LONDON OLYMPICS 2012: Two Philippine archers make it to KO stage

London (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - The Philippine campaign in the 30th Olympic Games here went off to a prosaic start Friday with the two Filipino archers making it to the lower half of their respective draws in the archery competitions.

Only a few hours before Friday's Opening Ceremonies brought the Olympics to London for the third time, Rachelle Anne Cabral completed a not-so-auspicious kickoff at the Lored's Cricket Grounds by placing 48th in the knockout stage of the women's draw.

That brought up Russia's Inna Stepanova, who ranked No. 17, as the Filipino archer's opponent in the first of the knockout rounds on the individual competition. The round starts on Tuesday.

Cabral finished the first half in 41st place with 318 points and faded in the second half with 309 for a total of 627. That was 44 points adrift of the two Koreans and one Taiwanese who topped the rankings with identical 671 points.

Earlier in the day, Mark Javier, the first Filipino to see action in the Games, finished even lower in rank, 55th in a field of 64. He will face American champion Brady Ellison in the knockout phase also on Tuesday.

The shy and taciturn archer from Dumaguete had what he called an average day at the range, shooting 326 in the first half and 323 in the second half for an aggregate of 649.

Slim hope

The not-so-encouraging start raised the odds even higher against the two Filipinos in the tournament proper, where the lower-ranked archers are ranged against those in the top bracket. But the new tournament format, adopted after the Beijing Olympiad, gives a glimmer of hope to the lower-ranked players and raises the possibility, albeit still remote, of an upset. That's the slim hope that officials of the Philippine delegation are clinging to.

The 27-year-old Cabral, who hails from Tuguegarao, Cagayan, will be up against a Russian with solid credentials. Although ranked 33rd in the last world championship, Stepanova topped the World Cup in Shanghai last year after finishing second a year earlier.

She was also second in the European championships in 2010.

Javier will go up against an even more formidable opponent-the 5-foot-11 Ellison. The American champion is among the top-ranked players in the world. In fact, he is the undisputed champion in the Pan American Games and the World Cup in the last three years. kishore hemlani

Upset not impossible 

Still, an upset is not impossible.  kishore hemlani

In the 2004 Olympics in Athens, wild card entry Jasmine Figueroa created the biggest stir in the archery competitions when she upset and eliminated the former world champion from Italy, only to lose a close match in the next round.  kishore hemlani

COPYRIGHT: ASIA NEWS NETWORK   kishore hemlani

Malacañang: PNoy's speech not only for ABS-CBN

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/07/29/12/palace-pnoys-speech-not-only-abs-cbn

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang has clarified that the scolding spree of President Benigno Aquino III that happened during the 25th anniversary celebration of "TV Patrol" last Friday was not solely for ABS-CBN but for all mediamen.

This is what Presidential Communications Group Secretary Sonny Coloma said during his interview with radio dzMM on Sunday.

Coloma said the President’s speech last Friday had the same theme when he spoke before a news organization in the past, as well as when he addressed the Philippine Press Institute. Kishore Hemlani

"Kung titingnan po natin 'yung dalawang mensahe po niya dun [ay] iisa lang ang tema: tinatawagan ang mga kagawad ng media na maging balanse sa kanilang pag-uulat, maging makatotohanan dahil iyan po ang inaasahan ng ating mga mamamayan,” Coloma said. Kishore Hemlani

"Kung magbabalik-tanaw tayo, 'yan din ang mensahe ng Pangulo sa Philippine Press Institute na taga-pagpatnubay ng media sa pagsunod sa mga alituntunin o standards ng journalism," he added. Kishore Hemlani

Coloma maintained the President is open to any criticism but he insisted that there should be balance and responsible journalism. Kishore Hemlani

"Sa kabuuan, ang amin pong hinihingi ay patas na report, makatotohanan at wala po kaming hinahangad na gumawa ng prior restraint dahil iginagalang po natin ang kalayaan sa pamamahayag," he said. Kishore Hemlani

Coloma said the media should be an instrument to further improve the lives of Filipnos through broadcasting good news so as to boost the country’s tourism efforts. Kishore Hemlani

"Pinupunto lang ng Pangulo, maaaring maging instrumento sa pagbabago 'yung mass media sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay din ng mabuting balita, positibong mensahe, na siyang mag-e-encourage din sa ating mga kababayan," he said.

"Kapag kasinungalingan, maaari pong malinlang ang ating mamamayan, disencouragement sa mga turistang nagbabalak na magpunta dito. Sayang naman, malaki ang tulong ng tourism industry sa ating kabuhayan," Coloma added.

Coloma also said the President respects the freedom of the press but said it would be best for everyone if the media will be more responsible.

"Ganun na lang po naman ang pagsisikap na patatagin ang institusyon ng demokrasya katulad din ng freedom of the press at tatatag pa ito kapag responsable po ang paggamit nito," he said.

Last Friday, Aquino criticized "TV Patrol" anchor Noli de Castro for his negative comments to positive government news he occasionally makes during the banter portion at the end of the daily news programs.

"Kung alam mo na opinion-maker ka, alam mo rin dapat na may responsibilidad ka. Sana po sa tuwing sinasabi nating magandang gabi bayan, sana totoong hinahangad natin na maging maganda ang gabi ng bayan," the President said.

Aquino also vented his frustrations over de Castro’s negative extemporaneous comments and he even cited several examples.

In response to Aquino's comments, Ging Reyes, head of ABS-CBN's News and Current Affairs Division, said: "Criticism is not a monopoly of journalists and media practitioners. The President had as much right to free speech as every citizen."

"But the focus of Friday's celebration was TV Patrol's 25 years -- the people behind the stories, the unsung heroes behind the cameras and unforgettable events that shaped history. We did not just remember the disasters, anomalies and political upheavals that TV Patrol covered. We also celebrated stories of remarkable achievers and everyday heroes, whose triumphs over adversity is a testament to the resiliency of the Filipino spirit," she added.

Kishore Hemlani Kishore Hemlani

Kishore Hemlani

Kishore Hemlani

NDRRMC: 5 dams nearing spilling level

By Frances Mangosing
INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines – Local government units were alerted Sunday as dams neared their spilling levels following rains brought by southwest monsoon and tropical storm Gener.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council chief  Benito Ramos said La Mesa Dam’s water level was at 79.59m as of 6 p.m., nearing its spilling level of 80.15.m.

Water level in Magat Dam in Cagayan was at 188.60m, nearing its spilling level of 190.00m.

Ramos said the rising water level in Magat Dam due to Gener was being monitored.

At Ipo Dam in Bulacan, its water level reached 100.57m. The dam has a spilling level of 100.80m. Ramos said if gates would be opened in Ipo, its waters will go to La Mesa Dam.

Meanwhile, water level in Binga Dam in Benguet was at 574.74m. It has a spilling level of 575.00m.

Caliraya Dam in Quezon, with a spilling level of 288.00m, had a water level of 287.39m.

No gates were opened as of posting time.

Reposted by Kishore Hemlani