Barako Bulls Danny Seigle and Doug Kramer battle Rafi Reavis and Leo Najorda of SMC. Photo by Inquirer Sports
Filipino basketball fans will have another reason to troop to the basketball stadium as PBA team Barako Bull Energy Colas will compete in the 2nd Al Shabab Club International Basketball Tournament. Games begin on 17th May until 25th. Joining Barako in the tournament are clubs from Lebanon, Libya, Egypt, Kuwait, a UAE-based American club and host team UAE.
Danny Seigle, Doug Kramer, JC Intal, Jonas Villanueva and Alein Maliksi will have to battle it out with taller and heftier clubs from the region, which will be reinforced of at least 2 imports. Barako Bull will be parading their Governors Cup import, Mike Singletary.
They will face Al Ahly – Libya on their first assignment tomorrow, 17th May. Their next assignments are Al Zamalek – Egypt on Saturday, and Team Unity – USA on Monday. All games will be played 9pm at Al Shabab Sports Club. Tickets start at AED25 and available at the gates.
Quarterfinals matches will be announced after Sunday.
In addition to my experience with the pilot LSE program, I’d like to share with you 17 random reasons why you should join the next Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship (LSE17) program, and eventually become a social entrepreneur in the near future:
You don’t want to be an employee forever
You want to bring out the leader in you and to develop your leadership skills
You want to learn how to better manage your personal finances
You want to connect with people who has the same mindset, principles and goals
You have business ideas yet you’re not sure how to transform them into reality
You want to meet people who will support your ideas and even help build those ideas
You want to be innovative and unique unlike most of the traditional businesses
You want to discover and unleash your hidden potentials, and become a well-rounded person
You want to be involved in an advocacy that reaches out to people
You want to learn various ways to invest your money
You want to raise your kids with entrepreneurial thinking
You want to be inspired by the successes of pioneer Filipino social entrepreneurs, and through the great lineup of speakers and lecturers – most from the Ateneo School of Government
You want to involve your family back home and provide them some ideas to start up with
You want to learn how and where to source support for your social business plan
You want to prepare yourself for the challenges that you may face when you jump into social entrepreneurship
You want to understand the ups and downs of being a social entrepreneur
You want to contribute in creating positive social changes in the community by providing solutions to social problems
If you can associate most of the items in the list to you, then LSE is for you. To join the program, please read the details below:
Before I moved here in the UAE, I was actively involved in a dynamic volunteer youth organization, Voice of the Youth Network, that encourages the Filipino youth to believe in themselves in creating and promoting positive social changes and in making a difference in the country. (See this video) Little did I know that the advocacy we were doing can actually lead into social entrepreneurship.
Over the last 6 months, I’ve spent 9 Fridays schooling in the 1st Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship (LSE) program by Ateneo School of Government (plus another 3 days on online sessions). LSE is a certificate course with 3 modules: Leadership, Financial Literacy and Social Entrepreneurship. It is dedicated to Filipinos overseas to help develop leadership skills and financial management towards more sustainable economic development opportunities for ourselves and the community.
The program brings topnotch guest speakers, lecturers and motivators from Ateneo de Manila University and other LSE programs in other countries like Italy, Hong Kong and Belgium. They help us be molded into well-rounded individuals and groups. They inspire us to create effective social enterprise business plans that aim to address various problems particularly those affecting the marginalized sectors in the community here and in the Philippines. Unlike the usual business ventures, social enterprises also measure success by achieving desired positive social changes. The training gives us fresh ideas about leadership and how to equip ourselves with the right attitude towards becoming entrepreneurs. The program is very fitting here in Dubai as I don’t see a lot of Filipinos running a business. It’s a sad reality that most of us only consider employment as the road after graduating in college. Our culture has raised us with the common goal to graduate to find the best possible job, not to create the best possible business. This has to change, and LSE is the right venue to initiate the change. LSE has also taught us very valuable lessons about financial literacy, gave us better understanding on managing our finances and avoiding or overcoming roadblocks ahead.
At the end of the program, the class of 45 has submitted significant proposals that address various social issues like environment and recycling, sanitation, education, fish farming and agriculture, personal care and more.
We are inspired as we discovered how some pioneer Filipino social entrepreneurs were able to build their businesses while reaching out to the community at the same time. It has opened a golden door for me to network with like-minded people. This program has encouraged this first batch to spearhead a Filipino social enterprise revolution here in Dubai and soon back home. LSE is a realization that we can do business while responding to various identified needs of the society – and this brings greater fulfilment to me.
Thanks to the working committee behind LSE lead by Milen Aviles and Jasper Adviento, and to the whole team. You are superb! You have given more than what we all were expecting. You have changed the lives of the 45.
And to each and everyone in the batch, I’ve learned a lot from you. The friendship is a really special bonus.
LSE is fun, so watch out for the next one. Did I say we have good food too? Thanks to Barrio Fiesta.
I am one of the millions of huge fans of Eraserheads. I grew up to their music, embracing every song and eventually injecting them to my ultraelectromagnetic system. But I never had a chance to see them perform live during their heydays (yeah, huge fan); and I thought it was too late for me to do so.
I had a starstruck experience in my first year high school when we attended the birthday party of Ely’s sister, my classmate, right at their residence in Las Piñas. Being a ‘promdi’ then, I had to compose myself – didn’t bothered to say hi to the big brother, and even forgot about the autograph.
Marcus Adoro
Though I was at The Final Set reunion concert in Manila in 2009, it still feels surreal seeing them together on stage. I saw Ely, Raimund and Buddy perform separately as part of Pupil, Sandwich and The Dawn, but there’s really something if the 4 of them are together.
An excited jampacked crowd at Dubai Media City Amphitheater loudly welcomed the Eraserheads. The show started with a dramatic 15-minute countdown, and the Heads entered in an unusually less-melodramatic way. Raimund did his traditional entrance as he raised his drumstick up, while Ely engaged with the crowd that early urging to make louder noise. Buddy was in his usual quiescent self, and Marcus seems to elude the spotlights. Unlike in their very first reunion concert in 2008, Ely engages a lot with the crowd this time.
Buddy Zabala
They opened the show with a very fitting “Walang Nagbago.” The digital backdrop is amazing as a huge waving Philippine flag flashes on. The stage is spectacular! The crowd went wild from thereon. Ely addressed the crowd as “Pilipinas”, all throughout the show, until finally singing “Magda-drive ako hanggang Dubai…” Why not, about 11,000 Pinoys troop to the concert – the crowd’s at its best. There’s a magical high level of energy from the band, particularly Ely and Raimund. They performed songs from their albums except Carbon Stereoxide. Alapaap, which for most in the crowd expected to be the opening song, is the last one on the encore. The surprisingly non-stop 2-hour and 30-minutes set include the following 27 performances (in particular order of performance):
Walang Nagbago
Maling Akala
Back2Me
Sembreak
Kaliwete
Ligaya
Huwag Mo Nang Itanong
Kailan
Spoliarium
Overdrive
With A Smile
Poorman’s Grave
Huwag Kang Matakot
Julie Tearjerky
Lightyears
Harana
Waiting for the Bus
Paru-parong Ningning
Torpedo
Minsan
Super Proxy
Kama Supra
Magasin
Ang Huling El Bimbo
Pare Ko (on encore)
Toyang(on encore)
Alapaap(on encore)
Raimund Marasigan
Raimund’s vocals was not in the show, and Marcus’ too – well I guess, the reggae version of Huwag Mo Nang Itanong is exclusive in The Final Set in Manila. Reunion in Dubai, for me, is better than the first Reunion Concert in 2008 (save for the great entrance and opening performance Alapaap).
After Alapaap, the show finished with the quartet and Sancho(?), the 5th Eraserhead on that night, bowed in front of the fulfilled crowd.
Listen to the crowd, here’s a clip of the countdown to the opening performance:
Will the reunion concert carry on? Possibly. It’s been 11 years since the iconic quartet disbanded, yet their music lives on. Look at the crowd:
I was excited this morning to drive to work. The first TAGalog-based FM radio station for Filipinos airs their pilot broadcast. Today is the launch of TAG 91.1 by Arabian Radio Network (ARN) – the same network that brought us The Filipino Rhythm on Dubai Eye 103.8 every weeknight for the last 5 years.
Something to call our own, finally!
According to Arab Media Group CEO, Mohamed Almulla, the birth of the station is dedicated to the growing population of Filipinos in the UAE he refers to as “obvious gap.” Currently we are about 645,000 here.
It’s a relief to listen to a different kind of music, far from the junk that most of the hits today are. Admit it, a lot of Filipino music really makes more sense than most of the popular jiggy ones these days.
I was listening to the morning show Gandang U-maga where former Virgin Radio RJ Louie and Daddy Bluebird from Dubai Eye host the show. They have a cool mix of OPM hits then and now, and a few international pop as well. The tandem adds fun, Pinoy style, to the typical morning drive. They also have some exciting competitions, and of course, the Pinoy favorite shout-outs too. It’s the first time I heard Louie speak Tagalog, I think it’s cute, but I guess she’s more used to doing it in English – or I’m just used to listening to her on Virgin. 😉 Keep it up!
TAG 91.1 broadcasts 24 hours day. At this launch, they have the following live programs to offer on weekdays: 5am – 10am – Gandang U-maga with Louie and Daddy Bluebird 10am – 2pm – Chikahan with Chikay 4pm – 8pm – Uwian Na! with Maria Maldita
Pre-recorded shows / playlists fill up the rest of the vacant slots for now: 2pm – 4pm – That’s Love 8pm – 10pm – Late Night Love Songs 10pm – 2am – TAG Request Mo Play Ko 2am – 5am – Music Express
The programming lineup for weekends: 9am – 12pm – Kantambayan with Chikay 12pm – 3pm – Pinoy Song Hits with Maria Maldita 3pm – 6pm – Bandang Hapon with Louie 6pm – 9pm – Patok Jeproks
An iPhone app is also available. ARN is currently working on apps for Android and Blackberry as well.
This is what all of us have been waiting for. If you’re looking for laughter and cheers, TAG is for you. Ayos to! I suddenly miss hosting a radio show.
This morning in Deira, a police officer (yes, in uniform) was running from the opposite side of the road, calling the attention of 2 guys who have just crossed the same road. The men, who crossed the traffic-free road, stopped to their surprise. Apparently they were fined for jaywalking. There seems something not right in what happened. If the officer aims to prevent accidents, he should have stopped the guys from crossing, and not watched them do it and chase them later on.
So guys beware. As much as possible cross only on designated pedestrian crossings, and only when the right signal light is on. Even when there’s no vehicles passing by, do not cross til the pedestrian signal light turns green. A friend was fined also for crossing a pedestrian lane but with red light on. Sometimes, police officers on duty are wearing civilian clothes. They are really on the “hunt.” In 2012, there were about 45,000 cases of jaywalking listed by Dubai Police. “Too much jaywalking my friend!“
Just be patient and wait. I know we always prefer shortcuts than to walk longer paths, especially during noontime or during summer. But it’s always better than paying minimum of AED200 fine and a police record. After all, it’s for your safety.
Here’s to looking forward for more ped xing and footbridges in Dubai.
A week after its first press release, my Facebook feeds are filled with photos and posts about Dubai Miracle Garden, the emirate’s latest outdoor attraction. Why not? The place really promises another great experience. If you are tired of the strenuous modern cityscape, your daily work-home routine, and you want to give your eyes some refreshments, then the garden is the place to fo. Or if you’ve ran out of ideas for a prenuptial or wedding shoot venues, the garden is the next best location.
The 72,000 sq. m. Dubai Miracle Garden features 45 million flowers in stunning designs and amusing shapes like pyramids, hearts and arcs among others. It is currently vying for a Guinness record for world’s longest flower wall with a 1 kilometer circumference. Being one of the world’s most beautiful gardens could not be far-fetched at all.
The park, launched on Valentines Day, is open to public until late May and will re-open in October this year. During the off, second-phase of the development will commence, with having more retail outlets, restaurants, souvenir shops, plan nurseries and a multi-storey car park will be constructed.
It opens 9am everyday and closes by 9pm. It is located at Dubailand, near Arabian Ranches. AED20 is the entrance fee, kids 3 years old and below are free.
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, no, it’s a new Salik gate! Here’s another measure from RTA “to reduce traffic” – Al Mamzar Salik Tollgate (and Airport Tunnel Tollgate).
I live in Sharjah and work in Deira (Clock Tower). I had to leave by 6 every morning to reach office by 7 am. If I leave beyond 6:15 am, I would reach Deira by 7:30 the earliest.
Motorists raised some suggestions in the past to solve the traffic congestion in Al Ittihad road. There were suggestions to put up bridges or to develop new routes or to open the Mamzar exit to private cars. Apparently, the authority thought of Salik as the “best” solution.
Would it really reduce congestion? RTA sees that the installation of new Salik tollgates will divert traffic into other “less-utilized roads” like the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (formerly Emirates Road), Dubai Bypass Road and Al Khail Road. So soon these roads will be jammed because of traffic diversions.
They’re also expecting that a significant number of motorists would opt to use public buses and the Metro to avoid the toll fee.
In other countries, a tollgate is installed if, and only if, new facilities are constructed – like a new bridge, tunnels or exit roads for example. In Dubai-Sharjah road, none is new.
The Mamzar and Airport Tunnel tollgates will be operational from 15th April 2013.
Minsan tayo’y nangarap marinig muli Ang Huling El Bimbo? Mga Pare Ko, it’s not Hard To Believe anymore. Sa Wakas! Mag-o-Overdrive sila dito sa Dubai at mangha-Harana upang dalin tayo sa Alapaap at Ligaya. Kailan? Sa April 4. Huwag Mo Nang Itanong kung bakit. Ito ay Para Sa Masa sa Dubai, Kaliwete man o Kananete.
Kaya Hey Jay, mag-practice ka na to Shake Yer Head. Isama mo pa si Shirley, Julie at Toyang. It will surely be a Fine Time at siguradong matatapos ang gabi Wth A Smile. Hindi ito Maling Akala.
My all-time favorite, one of the most successful Filipino rock bands of the 90s, Eraserheads is coming for another reunion concert. The Eheads are set to perform for the Du World Music Festival on April 4 at Dubai Media City Ampitheatre.
(Updated 26th Feb) Tickets to Eraserheads Reunion in Dubai are priced as follows:
You can buy tickets online at TimeOut Tickets. Doors open 6pm, and rakenrol starts 9pm.
Special Offer for du Subscribers: 15% OFF on ALL ERASERHEADS ticket categories. Just SMS ‘WMF’ to 9294, you will receive an SMS back with a discount code. Go to http://www.timeouttickets.com/duWMFoffers, enter the discount code and purchase the tickets you want. Offer is only valid till 11:59 PM on 01st March only.
Trivia: Eraserheads has toured Dubai in Natin99 with Francis M, and the ticket that time only costs AED60. Wow! Here’s a copy of the concert poster (courtesy of Eraserheads 2013 Facebook page).
