Day: March 26, 2024

MANILA: The Philippines hopes to become one of the best volleyball homecourts when it hosts the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship next year.

A total of 32 teams will see action in the Sept. 12 to 28, 2025 tournament, one of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation’s (PNVF) efforts to bring the sport closer to Filipinos following the successful staging of the Volleyball Nations League for two years.

‘We will make them feel at home right at our own home,’ PNVF pesident Tats Suzara said during the press conference at Marquis Events Place in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig on Tuesday.

Suzara was joined by Senator and PNVF chair emeritus Alan Peter Cayetano, Department of Tourism Director for Film and Sports Tourism Roberto Alabado III and Cignal TV president and chief executive officer Jane Basas

‘I am ready. We are ready. The team is ready. The Philippines is ready to face the challenges and fulfill a dream as our hearts beat collectively to serve the sport. If you love volleyball, then you will su
rely love the Philippines,” he added.

Cayetano, who will serve as chair of the local organizing committee like what he did in the successful 2019 Southeast Asian Games hosting, eyes another legacy for the country.

‘It’s how we, as a people, welcome the rest of the world. I believe that our hope in a successful hosting will be by faith and action — faith in God and action as a community. I believe that it’s time for the world volleyball to see how united the Philippine volleyball community is,’ said Cayetano.

FIVB president Ary Graca is expecting a one-of-a-kind world championship.

‘We are confident that the Philippines will host an extraordinary World Championship that will leave a lasting legacy and help cultivate an even brighter future for our sport globally,’ Graca said following the announcement of the Philippines as solo host at the FIVB headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland last week.

The Department of Tourism will extend its full support to the hosting of the biggest volleyball event in the worl
d.

‘We like to assure and ensure that DOT fully supports this event. We are here to make the experience of spectators, players and visitors during this world championship in the Philippines very unforgettable,’ Alabado said.

The draw will be held in Manila exactly a year before the first serve on Sept. 12, marking the country’s year-long countdown and the start of the national team buildup.

Source: Philippines News Agency

CAMP SIONGCO: Fifteen members of the extremist Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) took the chance to return to mainstream society while observing the fasting month of Ramadan.

Brig. Gen. Oriel Pangcog, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Brigade, welcomed Monday afternoon the surrender of the BIFF members.

Pangcog and Col. Michael Glenn Manansala, commander of the 6th Infantry Battalion (6IB), presented the combatants to Maguindanao del Sur Vice Governor Nathaniel Midtimbang during the surrender program and distribution of livelihood assistance at the 6IB headquarters in Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur, according to a news release.

The returnees also turned in their high-powered firearms.

‘They are active members of the local terrorist group,’ Manansala, who facilitated the surrender of the violent extremists, said.

Among the firearms that the BIFF turned over to the military were an 81mm mortar launcher and two homemade cal. 50 Barrett rifles.

Each surrenderer received a sack of rice and monet
ary and non-monetary assistance from the provincial government.

‘Tell your colleagues to reconsider returning to the fold of the law and live peacefully with your loved ones,’ Maj. Gen. Alex Rillera, Army 6th Infantry Division commander, said.

Since January, at least 30 violent extremists operating in two Maguindanao provinces have surrendered to the military.

Source: Philippines News Agency

TACLOBAN: The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Eastern Visayas on Tuesday destroyed through burning PHP117 million worth of cocaine and shabu, some of which were recovered recently in the coastal waters of Eastern Samar province.

PDEA assistant regional director Alex Tablete and Philippine National Police (PNP) Region 8 Director Brig. Gen. Reynaldo Pawid led the destruction of the illegal drugs in a crematorium in Palo town.

It was witnessed by representatives from the National Prosecution Service and Tacloban City Prosecutor’s Office, civil society groups, the media, and officials from the provincial government.

Aside from the 20 bricks of cocaine weighing more than 21 kilos with an estimated value of PHP111.85, authorities also destroyed 924 grams of shabu worth PHP6 million, 600 grams of marijuana with a value of PHP72,000, and expired medicines worth PHP166,000.

Tablete told reporters that the original plan was to burn the illegal drugs on March 22, or within 24 hours after the issuance of
the court resolution to destroy.

However, the crematorium was unavailable.

A fisher from Arteche town found the 20 bricks of cocaine wrapped in plastic floating in the coastal waters of Arteche town on March 8.

Before the destruction of the illegal drugs, the PDEA conducted in the morning a profiling of the substance at its regional office in Palo town.

The substances, before destruction, undergo an inventory, followed by an examination conducted by chemists from the PDEA regional office and the PNP regional forensic unit in the presence of witnesses to determine that the subjects for destruction are indeed illegal.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) on Tuesday announced the election of its new chairperson, Lisa Guerrero-Nakpil.

She took her oath before National Commission for Culture and the Arts Chair Victorino Mapa Manalo, who is also an ex-officio member of the NHCP Board in his capacity as Executive Director of the National Archives of the Philippines, the NHCP said in a news release.

Nakpil was first appointed NHCP Commissioner in 2020, representing the private sector.

She is a noted public historian, curator, and writer who has championed the promotion of historical knowledge through her various award-winning books and newspaper columns.

Her mother, Carmen Guerrero-Nakpil, also served as Chair of the then-National Historical Commission from 1967 to 1971.

‘The NHCP Board believes that Chair Nakpil’s broad experience in art and culture, as well as media and events, will strengthen the NHCP’s mandate in bringing Philippine history alive and building love of the country and a sen
se of Filipino identity,’ the Commission said.

Nakpil succeeded Dr. Emmanuel Franco Calairo, who specializes in the study of local history in Cavite.

The NHCP is the principal government agency mandated to strengthen Filipino’s nationalism through the promotion of Philippine history and the protection of cultural heritage.

Source: Philippines News Agency