PH Curling Team Dares to Dream for a 2026 Winter Olympics Bid

Wazzup Pilipinas!?



Can a team from a tropical country excel in an ice sport like curling?

That’s what the Philippine National Curling Team – composed of four Fil-Swiss players -- are out to prove when they go through the rigorous preparations of vying for a slot in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy.

Alan Frei, Filipino-Swiss entrepreneur, economist, curler and spokesman of the team said the Philippine men’s squad bagged a silver medal in the B-Division of the Pan Continental Curling Championships in Kelowna, Canada in 2023. The team aims to repeat the feat this October in Alberta to move up to the A-Division in the 2025 championships.The top two teams there get guaranteed spots in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

Frei, a relative newcomer to curling, joined the Filipino team in March 2023, a year after he sold his Swiss e-commerce business and decided “to become an Olympian”. Sharing his dream are teammates Christian Haller, a two-time world junior championship medallist, and brothers Marc and Enrico Pfister who previously competed for Switzerland in world curling championships.

All Swiss-born like Frei, Haller, and the Pfister brothers are eligible to play for the country because of their Filipino mothers.

“The sport of curling is like playing chess on ice. It’s a combination of strategy and physical skill. We have a huge advantage in the strategy part because we have the experience of the three guys who have played on the world stage,” said Frei.

To test their skills further, the National Men’s Curling Team will be competing in an off-season tournament this August, the Baden Master’s in Switzerland where they will face World’s No. 1 Italy in their first game. Currently placed at 51st in the men’s rankings of the World Curling Member Association, Frei said the team is excited to play Italy so they can gauge exactly where they stand.

The Swiss-Filipino team hopes that more Filipinos can become aware of their goals and what they’ve been doing so they can be inspired even more.

Frei said the curling team shoulders all their expenses at present, citing their need to first achieve “success” before asking for financial support from the POC and other possible sponsors.

The Swiss-Filipino athletes are also eyeing a podium finish against top Asian countries like China and Korea in the 2025 Asian Winter Gamesin Harbin to gain national recognition.

“The curling team aspires to pave the way for future curling athletes from the country in their bid for the Olympics. We are trying to foster [Filipino talent] more and more just by being a role model and having this super ambitious goal,” Frei said.

With the help of the POC and national sports associations, the team plans to hold exhibition tournaments in the country and provide training for aspiring Filipino curlers. The Curling Winter Sports Association of the Philippines, which the team is a part of, also aims to increase its membership from about 50 to 100 people this year according to Frei.

Frei said Filipino communities come out to support them anywhere they play, worldwide.

Single-minded in their dream to bring honor to the country, Frei revealed they want to achieve what the Jamaican Bobsled Team did in the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary. Received as underdogs in a cold weather sport, the Jamaicans competed against all odds and came out the favorites.

“We don't have a plan B. We have only one plan and that is to go to the Olympics,” Frei concluded.

Radiant Photo PH Launched at Ayala Museum on July 20

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Revolutionizing Photo Editing with Personalized AI Presets and Photographer-Run Software

Radiant Photo, the latest innovation in photo and video editing software, launched in the Philippines on July 20 at the Ayala Museum. This event unveiled Radiant Photo’s advanced features and unique tools to media, dealers, and photography enthusiasts.

Launch Event Highlights

The day began with a media and dealer roundtable, offering a unique opportunity to interact directly with the Radiant Photo team. In the afternoon, the consumer launch featured free workshops, photo contests, portfolio reviews, and interactive touch-and-try areas, showcasing Radiant Photo’s capabilities.

“Radiant Photo is here to transform the tedious editing process into an efficient, enjoyable experience,” said Elia Locardi, founder of Radiant Photo and renowned landscape photographer. “Our software offers unmatched customization and quality, ensuring photographers can achieve their vision with ease.”

Key Features and Pricing

Radiant Photo was developed by photographers for photographers, providing high-quality, fair-priced software without gimmicks. Radiant Photo analyzes each image upon opening and immediately shows an enhanced version of the photo. However, you have full manual control.

Even more, users can customize their Smart Presets to ensure that each photo retains the user’s personal touch while being enhanced efficiently.

“What makes Radiant Photo special is its ability to easily bring out the natural colors and life-life details in a photo,” Locardi added. “We’ve created a tool that not only enhances photos but does so in a way that feels completely personal and authentic.”

The software is available for $49 per year, which includes access to both the application and plugins, integrating seamlessly with popular editing software like Adobe Lightroom Classic and Photoshop. Each purchase is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, ensuring complete customer satisfaction.

Data-Driven Insights

Radiant Photo’s unique technology leverages advanced AI to provide scene detection and per-pixel analysis, resulting in images that are perfectly exposed and vibrant. Users can enjoy three distinct modes: Quick Edit, Detailed Edit, and Color Grade, each designed to cater to different editing needs and skill levels.

● Event: Radiant Photo Launch in the Philippines

● Date: July 20, 2024

● Venue: Ayala Museum, Makati City

● Morning Session: Media and Dealer roundtable

● Afternoon Session: Consumer launch with workshops, contests, and more

● Features: Personalized AI Presets, photographer-run company, three editing modes

● Pricing: $49 per year with a 30-day money-back guarantee

● Brand Ambassadors: Featuring renowned photographers and Radiant Photo ambassadors leading workshops and activities :

○ Elia Locardi (Founder)

○ Cris Magsino

○ Erwin Lim

○ Jeremy Sandel

○ Omell Cruz

○ Jay Jallorina

○ John Kimwell Laluma

○ Ricky Ladia

○ Jojie Alcantara

○ Rhonson Ng

○ Arlene Donaire

○ Raymond Tanhueco

● Co-Presenter 

This event was co-presented by Ayala Foundation and Summit Creative, and in addition to the Radiant Photo ambassadors, Summit Creative's ambassadors including Celine Murillo, Dennis Murillo, Jo Serrano, and Jack Ponpon also participated.

Summit Creative provides the ultimate camera bag and carry solution system for creators and adventurers. Their design features versatility and maximum protection for equipment while maintaining a comfortable and well-balanced aesthetic in its multi-use form factor. Explore Beyond Limits with Summit Creative.

● In collaboration with esteemed partners and sponsors, contributing to the success of the launch: Fujifilm Philippines, Zone V Camera Club, ProArt by Asus Philippines, Quantum Matrix Design, SanDisk, WACOM, LaCie, Nanlite, Sirui, Manfrotto, Sigma, Samyang, EcoFlow Philippines by ENABLED, Nanlite, and Big Pix Graphics Systems.

Radiant Photo is dedicated to simplifying the editing process for photographers and videographers, providing efficient, high-quality results.

Let’s Connect

Facebook: https://bit.ly/RadiantPhotoPHFacebook

Instagram: https://bit.ly/RadiantPhotoPHInstagram

Website: https://bit.ly/RadiantPhotoWebsite

App Store: https://apple.co/3VOaJ3K

Google Play: https://bit.ly/RadiantPhotoGooglePlay

Elia Locardi: https://bit.ly/EliaLocardiFB

Latest PH Marine Mammal Stranding Hotspots and Species Stranding Status Entail Urgent LGU Response

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

With a significant number of marine mammals stranded in the Philippines over the past years, it is within the scope of local government units (LGUs) to address this pressing concern, scientists from the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) indicated in a recent study that encompasses data from the past almost two decades.

Dr. Lemnuel Aragones, Alessandra Nicole Morado, and Honey Leen Laggui of the Institute of Environmental Science & Meteorology (IESM), along with Dr. Marie Christine Obusan of the Institute of Biology (IB), Dr. Jonah Bondoc of the Natural Sciences Research Institute (NSRI), and Dr. Leo Suarez of Ocean Adventure and Ewen Lawler of University of Canberra, assessed the changes in marine mammal strandings in the Philippines over space and time, as well as the types of species that got stranded in Philippine territory from 2005 to 2022.


Marine mammal strandings and the role of LGUs

A marine mammal stranding occurs when a marine mammal is found on seashores or in shallow waters and cannot return to deeper waters on its own. The researchers mapped the stranding hotspots in the Philippines, representing areas where standing frequencies are relatively high, and designed the hotspots to identify designated LGUs to inform them about the implications of the strandings for marine mammal conservation and management. With the help of the hotspots, concerned LGUs can also be proactive in addressing marine mammal strandings. A total of 35 LGU hotspots for strandings were identified in this study. The majority of these stranding hotspots were located in Luzon (with 24 hotspots), particularly in Regions 1 and 2.

“Strandings can be of natural causes, but when marine mammals with good body condition strand, we have to worry because it could imply that they are in trouble. It is possible that their habitat is compromised in various ways – most likely from human activities such as pollution and overexploitation of our key marine resources,” explained Dr. Aragones, who also serves as the president of the Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network (PMMSN).

While natural causes such as tropical monsoons and oceanographic factors can affect marine mammal strandings, the study emphasized that fisheries production and fisheries interaction are major contributors to the stranding frequencies of these mammals. This can occur through fishing equipment that increases the chances of entanglement or various illegal fishing activities, such as dynamite fishing.

“We recommend that LGUs and concerned regional offices establish their own stranding response team and rehabilitation tank and eradicate illegal fishing activities in their area by providing appropriate crew and patrol boats,” the researchers stated in their study. They also emphasized the importance of information, education, and communication (IEC) campaigns regarding marine mammals and regulating fishers and their fishing gear. By institutionalizing these programs, LGUs and concerned regional offices will help sustain their implementation.



Tala, a rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis), was rehabilitated by PMMSN for 51 days before being successfully released back into the Lingayen Gulf on August 21, 2018. (Photo credit: PMMSN)

Their study also revealed that the species most frequently stranded in Philippine waters were spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) with 218 strandings, dugongs (Dugong dugon) with 104 strandings, Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus) with 100 strandings, Fraser’s dolphins (Lagenodelphis hosei) with 95 strandings, and melon-headed whales (Peponocephala electra) with 89 strandings. By establishing a ‘species stranding status,’ an index of the impacts of stranding on these already vulnerable and endangered species, this study has introduced an important additional key factor in assessing species conservation status by concerned agencies.


Generating more research on stranded marine mammals

Knowing the species—particularly identifying their genetics and genomics—is important for ensuring the proper management of stranded marine mammals. This is the focus of the new ongoing studies by Dr. Aragones and his colleagues.

“We should determine the main causes of strandings. Since we suspect that dynamite blasts can cause strandings, we want to understand the acoustics of marine mammals,” elaborated Dr. Aragones. “We also like to examine the impact of fisheries on our marine mammals, to identify what types of fishing gears can entangle them, and the bycatch rates as well.”

Their findings underscore the importance of continuing and advancing monitoring efforts for marine mammal strandings, given the inevitable impacts of human activities such as increasing population, illegal fishing, pollution, and climate change. The evidence-based results provided by this study can guide stranded hotspot LGUs and concerned regional offices in managing and conserving Philippine marine resources, including marine mammals.

Cover Photo caption: A rare ginkgo-toothed beaked whale (Mesoplodon ginkgodens) was stranded alive in Subic Bay on April 19, 2010. Annual stranding frequencies in the Philippines generally increased from 29 in 2005-2007 to 106 in 2020-2022. (Photo credit: PMMSN)

By: Eunice Jean C. Patron