YES PHILIPPINES NewsMagazine (UK/Ireland Edition) - Issue 3

Welcome

'As Yes Philippines is a place to tell the Filipino community stories, we still dedicated an ample space for local news, events, and bits In fact, we now encourage you to send your own articles of sports events. After all, we know that Filipinos stay active wherever they go '

While the United Kingdom is home to many Filipino nurses, only a few ones get to be recognized as the Nurse of the Year, much less have a tram named after them This is the honour that nurse Luisa Marie Avanzado recently received After 16 years of service, she received the most prestigious award of her life yet

Raising a glass to Luisa?s latest achievement, we dedicated a feature for the award-winning nurse Here, you?ll read about how Luisa strived since her relocation in 2001 and how her patients?positive comments and her recent award somehow paid off all her hardwork

If we are to feature Filipinos working their way up Charlie Bueno surely deserves a space Most people know him as the chef in a viral seven-minute YouTube video with more than 1 4 million views What most people don? t know is how Charlie ended up as a chef and a sort of a viral sensation in the first place, especially that he holds a degree totally

unrelated to culinary

After Luisa?s and Charlie?s stories, you can jump right in on the brief recap of Bradley Holmes?performance at the UK Festival Caravan 2018 Talented and energetic, the rocker dad brought the Filipino-British communities together

In this issue, you?ll also find yourself reading yet another piece about Filipino cuisine We covered the recent participation of Romulo Café at We Love Asian Food Day Again, the renowned restaurant gave East London a taste of Filipino cuisine and culture

Our contributor Micah Lee is back as well In her article, she tackled the pros and cons of going to a university Honest and realistic, her piece will give you an idea if getting a degree is really worth the time, the effort, and of course, the loan Inside the pages of this issue, you?ll also get a glimpse of our Face of the Month, Giselle Fernandez This 19-year-old stunner was born in Makati City

As Yes Philippines is a place to tell the Filipino community stories, we still dedicated an ample space for local news, events, and bits In fact, we now encourage you to send your own articles of sports events After all, we know that Filipinos stay active wherever they go

Once more, we would like to thank you for supporting our attempt to share Filipinos' stories that inspire, entertain, and inform At the end of the day we aim to have every Filipino in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland proud of our heritage and culture Happy reading!

MARY SOL PIMENTEL

Nurse of the Year 2018

LUISA MARIE AVANZADO

She's got a TRAM in her name in NOTTINGHAM

By BEA SANCHEZ

City Tram 220 has Luisa's name on it in her honour as Nottingham's Nurse of the Year

BEING recognized with the Nurse of the Year award is one remarkable thing However,having a tram named in your honour is on a whole other level

For one Filipina nurse,this wastruly a once in a lifetime achievement

After working for 16 years in Nottingham asa nurse,Luisa M arie Avanzado never expected that she would win such as a prestigious award

A Davaoeñ a jour n ey to the UK

A Filipina nurse who found her way to the United Kingdom in the early 2000s,Luisa Avanzado hailed from Davao,a flourishing city in the Philippines

Avanzado first migrated to the United Kingdom back in 2001

That was the year when there had been a rapid increase in the inflow of nurses to the UK from the Philippines and other countries She said that it had been a daunting moment for her to work abroad especially since I was going to be away from family and friends Nonetheless, she persevered

?Since the Philippineshad more skilled workers than jobs,?she started ?I took the chance to broaden my professional and personal horizons ?

She also added that she wanted to be challenged and to also work to her full potential asa qualified nurse,the reason why she was interested in relocating to the UK

True enough,she admitted that it was difficult at the start She had to start from scratch,from furnishing an empty room to building anew circle of friends Fortunately, she felt at home in the UK She said that her colleagues at work were well-prepared when the Filipino nurses arrived in England They established contact with the Filipino community and that really helped her with her homesickness

Years later,Avanzado seems to have settled in quite nicely Her husband followed her to the UK and now also works for the NHS

her and her brother (who also works as a nurse in Southmead Hospital in Bristol,England) to pursue a career in nursing

?It's been a great privilege to have my name on the tram. It?s a once in a lifetime achievement ?

?W e are not in a rush to head back too soon,?she said She also adds that their longing to see far-away places is

Answering this calling to help people surely gave Avanzado an unexpected surprise when she was named asNurse of the Year and International Nurse of the Year at the annual Nurse and M idwife of the Year Awards that took place last M ay 2018

She works as a staff nurse at the Berman 2 W ard at Nottingham City Hospital W hen thousands of members of the public cast their votes in an online poll to determine who will win this prestigious award,she garnered the most votes This is a testament to Avanzado?s dedication to her work,being in the mind of the people who she helped and served

it felt like to win this award ?It'sbeen a great privilege to have my name on the tram It?s a once in alifetime achievement ?

She also adds that her family was as

greater than their homesickness and that there is still a lot to see and discover in England

Nam ed after a tr am

Being someone who?spassionate about her profession,it?s no surprise that nursing also runs in the family as she has four aunts who worked as nurses in the USA Avanzado saysthat they were the ones who encouraged

However,this isn? t where Avanzado?s story ends as one tram now carries the name of a Filipino As it turns out,along with getting this award, Luisa Avanzado?s name was also placed on the side of tram 220

Recognized at the NET?s W ilkinson Street depot on W ednesday,June 27, Avanzado witnessed the unveiling of her name on the tram ?I wasreally overwhelmed,honoured and humbled to be named as the nurse of the year,?she said when asked what

overwhelmed as much asher and that loved ones,friends,and colleagues were happy and supportive as well W hen asked about her qualities that she thought had led her to win this award,she says that it's been hard work and dedication to her job Her passion for her work shows asshe lovesbeing a nurse Colleaguesalso say that she?s a super nurse and that they feel safe when she works with them

She also plays various roles in the hospital Other than providing quality and holistic care for her patients,she also communicates with the patients? family and the other multi-disciplinary teams

She notes that she feelshappy when patients and their relatives give her positive comments and appreciate what she has done for them

?I?m so happy to hear from my patients and their families who said that they were so proud of me when they read the article in the Nottingham Post and voted for me as the nurse of the year,? she said

Luisa with husband Oscar

City Tram No 220 named in Luisa's honour

Luisa Marie with her award as Nottingham's Nurse & Midwife of the Year 2018

LON DON ER

CHARLIE BUENO BENIHANA's star TEPPANYAKI CHEF

ASK an yon e to descr i be Fi l i pi n os an d the w or d

?hospi tabl e? m i ght com e up a few ti m es

It?s something that has been embedded in the culture W henever there will be guestscoming over,rest assured that a meal fit for ten is what greets you upon entering their home

Charlie Bueno,a 45-year-old Filipino chef based in London,took Pinoy hospitality to the next level The difference?He showed Filipino hospitality and upbeat personality not in the comforts of hishome but in his workplace

W ith how much the internet and social media has become a big part of everybody?slives, one uplifting story will surely stand out Thischef did just that

Charlie Bueno?sname first made roundson the internet when a video of him cooking was first uploaded on You Tube back in July 2014 Four years later and watching the video will still surely make anyone smile

However,thiswasn? t just a normal day at a restaurant,doing his job W hat caught people?s attention was his acrobatic cooking skills and hisfunny and quirky way of serving his customers,something that reflects Filipino culture when it comes to serving guests

H um bl e begi n n i n gs

Charlie hailed from the province of

Philippines He came from humble beginnings and slowly worked his way up the

As fate would have it,his hard work and passion for cooking led him to bring his skillsto Dubai Eventually, he found hisway to London where he continued to

?Nung bata pa ako, magaling akong magluto (W hen I was younger,I was a great cook),?he noted ?Dahil sa kahirapan, kinailangan kong matutong magluto (Because of poverty,I waspushed to learn how to cook )?

blessing as he wouldn? t be cooking in London now if it weren? t for his love for this art Cooking even catapulted him to becoming something of an internet sensation ashis clip spread like wildfire online

The clip lasted for more than seven minutes,showing Bueno?s antics ashe cooks for his clients As he flipped and chopped,he wowed his customers with hiscooking skills and joyful personality

Charlie Bueno also noted that in his line of work asa Teppanyaki chef,showmanship is vital He usually tries to get a feel of hiscustomers first before proceeding on how to entertain them

establish acareer in cooking This was where he became aTeppanyaki chef for Benihana in Piccadilly,the Japanese restaurant where his viral video was taken

In life,past experiences lead us to unexpected destinies This was especially true for Charlie Bueno W hen asked about his rootsas a cook, he said that his statusback when he wasyounger was what pushed him to learn M ore than two decadesof culinary expertise all links back to his

Being a chef wasn? t really something that Charlie dreamed of ever since he was a child He graduated with a degree in M echanical Engineering, a course one wouldn? t really expect him to get into and end up creating the most exquisite dishes Nonetheless,he ended up flourishing in the culinary industry and eventually found employment in Benihana in 2011

The vi r al vi deo

?Blessing in disguise sakin ang pagluluto (Cooking is ablessing in disguise for me),?he said True enough,hispassion and enthusiasm for cooking shined through the video In fact,it truly was a

W hen asked about his reaction when he found out that the video went viral, he admitted that at first,he was concerned about what it meant to him being achef in Benihana He also felt shy upon watching the video and he said that he wasn? t really the type who would delve too much on social media In fact,it was hisson who wasthe one who even made him a Facebook page

In the end,the video was met with delight by viewers Titled "Funny Filipino Chef",it wasfirst uploaded in 2014 and the original uploaded clip garnered more than 120,000 views by the time Philippine media giant ABS-CBN reported the story It shows hisupbeat demeanour during the cooking session,something that would surely put a smile on anyone's face upon watching the clip

"M ay kaya naman pala ako (I guess I do have potential),"he recalled thinking back when he watched it again

Zambales He got hisfirst taste of the culinary industry when he first started asa steward or dishwasher in Shangri La,a prestigious hotel in the

culinary industry

life when he was in the Philippines

By BEA SANCHEZ

Proves that his cooking skills and funny antics are the best way to his diners' hearts & tummies

Charlie Bueno's viral video on You Tube which made him an internet sensation was uploade by Norwegian Kjetil Palmquist and has over 1 4 million views Last Spring 2018, Charlie had a brief role of a Teppanyaki Chef in the Hollywood movie SHOW DOGS

Benihana Restaurant in Piccadilly iswhereCharlie can befound entertaining diners Benihanahasanother branch in Chelsea

Thisisthe video that hasgone viral on You Tube with over 1 4 million views

By CAROL PANDAY

FTER tour i n g 6 ci ti es, The Voi ce of the Phi l i ppi n es Rock er Dad, Br adl ey H ol m es, m ay have l eft the UK but he?s defi n i tel y i m pr essed ever yon e i n the Fi l i pi n o-Br i ti sh com m un i ty that he i s a qui n tessen ti al per for m er H ol m es pr oved that m usi c i s i n str um en tal i n gather i n g Fi l i pi n os acr oss the UK to cel ebr ate A cel ebr ati on to shar e our cul tur e, m usi c an d tr adi ti on to the w i der Br i ti sh com m un i ty Bradley Holmes was the chosen artist to be the main performer for the UK Festival Caravan Tour 2018,produced by SimplyC,PR & Event Histour kicked off in Belfast followed by shows in Kent, Newcastle,M anchester,Birmingham and London The seventeen gruelling hoursof travel from M anila was not an excuse to not deliver exciting and crowd-pleasing performances His repertoire varied from OPM Ballad and Rock showcasing the real voice of Bradley Holmes His performance truly rocked every city he visited leaving the audience in awe,with no gender exclusion From single to married,divorced,old-age pensioners,men in tattoos everyone fell in love wih him,his music and his voice He was completely engaged with the audience,leaving them to crave for more!

CH OOSING BRADLEY H OLM ES

Producers want to have an artist that has both good looks and talent Having them both is a real bonus Finding a male performer is always a challenge Based on statistics,and with no intention to offend women, male performersare more marketable,as women are considered to be their great audience

Just browsing over the many listsof male artists from the Philippines, Bradley s last name rang a bell Through social media,the journey of connecting with him started by sending a message through messenger It sure is one of those risksyou can make, and it was indeed worth the try A message was sent,he replied A meeting was arranged,and everything is history Thus,was born the UK Festival Caravan Tour 2018 with Bradley Holmes as the featured artist

A TH ROW BACK

Last January,Bradley Holmes shared the stage with JBK,the M illennial Trio who joined the X Factor UK 2017,for a series of concerts Their UK Tour became a taster to most of the producers across the UK

Having seen and watched them through their series of concerts in the UK,the producers got interested as most of them were preparing for the Barrio Fiesta,Festivalsand celebrationsof the Philippine Independence Day in June

Upon their return to M anila,JBK and Bradley attended to their respective commitments JBK signed with GM A 7whilst Bradley continued to do his regular gigs,TV guestings and Teleserye tapingsfor ABS-CBN?s La Luna Sangre,which is top-billed by Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla and Sana Dalawa ang Puso ko with Jodi Sta M aria,Robin Padilla and Richard Yap

The Tour has been instrumental for Bradley to discover and find out that having a British father would allow him to stay here and be granted the ?Right to Abode?Visa Bradley Holmes is indeed a certified Fil-Brit

SHAIRA HABON

Now adays, bei n g the r i ght can di date for an y job i s ver y di ffi

t as they do l ook for a speci fi c per son It i s dow n to your qual i fi cati

d sk i l l s but al so w hether you? l l fi t i n w i th the team

t as they do l ook for a speci fi c per son It i s dow n to your qual i fi cati on s an d sk i l l s but al so w hether you? l l fi t i n w i th the team Al though, the r eal i ty i s that thousan ds of other peopl e al so have the exact sam e degr ee as you So, you have to be sm ar t an d stan d out i n a w ay that m ak es them r em em ber you So, w as Un i ver si ty w or th i t? For m e, absol utel y It w asn ? t just a pl ace for m e to l ear n about the l aw but al so how to becom e i n depen den t I w en t fr om a cl uel ess 18-year ol d to som eon e w ho gets super exci ted about buyi n g n ew Tefal n on -sti ck pan s Oh, to be 21

Our cont ribut or Micah Lee lives in London and is a Law graduat e of Brunel Universit y and current ly t rains t o be a solicit or

by MICAH LEE

cul

on s an

ROM ULO CA FÉ BRINGS FINE FILIPINO FOOD TO OLD SPITA LFIELDS M A RK ET

By GINA CONSING McADAM

FRowena Romulo?s restaurant ?twice winner of Time Out magazine?s?M ost Loved Restaurant in Kensington? award -- set up stall among over 30 other food vendorsat the festival designed to be a real foodie celebration True enough, despite the scorching weather,the festival attracted an estimated 5 000-6 000 strong crowd eager to sample everything deliciously Asian,from sushi to gyoza,dumplings to noodle soups,bao buns to fragrant speciality teas

Not to be outdone,Rowena and partner Chris Joseph offered a ?Feast from the East?-- Filipino-style -- with festival-friendly versions of some of Romulo Café?sbrand new dishes,together with tubs of ube ice cream The ice cream proved irresistible,and before long it had all run out with the festival?slargely W estern clientele intrigued by the colour purple and drawn by a desperate need to shake off the heat

Safe to say that by the end of the two-day festival,Romulo Café?s brand of fine Filipino food had certainly made an impression Supplies of Chicken Sisig and Beef Adobo slidershad all but disappeared,and word had got around about the empanadas (lamb and vegetable) being the ones to try

Asked how she felt the two dayshad gone,Rowena said, ?W e enjoyed it This was a great way to introduce good Filipino food to a wider

audience W e know that the trend-setters and style makersget why our cuisine is so amazing,but it?s important to us that the whole world starts appreciating how tasty and special Filipino cuisine is

Chris added,?W hat really made us happy was when people started instagramming our food at the festival and taking selfiesholding ube ice cream Someone even came back to say he would have to come to our restaurant in Kensington after trying the empanadas They were excited about the pandesal bread But what we don? t realise,being Filipinos in love with our food,is that there is a world out there to convert I think we?re getting there!?

Rom ul o Café has just been shor tl i sted i n the Best Restaur an t categor y of the 2018 K en si n gton & Chel sea Busi n ess Aw ar ds w

w r om ul ocafe co uk

Fr om fashionable West to tr endy East

FACE THEMONTH OF

Giselle Fernandez 19 years old Adult Nursing student (Birmingham City University)

COMMUNITY NEWS

INDEPENDENCE DAY AT PISTAHAN

by CAROL PANDAY

SA NEWCASTLE 2018

REATVoiceswasheard asFil-Brit Newcastle celebratesits10th!

People from the neighbouring townsand cities travelled to Newcastle to celebrate the 10th year anniversary of the Fil Brit Services Newcastle Held at Blaydon Rugby Club, last Saturday,June 23, 2018 The peoplecelebrated by participating to their traditional Santacruzan wearing their best Filipiniana and Barong Tagalog The beautiful Reyna Elenas paraded with their exquisite gowns This religious activity,as brought down through generations was witnessed by many people of Newcastle TheFilipino Community haveshared with the British people, apart of their culture that strengthensthe relationship of the Filipino-British Community

The event wasgraced by the visit of the Mayor of Gateshead, Mayor Jill Green Mayor Green recognised the tremendous effort made by the organisersto holding an event that strengthensthecamaraderie of the Filipino people aswell as integrating themselvesto the wider British Community She also commended the strong presence of the Filipino Community in the healthcareindustry,that givesaboost to the moraleof the Pinoy?swho attended the event

Impressive talentswere shown on stageby local performers from Newcastle From song, dance and band performances provided a display of varied talents, asproven with resounding applause, to every performance occurring on the stage The Young ElvisPresley of Newcastle, Christopher Blakey,

handsomely entertained the audiencewith the voice and movementsof the King of Rock &Roll TheMillennial group called KPC7, together with solo dancersAllia Emmanuel, Zamora and Lexie Dizon, cleverly entertained the audiencewith their movesand grooves The voicesof Natalie Atkinson, Leanna Honeyman, Arnold Joseph Fortuna, Clye and Bunny Tan, plusthe performance of the Firebird Band, werea magnificent spectrum of the celebration

Two of the top-notch Local Pinoy TalentsGaga Lourd from X-Factor UK 2017 and Kim Galsim a k a ?Kim-tas-Tic?wasaproof that Pinoy talentsare world class Gaga Lourd with her ?oldiesbut goodies? repertoire mesmerised the crowd When her husband, ChrisLourd joined her on stageto sing the Tagalog hit ?Bakit Ngayon Kalang?, which magnificently entertained the crowd Kim?sgeniusact of reciting apoem detailing the history of the Philippines, hasbecomeapopular hit Her repertoire of OPM songsexcited the crowd into dancing Gaga Lourd and Kim have been travelling across the UK performing at most of Filipino Community events

The celebration continued with guest performersfrom the Philippines, Jake Zyrus, well known asCharice Pempengco, prior to hisgender transition, and the Rocker Star, Bradley Homeswere the highlightsof the celebration

Jake Zyruswith hisrendition of both classic OPM and International hit lists haveproven hisstanding with one of the most beautiful voicesin the world, according to Josh Groban He commenced hissongswith Be my Lady and ended with Save the Last Dance Pistahan saNewcastle isthe first stop of Jake ZyrusEuropetour 2018 and madean immenseimpact on the audience who enjoyed every minute of hisperformance

Bradley Holmes, the PhilippinesRocker Stalwart and part of the Voice PhilippinesSeason 2, under Apl De Ap indeed, rocked the stage Hisopening number of Maria Cafra?s?Kumustamga

Thecollaboration and support of the Major and Minor Sponsors and Media Partnersto Fil Brit community contributed to the resounding successof the event Fil Brit Servicesof Newcastle is headed by Sally Sellars Sally and her team of volunteershavebeen staging thisevent for the past ten years Amidst the challengesof holding events, they haveproven that working together asateam will definitely make adifference When

The

By ADEL GWIAZDA

Candidates:

-

- Queenie Wynter

&Leonida Penaflor

- Charmaine JoeGraham (Mutya ng Luzon 2018) daughter of Rex & Maura Buray

- Stacy LouiseVallesteros(Mutya ng Visayas) daughter of Reynald & Rolida Vallesteros

- Special Recognition wasawarded to AyneArianne Rosales daughter of Ariel Rosales&Anna Junsay making her the fifth

candidatebut unable to participatein the rehearsalsrequired &main coronation Theaward wasgiven to acknowledge her commitment in raising fundsfor her charity project

Thesecond part of the evening wasthe guests?turn to show their dancing skills on the dance floor with resident DJ Gerald Lao providing great mixture of music

Theevent wasattended by 200+guests from different community groups

Mabuhay Foundation UK sincerely expressesutmost gratitudeto the following:

- Host of the night wasDianaBieles Denum ably assisted by Rozelia Gwiazda&Levenia Obligacion with JoyceBaluyut assisting the awarding team

- Catering team Maricar Camacho assisted by Mary Camacho, Rey &Josie delosReyes

- Sponsors; Joyce Gonzales, Geraldine Anico, Ali Hajj, Armando de Valle, Joanna Kelly,Mercy Corpuz, Christian Estrada of ENFiD, Ronald Sipat &Yvette Ramos of Cavitenos, GloriadeGuzman, MaritesLapuz& an anonymousdonor

Kaibigan?brought asense of pride asaFilipino away from home, and proudly entertained by the voice of Bradley Holmes Hisfirst set wasagreat taster and hisfinal act wasa huge hit Thejoy brought by Holmesin Newcastle with hisfinal song ?Salamat?summarisesthe huge appreciation of the Filipino British Community to the outstanding performancesrendered by all the artistsat the event Pistahan saNewcastle ispart of Bradley HolmesUK Festival Caravan Tour 2018

heaven and earth collaborated, excellent weather wasareward Independence Day and Pistahan saNewcastle 2018 wasindeed the biggest and Best, Filipino Event in the North of England

first part of the evening wasthe coronation of four young girls aged 7-12 yearswhose families&friendsworked so hard in raising fundsfor the Mabuhay Foundation UK Charitiesin the Philippines Each candidatealso nominated acharity project of their own using their charity cash prize

Irish Janele Magdalena(Mutya ng Kalayaan Fil-UK 2018) daughter of Michael &JannetteMagdalena also recipientsof ?Fundraiser of the Night 2018?

(Mutya ng Mabuhay Foundation UK 2018) daughter of Christopher Wynter

- Andrew Cheong &Rowena Romulo through one of the candidatesIrish Janele Magdalena

- UFCLGFamily; Mabuhay Foundation UK family,LFC(London Filipino Centre), Fil Mo, Paniquinians, East Grinstead, Maniland Glamour, Fil UK 1, HilVis, & IndividualsMariaBasford, Ludy Quizmundo &OdetteTrinidad

- Other Filipino Community groups; Albayanons, BatangasAssn UK, Bicol Assn UK, CamarinesSur UK, Cavitenos UK, ENFiD, Fil-UK Charity,Ilocano Club UK, PESO, (PhilippineEducation System Organisation), Pin Lon, Samarenos, TropaUK

- Performers; KateMalabanan (Mutya ng Luzon 2017), Lahing Kayumanggi under the direction of Ronnie del Barrio

- DJGerald Lao &March Joseph Rosales

- Lastly our families, friends&loyal supportersfor their tirelesssupport in making the event agreat success

COMMUNITY NEWS

Charity Project Recipients2017-2018

- Feeding programme: a) Senior citizens&school children in Bamban, Tarlac b) Sto Nino Day Care Center in San Jose City,Nueva Ecijac)Fellowship ProgrammeSenior CitizensZamora Chapter d) Payapa Elementary School in Lemery,Batangas

- Gift Giving: a) Senior Citizens(food bags) &school children (school bags) in Bamban, Tarlac b) Senior citizens(food bags) in Ballesteros, Cagayan c) Senior citizensin Macatbong, NuevaEcija d) food bagsfor familiesin Bacayao Sur, Dagupan City

- Our Lady of Holy Rosary Chapel (church pews)in Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat

- Building materialsfor Calepaan Community School in Asingan, Pangasinan &in Sto Nino Chapel in Sapian, Capiz, Roxas

- Volleyball uniformsin Bitas, Cabanatuan

- School furnituresin Qcn, Ballesteros, Cagayan

The e-Learning Group-UK 2018 Sportsfest at the Kensington Gardens

by JANETTE VICERA

THEe-Learning Group ?UK, an organizationof OverseasFilipino Workers(OFWs) based in London, caught the World Cup fever by launching itsown successful, whole day of fun, native gamesand food galore on 8 July 2018 at the famousKensington Gardens? a stone?sthrow away from the official residence of theDuke and Duchessof Cambridge and the Duke and Duchessof Sussex

The e-Learning Group UK isan organisation of OFWswho havebenefited from the Skills Training and Reintegration programsof the Philippine OverseasLabor Office?Overseas WorkersWelfareAdministration (POLO-OWWA) London The e-LGwasorganized by the OFWs themselvesin partnership with POLO?OWWA London in September 2009 Since then, the partnership hascontinued to grow and provide wholesome and exciting development activities for OFWs

Through the Reintegration Training Programsof POLO, the e-LGwork hand in hand with other Filipino organisationsto help itsmembersobtain and upgrade productiveand marketable skills, such asknowledgeand skillsin Basic Computer; Hairdressing; Culinary Arts; Woman?s Accessories-Making; Flower Arrangement; Sewing; Barista; Photography; Skin Care & Make-Up Application; Meat-Processing; Baking & Cold Dessert Preparation; Crochet & Cross-Stitching; Soap, Fruit &Vegetables Carving; Leadership and Financial Literacy,to name a few TheOFWswhoseemployment contractshavebeen verified or registered by POLOand who have becomeOWWA members can learn from and join these coursesfree of charge and start to earn extraincome for themselvesand their families They could also use them asfoundation for venturing into business

The e-LGalso hold fundraising eventsto help finance OFW- welfareoriented projects, such as the ?Tuloy Aral Program?under the auspicesof the OverseasWorkersWelfare Association

(OWWA), which helpsthe children of marginalised people in the Philippines, especially thoserelated to OFWs, who aretalented, but with lessopportunity of getting proper education Thee-LGSport?sDay on the 8th of July 2018 at the Kensington Garden, London washeld to raise fundsfor thiscause Different party games&mini sportsactivitieslike Badminton, ?Longest Line?, Soft-drinking Contest, ?Mary Went to Market?, Sack Race, Sinking the Boat, Mud Painting, Tube &Needle Relay,Newspaper Dance, Passthe Marble, Balloon Popping &Breaking the Pot, wereparticipated in by young onesand once (or the young at heart) Theattendeeshad so much fun and excitement, and their camaraderiewas renewed and strengthened The group also had a picnic whereeveryone shared their own ?baon? which consisted of foodsfrom different Philippine regional cuisines Some membersbrought in ?Halo-halo?, icecandy,?adobong mani?(fried salted peanut), Atsara (pickled Papaya fruit), Chicken /beef longganisa (nativesausage) for saleamong the attendees, with apercentageof salesgoing to the e-LGfund

the PhilippineEmbassy- London wasrepresented at the event by the Head of the Philippine OverseasLabor Office(POLO) ? London: Labor Attaché ReydeluzConferido, who awarded the winnersof the games

- CamarinesSur UK, Emma Sulficar of Fil-UK Charity UK, Luneta Tangunan & Magdalena family for raffleprizes

Philippines Brings Consular Services Closer to Filipinos in Ireland

THEPhilippine Embassy in London consular outreach team travelled around 600 km from London to Dublin, Ireland on 07-08 July 2018 to bring the embassy?sconsular services closer to Filipinosin the Irish capital Around 300 Filipinosprocessed their passport applications, registered to vote for the upcoming 2019 national elections, and took their oath asdual citizensduring the weekend consular mission Thisisthe third consular mission conducted by the Embassy in Dublin this year, with a fourth oneslated on 15-16 September Theconsular mission team wasled by First Secretary and Consul Voltaire Onesimo C Mauricio

UK, Ireland Tourist Arrivals to PH Up Despite Boracay Closure

D

ESPITEthe temporary closure of Boracay, tourist arrivalsfrom the United Kingdom and Ireland are up by around 9%and 6 4%, respectively,from January to May 2018 versusthe sameperiod last year, according to areport from the PhilippineDepartment of Tourism (DOT)

Around 90,000 British touristsarrived in the Philippines for the first five monthsof 2018 while around 8,000 came from Ireland TheUnited Kingdom registered the highest number of tourist arrivalsto the Philippines within the European region Worldwide, it isthe eighth largest tourism market after Korea, China, USA, Japan, Australia, Canada, and Taiwan

?Weimplemented high-impact consumer activationsand digital marketing campaignsto draw British travellersto the Philippinesespecially for the winter holidays, and to expand our overall market reach in UK,?said Philippine Tourism Attaché for Northern and Southern Europe Gerardo O Panga

According to Panga, strong partnershipswith major British tour operatorsand airlinesaswell asthe Philippines?vast network of media partnersand travel influencersare key in igniting interest in the Philippines asatravel destination in Southeast Asia Thesetwo factors, he said, account for the sustained increase in British tourist arrivalsto the Philippinesin the past few years

Apart from Manila and Boracay,Palawan, Cebu, Bohol, Banaue, Anilao, Puerto Galera, Dumaguete, Siquijor, Siargao, Bicol, and variousregionsin Northern Philippinesare among the top destinationsof British travellers

For more travel information, visit itsmorefuninthephilippinesco uk or download VisitPhilippineson App Store

Sweet Victory for Philippine Chocolate in UK?s 2018 Academy of Chocolate Awards

THEentriesof three Philippinechocolate brands werejudged asamong the best in the world during the 2018 Academy of ChocolateAwards in London Thechocolatesof Malagos Agri-Venture Corporations, Auro Chocolate, and Theo &Philo Artisanal Chocolateswere judged asamong the best from around 1,200 entries from 45 countriesworldwide All three brandssource their cocoa beansfrom Davao

?We would liketo seemorePhilippine productsmake their way to the mainstream market in the UK and the rest of Europe It?satough and highly competitive market A recognition such asthisfrom arespected industry body that providesadded validation of the quality of our productsand their capability to compete with the rest of the world,?said Philippine Special Trade Representativeand Commercial Counsellor Michelle Fatima S Sanchez

MalagosAgri-Venture Corporation garnered aSilver award for Malagos85%Dark Chocolate under the Drinking ChocolateCategory and Bronze awardsfor MalagosUnsweetened Chocolate and Malagos72%Dark Chocolate under the same category Thebrand?s entriesin theTree to Bar Category,Malagos 72%Dark Chocolateand Malagos85%Dark Chocolate also won Bronze awards

Auro Chocolate, on the other hand, won Bronze awardsfor Auro Chocolate70% Dark ChocolateSaloy Reserve under the Tree to Bar Category and Auro Chocolate 32%Roasted White ChocolateCashew under the Flavoured White ChocolateBar category

Theo &Philo Artisanal Chocolatesbagged a

Silver award for Theo and Philo Milk Chocolate Adobo under the Flavoured Milk ChocolateBar Category and Bronzeawardsfor Theo and Philo Milk Chocolcate Turon and Theo and Philo Milk Choco with Pili Nut and Pinipig under the same category Thebrand also won Bronze awardsfor itsentriesin the Flavoured Dark ChocolateBar Category such asTheo and Philo Dark Choco with Black Sesameand Nuts, Theo and Philo Dark Choco with Calamansi, and Theo and Philo Dark Choco with Labuyo; and in the Bar Wrappers-Packaging Category

TheAcademy of Chocolate Awardswaslaunched in 2005 with the aim to recognise and showcase world-class chocolateand itsproducers Leading chocolatierssuch as LukeFrost of Valrhona and Keith Hurdman from Felchin, together with The Telegraph?sAndrew Baker, Cocoa Runners?CharlesMetcalfe MW and Spencer Hyman, and the UK?stop chocolate bloggersand food writers gathered at Westminster Kingsway College, London to take part in 15 daysof judging thisyear?sentries

Palawan isa popular destination among British travellerswho cont nue to flock to the Philippines especially during thefrigid winter months Photo courtesy of Sofia Malyshkina

Photo by Eric Ricafort

Auro Chocolate, apremium Philippinechocolate brand has consistently sent winning entriesin the Academy of Chocolate Awardsin the past few years Two entriesfrom Auro Chocolate won in thisyear?sawards Photo courtesy of Auro

Theo &Philo Artisanal Chocolateswasrecognized in three categories for thisyear?sawards Theo &Philo?sclaim to fameare itsinnovative chocolate flavourssuch asMilk ChocolateAdobo and Dark Choco with Labuyo Photo courtesy of Theo &Philo Artisanal Chocolates

MalagosChocolate isamulti-awarded Philippinechocolate brand that raked in five awardsacrosstwo categoriesin thisyear?sAcademy of ChocolateAwards Photo courtesy of MalagosAgri-Ventures Corporation

The Philippine Embassy?s New Vice Consul Puts Her Game Face On S

indeed ahead for Philippine public and cultural diplomacy in the United Kingdom

?The United Kingdom is brimming with opportunities for all of us to share the story of the Philippines The beauty about UK?s vibrant and cosmopolitan culture and art scene is that we can share our stories and we can forge connections in an infinitesimal number of ways Sky is the limit to what we can achieve here in terms of public and cultural diplomacy,?she gushed ?It?s challenging It?s a tall order But I?m up for it ?

?I consider it a form of service,especially now that I am working for the country In every task we are given,no matter how small and inconsequential that may be, we need to give it our best because the people we serve deserve no less than the best ?

in unleashing the power of social media in advancing the goalsof Philippine diplomacy Apart from that,she has always been a staunch advocate of creating a positive but realistic image of the Philippines and Philippine foreign policy

?Gone are the days when people would say that social media is only for children,? said the 29-year-old diplomat

?Thanks to the twin forces of globalization and the digital revolution,social media is an indispensable tool in diplomacy It help us reach out directly to a very outspoken public,it amplifiesour traditional diplomatic efforts, and more importantly,it enables usto start meaningful conversationsabout why foreign policy mattersto people?s daily lives ?

Stacy?s passion for public diplomacy is palpable This little lady has big plans for the portfolio that she is currently managing Exciting timesare

Stacy hails from Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental but has lived in various cities across the Philippines and around the world She finished her degree in M assCommunication summa cum laude,at Silliman University,one of the Philippines?most prestigious universities,while at the same time actively serving the student body as the Student Government President Last year,she finished graduate-level courses on International Relationsand Diplomacy from the Geneva School of Diplomacy in Switzerland where she finished with perfect grades

?That?s the beauty when you do something that is close to your heart,?she said as she reminisced about her days in Silliman?s tree-lined pathsand historic buildings ?It never feels like work Yes,you get exhausted,you get tired,but at the end of the day,you are filled with a sense of purpose ?

Stacy wasrecognized as one of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines in 2009 and one of the Jose Rizal M odel Students of the Philippines in 2008 for her work in upholding her advocacies in the arts and in women empowerment

?Excellence is something that I value deeply,?said the top-notcher of the 2013-2014 Foreign Service OfficersExam

Before joining the Department of Foreign Affairs, she worked with two of the world?s most influential multinational companies while at the same time actively writing for various national and international publications as atravel and lifestyle correspondent She also dabbled on a teaching stint at the University of San Carlos?political science department

?You know,before I arrived here,I?ve been told by so many people that London will be filled to the rafters with challenges,?she said ?W ell,I love challenges and all I can say is that the six years that lie ahead of me will feel very swift indeed ?

TACY Dan i k a Al can tar a-Gar ci a ar r i ved i n Lon don l ast m on th w i th thr ee sui tcases an d m or e than a decades?w or th of exper i en ce i n m edi a an d publ i c affai r s

The new Third Secretary and Vice Consul of the Embassy of the Philippines in London is fresh from a three-year stint in the Department of Foreign Affairs?Office of Public Diplomacy where she actively took the reins

Her work asa travel journalist and photographer has taken her to some of the farthest reachesof the Philippines According to her,these are experiences that continue to enrich her work in public and cultural diplomacy,especially in her six-year stint in London

Stacy Danika Alcantara-Garcia - The new Third Secretary and Vice Consul of the Embassy of the Philippines in London

Stacy was recognized as one of Jose Rizal Model Students of the Philippines in 2008

27th Summer Tournament in Full Swing

By KAMPI Basket ball UK

LASTmonth, we saw KAMPI Basketball UK open it?s27th year tournament with 30 teams across4 divisions, maintaining itsposition asthe biggest, longest running and most successful basketball league amongst the Filipino-British Basketball community Six weeksinto the traditional summer season, we havealready witnessed alot of exciting match-upsall vying for astrong position in their respective divisions

In the MensOpen Division, Controllers(2015 Premier Elite Champion of Champions) are in pole position so far with an undefeated record of 4-0 Trailing them in the standings, top 6 or the Premier Elite group, Mapogos(3-1), Shockers(3-1), Wildcards(2-2), Sunics(3-0) and Rivals(2-1) There arestill lotsmore gamesto play for these teamsand no doubt afew morepossible position changesare expected asthe season goeson We also can't rule out the bottom 4 teams, London Lions, Westside Kings, Hoopstarsand Silangan asthey could still bounce back and creep into the Premier Elite group in their remaining 5-6 games With the new league format for this season, after thisround, the top 2 teamswill advance to the respective Premier and EliteGroup Finalswhile waiting to face the winnersof 3 vs6 and 4 vs5 Winnersof thosegroups will play in the grand finalsto be crowned the Champion of Champions

The rising starsof the community,the U21 Development Division continuesto also cause alot of excitement with a very strong competitive group that consistsof so much talent in every team Half way through their elimination round, the Young Sultan (2015 U21 Champions) haveestablished avery promising momentum and are undefeated after 3 games They are expected to top the group unlessthe likesof Generation of Miracles(2017 U21 Champions) can stop them intheir tracks WildcardsWarriorsremain acontender to finish the round 2 and with agamein hand but Batang Controllers(2016 U21 Champions), a rejuvenated Aces(formerly Pharaohs) and Silangan Juniorsarealso vying for a strong finish So right now the final positionsare too close to call With one team to beeliminated after thisround, Hoopsters, the newest and youngest team of thisdivision are yet to win agame But their valiant efforts so far, and with some standout players, don't go unnoticed amongst the community In the other group of young talented ballers, the U17 Grassrootsdivision seesDLWildcardsremain in pole position with 3 undefeated games Expect them to top the group with 2 gamesremaining in the round Bunsong Controllers, a newly formed team, trail them with agame in hand Hounslow Warriors, Omega Youth, Hope and Barako Strikers all have a chanceto make the playoffsand these gameswould give them the chance to build their confidence and provide a platform for the youngest players, some at the age13, experiencecompetitive basketball to showcase their talent especially to their parentsand friends While in our Veterans40+Division, the top 2 positionsarestill quite closewith Poker Boys(2017 Veterans Champions) currently leading but Bobcats(2016 VeteransChampions) with agame in hand remain undefeated Just like the U21 Division, one team will beeliminated after thisround so their remaining gamesare all crucial to determine who will remain in the competition for the knockout stage Stay tuned to seehow these veteransand the rest of the divisionsfare asthe rest of the season progresseswith monthly updatesin YesPhilippines Also, catch theKAMPI gameslive at two venues? MossbourneVictoria Park Academy and Northolt High School every Sunday and witnesssome of these exciting match upswith the best of the best playersin the Fil-Brit community For more information and updatesregarding KAMPI, pleasevisit Facebook and Instagram at KAMPI Basketball UK or email kampibasketballuk@gmail com

Mabuhay Strikers Ten-Pin Bow ling League 9t h A mba ssa dor 's Cup

by CHIT AFUANG

ON its9th year, the Ambassador?s Cup proved another successful tournament for the Mabuhay StrikersTen-Pin Bowling League (MSTBL) Around 50 competing bowlerswith their familiesand guestswere in attendance and wereinspired by the short speech of Labour Attaché Rey Conferido of the Embassy of the Philippinesasthe Guest of Honour

One of the finest bowlersof MSTBL, Darryl Payas received hiscash prizeand held histrophy asthe new Ambassador?sCup Champion for 2018 Darryl?sbrothersMark and Richie and parentsDivine and Rody were also playersof the league Darryl isthe only MSTBLplayer who got perfect scoreof 300 four timesduring theleague tournament

The youngest bowler, at 17, Jordan Arellano was1st Runner-Up in said event followed by Rhomel Isidro as 2nd Runner-Up and Peddy Valenzuela, 3rd Runner-Up

Just like Darryl, Jordan?s father Boyet also played in the league and hasbeen consistently bowling with

high average On the other hand, Rhomel?s brother Allan played with him in the same team Theseguyshavejoined the MSTBLand have since developed their skillsin the field of bowling

After the Ambassador?sCup, MSTBLwill host the 5th World OverseasFilipino Bowling Tour (WOFBT) in London on 18-23 August 2018, at the Airport Bowl along Bath Road in Middlesex UB5 3AL Filipino bowlersfrom the United Statesof America, Canada, Middle East, Europe and Asia will convergein London and compete in Singles, Doubles, Trios, Teamsand Mastersevents Huge amountsof prizes, plustrophiesand medalsare at stake

PIN-LON VOLLEYBALLCLUB

9 years...and st ill going on st rong

Building a legacy for volleyball within theFilipino Community in theUnited Kingdom

By LanneTorres

THIS2018, Pinoy Londoner Volleyball Club is9 yearsold They celebrated recently their 9th year anniversary at the CopthorneTara Hotel in Kensington, London AriesNuñez founded theclub back in 2009 and currently running it asboth President and Coach after completing the UKCCCoaching Course in May 2010 Theclub isaffiliated with Volleyball England

The objective of theclub isto promote theplaying of volleyball in the community,bringing Filipino athletes and the local community together to foster a distinctive cultureof excellenceby integrating sport, training and competition The club hasmatured over the yearsand isnot only open to Filipino athletes but to all volleyball enthusiastsin the UK

Pin Lon Spikersisthe team representing theclub in tournaments It now hasmen, women and mixed teams Their very first appearance wasin the2009 International Volleyball Festival Mixed Division 3 where they won theSilver medal award Their successin thistournament boosted their confidence and they started to join other tournaments

With the club?shome court located at Roehamption Sportsand LeisureCentre in theSouth of London, Pin Lon Spikersactively participated in theSouth London Volleyball tournament from 2009 up until 2014 Pin Lon Spikersmixed team had a strong start becoming Division2 Championsfor two consecutive years(2009-2010 and 2010-2011 seasons) prior to moving to Division 1 Higher division meansgreater challenge but the Pin Lon

To

experiences Theachievementsof both these coachescannot be denied ? receiving numerous gold medalsin the higher leagues The clinic were held in Reading, Surrey,London and Manchester Thisinitiativealso received a warm welcome from thePhilippine Embassy in London

In 2015, the club represented Team Philippines Men?sand Women?steamsin the All Nation tournament in London with the motto - OneHeart, One Goal, One Nation Pin Lon Coach Json Okol led theMen whilst AriesNunezled the Women

Nuñez

Pin Lon VCalso holdsitsannual Star Award and Charity Gala every 4th Saturday of May to commemorate their anniversary Thisisto recognize individualswho contributed to the successof Pin Lon aswell asusing this asavenue for itsannual Pin Lon Got Talent Finalswhere playersfrom participating teamsshowcase their talent Again, any proceedsfrom this Gala will be for theclub?sbeneficiaries

Thisyear, their anniversary theme wasTheatre where threegreat singerstook on songsfrom movieslike The Greatest Showman and stage plays like MissSaigon Thesingerswere Annielou HernandezLeyva, Mervic Monocillo and Jose Conrad Hermoso The Pin-Lon Got Talent winner, Chiqui Anis, also had ashare of the stage singing Nosi Balasi and Hallelujah The most awaited performanceof thenight wasthe dance performanceof Pin-Lon Lady Spikers and the threecoaches, in collaboration with the singerssinging, ?Thisisme?

The club also recognised individualsthat were part of Pin-Lon?ssuccess Inspiring people who are passionateto do good deeds and making a difference to thecommunity in their own special way surround Pin-Lon Theseare the officials, members, supporters, individual donors, volunteers, team leader and community leaders Their good leadership and world-classhumanitarian service, willingness to share their ideasand selflessly give time to help othersisan inspiration to theclub and its members

Pin-Lon Community Leadership Award for ?Building community partnershipsto advancethe education, health, and quality of life of others?weregiven to loyal friendsand supportersfo thegroup

For more detailsabout theclub, youcan visit their Facebook Page: https://www facebook com/pinlonVolleyballClub

Spikersteam spirit didn? t falter; they were Silver medalist for another two consecutive yearsand finally obtaining theChampionship trophy in the 2013-2014 season Pin Lon Spikerswomensteam also had their own successesbecoming the Premier League Silver medalistsin 2012-2013 and Champion in 2013-2014

Being a young team, their excitement and thirst to compete didn? t stop Upholding the club?s objective and bringing the vibrant team spirit, Pin Lon Spikerscontinued to participate in theFilipino Community sponsored tournamentsheld all over the UK where bothMen and Women teams became the undefeated Champions

Apart from these Community challengesin 2013, Pin Lon Spikers also participated inthe first London Barrio FiestaVolleyball tournament and at the same timejoined theFinchley Cup hosted by another club in London In both tournaments, Pin Lon Spikersyet again brought home the Championship cup

The teamswere well supported by UK Filipino Community The club also entered itsWomen?steam in the London Volleyball Association annual league Annual volleyball tournamentsare organised by the club and gainsfrom these eventsgo to itsbeneficiaries? the Pin Lon Spikersteam in London and children in poverty stricken areas in thePhilippines

The club hasadopted a school, Zumarraga Central Elementary School in Samar and providesmonetary assistance to Living SpringsChristian Church who also helpschildren in need Thisistheclub?ssimple way to help fight poverty,paying theschool feesof 500 students, provision of sportsequipment and providing funds to run sportsdevelopmental activities

The club ishoping that these will help develop potential athleteswith an aim of giving these studentsthe opportunity to abrighter future They could become varsity playersand avail of scholarshipsin thetop Universities

Aside from thetournaments, theclub providestraining sessionsevery Sunday in their homecourt (Roehampton Leisure Centre, SW15 4JB) and isopen to everyone, from noviceto advanced Thereare currently three coachesin theclub who handle these sessions?

Coach Amador Ty,Coach Json Okol and Coach Aries

share the successof theclub Pinoy Londoner Volleyball Club (Pin Lon VC) organized aspecial project in 2014, theCaravan Volleyball Clinic, in collaboration with two of the most successful and experienced coachesin Philippine Volleyball history - Coach Roger Gorayeb and Coach Odjie Mamon Both coachesbrought to the UK their many yearsof combined great coaching

ENFID-UK

Health & Fitness

Bow l ing To ur na ment

by RONALD SIPAT

THEEuropean Network of Filipino Diaspora - United Kingdom (ENFID-UK), aregistered charity in the UK and servesasan active partner of various Filipino community organizationsand leadersin the UK that aim to unite them in supporting and achieving different goalsand aspirations, isagain organizing and sponsoring another one-day charity bowling tournament on Sunday,August 5, 2018 at Airport Bowl located at Bath Road, Harlington Hayes UB3 5ALnear Heathrow Airport

The main objectives are to foster camaraderie between and among ENFID-UK and member organizationsand various corporate/individual supportersthrough health and fitness activitiessuch as bowling and at the sametime raisefundsfor various ENFID-UK charitiesand freetrainings/reaching out activities both in the UK and the Philippines Thistournament isan off-shoot of the 1st bowling competition held last March 4, 2018 also at Airport Bowl where 12 FilcomsTeams participated, tightly contested and ultimately won by CamarinesSur Filcom UK and CavitenosUK Association as

the Champion and 1st Runner up, respectively

With the huge successof the last tournament and the massive goodwill generated among the participating teams, variousFilipino communitiesmore particularly those who werenot ableto join insistently clamour for another similar event to be organized, hence, thisnew tournament Thistime, 22 Filcoms/CorporateTeams arecompeting and is expected to beanother exciting, fun-filled and successful event Theparticipating teamsare: Golden LadiesUK, Cavitenos UK, Bicol United, Mabuhay Foundation, E-Learning Group, Christian &Friends, Team Mervic, PESO, SamarenosUK, Tropang LGBTUK, Fil-Charity UK, Team ACM, Crystal Travel, Genistar, Team PLOV, YENFID, CamSur Filcom UK, Team AJOS, Phil Theatre UK, Pin-Lon, Team BBM Unity and BatangasAssociation UK Eachteam iscomposed of 5 membersand to play 3 gamesseries Top three(3) accumulated team totalswill bedeclared winners Consul General Senen Mangalile isinvited to grace the occasion and to throw the ceremonial 1st ball together with ENFID-UK Chairperson Christian W Estrada ENFID-UK Deputy Chairperson and ENFID-UK Country Representative Ronald Sipat isdesignated asover-all coordinator for the event

DA RTERONG PINOY UK

by MARLOU GADAYAN

A ll Filipino-UK Open Dart Tournament

LASTJune 9, 2018 Darterong Pinoy UK (DPUK) had another successful All Filipino-UK Open Dart Tournament It washosted by Marlou Gadayan of DPUK stokeon Trent, and wasorganized by Rovimil Dato It washeld at Our Lady &St Werburgh Catholic Church Hall SeabridgeLane, Newcastle Staffordshire

Trophies&CashPrize

for Winners

501 singles 701 classified pair doubles and extra trophiesfor Bull Master Highest checkouts&most T80's

The one-day dart event, which wasorganized by Mr Paul Ampiloqio, started at 1000 hoursregistration time It also involved acquaintanceamong playersfrom variousplaces here in the UK such as?Stoke on Trent, Nottingham, Northwick, Birmingham, Leicester, Milton Keynes, Cambridge, London, and avery supportive team from Dublin, Ireland Registration entry cost £30, which wasalready inclusive of free food for lunch up until dinner for all players, aswell as their friendsand familieswho came to support them

To start up theevent, awelcome speech wasgiven by Mr Rovimil Dato, followed by aprayer from Mr Vidal Pugales Shortly after, lunch wasserved while conducting thedraw for grouping the registered playersinto 4 for 501 SinglesEliminationsand Best of 3 Game Set

Bull Master competition washeld first, followed by group elimination for 501 Singles The Top 4 for each group would set up for the2nd round, fighting aknockout system battle for the best of 3 gamesset Nevertheless, the Top 16 qualified playerswere already guaranteed consolation trophies 501 single knockout elimination and semi-finalsnarrowed down to 4 of the best playersto fight their way to the finals The first setswere Owen Arzaga (Ireland) versusJamesDiez

(Leicester), and Noel Galeno (Nottingham) versusAllan Rosales(Rochdale) Winnersof each set, which were Owen Argaza and Noel Galeno, faced each other in the final stageof the tournament

Half top winning playerswere paired to the bottom half for 701 classified doubles knock out system elimination games, until narrowed down to 2 paired playersto competein the finals End paired finalistswereAllan Rosales (Rochdale) / Rey Guerzon (Milton Keynes) versusRegie Gadayan (Birmingham) / JamesDiez(Leicester) After best of 3 games, Regie Gadayan and JamesDiez became the champions

Themuch-awaited best of 5 gameset wereplayed by 501 single finalists, Owen Arzaga and Noel Galeno Both playersgavetheir best shot, but on the 5th deciding game set, Owen Arzaga came out victoriousand brought home the championship trophy for Dublin

Awarding for 501 and Top 16 qualifiersfollowed Trophiesand cash prizesweregiven to 501 semi-finalists, 1st runner up and champion

701 pair double semi-finalistswereawarded trophies, and the runner upsand championswith cash prizes Additional trophieswere given to JamesDiezfor winning Bullmaster Owen Arzaga of Ireland bagged the most T80?s(4xT80?s) of the gameand highest checkout of 152 3 dart finished Thesuccessof the DPUK Stoke on Trent Dart Tournament wasmade possibleby the great support of sponsors Sir Amik Garceniego of Forex Cargo and Travel funded the venue

Trophieswere provided by Quality Superstore (Stoke), Mr and Mrs Goodwin of A1 Gas, Jimmy ?Uthoy?Cabillon, Jerome Cruzof GuardiansUK, Polly Ajunan, Roel Martin Sepe Family and Team Northwich

To add extrafun for all players, as well astheir familiesand friends, prizesfor raffle draw were contributed by Smart Heart Professional Ltd , Mr Carmilino Bachoco, Jerez Palacios, Benjie Martinezand Allan Rosales Thevery supportive Stoke team familiesprovided free food for all that lasted until dinner

For more info and updatesof DPUK events, pleasevisit our FB group Darterong Pinoy UK (DPUK) and feel freeto join the group of Pinoy dartersherein UK