Drex Zamboanga Likes Sister Denice’s Chances Against Seo Hee Ham in ONE Women’s Atomweight World Grand Prix

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Fans eagerly await the highly-anticipated ONE Women’s Atomweight World Grand Prix, which ONE Championship announced a couple of weeks ago, including the tournament’s participants. Eight of the top female atomweights in the promotion are ready for absolute war.

The tournament commences at ONE: EMPOWER, a historic all-female fight card scheduled for Friday, 28 May.

One man who will be watching intently from the sidelines is ONE flyweight, Drex “T-Rex” Zamboanga. His younger sister, #1-ranked women’s atomweight contender Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga is one of the combatants in the tournament.

Denice will face ONE Championship newcomer, and feared veteran Seo Hee Ham in the quarterfinal round.

“I think it's a great matchup. Obviously, having trained martial arts with Denice basically since we were young, I know her capabilities. She's not just talented, she also has work ethic and I know she's working hard towards achieving her dreams,” said Zamboanga.

“Seo Hee Ham is without a doubt the most dangerous opponent for Denice in this tournament. But I have complete confidence in my sister. She can beat the odds and take out the biggest threat in the Grand Prix. Denice is preparing well right now.”

Ham is one of the most feared entrants in the tournament, with most pundits considering the South Korean the “dark horse” to win it all.

Zamboanga believes this particular training camp will dictate how easy this fight could be for his sister.

“Denice is younger than Seo Hee Ham, so she has youth on her side. Yes Ham has the experience, but there are other factors important in this game. Physical conditioning is going to be super important. Denice needs to come into this fight in the best shape of her career,” said Zamboanga.

“It's going to take a tremendous effort to defeat Ham, but Denice is up for the challenge. We're working on a strong game plan for this fight.”

The winner of the ONE Women’s Atomweight World Grand Prix is expected to earn the right to challenge reigning ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion “Unstoppable” Angela Lee when the champion is ready to defend her title later this year.

Zamboanga is confident Denice can pull off the monumental upset, and then later on, challenge Lee for the title and bring the belt back home to the Philippines.

“I'm very proud of my sister. There's nothing she can't achieve and I see how hard she has worked in her career. Now we're here. We're in a great position to shock the world again. I believe Denice will beat Ham, win the Grand Prix, and take out the atomweight champion later this year,” said Zamboanga.

ONE Championship returns on Wednesday, April 7 (Thursday, April 8 PH time) with “ONE on TNT”, the first installment of a four-part event series broadcast on US prime time via B/R Live and TNT. The main event features a flyweight showdown between reigning ONE Flyweight World Champion Adriano Moraes and ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Champion Demetrious Johnson. In the co-main event, multiple-time world champion Eddie Alvarez takes on #1-ranked lightweight contender Iuri Lapicus.

CPA bares Holy Week 2021 preparations

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Cebu Port Authority (CPA) has convened all port management officers, port security heads, representatives of the maritime and enforcement partners from Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Navy, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Bureau of Customs (BOC), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Philippine National Police (PNP) - Regional Maritime Unit, Office for Transportation Security (OTS), other agency partners and port stakeholders today, March 25, 2021 to finalize all preparations for the anticipated surge of passengers during the observance of the Holy Week.

“As the government continues to ease travel restrictions, we are working closely with our partner agencies and port stakeholders to double our efforts in ensuring the safety, security, order and convenience of the public and prevent overcrowding and heavy queuing inside our ports especially with the ongoing threat of COVID-19,” said Cebu Port Authority (CPA) General Manager Leonilo Miole.

GM Miole ordered the activation of Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Semana Santa 2021 and placed all ports in Cebu under heightened alert to step up all security and safety measures in response to the directive issued by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade.

GM Miole also urged the public anew to strictly observe and follow the safety and health protocols within the port premises at all times and encouraged all outbound passengers to coordinate in advance with their receiving local government units (LGUs) or with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for the travel requirements they need to comply before coming to the port area.

“There have been cases that passengers booked their tickets online without prior coordination with the receiving LGU, and sad to say, they were not given clearance to board a vessel by the PCG and were denied entry into the port for failure to present the required travel documents,” said GM Miole.

For receiving LGUs with no imposed travel requirements, all passengers are encouraged to book their tickets in advance.

Starting March 29, 2021 to April 6, 2021, CPA will deploy additional Safe Distancing Marshals and Port Police Officers in ports with high passenger traffic to enforce port health and safety protocols such as the mandatory wearing of face shield and face masks, temperature check and physical/social distancing. Appropriate markers were placed on the floors and seats for proper guidance.

For added prevention and safety measures, disinfecting foot baths were placed at the entrance and exits of the passenger terminals and offices. Likewise, sanitizing hand rub dispensers and lavatories for hand washing are placed in prominent places of the passenger terminal.

Persons who refuse to comply with any directives of the Authority and other law enforcement agents inside the port premises are sanctioned with fines and penalties.

Fines ranging from P200 to P1,000 await individuals who are caught violating health and safety protocols. First-time offenders will be asked to pay a fine of P200, P500 will be imposed on second-time violators and P1, 000 will be imposed for the third offense.

In accordance with the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force and Department of Health (DOH) protocols, passenger capacity in ships and other passenger vessels are still reduced to fifty percent (50%). Likewise, passenger terminals in both public or private ports shall only be allowed to accommodate at fifty percent (50%) seating capacity and to prevent undue queuing or crowding of passengers, CPA in close coordination with shipping companies will make necessary adjustments of the Estimated Time of Departure (ETD) of vessels. Direct boarding of passengers to the vessel shall be allowed as may be deemed necessary in order to avoid crowding, inconvenience, or delay of the vessel’s departure provided that security, safety, and health protocols shall be observed.

Any person manifesting noticeable common symptoms of an infectious disease shall be urgently placed in the designated port isolation area and shall be referred to the Cebu City Government Emergency Operation Center (EOC) or nearest health and medical facilities.

GM Miole also assured all port users that daily disinfection activities are being conducted in all Port Passenger Terminal Buildings, port entry and exit points, shuttle buses and all other areas within the port that are highly exposed to passenger traffic.

Cebu Port Pier 1 and Pier 3 gates are still closed for vehicles as it now serves as screening stations of PCG personnel for outbound/embarking passengers.

Further, all ports were directed to ensure that all booths / counters / centers serving passengers are properly manned during operating hours. Passenger Help Desks are also put in place to provide passenger assistance and support for a wide range of travel needs.

The public were also urged to report individuals who are selling fake RT-PCR Test Results to passengers outside the port area, this after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 conducted an entrapment operation last March 18, 2021 which led to the arrest of two individuals for selling these falsified documents.

Passengers can lodge their concerns, complaints and reports to CPA Police Operations Center at (032) 402-4160 or via CPA Official Facebook Page @cebuportauthorityofficial.

Sportification and its impact on nutrition

Wazzup Pilipinas!


Now, more than ever, health has become an utmost priority. When the pandemic hit, people became more concerned with eating healthier to boost their immunity as they have realised the close link between nutrition and overall health.

Even before the pandemic, we saw a new breed of sports enthusiasts who have fuelled a new ‘sportification’ trend, which has created new markets and brands in categories from clothing, technologies like smart activity trackers, to food. With this trend on the rise, there has been a similar increase in the number of products carrying a sports claim, and many manufacturers are making moves to help consumers meet their desire to lead healthier, more active lives. Such products are appealing to the full-time athletes, those who exercise for leisure (regular actives), as well as those who — while less dynamic — define their sporty image through their lifestyle choices.

 

Moving beyond protein

When thinking about “food for the active”, protein is the first macronutrient that comes to mind. However, within the available range of active nutrition, there should be more room for innovative ingredients — like smart-carbohydrates — to help cater to the needs of the active consumers better.

Optimum energy supply is key for sports nutrition, and especially relevant when fuelling an active lifestyle. A wise carbohydrate choice can make all the difference.

Having a balanced and sustained energy can help active consumers maintain endurance in training, while allowing regular active people to stay fuelled for their busy days. High-glycaemic carbohydrates are not ideal, as they are quickly digested, giving you a short boost of energy but also triggering a significant increase in blood sugar that may result in a sugar crash. Thus, it is important to look at the quality of the carbohydrates we consume.

Low glycaemic carbohydrates that provide sustained energy are the way to go, in order to keep our blood glucose response under control. At the same time, they also ensure a balanced energy supply for our fitness routines, or for us to go about our day without feeling tired.

Palatinose™ is derived from pure beet sugar and is also found in honey and sugar cane as a natural component. With a mild sweetness, its sensory profile is very similar to sugar, without any aftertaste. Palatinose™ not only acts as an energy source during activities, it is also fully yet slowly digested, providing energy in a sustained manner. This lower and more balanced blood glucose response results in less insulin release and an improved metabolic profile, without the significant drops in blood glucose that are often associated with conventional higher glycaemic sugars. In addition, balanced blood sugar levels help to support an improved fat burning rate.



But how exactly can slow-release carbohydrates such as Palatinose™ help both athletes and sports enthusiasts go the distance without the risk of the sugar crash?

There is such a thing as a healthy carb

Various studies[1] have established that Palatinose™ increases the proportion of energy that is derived from fat in overall energy consumption. This applies to both professional athletes, those leading dynamic lifestyles for health, as well as those who are less active. While the energy balance (the ratio of calorie intake to expenditure) is important, Palatinose™ does not increase the basal metabolic rate — which is, the total number of calories that your body needs to perform basic, life-sustaining functions.

Instead, Palatinose™ acts by increasing the fat burning rate, or the proportion of overall energy production that comes from fat oxidation. An increased fat burning rate means that active consumers can draw on their carbohydrate reserves for longer, and at the same time, burn fat more effectively.

This also indicates that Palatinose™ can play a decisive role in body composition and weight management. Athletes and sports enthusiasts can derive dual benefit from the functional carbohydrate — energy in the form of glucose is available for a longer period during endurance sports, while a greater proportion of energy can be released from body fat. This prevents total depletion of carbohydrate reserves, and contributes to sports performance.

Slow-release carbohydrates to get through the day

Consumers are becoming more aware of the importance that sustained energy release plays in their overall sense of well-being and energy levels. Take breakfast for example, which is often said to be the most important meal, as it replenishes the body’s supply of glucose and helps one get energised for the day. However, with many people facing increasing time constraints on morning routines, breakfast-on-the-go is becoming a growing trend. There is a slew of products and formulations that can cater to these needs like a low-glycaemic breakfast drink with carbohydrates, or cereal bars as mid-workout snack. Experts at the BENEO-Technology Center have developed recipes in which Palatinose™ replaces high glycaemic sugars, while maintaining good taste and texture.

There is no better time than now for manufacturers to address the needs of this rising consumer group looking for better and sustained energy. With alternative carbohydrates such as Palatinose™, manufacturers can offer products that are more aligned with the fitness and health goals of athletes as well as sports enthusiasts and can also support active people who are coping with their busy lifestyles.