C1
SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 2017
Business
Ray S. Eñano, Editor / Roderick dela Cruz, Issue Editor business@thestandard.com.ph
GERMAN GROUP OFFERS TO HELP INDUSTRIALIZE PH Scan this icon to view the PDF
INDUSTRIALISTS.
Executives of thyssenkrupp AG meet journalists in Makati City. Shown are (from left) Vivek Bhatia, CEO for Asia Pacific of thyssenkrupp Singapore Pte. Ltd.; Kevin Chui, country head of thyssenkrupp Philippines; and Jan Lueder, CEO of thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions (Asia Pacific) Pte. Ltd.
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German industrial group that has played a crucial role in the industrialization of Europe and survived two world wars is now looking at the Philippines as an area of growth, as the country attempts to reinvigorate its manufacturing sector.
Thyssenk rupp AG which combined the resources of Thyssen and Krupp—both steel makers and weapon producers in the 1930s that became controversial at that time for helping Germany become a conqueror of nations—wants to design factories, power plants, heavy machineries, infrastructure and elevators for Philippine companies. “There are a lot of opportunities which we see in the Philippines where we can support and help and being a partner for Philippine industries. This is the reason why we are here,” says Jan Lueder, chief executive of thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions (Asia Pacific) Pte. Ltd. Af ter sur viving the war,
thyssenkrupp embarked on diversification and expansion globally. Today, it is an industrial behemoth, with 670 member companies producing products from tinplates to submarines, employing over 155,000 people globally and generating annual sales of nearly 40 billion euros. The group, based in Duisburg and Essen, does not only produce engines and machines. It builds the factories and production facilities that manufacture those engines and machines. Kevin Chui, country head of thyssenkrupp Philippines, says the group has been in the Philippines for more than a century, having delivered steel, engines, turbines, machineries, ships, power plants and even infrastructure to
private companies and the government. “We first came here in 1903 and we were providing rail, train, trucks and small engines to a small local company called Manila Electric Railroad and Light Company. This became Meralco which is now one of the biggest and most successful companies in the Philippines,” Chui says. The company also built ships for the Philippines in the 1930s to 1940s—Don Esteban and Don Isidro. “These ships played pivotal role during World War 2 where they transported Filipino officials including the vice president to safety during the Japanese invasion,” says Chui. He says the German group supplied machinery and equipment for oil mills and cement plants and materials for mines, plantations and dams in the 1950s to 1960s. It opened a regional office in Manila in 1995, supplied key components for two complete cement clinker production lines
in 1997, built a polypropylene plant in Bataan in 1998, built passenger bridges at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in 2000 and supplied coal handling equipment and delivered boilers to a power company in 2015. “We also built the biggest cement producing plant in the Philippines,” says Lueder, referring to the Teresa cement plant now owned by CRH and Aboitiz. Thyssenkrupp also built the Apo cement plant. Uhde Inc., a unit of t h y s s e n k r u p p, p u t u p a polypropylene or plastics plant in Mariveles, Bataan for Petron Corp. in 1998. “ These are all large companies in the Philippines,” says Chui, referring to local clients. The group generates annual sales of 5 billion euros in Asia Pacific, including 32.5 million euros in the Philippines. Vivek Bhatia, chief executive for Asia Pacific of thyssenkrupp Singapore Pte. Ltd., says the Turn to C2
CEBU PACIFIC COLLECTS DONATION FOR SICK CHILDREN LOW-COST airline Cebu Pacific strengthens its partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund to reach millions of undernourished children in the country. The endeavor is a part of the global organization’s Change for Good program which acceptscontributionsfrompassengers on board flights of partner airlines. Proceeds contribute to the UN children’s agency’s First 1,000 Days campaign which provides optimal nutrition, from a mother’s pregnancy to a child’s second year of life. Since July 1, 2016, Cebu Pacific began accepting contributions of all currencies from passengers. The contributions are being used to fund nutritional
supplements distributed to poor households with pregnant mothers or malnourished children. A portion of the funds also support barangaylevel information drives on nutrition in Unicef’s focus areas in Northern Samar, Zamboanga and Maguindanao. “We are very pleased with how warmly our passengers are receiving the Change for Good Program. Thank you for sharing in our vision of a better future for our children and in Unicef’s advocacy of uplifting lives through the First 1,000 Days campaign,” says Cebu Pacific president and chief executive Lance Gokongwei. “Children have the right to survive and
thrive. It is important for all of us to pitch in and lift each other up, so that every Filipino child grows up happy and healthy. Your continued support to UNICEF will help make this happen,”says Unicef Philippines representative Lotta Sylwander. Sylwander explains the transformative impact of these small acts of generosity. “The nutrition received by children from the womb to their second birthday is crucial for their physical and intellectual development. If these children are able to grow to their full extent, they perform better in school and eventually get better jobs as adults.” A healthy and productive workforce, Sylwander says, is key to nationbuilding.
PINOY FOOD IS NEXT BIG THING, AGAIN HAVE you heard that Filipino food is a big trend this year? Undoubtedly you have. I’ve said it. Likewise, it made trend lists last year. And the year before. If you compared specific Asian cuisines to stocks, Korean food might be Google, a solid, upward ticking buy. Filipino food would be more like an oil stock—a bumpy ride. Yet, 2017 seems poised to be the year you can bet on Filipino food. Google searches for “filipino food” have doubled since 2012, while queries for “lumpia near me” (referring to the crunchy Filipino-style spring rolls) have skyrocketed 3,350 percent. The time for Filipino food to take center stage is finally here, all my food trend instincts tell me. I have a list of compelling reasons. For one, a marquee restaurant has broken big. Bad Saint, the 24-seat Washington spot that specializes in thrilling dishes such as braised goat with charred coconut and chiles was the major restaurant story of 2016, landing No. 2 on Bon Appétit’s annual America’s Best New Restaurant list. It’s become a high-profile showcase for Filipino cooking, giving it a sexiness that merits lining up for hours. Meanwhile, chef Alvin Cailan, founder of California (now Vegas, too) egg sandwich phenomenon Eggslut, is taking on the mantle of Filipino food champion, launching a passionate campaign after experimenting with his Amboy concept last year. He’s designed an “I <3 Filipino Food” logo for his 2017 endeavors as he searches for a permanent location. “My goal is to get enough exposure for Filipino food so that it’s the answer to the question, ‘What should we have for dinner tonight?’” said Cailan. “I saw an article that said Filipino restaurateurs are afraid to enter higher-rent markets because they don’t have confidence in the cuisine. I’d like to show that Filipino food can be accessible to any demographic.” Cailan has some help on the East Coast from fellow FilipinoAmerican chef Dale Talde. His recently opened Talde Miami serves such standout dishes as roasted branzino with tomato turmeric jam and chiles. Come spring, he’ll introduce Rice & Gold in New York’s 50 Bowery Hotel. The menu will have a serious Filipino component, including the rice and chicken soup, arroz caldo. “You braise chicken like any Jewish grandmother, add rice to thicken it up, hit it with a lot of garlic and a ton of ginger and scallions. I add fish sauce and turmeric,” Talde said. “It’s the congee of the Philippines.” A crave-able dish like that, labeled as a Filipino specialty by such a notable cook, is another thing that will help raise the cuisine’s profile. Compare this to Korean food, which has identifiable hallmarks such as kimchee, which has become a national obsession, and roast pork bo ssam, which is popular whether or not you’ve been out drinking all night. Meanwhile Filipino food is best known for balut, a fertilized duck egg that sounds freaky to most Americans. Tastier-sounding dishes such as pork adobo (stewed with soy, garlic, and bay leaf) and those deep-fried lumpia are not yet ubiquitous, even if they should be. The cuisine also utilizes lots of vinegar, lots of frying, and lots of funky flavors—all in sync with America’s expanding palate. Which raises the question: Why haven’t packed New York Filipino spots Jeepney and Pig & Khao spawned copycats the way the Korean-inspired Momofuku empire has? For one thing, Filipino is the original fusion food, a mix of Malaysian, Chinese, and Spanish, with some Indian and American influences. It all makes Filipino food hard to pin down. If a cuisine is so far-ranging and reminds you of other foods, it’s harder to get passionate enough to seek it out. And even among Filipinos, there are variations in the approach, with Chinese Filipino, Spanish Filipino, and so on. There isn’t necessarily a definitive recipe for a classic, as for such a dish as Italy’s cacio e pepe.
Turn to C2
Business
C2
SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 2017 business@thestandard.com.ph
CZECH FIRM HAS 500,000 CLIENTS IN PH WITH business optimism in developed and emerging markets in Asia-Pacific reported to be diverging, a Prague-based consumer finance company is keeping a positive outlook on the Philippine market as it ushers in 2017. Home Credit, a company that offers in-store financing of smartphones and household appliances, noted that the Philippines’ fast-expanding middle-class segment and young working population, along with its sizable unbanked sector, all point to an even higher demand for financial opportunities outside of the traditional banking system. “We are continuing to see a remarkable increase in demand for smartphones and other goods here as the local economy continues to grow, and for many Filipinos, this also goes hand in hand with a demand for affordable and accessible financing,” said Home Credit Philippines chief executive Annica Witschard. “When you add in the Philippines’ low credit card penetration and 70-percent unbanked rate to the equation, then you have a very unique market, one that offers tremendous potential,” she said. Witschard said that since Home Credit’s arrival in the country in 2013, the company has quickly seen much of this potential turn into actual gains, as it crossed the 500,000-customer mark in December 2016. From their previously reported 280,000 customers in July 2016, this means a two-fold increase in customer base in less than half a year. “Aside from the unique conditions of the market, our continued expansion in Q3 and Q4 last year to more provinces played a crucial role in hitting our numbers,” said Witschard. She said Home Credit is now in over 1,500 partner outlets in 20 provinces in the country. Baguio and Iloilo are among the latest additions. “This expansion also means a win-win situation with our partners, as we work together to help consumers avail of popular smartphone models and other high-demand products. We’ve already seen tremendous boosts in loan volumes for partners such as Samsung and Oppo, so there is very good reason to be bullish,” she said.
PINOY...
From C1
One theory is that most Filipinos come to the U.S. speaking English, so they blend faster into the American melting pot—as does their food. Talde said that many first-generation chefs, himself included, have been reluctant to shout about their Filipino roots because they’re afraid it will alienate diners. Talde sees that changing. “To some degree I credit David Chang [of Momofuku]. He made it cool for Asian cooks to do what we do, to represent our cuisine, and to be unapologetic about it,” said Talde. “I don’t care if people say it’s too funky. I’m ready to say: This is how it is, this is my food.” In an excellent article on forecasting food trends, the New York Times’s Kim Severson noted that while you were making your frosé and red wine hot chocolate, you might consider that real food trends tend to move at a glacial pace. So it seems to be with Filipino food. Slowly and steadily, it’s here. And if you, like me, want to bet on it in 2017, here are a few places to investigate. Rice Bar, Los Angeles—Charles Olalia, who cooked with the famed Guy Savoy, serves dishes such as dilis, which are tiny, sun-dried, deep-fried anchovies with avocado and radish salad. (Talde says they take on “legit, potato chip status” when fried correctly.) Each dish has a suggested rice pairing; with dilis, it’s garlic fried rice. Perla, Philadelphia—This compact restaurant reinterprets the most notable recipes from the Philippines. Chef Lou Boquila serves duck adobo with cauliflower and kambocha as a creative take on the porky soy sauce-braised classic. Kuneho, Austin—Paul Qui’s new restaurant may be dominated by sushi and Japanese dishes, but he offers some dishes from his native Philippines, including sisig, an unconventional pork stir-fry spiked with citrus and chiles, and morcilla à la dinuguan, the most elegant take on blood sausage. F.o.b., Brooklyn—The restaurant’s name is shorthand for “fresh off the boat,” reclaiming a usually derogatory spike at Asian immigrants. Armando Litiatco, who cooked at Daniel, highlights family recipes and Filipino barbecue, including liempo, or grilled pork belly, with spicy cane vinegar dip. Jollibee, Chicago—A fast food chain that’s as prolific as McDonald’s is in the Philippines recently arrived in Chicago, set inside the mammoth Filipino food market, Seafood City. There are some unconventional Filipino dishes, such as sweet spaghetti studded with hot dog slices, but the go-to order is fried chicken. Bloomberg
From left: Toby’s Estate Philippines general manager Raoul de Peralta, Henry & Sons president and chief executive Michael Harris Lim and Young-in Traders president Henry Yeo are all smiles as they pose for a photo with the winner of the first ever Crop of the Year Competition—Joseph Carlos (second from right) of Barangay Wangal, La Trinidad.
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HENRY & SONS BOOSTS LOCAL COFFEE INDUSTRY
remium coffee supplier Henry & Sons has formed a non-profit organization to create a thriving and sustainable coffee industry. The Foundation for Sustainable Coffee Excellence aims to address the major issues that are stopping coffee farmers from producing better coffee in larger quantities. Government officials and industry players supported the launching of the foundation coinciding with the “Bloom 2016 Coffee Festival”in La Trinidad, Benguet. “Our province is known as one of the producers of the best coffee in the country today and perhaps in the world. I hope to work together with FSCE to help strengthen people’s interest in the coffee farming industry and help the true VIPs of this event, the coffee farmers,” Benguet Governor Cresencio said. FSCE, through its five programs, aims to provide coffee farmers with potable water; tools to prevent their children from catching common diseases, including dengue and chicken pox; a source of steady income while waiting for their crops to be sold; a direct line to coffee sellers who will but their crops at a higher price, and; educational assistance for their children. In addition, the organization will also provide tools, facilities and trainings to calibrate coffee farming practices and put the Philippines at par with leading coffee farming countries. “There are a lot of marginalized farmers who need help to be assisted in their livelihood, and a lot of their children are trying to escape farming,”said Department of Agriculture regional executive director Lorenzo Caranguian. “If we work together with FSCE to teach them to treat coffee production as a way of life, teach them the value of farming, and teach them how they can promote their own coffee, I know that we can change their minds and encourage them to stay.” According to Department of Trade and Industry, the Philippines now consumes an average of 65,000 metric tons of coffee annually
GERMAN... From C1 group aims to help Philippine industries and enhance their competitive advantage. Bhatia says the expertise of the group is engineering.“The fact is that the steel that we provide for the tinplates allow you to make thinner can. For the same cost and less weight, that impacts your logistics. It is also a better gear for production process. There is a bit of engineering that we are trying to bring in to this run-of-the-mill, conventional things,” he says. Bhatia says the group sees strong growth in the Philippines because of its population of over 100 million with a young, dynamic labor force and an economy that is growing faster than most countries. Chui says the development of infrastructure and power sectors will help the countr y achieve its industrialization program. Manufacturing accounts for just a
and is projected to reach 100,000 metric tons in to reach out to more farmers for their next the years to come. Out of this, only about 25,000 Bloom Coffee Festival. Slated to happen in metric tons of coffee comes from local farms. February 2017, the next coffee festival will bring coffee sellers to La Trinidad for an auction where qualified participants will get the chance to have their crops sold at double its current price. “FSCE’s efforts will help us to source highquality Arabica from the farmers. It helps Toby’s Estate Philippines serve good coffee from all around the world, including our own,” said Raoul de Peralta of Toby’s Estate. FSCE also wishes to award two Moisture Meters to La Trinidad farmers by February 2017. “The ideal moisture content of beans is between 9 to 12 percent. Beans with this moisture content are priced significantly higher in the market. This is one more thing we want to teach the farmers—to always strive to reach the right moisture content,”said Michael Harris Lim, director of FSCE and president and CEO of Henry & Sons. “It may not be much, but this simple act that FSCE is doing resonates deeply as it impacts the lives of the beneficiaries of our foundation. We are able to form sustainable and mutually beneficial partnerships with different organizations because they see for themselves that even our small efforts make impact. The few steps we are taking now to help farmers of La Trinidad count more than the biggest Henry & Sons president and CEO Michael Har- promises,” Lim said. ris Lim and Crop of the Year Competition gold Henry & Sons has been paving the way for awardee Joseph Carlos show what high-quality the improvement of the local coffee scene since Arabica coffee beans look like. the early 90s when it became the first company to provide coffee shops a reliable supply of To help support FSCE’s efforts, Henry & Sons freshly-roasted coffee beans and top-of-thecreated a line of five special coffee brews called line espresso machines. Bloom Coffee. Everyone can purchase them at In the early 2000s, the brand became the Robinson’s grocery stores, Rustan’s department first coffee roasting company in the Philippines stores, and through the Henry & Sons mobile to package coffee in tin cans equipped with app for P200 for every 250 grams. For every one-way valves and pull tabs, which put locallypurchase of a tin can, P50 goes to the specific manufactured coffee at par with international program it represents. brands. Bloom 2016 Coffee Festival also hosted Henry & Sons has recently signed a 10-year FSCE’s first ever Crop of the Year Award, where partnership with world-renowned coffee expert six farmers were given the chance to show and writer, Scott Rao, to do a series of trainings industry leaders the quality of their crops. that aims to further raise the bar for coffee Through the competition, FSCE hopes experience in the country.
fifth of the Philippine economy—one of the lowest in the region, but the government aims to implement an industrialization program to keep up with Asian neighbors. “The most important reason why it is the right time is what you are seeing in the infrastructure and what you are seeing in the power field. These in my opinion are the prerequisite for downstream industries to come to the country. You can only have other industries come in such as fertilizer, chemicals and petrochemicals once power is abundant and cheaper and once you have the roads, the ports and infrastructure in place,” Chui says. “I foresee that in the next three or four years, there will be abundant power. There are a lot of power plants coming online. I think the time is right now. There are a couple of things we will be focusing on. One of them is the engineering, procurement and construction or EPC business. We want to focus on industries such as mining, finance, chemical and petrochemicals,
power generation especially clean power such as biomass and waste-topower technologies,” says Chui. “Just last three or four months ago, we established a local branch here. And we want to use this as a means to continue to rev up the speed in hiring local employees and better serving the customers here locally,” says Chui. Lueder says thyssenkrupp can become the partner of Philippine companies in building their production facilities, particularly in the sectors of cement, petrochemicals, renewable energy, fertilizers, sugar, automotive and manufacturing. “Technology is one of our important topics. We have the capability to execute totally turnkey lump sum EPC [engineering, procurement, construction] projects. We can also build plants around licensed technology,” he says. “We have developed boilers and facilities [for sugar mills] which are capable of making use different fuel— coal, gas and other waste [aside from
bagasse] which we could use as fuel. So energy production is 24/7 available,” he says. Lueder says thyssenkrupp can help the Philippines establish its own fertilizer plants to boost the agriculture sector. He says the country currently imports 95 percent to 97 percent of its fertilizer requirements. “You cannot feed 100 million people if you cannot secure the food supply,” says Chui, while citing the need for the country to develop its own fertilizer industry. Chui says thyssenkrupp is committed to stay in the Philippines. “We have been here for over 100 years—helping the nation, helping the people, helping companies grow step by step through the process. In the sense, we went through the transformation and the pain of growing together,” he says. “ We have a ver y wide, broad engineering capabilities. With this portfolio, we are unique in a sense that we are here pretty much permanently,” he says. Roderick T. dela Cruz
Sports
C3
SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 2017 reuelvidal@yahoo.com
SALDO IS SLIMMERS WORLD MS GREAT BODIES 2016 By Peter Atencio
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HEN rugby player Jenielyn Lou Saldo first dabbled into bodybuilding, she never saw herself winning five fitness competitions within a span of seven months in 2016. She just wanted to recover from the effects of a right shoulder injury she suffered while playing for Philippine Lady Volcanoes Rugby 7s team way back in 2013. At first, Lou felt reluctant to join such contests. “I tried to find something to occupy my time. I tried joining a beauty pageant, Miss Makati. I wasn’t enamored. I was too much into sports. So I tried bodybuilding,” said Lou Jen as she reflected on her success the past year and the circumstances that led to her recent achievements. Her turn towards bodybuilding came when the Lady Volcanoes Asian saw action in the Asian Women’s Sevens Series in Thailand in September, 2013. She was with Charmaine Bolando, Tonette Gambito, Kaye Honoras, Luisa Jordan, Nikki Lira, Ada Milby, Astrid Sadaya, Madille Salinas, Acee San Juan, Sylvia Tudoc and Cassie Umali at that time. This was the first time that she has been picked for the national team to compete in an international meet. It was in a game against Japan when her life would change. Lou Jen was chasing a Japanese player across the field. During a tackle, she was kneed on the right shoulder, dislocating the joint. That injury needed six months to heal. But, by November she was competing again. This time, in the Asian Women’s Sevens Series in India. She didn’t get injured during her stint. But her movements were limited, and she felt slow. Lou Jen re-
alized that she needed to build up speed on her legs. Going to the gym for the first time with her coach Lou Paningbatan allowed her a chance to tone the muscles on her legs. “I just focused on the legs. Lunges, squats, just exercises. They said I had the body. I just needed to tone my legs,” said Lou Jen. After three months, Lou Jen did something she didn’t expect to do. She found herself in the Australasian Natural Bodybuilding International Universe 2016 at the Makati Cinema Square. There she won first place in the short and novice competition. This encouraged her to go even further. Already a winner in the Ms. CHK 2014, and Ms. UMak 2015, in her school, and in their community (Ms. Comembo 2015), she went on take the top honors at the Gemmalyn Crosby Sports Festival’s bikini bodybuilding division (short and overall champion) in September. Then at the Shawn Rhodden Classic SRS 2016 she was 4th runner up. Finally at Slimmer’s World Great Bodies 2016, she took the Ms. True Tea Ice Tea, Ms. Swimwear and the Ms. Great Bodies 2016 crown. Last November, Lou Jen claimed the crown in the Bodybuilding Bikini Division at Robinsons Parañaque. Lou Jen said hard work won the
Slimmers World Ms. Great Bodies 2016 titlist Lou Jen Saldo works out her triceps at the gym.
San Sebastian College Lady Stags star player Grethcel Soltones spikes the volleyball during an NCAA pre-season game at the Shakey’s V-League.
SSC NEARS NCAA THRONE By Reuel Vidal
Bikini model and athlete Lou Jen displays the form that won for her the Slimmers World Ms. Great Bodies 2016 title.
day for her in these competitions. Currently taking up Physical Education in at University of Makati, she hopes to make it to Mr. and Ms. Fitness Universe in
Florida this June 2017. Lou Jen, who also teaches kickboxing and Muay Thai as a part time job, has really gone a long way.
ROGER GORAYEB and San Sebastian College used to dominate the ladies volleyball competition in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The Gorayeb coached Lady Stags are winners of 23 NCAA ladies volleyball titles, including six in a row from 2005 to 2011. They haven’t won since but with Grethcel Soltones running wild at the spiking end, after five fruitless years the Lady Stags are poised to return to the NCAA throne. The Lady Stags formally advanced to the NCAA Final Four with a straight-set demolition of the University of Perpetual Help Altas last Wednesday. It is their seventh consecutive victory. SSC is nearing a sweep of the elimination round. The team that sweeps automatically advances to the finals where they await their opponents from the three other teams which advance to the Final Four. Soltones was her usual productive self with 18 spike points and one service ace. The Lady Stags dominated at the net with 38 points off spikes compared to just 18 by the Altas. But the Altas almost made up for their lack with 10 block points. Soltones hasn’t won an NCAA title yet although she did win back-to-back Most Valuable Player awards the past two years in the NCAA. She gets a last and final chance to win the crown this year. How far San Sebastian goes will depend on how the effervescent Soltones handles the pressure to succeed. Coach Gorayeb believes her young ward will live up to the challenge. “Grethcel is okay. She is familiar with the pressure to win which has always been there. Being in the NCAA, the pressure has always been great. I told her we need to win the title this year. We have to use the pressure as something to motivate us to play better,” said Gorayeb. In a surprisingly competitive year six teams are capable of advancing to the Final Four and winning the NCAA crown. These six teams include San Sebastian, University of Perpetual Help, defending champion College of St. Benilde, Arellano University, Lyceum Lady Pirates and the San Beda Lady Red Spikers.
BANARIO, FILIPINO FIGHTERS STAND TALL THE Philippines has carved a niche in mixed martial arts as a breeding ground of world-class fighters. In 2016 Filipino combatants glimmered like diamonds atop an international MMA stage in ONE Championship. Eduard Folayang concluded his long journey to a world title in MMA. The Filipino fighter handed Japanese MMA legend Shinya Aoki his first defeat in nearly five years to capture the ONE Lightweight World Championship. In addition, members of the fabled Team Lakay accomplished a breakout year. Honorio Banario, the former ONE Featherweight World Champion, broke his long losing spell with a hard earned decision over Vaughn Donayre in April, 2016. He followed that up with another hard earned decision this time over Eddie Ng in August, 2016. He capped a three-fight win streak with a resounding Armbar submission of Rajinder Singh Meena in December, 2016 to return to title contention. Edward Kelly attained a come-from-behind submission victory over Jordan Lucas in March and then picked up imposing knockout wins over
Vincent Latoel and Sunoto. Geje Eustaquio started 2016 with a bang by scoring a one-punch knockout of Saiful Merican in January before furnishing with a lopsided decision victory over Gianni Subba last April. Kevin Belingon might have stumbled in his meeting with ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano Fernandes in January, but he made up for it by outpointing Tajik standout Muin Gafurov this past October. April Osenio pulled off a major upset triumph in September by submitting Malaysian superstar Ann Osman with a first-round guillotine choke. Other than Team Lakay members other Filipino fighters also excelled. Fil-Am fighter Brandon Vera proved worthy to be called ONE Heavyweight World Champion by defeating Japanese challenger Hideki Sekine in the headliner of ONE: Age of Domination this December. Vera won by technical knockout just minutes into the first round. Burn “The Hitman” Soriano is relatively new to the promotion, having just made his debut last April in a loss to Indonesian fighter Sunoto. In his second trip to the ONE Championship cage, Soriano notched a high-
light-reel knockout triumph over Indonesian prospect Mario Satya Wirawan in their bantamweight encounter at ONE: Titles and Titans in August. Jimmy “The Silencer” Yabo likewise recorded a scintillating knockout victory against Pakistan’s Bashir Ahmad at ONE: Tribe of Warriors in February. Yabo uncorked a solid right hook while moving backward that laid Ahmad out cold, adding a hammerfist on the ground for good measure. The Philippine MMA scene witnessed the emergence of Team Lakay’s young guns Joshua Pacio and Danny Kingad. Pacio earned a date with ONE Strawweight World Champion Yoshitaka Naito this past October. He lost but there can be no denying that he has reached world class status with his year-long performance. Kingad had his fair share of spectacular moments as part of ONE Championship’s exciting flyweight bracket. In his first promotional appearance last April, he stopped Malaysian fighter Muhamad Haidar in the first round. At ONE: Age of Domination this December, Kingad mustered a huge victory by submitting veteran and compatriot Eugene Toquero with a first-round armbar.
Honorio Banario
Team Lakay has become an instantly recognizable name in the Philippine MMA scene because of the big number of successful homegrown talents that it has produced since its inception in 2003. For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like on Facebook at https:// www.facebook.com/ON EChampionship.
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Sports
SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 2017 Riera U. Mallari, Editor / Reuel Vidal, Issue Editor sports_mstandard@yahoo.com
THINK LIKE A WARRIOR, TRAIN LIKE A WARRIOR
Mark Striegl trains daily even without a scheduled bout. When there’s one coming, it’s two to three sessions at the gym for him
By Randy Caluag
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IL-AMERICAN Mark Striegl is one of the most admired mixed martial arts fighters in Asia today, not just for his well-chiseled body, built around a layer of rock-hard abs and the looks of a Greek god, but because of his Spartanlike attitude. Sparta was a warrior society in Ancient Greece. Its soldiers were known for their bravery, discipline, dedication and loyalty. And like the Spartans, for Striegl, giving up is not an option.
His flourishing career halted by a disappointing loss, Striegl was inactive from the competitive MMA scene for nearly a year. But he did not stop from training. He kept himself fit, he watched his diet as he re-
Striegl is very strict on his diet and prepare the right food by himself
ligiously does before a competitive fight on the cage. He never turned idle as he hopped back and forth from Manila to Baguio for training. “It‘s been one year since my last fight, but I haven’t been taking it easy, I still train every day and been waiting for my come back,” he said. Then came a call from ONE Championship, the biggest MMA promotion in Asia. He would be up against top Bulgarian prospect Sotir Kichukov in a catch weight contest. The opportunity to again show his mettle was exciting for Striegl. For Mark, the battle was not on the night of the fight. His battle had already begun the moment he got that call. Because like the Spartans, Striegl trains harder than anyone else. Mark always makes sure that his body is up to the challenge. He strictly watches his diet and he doesn’t rely on anybody but himself. “I prepare my own food. I bring my food anywhere I go. I see to it that I only eat the right food and the right weight,” said Mark. He trains with the best people in Baguio and Manila, including longtime buddy Brandon Vera, the ONE heavyweight champion. Like the Spartans, Striegl will fight anybody, anytime and anywhere. Fight night came in December at ONE: Age of Domination at the Mall of Asia, Striegl persevered through three grueling rounds against Bulgaria’s Sotir Kichukov to win by unanimous decision. There was not a trace of a yearlong rust as Mark began the match
aggressively, using superior speed and angles to stifle Kichukov, who appeared unable to time Mark’s efficient rhythm. In the end, all three judges saw the bout the same way, with Striegl emerging as the victor. Through it all, there’s one constant training partner that Striegl would always rely on—his Under Armour gear. “They are awesome. Super durable, great compression gears. You can feel the effect immediately. They are perfect fit for me and I’m very happy with them,” said Striegl, who admitted though that he has been a believer of the brand even before he signed as a brand ambassador nearly a year ago. A devoted athlete like Striegl, who trains two to three times a day, could definitely tell the difference between Under Armour and other brands. “In, MMA, training is pretty intense, there’s a lot of wear and tear. My running shoes, my compression gear of different brand will wear and tear overtime. Like I said, Under Armour is super durable and lasts longer and yeah, it’s perfect for my training,” he said. With a great training partner in Under Armour, Striegl is confident of getting back on track toward his goal—winning the ONE world championship. “That’s my goal, I want that to win a title for the Philippines. I want that strap,” he vowed.
FIL-BRIT TRIES LUCK IN PH OPEN TRACKFEST By Peter Atencio CONNOR Henderson is among the many Fil-foreign athletes expected to show up in the coming 2016 Ayala Philippine National Open Invitational Athletics Championships in Ilagan, Isabela. The 24-year-old Henderson, a Fil-Briton, will find out if he can make the grade and be part of the national pool. He is expected to join the likes of Fil-American hammer thrower Caleb Stuart, sprinters Kayla and Kyla Richardson, Olympian Eric Cray, Fil-Canadian Zion Corrales and University of Connecticut student Trenten Berram. Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association president Philip Ella Juico said the National Open from March 28 to April 2 will serve as a tryout for prospective national team members and Fil-heritage athletes are welcome to join. “There are Fil-heritage athletes who have been emailing us, including this Fil-Briton,” said Juico. Henderson’s best showing last season was when he clocked 49.81 seconds to place fifth in the 400-meter run in the Scottish National Under-17and senior championships. In the Grangemouth Open, he recorded 1:56.87 in the 800-meter run.
Henderson
The National Open comes before the 12th Southeast Asian Youth Athletics Championships 2017, which will also be held at the Iligan Sports Complex in Ilagan Isabela from March 27 to 28. Here, promising youngsters like pole vaulter Francis Obiena are tipped to make their presence felt in the two-day meet, which will feature young aspirants from 10 neighboring countries. Early this year, Obiena followed the footsteps of his older brother EJ when he broke the course record in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines meet after clearing 4.06 meters. His presence will help the Philippines beef up its performance in the two-day meet. Last year, the Philippines placed seventh with 1-1-1 gold-silverbronze feat.
LOCAL ACES, SEA STARS CLASH Pradera Ladies Challenge unwraps
THE inaugural Pradera Ladies Golf Challenge, pitting the country’s leading jungolfers and amateurs and their Southeast Asian counterparts, unfolds today (Sunday, Jan. 15) with both sides all geared up for the Ryder Cupstyle duel at the Pradera Golf and Country Club in Lubao, Pampanga. Expect fireworks to erupt right in the opening round with each team tipped to field in strong pairs in a bid to gain the momentum needed in such kind of duels, guaranteeing a day-long shootout among the country’s top players and the national team stalwarts of Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.
“It’s always nice to have the upper-hand right from the first round matches and hopefully we can get into that position and maintain that right until the last match,” said Team SEA captain Dato Raby Abbas. Five pairs will tangle in the first two days with two sets of matches on tap, including the foursome in the morning and the best ball in afternoon play. The deciding singles will be played on Tuesday with the team to score 15.5 points winning the perpetual Pradera trophy. The hosts remain upbeat of their chances in the event put up by Archen Cayabyab and Lubao Mayor Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab along
with coach Norman Sto. Domingo as part of their effort to boost the country’s junior and amateur golf program and at the same time foster camaraderie and greater golf relations with regional neighbors. “We are really serious about winning this event. Motivation doesn’t always come on the course and our team’s secret is everything in their heart, mind and power. We have a great team, perhaps the best golf team ever assembled,”said Team Pradera skipper Chona dela Paz. Pauline del Rosario, coming off a fourth place effort in last Friday’s Philippine Ladies Open at Wack Wack, and four-time Veritas
Members of Team Pradera, headed by skipper and two-time LPGA winner Jennifer Rosales and coach Norman Sto. Domingo, and Team Southeast Asia, led by skippers Dato Raby Abbas and Phunampa Pornperapan, pose during yesterday’s formal opening of the Pradera Ladies Challenge. world junior champion Annyka Cayabyab banner the 10-player Team Pradera that includes Mikha Fortuna, Sofia Chabon, Bernice Ilas, Abby Arevalo, Mika Arroyo, Ni-
cole Abelar, Tomi Arejola and Missy Legaspi with NGAP’s Rolly Romero and former twotime LPGA winner Jennifer Rosales as the other team captains.