China to host 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup

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(L-R) Chinese delegation, basketball star Yao Ming, Chinese Olympic Committee vice president Gao Zhidan : Vice Mayor of Beijing and China 2019 bid committee chairman Zhang Jiandong; and Philippines’ delegation, president of Philippines Basketball Manuel V Pangilinan; Eight-time world boxing champion Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao; and actor Lou Diamond Phillips during the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup host announcement ceremony in Tokyo on August 7, 2015. (Photo by Toshifumi Kitamura/ AFP)

China wins the bidding war against the Philippines in the final presentations to become the official host of the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, the FIBA Central Board announced Friday, August 7 in Tokyo, Japan.for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup hosting.

The delegations of the People's Republic of China and of the Republic of the Philippines presented clear impressions that the love of the sport is what drives them to want to host the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

China edged Philippines, which banked on the Filipinos’ passion for the sports and reach on social media in its bid for the hosting, with a presentation focusing on its strength in infrastructure, hosting experience, and resources.

The Chinese have hosted several international tournaments including the 2008 Beijing Olympics, 2010 Asian Games and the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympics. They will also host the upcoming 2015 Fiba Asia Championships. Last Friday, July 31, China also won the rights to host the 2022 Winter Olympics. 

China also boasted of holding the Fiba World Cup, which is held every four years, in eight keys cities which are easily connected by several forms of modern transportation.

Presenters for the Philippine pitch were business tycoon and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan; Filipino Hollywood actor Lou Diamond Phillips; former national team player Jimmy Alapag; and former national team head coach Chot Reyes.

The Philippine bid highlighted the Southeast Asian nation's deep-rooted love affair with basketball as FIBA's ticket to achieving its goal. It also leverage the country's Internet reach as the Social Media Capital of the world.

Basketball's world governing body made the decision after a stringent process that began right after last year's World Cup in Spain, and culiminated Friday in Tokyo with 20-minute presentations from each country followed by question-and-answer sessions.

Here are some of the strong statements of intent that were made. An evident as the leading figures behind both bids addressed the media, just hours before FIBA's Central Board is set to make its decision.

Yao Ming, China 2019 Ambassador and basketball star (asked to compare, based on his visits to the Philippines, the love of basketball there compared to the love of basketball in China): "You can't say that one type of love is better than the other. Both are great. Both countries have a great passion for basketball, particularly for FIBA basketball."

Manny Pacquiao, Philippines Congressman and eight-time world boxing champion: "I am a boxer but I am here because I love basketball so that tells you the passion that Filipinos have for basketball. If we host the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, we can show that passion to the world."

Zhang Jiandong, Vice Mayor of Beijing and Chairman of the China 2019 bid committee: "At least 300 million people play basketball in China and if we host the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, we can increase that participation. China is the most populous country in the world and we can make basketball the most popular sport in the world. We believe that we can make the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup a complete success because of China's economic stability, strong financial guarantee and the government's complete support. We can make it a safe, most reliable and risk-free event."

Manuel V Pangilinan, President of the Philippines Basketball Association: "In our country, basketball is number one. Ninety percent of the population play, watch or follow the sport in one way or another. It's not just Filipinos in the Philippines that are passionate about the sport. It's Filipinos all over the world. Football may be number one in many places around the world, but basketball is number one in the Philippines."

Gao Zhidan, Vice-President of the Chinese Olympic Committee: "Basketball is very popular in China and if we host the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, we can foresee a great rise in that popularity. This will have a great impact on the professional league (CBA) as well as the university league which is developing very fast. It will help with our aim to train more athletes and get a bigger pool of talented players."

Lou Diamond Phillips, Filipino actor and director: "The Philippines has come of age and we are incredibly hopeful of geting to host the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. We are the biggest social media country and we already have more than two billion impressions of #PUSO2019."

Source : 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

SM Cinema hosts Chinese Film Festival

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SM Lifestyle Entertainment Incorporated or SMLEI showcases movies that are part of the Chinese Film Festival.

In time for the celebration of Mid-Autumn Festival and Chinese Moon Festival, SM Cinema is hosting the Chinese Film Festival this September 5 to September 9. 

This partnership between the Chinese Embassy of the Philippines and SM Cinema aims to promote cultural understanding between China and the Philippines. 

The screening presents novative Chinese films of high artistic value that gears towards Filipinos’ understanding of the Chinese cultural diversity and heritage.

Movies that are part of the Chinese Film Festival will be available in selected SM Cinema branches such as SM Megamall, SM North Edsa, SM San Lazaro and SM Manila.

SM Cinema will be running popular movies including the following :

“Back to 1942” which won awards at the International Rome Film Festival in 2012 and Hong Kong Film Awards in 2013; 

“Caught in the Web” whose story ensembles a young woman who was victimized by a massive viral internet campaign; 

“The Grandmaster” which won several awards and nominations from different organizations such as the 50th Golden Horse Awards and 33rd Hong Kong Film Awards; 

“Say Yes”, The Romance-Fantasy movie of 2013  is also included in the list along with the Comedy-Drama about old people “Full Circle” 

“Little Big Soldier” who was produced and written by Jackie Chan himself which he starred also in the movie.

As part of the celebration, SM Cinema will be holding the admissions for free.

SM Cinema is the cinema and exhibition brand under SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc, or SMLEI, the lifestyle and entertainment company of SM Prime Holdings, Inc. SM Cinema is one of the many premium brands managed by SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc. Tucked under SMLEI’s belt are: Mall of Asia Arena, Snack Time, SM Tickets, e-PLUS Tap to Pay, e-PLUS Digital, SM Bowling and Leisure Center, SM Skating Rink, the Exploreum, IMAX, Director’s Club Cinema, WM Cinemas, and SM Cinema.

To know more about SM Cinema, you may visit www.e-PLUS.ph and www.smcinema.com.

2014 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees Announced

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The Board of Trustees of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) today announced that this year five individuals and one organization from Afghanistan, China, Indonesia, Pakistan, and the Philippines will receive Asia’s premier prize, the Ramon Magsaysay Award.

The Magsaysay awardees of 2014 are truly beacons of progress in Asia, as they boldly building hopeful lives in daunty times. We have much to learn from them, and much to celebrate about their greatness of spirit.

Here are the 2014 Awardees:

Hu Shuli, from China. She is being recognized for “her unrelenting commitment to truthful, relevant, and unassailable journalism, her fearless promotion of transparency and accountability in business and public governance, and her leadership in blazing the way for more professional and independent-minded media practices in China.”

Saur Marlina Manurung, from Indonesia. She is being recognized for “her ennobling passion to protect and improve the lives of Indonesia’s forest people, and her energizing leadership of volunteers in SOKOLA’s customized education program that is sensitive to the lifeways of indigenous communities and the unique development challenges they face.”

Omara Khan Masoudi, from Afghanistan. He is being recognized for “his courage, labor, and leadership in protecting Afghan cultural heritage, rebuilding an institution vital for Afghanistan’s future, and reminding his countrymen and peoples everywhere that in recognizing humanity’s shared patrimony, we can be inspired to stand together in peace.”

The Citizens Foundation, from Pakistan. The organization is being recognized for “the social vision and high-level professionalism of its founders and those who run its schools, in successfully pursuing their conviction that, with sustained civic responsiveness, quality education made available to all—irrespective of religion, gender, or economic status—is the key to Pakistan’s brighter future.”

Wang Canfa, from China. He is being recognized for “his discerning and forceful leadership—through scholarly work, disciplined advocacy, and pro bono public interest litigation—in ensuring that the enlightened and competent practice of environmental law in China effectively protects the rights and lives of victims of environmental abuse, especially the poor and the powerless.”

Randy Halasan, for Emergent Leadership, from the Philippines. He is being recognized for “his purposeful dedication in nurturing his Matigsalug students and their community to transform their lives through quality education and sustainable livelihoods, doing so in ways that respect their uniqueness and preserve their integrity as indigenous peoples in a modernizing Philippines.”

Established in 1957, the Ramon Magsaysay Award is Asia’s highest honor and is widely regarded as the region’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize. It celebrates the memory and leadership example of the third Philippine president after whom the award is named, and is given every year to individuals or organizations in Asia who manifest the same selfless service that ruled the life of the late and beloved Filipino leader.

RMAF President Carmencita Abella says “the Magsaysay awardees of 2014 are truly beacons of progress in Asia. All of them are creating bold solutions to deeply-rooted social problems in their respective societies, problems which are most damaging to the lives of those trapped in poverty, ignorance, and unjust systems. Their inspiring and path-breaking leadership addresses very diverse areas -- education for the poor and marginalized, environmental justice for pollution victims, increased transparency and accountability in corporate and public governance, and the restoration of cultural pride – and yet it is clear that each of this year’s Magsaysay awardees is building more hopeful lives among their people -- one smart, responsible, and persistent step at a time."

“While their solutions are distinctively their own, there is one thing this year’s Magsaysay laureates all share: a greatness of spirit that infuses their leadership for change. They are all unafraid to take on large causes; they all refuse to give up, despite meager resources, daunting adversity and strong opposition. They are all deeply anchored in hope. We have much to learn from them, and much to celebrate about their greatness of spirit.”

The six 2014 Magsaysay awardees join the community of 301 other Magsaysay laureates who have received Asia’s highest honor to date. This year’s Magsaysay Award winners will each receive a certificate, a medallion bearing the likeness of the late President, and a cash prize.

They will be formally conferred the Magsaysay Award during formal Presentation Ceremonies to be held on Sunday, 31 August 2014 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, to which the public is cordially invited.                                                       

Mr. and Miss Chinatown 2014 to be aired on Abs-Cbn this July

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The exciting second search for the next "Mr. and Miss Chinatown" to be aired on Abs-Cbn this July 27, 2014, following a deal signed by the network and theMiss Chinatown Foundation Miss Chinatown  last year. 

In what is to be a meeting of two cultures with shared values, this search is set to redefine Filipino-Chinese beauty, and to pave the way for better business relations. It also aims to realize cultural and artistic goals that are shared between the Filipinos and the Chinese. 

At the formal launch held in Gloria Maris Gateway, a total of 24 Filipino-Chinese candidates, split between males and females aged 18 to 25 were formally presented. These candidates will be competing for the prestigious title to represent the Filipino-Chinese community in the country by the end of the month. 

The female candidates include Glezlie Ong, Christine Grace Co, Judielyn Chang, Abegail Chua Castor, Chelsea Robato, Nicole Cordoves, Tola Orendain, Felina Lim, Sharmay Cu, Jamie Reyes, Lourdes Aurora Cu, and Anie Unson.

Meanwhile, the male candidates are Kurt Joshua Ong, Oscar Daniel Miralles, Wesley Chawn Cua, Michael Anthony Tiong, Mark Anthony Lim, John Ralph Boo, Jan Hung, Timothy Lawrence Yap, King Choi, Raven Robin Go, Cedrick Cheston Miranda, and David Sy Licauco.

The candidates from Mr. and Miss Chinatown this year, according to organizers, are a strong mix of contemporary men and women that come from some of the country's most prestigious universities, majoring in a wide range of specialized courses.

In last year's competition, the first ever Mr. and Miss Chinatown competition, the title of Miss Chinatown Philippines went to Interior Design student Ronili Lim Pineda, while the title of Mr. Chinatown Philippines went to Randy See. They took home P500,000 cash, also winning a trip to China (either Beijing or Shanghai, with pocket money), and a possible contract with Star Magic. 

This year, the candidates are in the running to win P500,000 worth of cash & prizes for the MR & Ms Chinatown, 1st runner up will win 300,000 worth of cash & prizes & 2nd runner up will win P200,000.00 worth of cash & prizes.

ABS-CBN and the Miss Chinatown Foundation deem this as an event to open doorways towards unified communities and better goals—beginning with a celebration of the shared values of the Filipino and Chinese communities and cultures, ultimately geared towards strengthening the fusion of the two in honing and shaping the potential of this generation.

Watch out for the Grand Coronation set this month and will air live on ABS-CBN.

For additional details and information, follow @MsandMissChinatown on Twitter and Instagram, or visit the official Facebook page of Mr. and Miss Chinatown Philippines 2014 at www.facebook.com/MrandMissChinatown.