Mixed Martial Arts Legends Miesha Tate and Brandon Vera Visit US Troops In Guam

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion and current ONE Championship Vice President Miesha Tate joined ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera in the US territory of Guam recently to visit American troops stationed at Andersen Air Force Base.

The visit was done in coordination with the United Service Organizations (USO) which saw the two superstars participate in various activities with service members who are assigned far from home.

Both Tate and Vera are globally recognized ambassadors of the sport of mixed martial arts, and regularly partake in corporate outreach initiatives.

“This trip has been spectacular. We love to do this stuff for the military. It’s so cool to see their faces light up for a second after so much sacrifice that they do,” said Tate.

“I got to go on a submarine, which literally blew my mind. I have so much more respect for what they do, if that’s even possible. To go in that tiny submarine and spend all that time they have to spend there, and the dedication they have to stay on point and defend our country it’s just crazy.”

The two martial arts superstars received the opportunity to tour both the Air Force Base and the Naval Base at Andersen, meet-and-greet with service members, sign autographs and take pictures, share meals, and even some time on the beautiful beaches of Guam.

“It’s my first time in Guam, so for me it’s like a new experience. I love it so much I want to come back,” said Tate.

“I love to be able to meet the troops and just show them our gratitude. Sincerely, from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for everything that you do. It means a lot, the sacrifice you are willing to give if necessary to protect what we enjoy on an everyday basis.”

Vera, who has residency in the country and divides his time between living in the Philippines and in Guam was blown away by the amount of focus the United States has placed in its defense systems to protect its allies.

“I had no idea, and I’ve been here four years,” said Vera.

“You hear these stories and you’re almost crying because it’s about passion, and family, and about connecting with each other and staying connected and helping each other.”

Vera previously served the United States Air Force from 1997 to 1999. There, he joined the wrestling team and trained at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Years later, he was introduced to the sport of mixed martial arts and has built a legendary career ever since.

Today, Vera is one of ONE Championship’s longest-running World Champions and holds the ONE Heavyweight World Title.

Taal Lake Rises from the Ashes thru Watersports

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Watersports like sailing holds hope for Batangueños affected by Taal Volcano’s recent phreatic eruption that started on January 12, 2020. Taal Lake Yacht Club (TLYC) and the Philippine Home Boatbuilders Yacht Club (PHBYC) are organizing the first major sailboat race or regatta on Taal Lake barely three months after the seismic event. The Oz Goose National Championships 2020 will happen in the town of Talisay, Batangas on 28-29 March 2020.

Taal Volcano’s phreatic eruption displaced many of Batangueños, families were moved to evacuation centres and residents of Pulo or Volcano Island had to be resettled as no one is allowed on the island for the foreseeable future. Many residents around Taal Lake rely on tourism for their livelihood, through boat trips to the volcano, volcano tours and horseback rides.

With the Volcano on semi-permanent lockdown, tourism income from volcano trips is no longer an option for these Batangueños, alternatives are needed to bring tourism back to Taal Lake. PHBYC and TLYC believe that this can be through Watersports. This is the reason why both clubs decided to hold the Oz Goose Nationals in Talisay, Batangas. PHBYC’s original plan for 2020 was to hold the regatta in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte where there is a new Oz Goose fleet managed by the Balangay Marina Sailing and Yacht Club. However, recent developments on Taal Lake made them decide to hold the event in Taal Lake again where it has been held for three years running.

According to Michael Storer of PHBYC and a resident of Batangas, “It is important to have activity on the lake to give the residents hope for their future and illustrate how sailing and other watersports can be a sustainable form of tourism income. The layer of volcanic ash that covered Talisay is almost all gone and the vegetation is starting to grow back, changing the color of the surroundings form grey to green.” Mr. Storer added.

The Batangas Tourism Office is equally enthusiastic with the first regatta to be held on the lake after the January 2020 eruption. Ms. Sylvia Marasigan, Provincial Tourism Officer of the province of Batangas said that: “Taal Volcano’s eruption has really stifled tourism income in this area; Taal Lake is the largest body of fresh water in the Philippines conducive to watersports, PHBYC and TLYC’s initiatives to hold this regatta is a great start to reviving sports tourism on Taal Lake.”

More than 20 sailors from all over the Philippines are expected to arrive in Batangas on the last weekend of March to compete in the2020 Oz Goose Nationals. Peter Capotosto of TLYC commented that: 90% of TLYC income is derived from Volcano tours and it is great that corporate sponsors like, Broadwater Marine, Pioneer Adhesives and Imperial Homes chipped in to make sure that this regatta will be a success, all we need to hope for is better weather” .

CAAP, MIAA to defer charges for take-off, landing, and parking fees of local airlines amid COVID-19 threat

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade has instructed the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) to defer payment for take-off, landing, and parking fees of local airlines to cushion the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the airline industry.

“We are in a situation that is not of our own liking nor of our own making. There is an emergency. Can the government not do things that can assuage the emergency? We need to extend our arm to all. Let it not be said that we did not do a thing,” Secretary Tugade said.

In a press briefing held earlier today, 09 March 2020, both MIAA and CAAP have stressed that the decision was made to extend help to airlines amid the decrease of airline passengers, and flights due to COVID-19.

CAAP Director General Jim Sydiongco shared: "Sa CAAP, we have considered deferring payment on parking and landing while there is a threat of COVID-19."

Local airlines operating in MIAA, and under CAAP are covered by the order.

MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal said deferred charges for local carriers total about P58-million a month. Local airlines operating under CAAP will save P37-million a month in terms of deferred take-off, landing, and parking fees. The airlines will pay the deferred charges once the COVID-19 threat in the country is lifted.

"We're seeing about P58-million a month in terms of expenses that will cover take-off, landing, parking sa NAIA. Deferred payment lang po muna ang ie-extend natin. Hangga't nandyan po ang COVID-19 ipapatupad po natin 'yan."

"Mayroon kaming scheme na ipapatupad. Magkakaroon kami ng time to revisit and evaluate on how we can recover," GM Monreal added.

When asked on the length of the deferment, DG Sydiongco said, "Tinitingnan natin kung paano silang makaka-recover that's why we're talking about over a year of deferment and over a year of payment."

Aside from the deferment of fees, the aviation and airports sector is also encouraging airlines to help boost local tourism.

Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) Executive Director Carmelo Arcilla said the CAB will be encouraging airlines to servive local destinations to promote local tourism and "at least cut the losses of the airlines."

Meanwhile, GM Monreal also assured airline passengers that the NAIA is being sanitized and disinfected round the clock.

"Every 30-minutes meron pong naglilinis, sa domestic nagdagdag pa po tayo ng thermal scanner," he said.

This was echoed by DOTr Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Atty. Reinier Paul Yebra who said the DOTr has taken a holistic approach in disinfecting all transportation hubs in the country.

For the maritime sector, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has given its directives to ports under its jurisdiction to closely-coordinate with the respective quarantine office and strictly implement passenger screening at arrival areas.

PPA General Manager Jay Santiago said that stringent security measures have been in place especially in areas frequently visited by tourists. Face masks and sanitizers are being distributed to frontline employees.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) likewise advised all medical units in its 13 Coast Guard Districts to be on high alert to block the possible spread of COVID-19.

For the road sector, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), through Memorandum Circular (MC) 2020-005 has mandated all public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and conductors to wear face masks at all times while on duty, and for all franchise holders to ensure compliance.

All terminals have been ensuring proper sanitation and cleanliness in their premises, and have been providing face masks as well as disinfectants or sanitizers for their passengers.

For its part, the railways sector has instructed its station and security frontline personnel to wear appropriate face masks, and ensure that hand sanitizers and soaps are available for use in restrooms as well as in other strategic areas inside stations.

Train interiors and station premises, specifically those that are frequently touched by commuters, are being disinfected on a regular basis.

Periodic announcements of reminders for preventive actions that could help prevent transmission of the virus are being projected in strategic locations.

President Rodrigo Duterte ordered a State of Public Health Emergency yesterday, 08 March 2020, following confirmation by the Department of Health of a 10th COVID-19 case in the Philippines.

Under the said declaration, all government agencies and local government units are enjoined to render full assistance and cooperation in the mobilization of necessary resources to contain the COVID-19 threat.

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