Twenty-One Youth to Represent NCR in JR. NBA Philippines 2017 National Training Camp

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Eight boys and thirteen girls will represent Metro Manila during the Jr. NBA Philippines 2017 presented by Alaska National Training Camp on May 12-14 at the Don Bosco Technical Institute and SM Mall of Asia. Over 1,300 young players ages 10-14 years old participated in the fourth and final Regional Selection Camp of the Jr. NBA program held this weekend at Don Bosco Makati. The 1,333 campers --1,208 boys and 125 girls -- came from schools in Antipolo, Mandaluyong, Manila, Makati, Batangas, Palawan, Mindoro and Iloilo.

John Dhel Austria, 14, of Escuela de Sophia of Caloocan; Joachin Echo, 14 of University of Santo Tomas High School; Ian Dominic Espinosa, 13, and John Michael Vicencio, 13, of Ateneo de Iloilo; Ronald Corj Trinidad, 13, of Pedro Guevara Memorial National High School; Ren Cobie Tolentino, 13, of Grace Christian College; Dietherd Torres, 13, of La Salle Green Hills and Clarence Andrei Ramos, 14 of Adamson University are the Jr. NBA representatives from the NCR at the National Training Camp.

Bonie Marylene Solis, 13, Jeehan Nikale Ahmed, 13 and Edel Jane Araza, 13 of Chiang Kai Shek College; Princess Bj Marie Villarin, 11 of De La Salle Zobel; Dianne Camille Nolasco, 14, of Miriam College; Lindsey Nacional, 13, of La Salle College Antipolo; Eriel Raven Lacanlale, 13 and Jazmine-ann Maniquis, 12, of St. Paul College Pasig; Yza Camila Shalea Alarcon, 12, of New Era High School; Abby Rose Ruiz, 13, of Palawan National School; Gabbie Angeline Wong, 14, of Fairhope Academy; Franzelle Angela Chelzea Besa, 12, of Divine Word College of Calapan Crizan Phiel Pangilinan,13, of the School of the Holy Spirit, Quezon City are the WNBA representatives to the next phase of the Jr. NBA program.

The first day of the Jr. NBA Regional Selection Camp featured fundamental skills challenges with the top performing athletes progressing to Day 2 that featured advanced basketball drills and scrimmages. The Jr. NBA evaluation committee led by Jr. NBA Coach Jeffrey Cariaso of the Alaska Aces searched for players that showcased all-around basketball skills and embodied the Jr. NBA S.T.A.R. values of Sportmanship, Teamwork, a positive Attitide, and Respect.

Jr. NBA All-Star alumni Edrian Custodio, Rhic Gatuz, Ernest Felicilda, Daniel Coo, Josh Garing, Jearico Nuñez and Jr. WNBA All-Stars Akemi Marteja, Pankie David, Mika Pentecostes, Carly Monreal, Nicky Quelenderino and Kreecie Binaohan attended the camp to extend their support to the participants and share their Jr. NBA experiences with them. “We can see ourselves in these young players and are excited to see the best boys and girls in the Philippines emerge as Jr. NBA All-Stars,” said Edrian Custodio, a varsity member of De La Salle-Zobel high school basketball team. “We encourage them to continue to work hard, be humble and believe in themselves as they pursue their basketball careers, bringing with them values and lessons from the Jr. NBA program.”

An NBA and WNBA player will come to Manila to help coach the finalists at the National Training Camp. In previous years, NBA legends BJ Armstrong, Al Green, Luc Longley, and Muggsy Bogues, NBA players Gordon Hayward, Nerlens Noel, and Norris Cole, and WNBA legends Tina Thompson, Ruth Riley, and Taj McWilliams-Franklin have joined the Jr. NBA National Training Camp to coach the athletes and participate in NBA Cares initiatives.

The top eight boys and eight girls will comprise the Jr. NBA Philippines 2017 All-Stars selected among the regional finalists at the National Training Camp. They will embark on an overseas trip to watch an NBA preseason game and experience playing with fellow Jr. NBA All-Stars from Southeast Asia.

For more information, fans can follow Jr. NBA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jrnbaphilippines. For all things NBA, fans can visit www.nba.com, like the NBA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/philsnba and follow www.twitter.com/nba_philippines on Twitter.

To learn more about Alaska Milk Corporation, visit www.alaskamilk.com and www.playph.com.

National Privacy Commission Holds First General Assembly of Data Protection Officers

Wazzup Pilipinas!

About a year after the Comeleak data breach, which exposed the personal data of over 55 million Filipino voters, the National Privacy Commission (NPC) is rallying Data Protection Officers (DPOs) from government agencies to adopt a proactive approach in the fight for data protection of citizens in a series of conferences, which invoke the famous 70’s slogan “Kung ‘di tayo kikilos, sino ang kikilos? Kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa?”

Privacy Commissioner and Chairman Raymund Enriquez Liboro said the slogan is very appropriate as a DPO battle cry, which is attributed to student journalist Abraham “Ditto” Sarmiento Jr.

“The biggest lesson we have learned from the Comeleak breach is that, at the end of the day, we have no better recourse really than prevention and vigilance, which are essentially roles of DPOs. They are the people’s first line of defense against privacy violations inside an organization, and the NPC is here to help them help their organizations in fully complying with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 to reduce the likelihood of breach incidents like the Comeleak from happening,” Liboro said.

Dubbed as “DPO1: The 1st Data Protection Officers’ Assembly,” the first conference in the series focuses on government DPOs. It is a half-day event set on April 05, 2017, 8:00 AM, at the Diosdado Macapagal Hall, 10th Floor, Land Bank Plaza, 1598 M.H. Del Pilar, corner Dr. J. Quintos St., Malate, Manila.

In a meeting with palace reporters last week, Commissioner Liboro said the DPO1 is meant to enable government DPOs to quickly master their new responsibilities and assert their crucial role within their respective organizations.

“The DPO functions as an advocate and watchdog for data privacy inside an organization. Although the DPO works as an employee of the organization, it is his or her job to champion the privacy rights of individuals, and advocate for it above the immediate business interests of his employer,” Liboro said.

Gina Iniong Targets Championship Date with Angela Lee

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Previously, considering the possibility of Gina “Conviction” Iniong squaring off with ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion Angel “Unstoppable” Lee inside the ONE Championship cage seemed to be a far-fetched dream.

However, tides have overturned after Asia’s largest mixed martial arts (MMA) organization acquired Iniong from the free agent market earlier this year.

Iniong, who has been on the promotion’s radar for several years, inked an exclusive multi-bout contract with ONE Championship, which bolstered its burgeoning roster of world-class female MMA athletes.

The 27-year-old Baguio City native is a member of the renowned Team Lakay and has a professional MMA record of 4-2. Three of her four career victories have come by thrilling finish, which includes two impressive submissions.

Team Lakay’s 5-foot-2 atomweight standout also owns notable victories over the likes of French fighter Nathalie Heidel and Japanese veteran Mei Yamaguchi.

In her last bout under a regional MMA promotion in January 2016, Iniong astonishingly submitted Spanish combatant Vanessa Rico Fernandez with a heel lock in the first round.

Iniong will make her much-awaited promotional debut at ONE: KINGS OF DESTINY in Manila, Philippines on 21 April as she is booked to face with Filipino-English stalwart Natalie Gonzales Hills in a three-round atomweight contest.

Although she is scheduled to compete against a talented combatant like Hills at ONE: KINGS OF DESTINY, Iniong admitted that one of the aspirations that she has in mind is to contend with Lee for the gold-plated strap

“It has been considered for more than two years as a dream match-up. Now, it’s possible to happen because I am now part of the ONE Championship roster,” she said. “Of course, I want to face Angela Lee for the belt. It’s one of my main goals in this organization.”

Iniong knows that if she plays her cards right against Hills, a date with Lee may well be on the horizon for her.

“This fight might be the door to a world title fight. You will never know if your next fight will be a title fight. I will just give my 100 percent for this bout,” she stated.

But according to Iniong, her focus remains on Hills because if she wants to secure a match with Lee, she must address the task in front of her.

“I don’t want to put the cart before the horse. Nathalie Gonzales Hills is my main priority right now. I must win this first before anything else,” she stressed.

Now competing on a bigger international MMA stage like ONE Championship, Iniong seeks to leave a lasting impression in her debut.

“I am grateful for the opportunity that has been given to me by ONE Championship. With my promotional debut being held in the Philippines, I will be able to show fans who I am as a fighter. Filipino fans are very passionate about MMA. I promise to give them a night to remember,” she ended.

​For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.