Danny Kingad Meets Demetrious Johnson in ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Finals

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Danny “The King” Kingad’s wish of meeting Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson in the ONE Circle will finally come true on October 13 at the co-main event of ONE: CENTURY PART 1.

The pair will return to the iconic Ryōgoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan where they competed in the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix quarterfinals last March and advanced to the semifinals in separate bouts. At that point, Kingad put in a dominant performance against Senzo Ikeda, while Johnson secured a guillotine choke victory over Yuya Wakamatsu.

Both athletes shared the same stage again at ONE: DAWN OF HEROES in the Philippines in the semifinals of the tournament where “Mighty Mouse” outperformed Tatsumitsu Wada and Kingad won a razor-thin split decision against Reece McLaren.

Kingad is looking forward to finally meeting his idol at the 100th live event of ONE Championship.

“I can’t wait for our match to begin,” Kingad said.

“Demetrious is one of the athletes I have been looking forward to stepping into the cage with ever since he signed with ONE Championship. He is also one of the athletes who I look up to as a martial artist. We were both in Japan in the first round of the tournament. Now we will be back there for the finals. Almost everyone in my division wanted to have the chance of testing their skills against him. I have worked hard to reach the finals of this tournament, and I feel blessed to share this stage with him.”

Things, though, won’t come easy for Kingad knowing that Johnson, a 12-time Flyweight World Champion, may be the best mixed martial artist in the world. Johnson’s skills may be a lot to overcome, but Kingad believes there is a chink in Johnson’s armor which he can use to his advantage.

“Demetrious is a well-rounded athlete,” Kingad said.

“His striking skills, ground game, and fight IQ is on a different level. He remains the same dominant fighter I grew up watching on television. However, I think he is having a little bit of difficulty with our Asian athletes because our style somewhat differs from those in the west. He also was taken down easily a lot here, and in his previous promotion, that is an opportunity we are looking at.”

The ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix finals will not be a walk in the park for Kingad, but he vows to come prepared for perhaps the most definitive match of his career.

“I am continuously working on all aspects of my game,” Kingad concluded.

“In the world of mixed martial arts, anything can happen. I need to be well equipped to dominate wherever the fight will take me. This match is significant not only for me but for the guys at Team Lakay as well. I’m going in there to give my best and win.”

Peace Advocates Place Culture at the Heart of Development

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Hundreds of youth leaders; young public servants, Indigenous People’s groups, student and community youth organizations from across the country convened for cultural exchange and discussions on national issues that highlight the role of the youth in peace and development.

Sigaw ng Kabataan Coalition (SKC-Philippines), an independent non-partisan national alliance of young leaders and a consortium of youth organizations in the Philippines, together with the Rotary Satellite Club of Fort BGC Titans organized the 2-day Philippine Intercultural Youth Convention (PIYC) 2019 which coincided with the celebration of the International Peace Day.

In addressing the country’s most pressing issues comes a crossroad for building the Philippines’ path towards achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Through the years, the lack of solidarity and understanding in this journey leads to discrimination, violence, and further marginalization of cultural minorities, ultimately creating larger cultural barriers among our people.

In his opening message, SKC National President and Chairman of the Rotary Satellite Club of Fort Bonifacio Global City Titans, Ellirie Nicolas Aviles said, “…despite our differences, we convene in PIYC 2019 to promote peace by broadening our knowledge about each other’s cultures. We convene to prove that there is strength in unity.”

Citing a United Nations Website, Aviles said, “It says that Culture is who we are, and what shapes our identity. Placing culture at the heart of development policies is the only way to ensure a human-centered, inclusive and equitable development.”

“Peace is the core advocacy of all developmental organizations as there will be no development without peace. No matter what advocacy we have or Sustainable Development Goals were focused on, there will always be an underlying connection to peace, “He added.

This year’s PIYC is organized in partnership with the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippine Department of Tourism, AFS Intercultural Program Philippines, Pilipinas Rotaract Multi-District Information Organization (MDIO), Rotary Clubs of Fort BGC, Makati, Muntinlupa Business District, and Muntinlupa Central, Rotaract Clubs of Fort BGC, Makati United, San Francisco Del Monte Malaya Achievers District 3780, Miraculous Medal –Sucat, Metro Bacolod District 3850, Zamboanga City West District 3850, Tagbilaran District 3860, Serenade Society, Nature’s Spring, Bangs Prime Salon, Rustan’s, Geek Mode Media, Office of the Bangsamoro Youth Affairs(OBYA) – BARMM, the Local Government of Quezon City, and the GM Joe Tours and Transport Corporation.

Philippine government leaders as well as non-government and international partners such as DSWD Asec. Rhea Penaflor, NEDA Commissioner Dexter Galban, Mr. William Lucht of Asian Development Bank, NCCA Executive Director Al Ryan Alejandre, the youngest elected mayor in the Philippines, Mayor Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu of Datu Abdullah Sangki, Maguindanao, Rotary District 3830 Inspiring Governor Alfredo Montecillo, Mr. Arjay Barrios from the Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center, Mr. Arjay Mercado from Action for Economic Reforms, Dr. Almuhaimin Usman of Teach Peace, Build Peace Movement, and Mr. Marc Batac of the Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID) and Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict enriched the forums on youth in peace, peace amidst diversity, vulnerabilities in conflict, and the essence of peace-building in the attainment of quality education, poverty alleviation, access to healthcare, and sustainable livelihood.

Habitat Teams Up with Handyman

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Habitat for Humanity Philippines seals a partnership agreement with Robinsons’ hardware retail store Handyman and Herco Trading, Inc., official distributor of local brand Greenfield construction tools through a “buy-one-give-one hand tool” program that will support Habitat partner families and communities affected by natural calamities. With every purchase of a Greenfield hand tool such as saw, level bar, wrench, or pliers, among others, another hand tool is donated to Habitat Philippines. This will run until October 16, 2019.

In signing photo (L-R): Launching the partnership are Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. President and CEO Robina Gokongwei-Pe, Habitat Philippines Resource Development and Communications Director Jamie Santos-Sugay, Handyman General Manager Stanley Co, Herco Trading, Inc. President and CEO Wilfred Co, and Vice President and COO Wayne Coherco.

'Plus Can'

On top of their Php500,000 outright donation to Habitat Philippines, Robinsons Handyman pledges to help raise awareness and funds for the organization via a donation drive with Habitat acrylic boxes and ‘Plus Cans’ located across 40 Handyman outlets in Metro Manila.