Kobe Demisana : The Jr. NBA’s Gentle Giant Makes It To The World Stage

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Philippines has once again proven that when it comes to basketball, it can compete with the best in the world. In the recent Jr. NBA Asia-Pacific Selection Camp held for the first time in Jakarta, Indonesia, four out of ten Jr. NBA Philippines 2019 All-Stars became part of the Asia Pacific selection that will represent the region in the Jr. NBA Global Championship that will be held in Orlando, Florida on August 6-11, 2019.

The Philippines has the most number of representatives in the Boys Team for which other top junior players from Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines competed to be selected.

One of the young athletes who will get the chance to show off his basketball prowess on the world stage Jr. NBA All-Star and Alaska Ambassador Henjz Gabriel “Kobe” Demisana, a 6’5 14-year old from Bacolod.

Kobe’s quickness, body strength and soft touch to the basket impressed coaches in the Jr. NBA Asia-Pacific Selection Camp. "I feel very blessed. It’s a dream come true. I am really honored to represent the Philippines and our region to the Global Championship. I will bring all the lessons I learned from the Jr. NBA and Alaska in the global championships, especially the S.T.A.R. values," Kobe concluded.

The Jr. NBA STAR values of Sportsmanship, Teamwork, a positive Attitude and Respect are the core values of the program and is something that all Jr. NBA participants take to heart.

Kobe’s basketball journey started when he was eight, the year he first started playing basketball. It was his dad who influenced him to love the sport, he said. From then till now, he has always drawn inspiration from the hardcourt. Kobe vowed to always give his all inside the court and his family supported him all the way.

In 2018, he took his chances and joined the grassroots program of the National Basketball Association (NBA) when the Jr. NBA came to Bacolod. He outplayed his counterparts in the regional selection camp and got the chance to compete in the National Training Camp (NTC) as one of the Visayan region’s best. He also made it to the NTC’s Top 20 – the pool from which the year’s Jr. NBA All-Stars would be selected. But when the final selection was made, he did not make it to the All-Star team.

“After my Jr. NBA NTC stint last year, I was really down. But it did not stop me from continuing to work for my dreams. Aside from studying, I dedicated my time developing the skills that I need to improve my game,” said the soft-spoken center, the Gentle Giant of Bacolod’s Tay Tung High School. 

His not making it as an All-Star in 2018 turned out to be a blessing in disguise. He was destined for something bigger and better. He joined Jr. NBA Philippines 2019 presented by Alaska again, was chosen among the best in the Visayan regional tryouts once more, and made it to the National Training Camp in Manila just last May. This time his perseverance and all his hard work paid off. Jr. NBA Head Coach Carlos Barroca announced his name as one of five Jr. NBA All-Stars for 2019. And as he went up the stage, happy tears flowed. On top of that he was also named Alaska Ambassador, a testament to his character, pleasant personality and positive attitude.

Now, Kobe will be joined by fellow Filipinos Matthew Rubico, Sebastian Reyes and Camille Nolasco in the Asia Pacific Team that also includes one player each from Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand.

“I prepared myself physically and mentally. Last year, I was really scared to commit mistakes. But with what I learned from my previous Jr. NBA experience, I became more confident whenever I step inside the court. I do all the right things. I sleep early, eat the right kind and amount of food, do proper hydration, and always make sure I’m thinking positive. Nutrition and good health habits are just as important in basketball as training hard and polishing your skills,” Kobe said.

“SMARTER METER” for an Energy-Innovative Future

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In the photo from L to R first row: Event Host Gretchen Ho, Winning Coach Dr. Erees Queen B. Macabebe, SMARTER METER team members Jose Mari Arce, Ray Mart Montesclaros, Nicole Respecia, James Adrian Somontina and Reinelle Jan C. Bugnot, Ateneo de Manila University President Fr. Jett Villarin S.J., Department of Energy Undersecretary Wimpy Fuentebella and Ateneo HS93 Foundation Inc. Chair Atty. Miko Palarca. Second row: Ateneo HS93 Foundation Inc. Board Members Mike Velasco, Monchu Lucero, Oli Chato, Brian Sanchez, Jigs de Belen and Lino Kapunan.


The Department of Energy (DOE), Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) and Ateneo HS93 Foundation Inc., in partnership with the Manila Electric Company, First Gen, Aboitiz Power, Concepcion Industrial Corporation and Petron awarded the winner of the 1st Blue Legacy Innovation for Energy Winner on Friday (28 June) at the Ben Chan ArtSuite, Areté in Ateneo de Manila University.

The winning team received a cash prize of two hundred thousand pesos (Php200,000.00) for creating an electricity consumption management application called “Smarter Meter”. The application designed by the undergrad Ateneans allows consumers to access, forecast and monitor their real time electric consumption data.

The 1st Blue Legacy Innovation for Energy was organized by the Ateneo HS93 Foundation Inc. for ADMU's science and engineering students to highlight Ateneo's support of new products that can create wealth for the Filipino through innovative technologies.

Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi was elated with the results as he emphasized the need for a “more productive partnership” between the government, academe and private industries.

Seda Misto Buffet at BGC Offers an Unbeatable Deal for Only P888

Wazzup Pilipinas!

There's an all-new, chic dining outlet in the heart of the BGC business and commercial district that offers a wide range of authentic local and international dishes.

I was joined by part of my team to partake the buffet spread of the newly improved version of their once smaller main dining for guests. From a previous 50-seater to a 250-seater, Misto buffet restaurant of Seda BGC has undoubtedly been transformed to serve their guests better.

My first dish that night was their huge shrimps/prawns among the seafoid choices together with the squid and seafood kebab. This choice puts my usual favorite of shrimp tempura at the side for the meantime because naturally, I would settle for the real stuff rather than tempura coating or breading.

They have, of course, slabs of enormous meat on the carving table that is fit for a kingly appetite. You'll also never go wrong with lamb or beef.

Then there's pizza made fresh before your eyes, and cooked in an oven right at where you can witness them done the natural way.

Delish sweet desserts are plenty, making the end treats just as special as how starter dishes made the night begin with sumptious offerings plus also several choices for salads.

You can't imagine how thrilled we are getting the opportunity to be among the firsts to try out the festive feasts at Misto.

For more details, below is the official press release given at the mefia launch:

Premium beef cuts and fresh prawns grilled to perfection, Napoletana pizza with an extra thin, airy crust made from genuine caputo flour, and Indian dishes from the tandoori oven are some of the offerings at Seda BGC’s daily buffet at its expanded and all-new Misto restaurant -- now with a show kitchen and interactive food stations in a bigger and better space at the hotel’s expansion tower.

“Misto” means “mixed” in Italian and refers to the wide selection of international favorites that remain true to their original flavors served at the dining outlet. The restaurant that can now accommodate 220 guests—or over six times more than its original-- is part of Seda BGC’s newly built second tower that will soon ramp up the hotel’s total number of guestrooms to 521 and has increased its function venues to 11.

“Just like Seda BGC, this Misto outlet was designed to meet the surging demand for premier facilities in this rapidly growing business district,” discloses Andrea Mastellone, Seda senior group general manager. The hotelier of Italian nationality vouches for the authenticity of the Misto Pizza Napoletana and other pizza varieties which diners can be seen being prepared from kneading and shaping the dough to cooking in the oven.

Mastellone recalls that since it first opened its doors in 2012, Misto at BGC has gained a following for its great-tasting dishes at excellent value, and which became more popular when it introduced a lunch buffet patronized by the corporate crowd. Now more extensive in a bigger and better space at the hotel’s expansion tower, the buffet still offers a superb deal at an introductory of only P888 nett seven days a week. The spread includes premium meat cuts and seafoods grilled on-the-spot from the show kitchen; a carving station; tempura station; noodles that can be customized to one’s palate; salad greens and fruits on ice to retain their freshness and crunch; and an exciting array of desserts to please the sweet tooth.

“We enjoy seeing our diners get more than their peso’s worth,” smiles Seda’s corporate executive chef Romualdo “Pepe” Castillo who has mastered the Filipino palate from more than 30 years of experience in the hotel industry. He assures regular diners that the bestselling Osso Bucco Lamb Shanks, Grilled Cedar Plank Salmon, Lasagna, Crispy Tadyang and Bagnet will remain part of the Seda menu and buffet cycle, as will a continuously evolving and creative line-up of dishes. He adds that the breakfast buffet, also at Php888 nett, will likewise retain its fresh selections while offering breakfast staples sought out by international guests.

The Misto dining experience at Seda BGC has further been enhanced by its chic and bright contemporary interiors with pops of color and greenery. The restaurant’s focal points are its sleek show kitchen, a private dining room for 10 and a semi-private area for bigger gatherings of up to 30 persons.

Seda BGC also serves its delectable food offerings in its new meeting rooms that can accommodate from 12 up to 50 guests. The hotel’s new ballroom, with a spacious pre-function area, can now accommodate up to 420 persons, theater style, and is expected to be a sought-after venue for socials and business events owing to the central and strategic location of Seda BGC.

Other facilities like the popular Straight Up roof deck bar, Club Lounge, gym and pool are also being re-located with expanded and upgraded facilities in the new tower. New room categories like the Executive Suite and the top-of-the-line Seda Suite, as well as studios and one-bedroom serviced residences will be available for guests’ enjoyment in the next few months.

BGC’s first premier hotel has truly evolved in keeping with the robust growth of the dynamic business and leisure communities it serves, according to Mastellone.