day kasi part-time lang ako e, ‘yan lang sa kontrata namin so sumosobra ang oras ko, pero ‘di ko na binibilang para sa kanila. May allowance po ba kayong nakukuha per game? Meron, kaso lang hindi naman binibigay araw-araw. Minsan, lampas pa sa month pero every game, may allowance pero hindi nakukuha ng araw-araw. So ngayon, naging 250 per game, last year 200. [Ang] suweldo [ko ay] 8,000 per month. Ano po ang best at worst part ng trabaho niyo? Sa basketball. Best ko talaga ang basketball. Ngayon, best ko na rin ang volleyball kasi napasama na ako sa sport. ‘Yung mga ibang event din na sinasamahan ko, tulad ng track and field. Mahirap lang talaga kapag sabay-sabay ang laro. Halimbawa [sa] isang araw, tatakbo ka roon, tatakbo ka rito. Lagari ako, pero hindi naman ako nagrereklamo kasi hindi naman every month gano’n e, may pagkakataon lang talaga. So ngayon, medyo gumaang ang trabaho ko, dumating ang mga PT (Physical Therapist) intern[s], nabawas-bawasan ang trabaho [ko], nakatulong na sa akin. Ano po ang mga hindi niyo malilimutang pangyayari o pagkakataon sa pagtatrabaho niyo sa La Salle? Minsan [kapag] natatalo, ‘di ko makakalimutan. Kasi ang sinasabi, bilog ang bola. Kahit gaano kagaling ang player, ‘pag hanggang doon na lang ‘yung keep up nila (sic), wala na.

“Mahirap lang talaga kapag sabay-sabay ang laro. Halimbawa [sa] isang araw, tatakbo ka roon, tatakbo ka rito. Lagari ako, pero hindi naman ako nagrereklamo.” JP: Ano po ang pinakapaborito niyong sports? KL: Basketball. Kasi nakagisnan ko [na] talaga [kaya] mahilig

JP: KL: JP: KL:

JP: KL:

ako sa basketball. Tapos ang sports namin sa probinsya, basketball... Kaso sa pangarap ko, hindi ko natupad dahil maliit ako. Noong elementary, naglaro ako … Hanggang doon lang, high school. Mas adik kasi ako sa basketball, lalo na sa panonood ng [basketball sa] TV, nakatutok na ako. Ano po ang paborito niyong team o player sa PBA o NBA? Meron sa PBA, San Miguel. Dati, si Samboy Lim, ngayon, idol ko na rin si Jimmy Alapag [at] si LA [Tenorio]. Sa pananaw niyo, ano po ang pagkakaiba at pagkakapareho ng mga athlete sa DLSU-D? Wala naman siguro … Mabait naman sila sa ‘kin. [Pagkakapareho ay ‘yung] disiplina nila sa coach, ‘yon ang nakikita ko. “Ayan, si kuya Loloy tulungan natin kasi mag-isa lang siya,” pero meron ding iba na bale wala lang sa kanila kahit gaano kahirap sa ‘kin. Lahat ng gamit nasa akin, minsan iniiwan lang nila … Kaya sinasabi ko sa coach, coach ganito … Pakisabihan lang ang mga player, tulong lang naman. Ano pong masasabi niyo sa mga batang manlalaro ng ating unibersidad? Okay naman na sila pero meron pa talagang kailangang idagdag, sa nakikita [ko]. Kulang pa sa basic kasi mga bago ‘yung [ibang] players tapos pakisama sa kasamahan nila. Maganda naman [ang performance nila] kaso lang, do’n lang talaga, kapag suwerte, suwerte. Kapag minalas, malas talaga.

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ACE PLAYERS

Marthy Del Rosario Age: 17 Birthdate: October 28, 1997 Birth place: San Juan, Metro Manila CYS: HRM15 Height: 5’8” Weight: 63kg Playing since: Grade 3 Awards/Achievements: 1 gold - PRISAA Regionals 2015 1 gold - PRISAA Provincials 2014 Other sport/s: Swimming Hobbies: Movie marathon, reading books, food trip Favorite sports icon: Zhang Jike, Timo Boll, Steve Nash Motto: Praise God, be the best no matter what. No limitations.

"Table tennis is a sport that requires attention because of the ball speed and spin, there are a lot of strokes to learn and body positions, but it is really exciting and complicated at the same time."

Maythan Pangan Age: 19 Birthdate: May 10, 1996 Birth place: Dasmariñas, Cavite CYS: BOM36 Height: 5’1” Weight: 47kg Playing since: Grade 5 Awards/Achievements: 1 gold - PRISAA Regionals 2015 1 bronze - NCRAA 2014 1 gold - PRISAA Provincials 2014 1 silver - NCRAA 2013 1 silver - PRISAA Regionals 2013 1 gold - PRISAA Provincials 20131 gold - PRISAA Provincials Gold 2012 Other sport/s: Volleyball Hobbies: Aside from playing chess, I also play volleyball. I love hanging out with my family, relatives and friends. I also love to read books about adventure and love stories. Before I go to bed, I really love to listen to music. Favorite sports icon: Magnus Carlsen Motto: Listen to your dreams. Follow your heart, do what you love, enjoy life, and expect miracles.

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"Chess is very challenging because it requires the analytical evaluation and a great presumption of movements, not just one or two movements ahead. It is not a physical game or sport but it requires a lot of mental preparation."


FEATURED

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A lo ok o ver the volle yba Krizza Mae Bautista ll m en’s Kathelyn Ann Bravo and Jerome Quinto care er

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Two years have passed since the DLSU-D spikers underwent a complete revamp—new coach, new drills, and new teammates. As dealing with the weight of being defending champions can be tough enough, adjusting to these new matters added to the volleyball men's list of challenges but fortunately, they surpassed it. With a new pilot assigned for their flight, the green-and-white spikers are ready for takeoff and they are prepared to beat the odds blocking their way to maintaining their well-carved name in the national scene. JustPlay | 21


Tuning in Taking a big leap, fifteen-year-coach-turned-sports-director Fidel Rojales handed the Patriot spikers over to another former spiker and new coach—Joven Racelis. Racelis admitted that being the new coach gives him the tension and as the head of a team he had once been a member of, he expressed his expectations for the squad. “Gusto kong maranasan na nasa champion team pa rin. So, nangyari naman last year; champion ng PRISAA (Private Schools Athletic Association) tapos ‘yung ngayon kasi [maraming] mga bago [na players], hindi ako masyadong nag-expect na magiging champion pero laging silver [medal naman] kami.” On the other hand, adjusting to the team was not a problem since the seniors, Aldin Bin and Team Captain Reenen Encisa, have worked with him during his playing years. Drills have also been modified along with the arrival of the physical therapy interns. According to him, these drills and the interns help the team to keep up with modern sports trends such as new drills and tactics. Racelis added that when training, he uses a calm approach but when it comes to the actual matches, he becomes aggressive to boost the athletes’ desire to win.

Rise and fall Rigid training and continuous counseling comprises the spikers’ preparation for PRISAA however, this year is not the year for the Patriots as they are unfortunately dethroned by Region VII . Based on the team's attitude toward the tear-dropping moment, at the end of the day, what matters for them is the way how they fought the game. Also, Racelis proudly says that the players are skillful enough and do not need to return to basic training anymore. However, a set of already skillful players does not mean a set of perfect players. For Racelis, his team’s lack of moral confidence needs improvement. “‘Pag sila, natatambakan, parang wala 22 | JustPlay


However, a set of already skillful players does not mean a set of perfect players. For Racelis, his team’s lack of moral confidence needs improvement. “‘Pag sila, natatambakan, parang wala silang aggressiveness. ‘Di nila naa-adapt ‘yung encouragement sa labas ng court … ‘yung galit, kailangan kapag sumigaw ako katulad ni coach Del dati, galit na rin kami. ‘Yung galit namin, pinu-push namin sa kalaban. Sila, ‘pag sinisigawan sila, parang nadadown sila.” Trying to establish a stronger will in the team, Racelis is eager to mold the squad until they acquire the so-called maturity inside the court.

Straight from the spikers Veteran player and captain ball Reenen Encisa together with teammates Daniel Angelo Benitez, Dexter Vonn Canilang, and Ibrahim Kasim shared their sentiments and hopes for their team, and as individuals. Encisa believes dedication keeps their passion for volleyball burning. For recruited athletes like Kasim who hails from as far as Mindanao, the core of his passion comes from his family. Withstanding the distance just to play and finish his studies is not just for his sake, but also for his family. When asked about juggling their student-athlete life, most of the players expressed difficulty in balancing academics and their varsity life. As what Benitez said, “Walang 60-40, dapat 50-50 talaga.” Though sometimes managing their time everyday by training at 5 AM then rushing to their respective classes by 7 AM strains them, their hard work pays off whenever gold medals clink around their necks. For them, a characteristic that every athlete must possess is in them—being disciplined. Canilang said, “Meron kami no’n … Hindi naman kami mananalo sa mga laro kung wala kami no’n.” Encisa added that having a heart of a champion makes a better athlete. “Ang sabi ni coach, hindi mo maipapanalo ang isang laro kung ‘di mo isasapuso ang maging champion kayo.” As the only graduating player in the roster, the team captain shared how his four years of playing the game deepened his interest in volleyball and how his former teammates influenced him to strive harder. Learning about discipline and loving the team he battles with, he also left an advice for the spikers next academic year. “Ayusin lang nila [ang] paglalaro, kailangan talaga disiplina. Sila [na] bahala sa mga bata, iga-guide nila sila … Kailangan

may dedication sila sa bawat laro, kailangan nila mag-grow and ‘yun, isapuso lahat ng gagawin saka sa pag-aaral.”

Dreaming further Whether it is coach Racelis or the team that we ask, there’s one thing which stands out among their visions—to be an intact team and educated volleyball men. “First of all, ang pinaka-point namin [ay] ‘yung mapagtapos ang player kaya tinutulungan namin hangga’t maari kahit bumagsak ka, kino-consider pa rin namin para maka-graduate. Bukod sa malakas [na player] siya, maka[ka]-graduate siya,” Racelis stated.

“Kailangan may dedication sila sa bawat laro, kailangan nila maggrow and ‘yun, isapuso lahat ng gagawin saka sa pag-aaral.” Canilang even mentioned that the team strives to have holistic harmony though for the spikers, it is a minor thing they worry about. Their coach even affirmed that although the team is composed mostly of Muslims, religion did not hinder the players from forming a solid relationship. In behalf of the team, Canilang also expressed how greatly inspired they are to do well in their craft. “‘Yung batch namin, naabutan namin sina kuya Ran—nakita namin kung paano sila mag-training … kung ano’ng ginagawa nila noon, bakit nandoon sila [sa kinatatayuan] nila ngayon. Sobrang tingala talaga kami. Sobrang, wow, ganito ‘yung La Salle Dasma dati, dapat ipagpatuloy natin.” *** Motivations, inspirations, and positive thinking are being instilled to the team for they believe this will help them maintain their reputation as national champions. As the players continue to treat their team as a family and with the guidance which coach Racelis provides, the DLSU-D volleyball men will definitely soar high.

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Wear it right, play it right Inside the athletic wardrobe Like how our wardrobes change every season, sports fashion also varies in different fields. Aside from being Instagram-post-worthy, we also consider comfort and protection in wearing our daily attire—so it goes with wearing the appropriate apparel for the sport you are about to play.

Queenee Manaog

Alphonse Topacio and Christian Mateo

While still on vacation or maybe during your free time, you might want to try out some sports, so here is a list of must-have gears and outfits for eight unusual sports that would help bring out the best in your performance and prevent you from being a sports fashion victim.

Fencing

Jacket The main apparel worn above the plastron comes with a gorget-like cloth that will keep the blade from the neck. The jacket varies in material from the most expensive Federation International d’Escrime (FIE) uniform to Nylon down to the cheapest, which is cotton.

Outfits:

Plastron The plastron is an underarm protector and the first clothing to be worn above the undergarments. Unlike the stitch joint of a regular shirt, the plastron is seamless in the underarm part to oppose the seam of the garment to be worn above it—preventing the blade from piercing into the body.

Breeches Breeches or knickers are short trousers with suspenders that overlap 10cm at the bottom of the jacket. Ideally, it is made of 12 ounces of cotton to protect your thighs but in major competitions, FIE requires heavier and stronger 800 newton knickers. Inside the knickers are groin cups that protect the genitals from the opponent’s weapon

High-knee/thigh socks and fencing shoes High-knee socks cover the rest of the legs that are not wrapped by the knickers. There are fencing socks available but basketball and soccer high-knee socks can also be used as long as it can be overlapped by the knickers. Fencing shoes, however, are offered by famous shoe brands. They resemble some rubber shoes but these are lower, flat, and has good heel cushion and foot drag.

Glove A A glove is worn on the hand that holds the weapon. It goes above the jacket cuff to avoid the blade from sliding up to the arms. For a good grip, it is commonly made of leather but washable synthetic types are also available.

Gear:

Mask Masks are made of metal mesh and comes up with a bib to protect the neck from the blade.

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Lamé This serves as the scoring instrument in fencing. It is an electrically conductive material that covers the main target area. Some lamé are connected to a body cord which is attached to the weapon to register points in the score box.

Plastic Chest Protector These are required for the female fencers, however, some male instructors also wear these because the chest is a vulnerable spot, especially for beginners.


Ski Outfit:

Undergarments The undergarments’ purpose is to keep you dry inside instead of warm. The base layer of long sleeves shirt and leggings-like underwear must be made of unabsorbent fabric such polyester, polypropylene, wool, or bamboo. Cotton undergarments are not recommended to wear for they absorb sweat and sticks it in your skin, making you feel cold. Aside from these, thin layers of fleeces and sweater are required as well. Thin layers, unlike a single thick layer, traps more air, which serves as an insulator to cold.

Goggles Goggles vary in shapes and type. Single lenses are lighter and cheaper than double lenses, however, the latter prevent internal fogging unlike the other. Flat and spherical lenses are both specified with peripheral vision. Spherical types only differ because it has better vision and is glare-free.

Trousers and Salopettes Like ski jackets, your bottom wear (either trousers or salopettes) must be breathable and waterproof to achieve the same benefits to your upper body. For additional features, ski trousers and salopettes have well-defined knees for ease in bending, thigh zips for ventilation when it is too warm, zip pockets for warming your hands, and gripper elastic for keeping the trousers secured to your skin.

Jacket Ski jackets provide waterproofing and insulation while launching in low temperature sport. The breathable features of the jackets will keep you warm inside but breezy while gliding. Also, they get rid of sweat and moisture. Moreover, you can also consider venting zippers, high collars, and hoodies on your jacket.

Ski Boots Together with jacket and trousers, ski boots turn out to be one of the most important requirement in skiing. Ski boots extend to the lower leg that limit normal feet movement. Given that these are tough footwear, walking on these boots will not be simple so getting a pair that suits you well will decrease the difficulty of walking on snow.

Gear:

Gloves Gloves are necessary to keep your hands from freezing. For skiing in particular, gloves that are insulated, breathable, and secured with leashes are required. Some gloves have reflective areas to improve your visibility in a foggy environment. Helmet Head injuries occur at the rate of 10 to 20 percent in snow sports so helmets are definitely a must. Unlike any ordinary head gear, special helmets made specifically for ski or snowboarding are essential. Ski helmets must confer to European standard EN 1077, American standard ASTM 2040, and Snell Foundation RS-98 standard to ensure safety of the users.

Equestrianism Gear:

Outfits:

Helmet

Jodhpurs

Made of impact-resistant resin or plastic with a flexible edge, helmets used in equestrianism contain shock absorbent materials beneath the shell to protect the rider from impacts.

These are tight trousers that extends down to the ankle. Some have leather knee patches and leather seating part for a stable grip on the saddle. The classic jodhpurs have excess cloth on the side of the thighs to give space for movement. Paddock boots Paddock or jodhpurs boots are ankle-high boots with rounded toe and short heel. Commonly, it has a buckle on the ankle but designs with strapless elastic side also developed.

Riding Crop The rider’s whip is shorter than the ordinary one. Unlike other whips, crop does not have lashes and is commonly made of fiber glass or cane covered with leather, fabric, or the same material. To run the horse, the crop has a hard flat end used to hit the horse without leaving scars on it. JustPlay | 25


Water Sports Outfits:

Soft or ambient pressure suits If you are about to go surfing, boating, waterskiing, or swimming, you may want to invest in this kind of suits. These suits come in dive skins, dry suits, and wet suits. Dive skins or body skins are spandex-made and are lightweight and foldable, which can be jumpsuits, top-only or rash guards, shorts, and pants. Although they provide sun protection, dive skins are non-insulated suits so they can’t spare you from cold water. Unlike dive skins, dry and wet suits have thermal properties because of Neoprene, a synthetic rubber. With a varying thickness from 1 mm to 9 mm, you can choose from one-piece knee-length, one-piece overall, and two-piece suits. Dry suits are great to wear if you are planning to dive into cold water and low air temperature. Proving how dry it can be, it has wrist and neck seal that can keep you from getting wet. Since it is commonly used in deep diving activities, it has an inflator and exhaust that can help you float and sink underwater effortlessly.

Gears:

Diving cylinders and regulator Cylinders and regulator supply breathing gas to the diver the way our fuel tanks at home deliver gas to the stove. The cylinders contain high pressure breathing gas while the regulator converts the gas into medium pressure gas and sends it to the diver. If underwater diving and scuba diving are your kind of adventure, these two equipments are required.

Hard or atmospheric pressure suits These are armor-like, water suits used to explore the depth of the ocean beyond 700 meters deep. They are designed for high underwater pressure which helps the diver maintain normal atmospheric pressure. Made of cast aluminum and glass-reinforced plastics, these atmospheric pressure suits can be used by unskilled swimmers and can also save the diver from underwater sicknesses.

Snorkel Snorkels, together with a mask, let you see the breath-taking underwater paradise just by swimming on the surface. It is a J or L-shaped breathing tube made of rubber or plastic used when both nose and mouth are dipped in the water. The tube extends from 30 cm to 40 cm with a varying diameter from 1.5 to 2 cm. When snorkeling deeper, longer tubes can cause difficulty in breathing. On the other hand, small diameters can increase breathing effort but keeps the lungs from dead space, a volume of air unavailable for gas exchange, that can cause carbon dioxide in the blood.

Flippers Swim fins or flippers are rubber feet extensions that aids in propelling yourself in water. They are available as separated fins and a fish-like tail called monofin. Since the center of effort varies when flippers are worn, some swimming beginners train with these to improve leg strength and flutter kicks. Flippers are usually used by scuba divers, swimmers, bodysurfers, and underwater rugby and hockey players.

Martial Arts Outfits:

Dobok Practitioners of Korean martial arts such as Taekwondo, Taekgyeon, Hapkido, and Gungdo suit themselves with this getup. Although dobok comes in fancy colors, white and black are the most common shades. Some dobok are patterned to hanbok, the traditional dress, while others are designed like robes. A belt called tti is tied around the waist to symbolize the individuals’ rank in martial arts by its color.

Keikogi Keikogi or dogi is the Japanese counterpart of the dobok, worn in Aikido, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Jujutsugi, Karate, and Kendo. Traditionally, it is white in color but like dobok, several colors are also used. The top clothing is called uwagi, meaning “upper clothing” while the bottom part is called shitabaki, meaning “pants”. The uwagi is a jacket-type clothing which is neatly fastened by an obi, a belt that can be in nine different colors denoting different ranks.

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Gear:

Homyun and Hogu Your opponent will always aim for your head because it is worth a lot of points and you do not want to see yourself bleeding when your opponent gives you a 360 kick. Homyuns are padded helmets worn during sparring to keep you from direct strikes. Hogu, on the other hand, protects the torso and the groin area. In international leagues, electric hogus are used to record scores accurately. However, in some martial arts, feet, legs, and hands are also secured with pads.


Gymnastics Outfit:

Leotards Both men and women wear leotards in gymnastics. Males use singlet (sleeveless leotard) while females wear either long sleeves, short sleeves, or sleeveless leotards in a mid-way cut. Necklines lower than the shoulder blades and see-through leotards are prohibited. On the other hand, men put on semi-tight pants with feet straps over their leotards.

Ballet slippers Gymnasts use ballet shoes or slippers however, they can also go barefoot.

Ice Hockey Skates Ice hockey can only be played with a pair of skates. For first time users, skates are usually worn at home for hours to avoid the usual beginner’s pain.

Outfit:

Jersey and Hockey pants Jersey goes for the top wear wherein like any other jersey, the team name is printed. Meanwhile, the hockey pants, though loose, must be wellfitted on the waist by a belt. Commonly, sizes are measured on waist but the pants should also be long enough to overlap the kneepads by one to two inches to protect the knee when kneeling.

Gears:

Helmet and Face cage Consider safety first so never forget to wear a helmet and a face cage when playing hockey. Choose a helmet with a face cage that fits you well without sacrificing good vision and ease of breathing. Ice is slippery and you would not want to end up landing on your playmate’s hockey blade or accidentally break your face and head.

Gloves A slight gap between the gloves and the elbow pads must be considered. Make sure that it fitswell enough that your fingers will not be exposed or prone to cuts.

Pads Since hockey is a physical sport, protective pads keep you from getting injuries. The pads cover the shoulders, elbows, and shins.

Hockey Sticks The hockey sticks or blades come in different length and shaft weights depending on a player’s’ position. Usually, the defender uses a longer stick to get a far range while the forward prefers a shorter one to handle the puck, hockey ball, better. References: www.webmd.com www.asperbio.com www.sportsinjuryclinic.net www.shapesense.com

sportsnscience.utah.edu intermountainhealthcare.org breakingmuscle.com highlandtraining.net wiat.com

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ACE PLAYERS

ER-john Marquez Age: 20 Birthdate: November 30, 1994 Birth place: Alabang, Muntinlupa CYS: BPE41 Height: 5’6” Weight: 57kg Playing since: First year high school Awards/Achievements: 1 bronze- PRISAA Provincials 2015 1 gold- PRISAA Provincials 2014 1 silver- PRISAA Regionals 2014 1 gold- Borneo Cup 2013 at Sarawak, Malaysia 1 gold- PRISAA Provincials 2013 1 bronze- PRISAA Regionals 2013 1 gold- NCRAA 2012 1 gold- PRISAA Provincials 2012 Other sport/s: Table Tennis Hobbies: Watching anime Favorite sports icon: Aaron Cook Motto: There is no finish line in me.

"It feels like I’m another person inside the court ... The game is always challenging; whenever I lose, I just ignore it and train harder to improve for the next game. I consider taekwondo as half of my life."

Gilly Chavez

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Age: 19 Birthdate: August 2, 1995 Birth place: San Pedro, Laguna CYS: PHI21 Height: 4’11” Weight: 50kg Playing since: Grade 6 Awards/Achievements: Champion - PRISAA Regionals 2015 Champion - 3rd National Students Championships 2014 Champion - NCRAA 2014 Champion - PRISAA Provincials 2014 Champion - NCRAA 2013 Champion - PRISAA Nationals 2013 Champion - PRISAA Regionals 2013 Champion - PRISAA Provincials 2012 Other sport/s: Table Tennis Hobbies: Playing Badminton Favorite sports icon: Lee Yong Dae Motto: Always keep your feet on the ground.

"Badminton makes my life exciting. Through this sport, I meet new friends and encounter new experiences which makes me happy."


The human mechanism Squeezing the science out of your body

Krizza Mae Bautista and Fernan Patrick Flores Alphonse Topacio

The human body is indeed a wonderful creation. Impressive machineries and technologies could have emerged this era but the mysteries and power of the human body still surpasses these modern wonders. Technologically speaking, robots can already walk, run, or play in various parts of the world, but none of them can ever exceed the ability of man to perform spectacularly in sports. Whether you are an athlete or not, we will show you how some body parts have been essential to our physical activities and how these particular chunks appear to be an excellent asset finer than iron steel. Brain Unlikely as it may seem, the brain is the main controller of our body when we perform sports. This is where the wonders of muscle memory originated. Contrary to the misconception, muscle memory actually roots from the brain and not the ability or strength of the muscles itself. The brain, particularly the section of cerebellum, memorizes the movements, which explains why when training or repeatedly doing a drill, the muscle learns and remembers how to do techniques over and over. Once actions are memorized by the brain, the muscles trained to act with precision moves according to what it felt like and use timing of improved synapses so the action can be repeated. Core

Body temperature

Consisting of the largest group of muscles within the center of your body, the core sure is one basis of athletes’ endurance. Core strength plays a great role in improving sports performance. For a cyclist or a runner, working out to make a strong core will helps in running for a longer period of time. On the other hand, a weaker core will tire you faster, providing less opportunity to work other parts of the body. Working out the core may avoid the weakening of your center as other muscles of the body might soon follow if you don’t.

Our body is literally like a machine that heats up when used. For instance, performing strenuous activities increases our body heat and once we generate this heat, our bodies tend to cope during sports or physically-demanding activities because of our metabolic rate. However, when metabolic heat generated by active muscles is transferred to the bloodstream and then to the body core, it will lead to two problems: hyperthermia and dehydration. Hyperthermia is the reason why our muscle endurance decreases, resulting cramps, while dehydration contributes to energy loss and decrease of heart blood pumping.

DNA Even if you are not that sporty, there are cases when the athletic persona in you breaks free. If you are curious whether you have the potential in different sports or not, you can check if you have the advantage in sprint, strength training, or endurance in sports through your DNA. Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE), the responsible genotype in determining your athletic prowess, has two variants: ACE I and ACE D. The bearers of the ACE I have higher endurance while those people with ACE D embedded in their genes have better abilities when it comes to strength and speed. Some are even lucky enough to have both—all explains the existence of athletically-gifted people. Hydration When temperature rises, it is important to fill your body with enough water especially when playing sports to balance the water and electrolytes in our bodies that determines how most of our systems function—including muscles that embody a player’s strength. Athletes need to quench their thirst even when they're not thirsty because they lose a lot of water through sweat and breathing. It is important for athletes to have proper hydration and nutrient levels before, during, and after exercise for both performance and overall health, and specialized products like sports drinks can help fulfill and replace the lost protein and carbohydrates.

Heart The role of the heart is to supply the working muscles with oxygen and energy. In other words, athletes who train regularly see the significant role of this body part in helping their system function efficiently during trainings or the actual game. Cardio-respiratory fitness shows us how well a body is able to transport oxygen to muscles during exercises or sports activities, and also how well muscles are able to absorb and use the oxygen. Meanwhile, a study about this organ illustrates that continuous training or involvement to sports doubles oxidative enzymes that changes the state of oxidation reactions and enhances the muscle’s ability of using oxygen. Hamstrings Any sport that depends on movement and strength uses the hamstrings. They are made to perform knee flexion and hip extension, to utilize speed and power. This unfamiliar body part is one of those muscles essential to sports like cycling, football, and sprinting. Football players hit a goal through maintaining their ability of accelerating and reaching top speed—the powerful hamstrings enable an athlete to make longer runs while overall leg strength allows him to jump out of potential tackles. References: www.webmd.com www.asperbio.com www.sportsinjuryclinic.net www.shapesense.com sportsnscience.utah.edu

intermountainhealthcare.org breakingmuscle.com highlandtraining.net wiat.com

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STANDPOINT

Marc Agdasiw:

On the right lane

Marc Daven Agdasiw

Michael Jordan once said, “I don’t do things half-heartedly. Because I know that if I do, then I can expect half-hearted results.” This quote inspired me throughout my career in sports. There will always be stronger, faster, and better athletes than me, but what separates me from the rest is that I’m more committed and determined than anyone else. Being a student-athlete is more fun yet also more challenging than you can imagine. Performing academic works, trainings, and competitions in a semester is awesomely insane. This is an opportunity not all people can experience—that a Cebuano like me can spend my college life here in DLSU-D. Here’s my story as a Lasallian and a Cebuano athlete. Basketball is my first sport and my first love. When I was in

30 | JustPlay

Rigel Almira and Jerome Quinto

elementary, my cousins always invited me to join them in basketball training clinics every summer. During those times, I discovered something in myself that encouraged me to pursue sports for the rest of my life. The summer after my elementary graduation, the coaches at the basketball clinic made us do the “planting rice drill.” While performing the drill, I realized that I always finish first. I am fast. The two coaches from that clinic offered me to study in their university: USC-NC (University of San Carlos-North campus) and USPF (University of Southern Philippines Foundation). I chose USPF for my high school and continued playing basketball until second year high school but an incident encouraged me to pursue another sport. I checked every court, field, and teams; after a long time observing and thinking, I noticed the cheerful and united team of athletics and decided to try out that summer. I was accepted and happily survived every hellish training. During third year high school, my goal was to receive a scholarship so my allowance will increase. My pocket money was only 20 pesos wherein 12 pesos is allotted for my jeepney fare back and forth, which motivated me to accomplish my goal. I never expected that shifting to athletics would grant me the opportunity to play in Milo Little Olympics—my very first break in the track and field competition. I was so happy to win a silver medal for the 100m dash, a bronze medal for triple jump, and two silver medals from 4x100 and 4x400 relays. It was also my first time to travel for a competition held in Tagbilaran, Bohol for regionals—a qualification for Palarong Pambansa. Unfortunately, I wasn’t qualified to be an athletics player on my first year. It was not easy reaching the top but during my fourth year in high school, I had my opportunity to shine because the strong players had graduated. There were still a few good athletics in my batch but I was dominating them on the sprints during those times. Luckily, I had another chance to be qualified for the regional stage and finally—I earned the last spot for the Palarong Pambansa in Tacloban, Leyte. Another opportunity arrived when team Cebu City asked me to join their team and I was so happy to play for Cebu during the National Open Tournament at Lingayen, Pangasinan. Five days in Palarong Pambansa, and having the opportunity to compete against the best athletes in the Philippines were one of my best experiences during high school. My performance at the national open tournament might not have turned out so well but at least, I got a silver medal from the 4x100m relay. That was also the day I was fortunately discovered by coach Arnold Villarube—a national athlete and DLSU-D’s coach. He offered me to become a student and an athlete for DLSU-D. After talking to Coach Arnold, I gladly accepted the offer and was excited to start my college life in a completely different environment, to meet new people, and acquire new learnings. When I started my first year in college, I experienced a culture shock. There are various differences between Cebu and Cavite, starting from the dialect to the Caviteño culture that took me a year to adapt to. One of the biggest challenges I faced is speaking tagalog to the locals because learning a new language and speaking with a different accent is difficult. The training program our coach prepared


“No matter how difficult the training or the track competition is, God is at the finish line waiting to help me.”

for us pushed me to surpass my limits. Time management was also a challenge—training in the morning and afternoon, while attending classes in the middle of the day, is tiring. Another struggle as a recruited athlete is homesickness, but I eventually gained new friends. Meanwhile, I still spend time with my old friends whenever I visit my province. Studying and competing is my priority when I enrolled in this University, so I face my responsibilities with commitment, motivation, and dedication to accomplish my studies and athletic activities. During national competitions like the University Games, Private Schools Athletic Association, and Philippine National Games, I perform with the best of my ability although I sometimes think I haven’t trained enough. Every time I’m at the starting line, I’d always think that I’m greater than my competitors. I remind myself that no matter how difficult the training or the track competition is, God is at the finish line waiting to help me. Being a Lasallian athlete is awesome. I faced a lot of challenges and I know there are more hurdles ahead, but I will overcome them one by one; slowly but surely, to graduate as a proud Lasallian student-athlete.

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"Nagbihis na ako ng jersey tapos pinaglaro ako ng isang quarter, 'di ko nahawakan o nalapitan ‘yung bola. "

Ella Mari Polintan, PSY31

"Tumalsik ‘yung sapatos ko habang naglalaro ng basketball." Franz Joseph Salgado, BGM23

"Table tennis … straight natalo ako ng five games. ‘Yung scores ko mababa, tapos pinagtatawanan nila (classmates) ako. Kahiya."

Alina May Aguilar, MEB13

"When I accidentally passed the ball to my opponent and because of that we lost the game."

"Swimming. Backstroke. I went the wrong direction, when I surfaced [the water], all my classmates were looking at me, laughing and smiling."

Jemimah Ubando, COM23

"Being a benchwarmer in one game."

Rafael Lalayo, JOU11

"‘Yung ready ka na mag-receive ng bola ng basketball … nasapul ka pa ng bola sa mukha."

John Christian Santos, JOU22

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Paulo Martin Grulla, CEE32

"Natakbo ako from first base to second base n’ong naglalaro [ako] ng softball tapos imbes na [masalo ng kalaban], sa ulo ko bumagsak. Hello clinic." Austin Berayo, PSY34


Q:

What is the most embarrassing thing that happened to you while playing a sport? "Akala ko kasali ako d’on sa game, 'di pala. Lakas pa ng effort ko tumakbo and magparticipate."

Janne Bernisse Cahilig, PSY33

"Napunit 'yung slacks ko nong nagbabasketball." Geordan Carungcong, PSY31

"I went for a layup, but I didn't even hit the ring."

Aaron Solis, BPE31

"Pumalakda [ako] sa sahig dahil tinulak [ako] ng kalaban ko sa basketball sa likod."

Adriel Casongsong, JOU12

"A soccer ball hitting my face during my badminton game." John Adrian Olivera, PSY33

"Naglalaro kami ng volleyball tapos no’ng titirahin ko na ‘yung bola, lumusot sa kamay ko tapos tumalbog ‘yung bola sa mukha ko."

Mariele Alejos, HRM22

"No'ng high school ako, imbes na mga kalaban ko sa basketball ay mga lalaki, nilipat ako sa girls' team kasi natutumba ako kapag nababangga ako ng boys."

"Nai-shoot ko sa opponent's ring ‘yung bola ng basketball."

Thomas Daniel Ocat, ARC51

"Noong nadapa ako no'ng naglalaro ng badminton."

Bernadith Almonte, MEB13

Vin Bandilla, JOU31

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HEALTH

A Menu for Disaster Discovering the dangers of common food

Chelsea Ann Montilla Chandler Belaro and Alphonse Topacio

Gobbling down food whether you are stressed, exhausted, and emotionally crippled, could be one of the greatest feelings in the world. It may be vegetables, meat, or even junk food that soothes you but there are repercussions when eating any of them in abundance. Before you’re pale with sickness from overeating, here is a list of food that have dangerous side effects especially when consumed excessively.

by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) because most of those who tried nutmeg stopped after the first time. Another reason why it's not currently regulated is because the Drug Enforcement Admission (DEA), considers the potency of the drug, the pattern of use, and whether if the abuse of the spice is widespread. Since people don’t usually get high on nutmeg, there is less harm done than the common drug. However, it is still better to control your food intake, especially if you are not sure what you're exposing your body to.

Sweetly fatal: sugar Eating a sugar-filled snack may be your favorite part of the day, but according to British psychiatric researcher Malcolm Peet, a high dose of sugar could cause depression, schizophrenia, and weaken shortterm memory function. Sugar suppresses the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a chemical in our brain responsible for the development of new nerve tissue. Without these new tissues, it’s impossible to retain new memories. Researchers experimented on rats and found that a daily dose of high sugar and fat diet for two months reduced the rats’ BDNF and significantly lowered its ability to perform spatial and memory tasks. The American Heart Association (AHA) meanwhile suggests limiting sugar intake to less than 100 calories per day for women, which measures to five dark chocolate kisses, and below 150 calories for men, which is seven and a half dark chocolate kisses. You may have to cut down your regular sugar fill for your body to function better, but it would be worth it when you’re not suffering from schizophrenia in the future. 34 | JustPlay

Spice it good: nutmeg In some parts of the Philippines, Filipinos prefer to eat warm or spicy food. However some spices like nutmeg (otherwise known as muskada) not only causes severe gastrointestinal reaction, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea—it also brings you to a hallucinogenic high resembling Lysergic acid diethylamide or LSD. LSD is one of the common hallucinogens, usually manufactured as a tablet, and induces physical and mental effects like delusions, hallucinations, panic attacks, loss of appetite, goose bumps, and dilated pupils. LSD users call their experience a "trip" which typically lasts to 12 hours and can either be euphoric or horrific for them. Nutmeg (usually sprinkled on top of lasagna and sometimes an important ingredient of beef steak and apple pie) contains myristicin, an organic compound that when consumed in large doses, causes a psychedelic high. According to abcnews.go.com, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and gastrointestinal reaction occurs at 30 minutes to an hour of consumption. Hours after ingestion, the user experiences hallucination and there is a possibility you can suffer from heart and nerve problems as well. In addition, the American Association of Poison Control Centers reports 67 cases of nutmeg exposure since 2010 and the possibility of unreported cases is there. Due to nutmeg's commonly unknown and bizarre side effects, it is not currently regulated

Hyped up: caffeine When your body surrenders to stress and you still have a lot to do, caffeinated drinks like coffee and tea are the reliable friends who can temporarily ward off sleepiness during hell week. However, too much caffeine, which is a central nervous system stimulant, can cause hallucinations, according to livescience.com. Aside from turning you into an insomniac, it also causes irritability, muscle twitching, headaches, and heart palpitations. When Simon Jones and his colleagues at Durham University's Psychology Department conducted a study to discover how caffeine induces hallucinations, they found that when the body is fatigued, it releases a stress hormone called cortisol. When a person has recently consumed caffeine while he is stressed out, the body releases more cortisol—giving you a higher tendency to hallucinate.


bread, could cause hallucinations, seizures, and spasms. It may seem unlikely, but if your daily diet is heavy in grains over a sustained period of time, you may be at risk because according to Dr. Ruth Etzel as published in Journal of the American Medical Association, while mycotoxin contamination in grains is carefully being prevented, a small fraction may still exist.

Crush me: nuts Steal my appetite: bread Bread is commonly served on our tables during breakfast. However this baked goodness can have many effects after you eat it besides suppressing your hunger. According to greenmedinfo.com, intolerance of wheat could cause Celiac disease (CD) in genetically predisposed people. CD is an autoimmune disorder which damages the small intestine and other mental and physical faculties if left undiagnosed or untreated. An article on celiac.org says that if CD has not been diagnosed or treated, it could also lead to iron deficiency anemia, early onset of osteoporosis or osteopenia, infertility, miscarriage, lactose intolerance, ataxia, epileptic seizures, migraine, dementia, and intestinal lymphomas. The US National Library of Medicine says that Celiac disease is rare in India, Korea, Philippines, and other Pacific islands because of their low wheat consumption as their staple diet are based on rice. Though it is still rare, people diagnosed with CD is more common around Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and North and South America. However South-East Asian countries have more than five percent of the population with CD, diagnosed or not. Besides possibly having CD, another side effect to eating bread (if it is moldy) is hallucination. Exposure from one of the active components of LSD like ergotamine, a mycotoxin (toxic compound produced by different types of fungi) found in rye References:

www.theguardian.com www.psychologytoday.com

celiac.org

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov www.nlm.nih.gov

www.narconon.org

Enchant me: Psilocybin mushrooms Magic mushrooms exist. You may have thought it was silly when you heard it in a fantasy movie or anime, but there is a mushroom that causes hallucinogenic effects half an hour after being consumed. According to narconon.org, the term "magic mushroom" comes from the kind of mushrooms which contain psilocybin, a hallucinogenic substance. Easily found in the wild or grown (common in subtropical regions), professionals use it as a recreational psychotropic drug and should not be confused with common mushrooms used as pizza toppings. This mushroom has the same effect to the body like LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide), according to science.howstuffworks.com. When you are in a poor mental state, eating it will lead to paranoia and anxiousness instead of the euphoria it usually induces. However, trying it two days in a row lessens the intensity of the hallucinogenic high. Despite their harmful side effects, there is no valid evidence of death caused by magic mushrooms. So when you're off camping and out of provisions and you see a mushroom, remember that not all of them are harmless.

www.livescience.com www.livestrong.com

swww.shroomology.org

bjp.rcpsych.org www.ncca.gov.ph

rooneyarchive.net

www.globalresearch.ca www.articles.mercola.com

Eating a certain kind of nut called Betel (locally known as bonga or nga-nga) produces a response similar to caffeine or nicotine when consumed, even in low doses. It is a mixture of areca nut and lime wrapped in betel leaf, which is often chewed for its stimulant effects. Livestrong.com says that elevated heart rate, high blood pressure, dilated pupils, anxiety, insomnia, and cardiac arrhythmia are the effects of consuming high doses of this nut. It alters the function of certain neurotransmitters and the state of the central nervous system (potently cholinergic), it can damage an unborn baby's development and DNA (teratogenic), and it causes cancer in the liver, cervix, stomach, mouth, lung, and prostate (carcinogenic). The custom of chewing this nut has been traced back as early as 4500 to 5000 BP (before present), according to ncca.gov.ph. For reference, Anthropologist F. Landa Jocano proves that betel chewing was prevalent among the prehistoric inhabitants of Philippines when she found shell lime holders in ancient Palawan graveyards. In Anthropologist Harold Conklin's study of the Philippines, he found it has many symbolic meanings like courtship, intimacy, friendship and hospitality. Also, he says an abundance of betel nut in any celebration conveys good luck to the host and guests. This custom still exists in modern day Philippines, especially to the tribal people of Cordillera, though it is not as common as it was before. Years of chewing betel nut may have caused complications in the bodies of Igorots and others who are fond of it, but there is actually no record of death directly caused by chewing this nut. Before you try it though, remember the side effects that you may experience by consuming too much. naturespoisons.com io9.com

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Just Play VOL. 8 | JUNE 2015

36 | JustPlay


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