Maroons Far From Home: How Converge #DobleNa erases the distance for homesick hoopers

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In the life of every UP student-athlete, there is much sacrifice involved — from grueling training to time management — in order to achieve their dreams in both sports and academics.

For those who hail from the provinces and overseas, there is also the added layer of being away from their family and loved ones for most of the calendar year.

With their focus zeroed in on their careers and finishing their degrees, it is easy for precious time with those who are important to get lost in the thick of things.

But luckily for members of the UP Men's Basketball Team, Converge ICT Solutions Inc. dishes an assist in the form of high speed internet in their dorm to help the players communicate with their loved ones from miles away.

Fil-Canadian Antonio Eusebio and Fil-Am Henry Galinato Jr. had to adjust the most as they joined the helm of the Maroons, as they needed to get used to life in another country.

Though admitting it's a challenge to live independently, they are able to adjust with the help of Converge and technology.

"At first it was a struggle, but like this time, I think I've experienced all the things that I've needed to experience and it's much better. I'm having an easier time," said Eusebio, who says his mother gets upset when he misses a video call. "They're all very clingy."

"It's hard but I got pretty used to it because Zav [Lucero] helped when I was here. But, you know, I miss my mom and everybody over there. I'm a lot older so it's not as hard as if this was a few years ago, it probably would be much more of a struggle for me but it's not that bad [with technology]. It's not like I'm going away forever, it's how I see it," quipped Galinato.

UP newcomer Janjan Felicilda also noted the flexibility Converge's internet provides, as the threat of COVID-19 continues to loom and limits in-person visits with family members.

"Syempre malaking bagay sa amin yun kaya nagpapasalamat kami sa Converge na napadali yung pag-communicate namin sa mga magulang namin, sa mga mahal namin sa buhay lalo na syempre, may COVID parin so pinadali nila yung buhay namin," he said.

Reyland Torres, for his part, noted that because of the distance, he would only get to see his family for twice a year. Being able to communicate via the internet helps douse the homesickness.

"Yung family ko halos twice a year lang kami magkasama kaya sobrang nagpapasalamat ako sa internet na binigay sa amin, makapag-usap kami ng family ko kahit malayo sila sa amin and araw-araw minemake sure namin makausap sila, kung okay lang sila. Okay lang din ba kami dito," Torres said.

Felicilda hails from Butuan, while Torres is from Bacolod.

Being able to communicate with family with constancy is of the utmost importance for the Fighting Maroons, as a number of them say that their family is the source of their biggest motivation.

"Important role yung parents ko sa pangarap ko kasi sila nagbibigay sa akin ng motivation, simula pa nung bata ako, sila na yung palaging nagsusupporta sa akin. Sila yung laging nasa likod ko pag gusto ko abutin yung pangarap ko," quipped Harold Alarcon, who is also from Bacolod.

"Sobrang laking bagay nila kasi sila yung nagpupush sa amin araw araw para mabuhay, para maglaro tapos may kukuhanan ka ng lakas para magpursigi sa buhay," added Davao-born Cyril Gonzales.

Even without seeing their family personally for most of their lives as student-athletes, UP folk hero JD Cagulangan, who comes from Butuan City, says that their love is felt from miles away through Converge.

"Yung support laging nandyan, yung mga kuya ko, even yung mga relatives ko, nararamdaman yung support nila sa akin," Cagulangan said.

Converge's latest offering gives consumers double their money's worth with fast internet as the FiberX Plan 1500 now gives users up to 100Mbps from it's previous 50Mbps.

Like the Fighting Maroons, continue to fight the distance with fast and reliable internet.

The reigning UAAP champions tested their mettle in South Korea for their preseason preparations. As part of their training, they have been facing pro teams in tune-up games.



“Sa amin, sobrang laking tulong [nung games dito sa Korea] kasi yung mga kalaban namin, mga pro na. Malaking bagay talaga,” said Cagulangan.

Penelope Cruz, Antonio Banderas starrer, one of the films in Instituto Cervantes' Pelicula Spanish Film Festival

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"Official Competition " is a comedy starring Penelope Cruz, Antonio Banderas and Oscar Martinez and directed by Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat and is one of the films to be screened in this year's Pelicula Spanish Film Festival from October 5 to 16 at the Shangrila Plaza cinemas. 

The movie is a satire on filmmaking and the ever-conflicting creative process of putting together a worthy film along with the laundry list of issues that go with it. 'A movie about making a movie” where Lola Cuevas (Penelope Cruz), a Cannes Palme d’Or-winning director gets entangled with her actors, the self-absorbed celebrity Félix Rivero (Antonio Banderas) and Iván Torres (Oscar Martínez), a thespian who is only devoted to the craft above all else. As the characters unfold, each turn takes a jab at each other, which displays a lot of conflated egos and silly turns, the classic trope of actor￾centric production rather than being an assembly line of contributing creatives. In sum, it pokes fun at the moviemaking business but also shows such a great deal of passion for the cinematic craft. 

Official Competition had its world premiere at the 78th Venice International Film Festival on 4 September 2021. It also had been screened at the Toronto International Film Festival in mid September 2021. In Spain, the film was on February 2022 in Spain by Buena Vista International while Protagonist Pictures handled the international distribution rights. 

Pelicula Spanish Film Festival returns to the theaters after two years of online screenings due to the Covid pandemic. Now in its 21st edition, the PELÍCULA Spanish Film Festival is one of the most successful film festivals of Instituto Cervantes globally showcasing a variety of acclaimed Spanish films while fostering better communication between cultures through the art of filmmaking, cinema, and cultural exchange. Its goal is to connect both Spanish and Filipino cultures and audiences through this choice selection of award-winning films. 

PELíCULA 2022 is an initiative of Instituto Cervantes in Manila, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur, the Embassies of Spain in the Philippines and Australia, and the AECID, in collaboration with the Film Development Council of the Philippines, ICAA, the Embassy of Colombia in the Philippines, the Embassy of Panama in the Philippines, the UP Film Institute, the University of the Philippines and Intramuros Administration, Acciona, Vibal Foundation, Philippine Transmarine Carriers, and Rustan’s. 

All the movies are in Spanish (or their original language) with English subtitles. For updates on the Festival, please visit the website of the Festival (https://pelikula.org) or the Facebook page of Instituto Cervantes de Manila: www.facebook.com/InstitutoCervantesManila. 

SSS urges individuals, groups to subsidize Job Order, Informal Sector Workers and land-based OFWs’ contributions

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The Social Security System (SSS) aims to transform social security coverage in the country through a new program that encourages individuals and groups to subsidize the monthly contributions of SSS members.

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Michael G. Regino said that the Contribution Subsidy Provider Program (CSPP) is an out-of-the-box approach in helping members who are having a hard time paying their social security contributions.

Under this program, a contribution subsidy provider would cover the contributions of self-employed, land-based Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), or voluntary members. “A contribution subsidy provider could be a private or government individual or group willing to subsidize the SSS contributions of identified members,” Regino explained.

Regino said that the SSS would partner with potential contribution subsidy providers who are generous enough to shoulder the contribution payments of chosen SSS members for at least six (6) months. They could become a coverage and collection partner of the SSS through an online Certification with Undertaking or a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). For convenience, contribution subsidy providers can pay the SSS contribution subsidies in any SSS branch with tellering facilities or through an SSS-accredited collection partner.

“We want to provide SSS coverage to workers in the informal sector and land-based OFWs. These workers have the lowest social security coverage in our workforce, and they are among the most vulnerable sector in times of contingencies,” Regino added.

The SSS has been reaching out and encouraging them to continue paying their monthly contributions. However, the pension fund fully understands that it is challenging to pay their SSS contributions regularly because of intermittent income and varied work arrangements.

As an example, government agencies can subsidize the contributions of their job order workers since they are not covered by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). Regino added that private institutions or multinational companies, as part of their corporate social responsibility, can shoulder the SSS contributions of self-employed informal sector workers or land-based OFWs who lost their jobs due to the pandemic.

“Subsidizing their SSS contributions is the greatest gift that we can give to a fellow Filipino. It will allow him to gain access to social security benefits which will serve as a cushion that they can rely on in times of emergencies and various contingencies,” Regino concluded.