All Set For Tri United

Over 600 triathletes from across the nation will vie for supremacy in the Unilab Active Health’s Tri United 1 on Sunday at the Subic Bay Freeport.

Organized by Raul Cuevas’ BikeKing and held in cooperation with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Tourism Department and presented by Unilab Active Health, the event will officially kick off the 2013 season of the 4-leg Tri United series.

Events on tap are Standard Distance (1.5 Km swim, 40 Km bike,10 Km run), Sprint (750 M swim, 20 Km bike, 5 Km run) and Teens (750 M swim, 20 Km bike, 5 Km run).

As in the previous staging, organizers expect another intense showdown for various titles with the presence of elite triathletes as well as a large pool of age-groupers and triathlon clubs.

Also backing the event – the first of five events BikeKing has scheduled for the year – are Aboitiz Power, Enervon Activ, Enervon HP, I-on Energy Drink, Hydrite, 3rd District of Bohol, Pocari Sweat, TIMEX, Crystal Clear Purified Water and Orbea. (Manila Bulletin)

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Uzbeks among early arrivals for Asian boxfest

THE Uzbekistan youth team is flying in Thursday ahead of everybody else in preparation for the 2013 ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships which fires off March 10-17 at Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) gym.

The Uzbeks are expected to be led by recently named national coach Mars Kucharov who steered the Korean boxing team to a silver medal finish in the London Olympics. Kucharov has also previously trained boxers in Taiwan and China.

“Obviously, they want to acclimatize early which is a sure sign of their earnest desire to win,” said Ricky Vargas, president of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines, who is overseeing the tournament backed by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, PLDT, Smart, Maynilad, Metro Pacific Tollways, Clarktel, Subictel, Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotions Board, Videogear Inc., Exile Lights and Sound, Philippine Olympic Committee, and the Philippine Sports Coeammission.

The ABAP-PLDT Philippine team has drawn from the youth pool and will parade James Palicte (60 kgs), Jade Bornea (49 kgs.), Ian Clark Bautista (52 kgs), Jonas Bacho (56 kgs), and Eumir Felix Marcial (64 kgs).

Teams from Turkmenistan and Sri Lanka will arrive on Saturday followed by the main bulk of participating Asian countries, including China, on Sunday, said ABAP executive director Ed Picson.

After the accreditation at the Subic International Hotel and a technical meeting late Sunday, the medical and general weigh-in and the official draw will be held Monday.

A one-hour opening ceremony at 5 p.m. is wedged between two sets of preliminary bouts.

Aiba president Dr. Ching Kuo Wu is gracing the inaugural rites along with Asian Boxing Confederation president Gofur Rakhimov of Uzbekistan and ASBC executive director Aziz Kozhambetov. (Spin.ph)

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Subic to host ASBC Youth boxing tourney

Scenic Subic Bay will provide a breathtaking backdrop to the fierce action set to break out March 10-17 when the ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships kicks off in this coastal municipality of Zambales.

With 26 Asian countries sending their fighters 17-18 years of age for the 10-weight division slugfest at the Subic Bay gym, no less than officials of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority are getting ready for the forthcoming ring combat and the influx of foreign athletes.

“We want to highlight this as a world class event,” said SBMA deputy administrator Raul F. Marcelo. “[SBMA] Chairman Bobby Garcia has given explicit instructions to fully cooperate with PLDT-ABAP in seeing to it that all efforts are made to impress upon our foreign guests our unique brand of hospitality, organizational savv, and the natural charm of Subic Bay.”

For the weeklong event, SBMA, according to ABAP executive director Ed Picson, has refurbished the air-conditioned Subic Bay gym with a fresh coat of paint, comfortable lounges and locker rooms.

“They will also be deploying ample security personnel to assure order in the event which has drawn over 130 boxers,” said Picson.

“We expect our guests to not only enjoy exciting and competitive boxing, but also everything that Subic Bay has to offer in terms of accommodation, entertainment and an environment of relaxation and the good life,” said Marcelo.. “We are proud to partner with PLDT, Smart and ABAP in welcoming all our guests.”

For his part, ABAP president Ricky Vargas expressed gratitude to SBMA chairman and administrator Roberto V. Garcia and deputy administrator Marcelo for the “enthusiastic support” they show for this national effort because “this is not just an ABAP venture but a national one.”

Powerhouse China, North Korea, former Soviet republics, and the Middle Eastern bloc, including war-torn Syria, are among the nations that have confirmed their participation. (PhilBoxing.com)

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TRAP program comes to the fore in Subic tilt

THE Triathlon Association of the Philippines’ successful technical resources development program comes to the fore when the K-Swiss Subic Bay ASTC Asian Triathlon Championships 2013 is staged on April 27-29.

Tom Carrasco, TRAP president and POC chairman, said the association has been “focusing on the development of technical officials since we started the Subic Bay International Triathlon in 1993 and its heartening the see fruits of our efforts.”

TRAP secretary-general Mon Marchan, a level 3 ITO (the apex of the International Triathlon Union technical official hierarchy) official, heads the local organizing committee, with Rachel Ribo Dumuk, also a level 3 ITO, acting as chief technical official.

Marchan, chairman of the Asian Triathlon Confederation technical committee, officiated in the 2008 Beijing Olympics while Dumuk, also an official of the Philippine Sports Commission, served as ITO in both Beijing and London Olympics.

Level 2 ITO Fabian David will be an assistant technical delegate to back up China’s Qin Jianqui (level 3 ITO). Daniel Sng (level 2) of Singapore is the assistant technical delegate for the ParaTriathlon (for the differently abled) and Kiriyo Suzuki (level 3) of Japan the referee

Balwant Singh Kler, the ASTC’s secretary-general, and treasurer David Hoong, both level 3 ITOs, will sit as jurors in the event sponsored by K-Swiss, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Tourism Department, Standard Insurance, Century Tuna, Speedo, David’s Salon, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines, Gatorade, Fitness First and the Philippine Sports Commission.

Level 2 ITO Alex David takes charge of the run leg with Meinard David and Armand Fabi overseeing the swim and bike phases, respectively. Willie Pabuaya will be the top official at the finish.

The task of ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the results falls on the shoulders of TRAP vice president Red Dumuk, the race director of the ASTC when it was first organized by the TRAP in 1996.

Level 2 ITO Rick Reyes serves as protocol chief and ASTC Congress and Executive Board meeting project director Ting Joson, a member of the ITU and ASTC’s women’s committees, and Sarita Zafra will head marketing for the sponsors.

The David brothers, Dumuk and Reyes have been pressed to action in the Asian Games. (Malaya)

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Foreigners impressed with Subic’s transformation

Dignitaries from India and the Myanmar visited this free port on separate occasions recently and left visibly impressed with the transformation of Subic from a military base into a bustling economic haven.

Indian Ambassador Amit Dasgupta, who met with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman Roberto Garcia, said they are giving Subic high importance in terms of business potentials.

“It is a great place and I think it contributes much to our economic relations with the Philippines,” Dasgupta remarked during a courtesy call with Garcia on February 15, noting that several ships of the Indian Navy have already docked in Subic.

Dasgupta also suggested that the SBMA make a presentation for potential locators in business process outsourcing, adding that companies in Manila are now looking to expand their non-voice operations.

Garcia also welcomed last week visitors from Myanmar who sought to learn about how Subic was transformed from a U.S. military base into a premier business and logistics hub.

These included Khine Khine New of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry; Zam Cin Pao of Chin National Party; Thein Tun Aye of Paunku; Kyaw Win Khaing of Rakhine Thahaya Association; and Channisitha Mark of International Aler.

Garcia also briefed them on the programs and projects of the SBMA, the existing policies and facilities in the Subic Bay Freeport, and shared with them some the elements of a successful base conversion.

“Good leadership, an enabling law, a vision… these are some of the things you would need if you want a complete transformation,” Garcia told the delegates. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
SBMA Chairman and Administrator Roberto V. Garcia welcomes Indian Ambassador Amit Dasgupta during a courtesy call last February 15 in Subic Bay Freeport.

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Tri United race returns to Subic

ANOTHER season of excitement and endurance is all set to start with the launch of Unilab Active Health’s 2013 Tri United series of races with Tri United 1 at Dungaree Beach, Subic Bay Freeport on March 10.

Other than an all-new, scenic location, endurance tests await 600 participants who have signed up to compete in the Standard Distance (1.5 Km swim, 40 Km bike, 10 Km run), Sprint Distance (750 m swim, 20 km bike, 5 km run) and Teens Distance (750 m swim, 20 km bike, 5 km run) events.

Swimming and transition will be at Dungaree Beach while the bike leg is set along Argonaut Highway and the run leg and finish line will be along San Bernardo Road.

At stake in the event sponsored by Unilab Active Health, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Tourism Department, Aboitiz Power, Enervon Activ, Enervon HP, I-on Energy Drink, Hydrite, BIKEKING, 3rd District of Bohol, Pocari Sweat, TIMEX, Crystal Clear Mineral Water and Orbea are medals and gift packs for all Top 3 winners of the Elite Male, Elite Female, Team Relay, Team Competition, standard and sprint distance age-group categories, and the Teen Male and Teen Female categories.

Organized by BIKEKING (headed by Raul Cuevas) in cooperation with the SBMA Tourism Department and presented by Unilab Active Health, Tri United 1 is the first of four races scheduled for 2013. (Journal Online)

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More Subic Bay Investors Eyed

The Subic Bay Development Management Center (SBDMC) disclosed that if this premier Freeport could provide an increasing supply of reliable and cost-effective power, more investors are expected to establish their businesses here.

According to SBDMC President Jeff Lin, administrator of the Subic Bay Gateway Park (SBGP), power costs represent a huge chunk of the cost of conducting business here.

The Subic Bay Gateway Park is a world-class industrial park offering approximately 150 hectares of prime industrial land, and is host to about 80 direct locators, and 60 plus sub-lessees made up mostly of manufacturing and production firms.

“The Philippines currently has one of the highest power rates in the Asian region. Foreign or even local businessman looking at locating and investing here will see this as a disadvantage. We believe we have to try to remedy this somehow,” he said.

At the same time, the SBDMC reiterated its support for the Redondo Peninsula Energy (RP Energy), a fellow SBFZ investor and locator.

Lin also disclosed that the SBDMC and its locators support the power project of the RP Energy, being developed within the Freeport.

They have actually been counting on the power to be supplied by the 600-megawatt power project to the Luzon Grid to help address the need for additional reliable and competitively-priced power.

The Department of Energy’s Philippine Energy Plan states that some 11,000-megawatt in additional capacity is needed until 2030 for the Luzon grid alone.

This projection is based on a 4.8-percent annual growth in energy demand.

This means a new 600-megawatt power plant needs to be online every year, starting 2016 onwards.

During the past, a group of Subic locators already projected the need to increase power supply in the Luzon area to keep up with economic development and avoid a power situation as that in Mindanao.

The Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce (SBFCC) reminded local and national stakeholders to recognize the need to move forward with power investments in the Luzon grid.

According to the chamber, the government needs to fast-track the construction of base-load power plants to augment the capacity and provide cheaper power. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

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2013 a productive year for Subic - SBMA chief

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman and Administrator Roberto Garcia announced several huge projects for Subic Bay Freeport this year.

Garcia said most of the negotiations with different investors done last year would be pushing through in 2013.

Resom Resort Co., Ltd project in Minanga, in Morong, Bataan was sidelined because of a land dispute but this year, but Garcia said it will pursue three major builds.

Garcia said the first will be a multi-million dollar luxury hotel at the former mini golf area along the famous waterfront road.

The second will be a hotel, casino and spa in Cubi and a golf course in Minanga in Morong, Bataan.

Resom will invest an estimated P600 million in the projects, Garcia said.

Ocean Nine, which was also side-tracked last year due to a legal problem will start to renovate the former Legenda Hotel.

“Included in their license which is expected to come out this week is for the operation and renovation of the former Legenda hotel and the El Centro Convention Center,” Garcia said.

“These two project will infuse $30 million,” he added.

Another company in the leisure industry which will be doing a project in Subic this year is Holiday Inn with an estimated investment of P1.8 billion.

The agency is also looking for an investor to lease out the current administration building along waterfront road.

The administration building is considered as a historic landmark in Subic to some because this building was the former command center of the United States Navy.

Talks are currently being held with companies into aircraft and maintenance service, he added.

“We are also talking to several Hong Kong companies who are considering to relocate operation in Subic.” Garcia said.

“One company we are talking to right now has 16 and the other one has 36 charter jets, if all goes well, the airport will be a busy place this year,” he said.

Vale, an iron ore transshipment company who brought around P60 million in revenues for Subic last year is looking at doubling its revenues this year, he said.

Subic’s port is also expected to be busy after Garcia said Purefood, San Miguel and another fertilizer firm expressed keen interest in it.

Black and Decker, a US-based powertool manufacturer, will also be setting up shop in Subic soon, Garcia said.

“With all this investments coming this year, we are confident that Subic will prosper this year and we hope that we can sustain all of this and add more,” he added. (Anthony Bayarong, Philippine Star)

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HK yachtsman wins Subic Bay to Boracay Race

Hong Kong-based yachtsman Frank Pong made mincemeat of the competition to snatch provisional honors in the Subic Bay to Boracay Race on Monday.

Pong steered his Reichel Pugh 76 Jelik to the unofficial victory with a time of eight hours and 59 minutes, just a fraction of the time it normally took a yacht to navigate the 210-nautical-mile course.

Jelik was ahead of Geof Hill’s Smith 72 Custom Antipodes. Filipino businessman Jude Echauz’s TP52 Standard Insurance Centennial III came in third after 23 hours and 14 minutes of hard sailing.

The Subic to Boracay Race is classified as a category 3 offshore race by the International Sailing Federation. The course takes from 17 to 40 hours, depending on the size of the yacht and sea and wind conditions in the route.

A total of 11 local and foreign entries in the racing-, cruiser racing- and cruising-class divisions left Subic Bay on Saturday for Boracay. The competitors vied not only for the Subic-Boracay Race Cup and the Boracay Regatta Cup, but also for the prestigious “Asian Yachtsman of the Year” and “Yacht of the Year” titles given by the Asian Yachting Circuit.

At the race’s end, however, only 10 yachts made it into the harbor of the island-paradise and two yachts retired from the race after encountering problems, organizers reported.

These included defending overall champion Jun Avecilla’s Benetau 36.7 Selma Star C! Calibre Rox, which limped with a broken spinnaker, and Sam Chan’s TP52 FreeFire, which was demasted while passing through Fortune Islands just four hours out of Subic Bay.

FreeFire, which shattered the Hainan-to-Hong Kong yacht race record in October last year, was one of the favorites in the IRC Racing Class, and along with Neil Pryde’s Hi-Fi, was expected to provide stiff competition to Jelik.

Following the end of the Subic-to-Boracay leg, the yachts continued with more races for the Boracay Cup Regatta from February 18 to 22.

The two races are jointly organized by the Subic-based Saturday Afternoon Gentlemen Sailing group and the Boracay Cup Organizing Committee. (Henry Empeño, Business Mirror)

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PPA calls for serious study on decongesting Manila ports

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) yesterday sought a more thorough study on how to make “more utilizable” the largely under-utilized Subic and Batangas ports.

Such study, the PPA said, would balance the interests of such stakeholders as port and terminal operators, exporters and other shippers, shipping lines and cargo forwarders.

Decongesting traffic to and from the Manila ports and rerouting cargoes to Subic and Batangas ports “is a way to go forward,” PPA general manager Juan Sta. Ana admitted in news briefing as he announced the holding in Manila of the 11th Asean Ports Association (APA) sportsfest on Feb. 25.

“We are not against it,” he said, adding that any policy advocating similar cargo diversion should put premium to market forces at play and should not place the exporters in harm’s way.

Sta. Ana issued this statement after newsmen pressed him into speaking about a set of policy recommendations, drawn up by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), that sought to decongest the overcrowded Manila ports by rerouting spillover cargoes to either Subic and Batangas.

In the same breath, Sta. Ana stressed the need to revive the cargo rail links that used to transport container cargo from Manila ports to container yards near economic zones and industrial parks in Laguna.

The cargo rail links which effectively removed the less desirable cargo trucks from Metro Manila roads, proved to be unprofitable for the private firm than the Philippine National Railways, prompting rail authorities to forgo the system.

Sta. Ana said the revival of the cargo rail system would help decongest Manila ports.
Meantime, the PPA announced it posted P8.9 billion in total revenues in 2012, or 2.01 percent bigger than that year’s income target.

Port revenues, or incomes derived from vessels and cargoes and remittances from terminal operators, were recorded during the same year at P8.61 billion.

The port authority attributed the growth in port revenues to, by and large, the country’s increased mining activities last year.

Last year’s economic growth enabled the PPA-run ports and terminals to handle cargoes totaling 181.49 MMT (million metric tons), up 1.8 percent from previous year.

According to the Jica-commissioned study, which was actually conducted by Transport and Traffic Planners Inc., Subic port’s usage in 2011 was 5.6 percent of its actual capacity, while Batangas port’s utilization was 4.2 percent, also during the same year.

The same study showed these ports’ combined cargo volume paled in comparison with the container traffic handled in 2011 by the Manila ports.

Sta. Ana said Subic port utilization did not move an inch even after it lowered two years ago its fees, such as wharfage and other charges.

Batangas port, he added, likewise adjusted its berthing fee. But these price adjustments seemed not enough, he said even as he called for a more comprehensive study on how to make both Subic and Batangas ports more appealing to shipping lines and shippers.

Sta. Ana said that Jica, in coming up with a more comprehensive study on improving Subic and Batangas ports’ usage, should also determine the requirements not only of shipping lines but also those of logistics companies.

The Jica study proposed a policy mix that also included a six-year delay in capacity-expansion investments at the South Harbor and Manila International Container Terminal (MICP).

But Sta. Ana said these capacity-expansion projects were “on schedule” and could not be delayed any longer.

On the APA sports festival, which will be held from Feb. 25 to March 1 in various sports complexes in the Philippines, Sta. Ana said it would be a “very good avenue in promoting camaraderie” among the officials and employees of APA member-ports.

More than 500 delegates from Asean countries are expected to participate in sportsfest events like golf, futsal, badminton, mini-marathon, bowling and table tennis.


Sta. Ana said the sports festival would be open to the public. (The Daily Tribune)

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Subic Bay to Boracay race begins

The race from Subic Bay Freeport to Boracay Island is on!

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) deputy administrator for tourism Raul Marcelo sounded the horn here at 12:00 noon on Saturday to mark the start of the Subic Bay to Boracay Race, sending sailors to take advantage of a good easterly breeze of 20-22 knots to position themselves ahead of the pack.

Local and foreign yachtsmen from the Asian Yachting Circuit are participating in this competition, along with the succeeding Boracay Regatta, to vie for the prestigious “Asian Yachtsman of the Year” and “Yacht of the Year” titles.

The yachts, which are sailing under racing, cruiser racing, and cruising classes, are expected to finish the Subic-Boracay Race from 17 to 40 hours, depending on the size of the boat and the sea and wind conditions in the route.

Organizers said that to help race enthusiasts monitor the event, participating yachts have been installed with PLDT F.A.S.Track GPS live-tracking devices for the duration of the gruelling 210-nautical mile ISAF Category 3 Offshore race.

Fans and the public alike can be a part of the race by following the sailors online via the dedicated website http://www.pldtfastrackonline.com.ph/SBBR2013/, or they can fly with Cebu Pacific, the official air carrier of the regatta, to the exotic island of Boracay to catch the excitement in the Boracay Cup Regatta from February 18 to 22.

Overall winners in each racing class will bring home an impressive handcrafted solid-brass trophy designed by Ferdinand Cacnio, a multi-awarded visual Filipino artist, which was officially commissioned by the provincial government of Aklan.

Sailing in the Philippines, particularly in Subic Bay and Boracay, has evolved with growing popularity and interest over the last several years, catching the attention of Grand Prix yachts and top-notch local and foreign sailors.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said the annual Subic to Boracay Race has catapulted the Philippines, along with Subic, among the high-ranked sailing destination with a lot of beautiful places to visit.

The Subic Bay to Boracay Race and the Boracay Cup Regatta are organized by the Subic-based Saturday Afternoon Gentlemen’s Sailing (SAGS) club and the Boracay Cup Organizing Committee in conjunction with The Lighthouse Marina Resort, the municipal government of Malay, the Philippine Coast Guard, the provincial government of Aklan, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, and Watercraft Ventures Corp. under the auspices of the Philippine Sailing Association.

The Subic Bay to Boracay Race is supported by Subic Bay International Terminal Corp (SBITC), Standard Insurance, Cebu Pacific , PLDT Subictel, PLDT Alpha Enterprise, PLDT SME Nation, San Miguel Corp, Tanduay, R.O.X., TIEZA, and the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce.

The Boracay Cup Regatta is supported by the Department of Tourism, TIEZA, PCSO, Ibiza Beach Club, Movenpick Resort, Discovery Shores, Boracay Regency, The District Boracay, Boracay Beach Resort, 2GO, FILA and Ralph's Wines & Spirits. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
SBMA deputy administrator for tourism Raul Marcelo sounds the horn to start the Subic to Boracay Race, after which participants took advantage of favorable winds to exit Subic Bay.

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23 countries vie for ASBC Youth crown

Powerhouse China, North Korea, former Soviet republics, and the Middle Eastern bloc, including war-torn Syria, are among 23 countries that have confirmed their participation in the 2013 ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championship set March 10 to 17 at the Subic gym.

As many as 25 nations, including host Philippines, are expected to send their finest boxing youths to the tournament, and this early Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Macau, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Chinese Taipei, Turkmenistan, Iran, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh have already guaranteed a slam-bang affair with their confirmation.

The magnitude of the event is not lost on Abap officials.

“This is fast becoming a logistical challenge but we are meeting it head-on,” said Abap president Ricky Vargas Saturday on the eve of the PLDT-Abap National Championships at the Maasin City gym in Southern Leyte.

“We are getting good support from the Asian Boxing Confederation and even the International Boxing Association (AIBA). As a matter of fact, AIBA president Dr. Ching Kuo Wu has already confirmed that he will attend. Likewise ASBC president Gofur Rakhimov. SBMA has also enthusiastically helping, as our friends from PLDT and Smart. We’re looking forward to a great tournament.”

AIBA technical delegate Nieva Tesoro-Embuldeniya, a Filipina from Lal-lo, Cagayan and a University of Santo Tomas graduate, and Aziz Kozhambetov, executive director of ASBC, came away impressed from an ocular inspection of the venue last week, said Abap executive director Ed Picson, who is on tap for boxers 17 to 18 years old are 10 weight divisions from 49kgs light flyweight to 91kgs super heavyweight.

“We’re hoping to field bets in six divisions,” said Picson, who is currently overseeing action in the national championships.

Maasin City Mayor Maloney Samaco, an avid sports fan, and Southern Leyte Gov. Damian Mercado have extended their full support for the Feb. 17 to 23 competition which is expected to draw 20 teams and 100 boxers from all over the country. (The Daily Tribune)

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Elite triathletes due for Subic event

A BIG field of more than 300 elite and age-group triathletes coming from 27 Asian countries will converge at the Subic Bay Freeport in late April to compete for honors in the K-Swiss Subic Bay ASTC Asian Triathlon Championships 2013.

Set on April 27-29, the event has attracted among others, 2012 SUBIT champion and London Olympian Bai Faquan (China), Yuichi Hosoda (Japan), Jiang Zhihang(China), Ryosuke Yamamoto (Japan), Harunobu Sato (Japan), Kim Ji Hwan (Korea), Shohruh Yunusov (Uzbekistan) and former ITU world champion Dimitriy Gaag (Kazakhstan).

Leading the women’s field are Asian No. 1 Zhang Yi, No. 2 Zhong Mengying and No. 3 Xin Lingxi of China, Tomoko Sakimoto, Yuko Takahashi, Hideko Kikuchi, and Kiyomi Niwata of Japan, Jang Yun Jung of South Korea, and Yekaterina Shatnaya of Kazakhstan.

The Under-23 and junior divisions of the event backed by K-Swiss, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Tourism Department, Standard Insurance, Century Tuna, Speedo, David’s Salon, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines, Gatorade, Fitness First and the Philippine Sports Commission has also attracted a big field.

Leading the Philippine delegation is current national record holder and champion Nikko Huelgas who will compete in the elite category along with teammates John Chicano, Kim Mangrobang (U-23 Women), Mary Pauline Fornea, Kevin Eijansantos and Allen Santiago. Youth Olympic Games aspirants Magali Echauz, Vicky Deldeo, Kate Lagman, Jimuel Patillan, Justin Chiongbian and Louie Lalanto will see action in the 15-16 junior sprint competitions.

Registration is going on with entry fees pegged at P5,000 until Feb. 28 for the standard distance local participants and $200 (until Feb. 28) for foreign non-residents. For the sprint and mini-sprint distances, the entry fees for locals are P4,000 (until Feb. 28) and $150 for foreign non-residents.

Team relay entry fees (until Feb. 28) are P8,000 for 2-member teams and P12,000 for 3-member teams. Entry forms are available at Speedo Concept Stores and BikeKing.

Interested parties can contact the Triathlon Association of the Philippines through tel. nos. 399-6598, 710-8259, 0916-5046513 and 0915-6394233 or by sending an email tofabiedavid@yahoo.com. (Malaya)

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Futsal fever invades Subic

Futsal, the five-versus-five indoor variant of football, has reached Subic Bay with no less than Ayala’s Harbor Point Mall serving as venue for a 10-day football clinic for kids who wanted to learn what is touted to be the world’s most popular game.

Argee Gomez, Harbor Point marketing manager, said the Harbor Point Futsal Clinic will be held at the mall’s activity center from March 5 to April 4. It will be open to kids aged six to 12.

The twice-a-week clinic aims to introduce football game appreciation and techniques using drills and fun games and is being undertaken in partnership with the Subic-based Lighthouse Amihan Football Club (LAFC), Gomez added.

John Bayarong, LAFC manager, said this is the most comprehensive football clinic in the Subic Bay Freeport and Olongapo City area today.

“The best part of this is that coaches trained by the Asian Football Confederation [AFC] have agreed to share their knowledge with the local kids, so this will be a very significant event for football enthusiasts here,” he added.

The AFC is the football governing body in Asia and a member of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (Fifa).

Bayarong also said that it was futsal which has helped Brazil, Spain, Iran and Japan develop their football talents.

Esmaeil Sedigh, Philippine Futsal team coach, has earlier lauded the partnership between the LAFC and Harbor Point, saying these kind of linkages “strengthens the bond of local clubs, the supporters, and the community.”

“This partnership is a model that we must duplicate nationwide, not only to popularize the sport, but to ensure talent development in our communities,” Sedigh said.

Gomez, meanwhile, said that Harbor Point Mall shopper will also have the opportunity to join the clinic by simply purchasing items from participating mall merchants.

“There are 15 regular and five shopper’s slots available to ensure that the participants get the best experience and training possible,” he said. (Henry Empeño, Business Mirror)

In Photo: A young futsal enthusiast dribbles around a cone during a recent futsal activity at Subic’s Harbor Point Mall.

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Subic Maintains Competitive Port Fees

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) decried reports claiming that shipping costs in this premier Freeport will increase as soon as the government reroutes their traffic from the port of Manila to here.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said contrary to figures being floated around, the SBMA services are as competitive as that of Manila’s.

He said that Subic’s rates are meant to attract ship operators to use the Port of Subic.

With an aggressive stance in promoting this premier Freeport as the go-to cargo and container port terminal in Central and Northern Luzon, the agency set out rates and incentives to be more competitive than in Manila.

Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya endorsed the Port of Subic, encouraging cargo shippers to use Subic Bay and Batangas ports to decongest the ever-growing traffic in the Port of Manila.

Recent study shows that the utilization rate of Subic Bay Freeport is 5 percent, while Batangas’ rate is 4 percent.

But Christian Gonzalez, general manager of Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) and regional head of International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) told reporters last week that the move will “make trade more costly.”

The suggestion (of using Subic and Batangas) goes against market dynamics, he claims and “the way to keep costs down in this port environment is to let the consumers decide.” (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

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