Universal Sports Promotions, a social enterprise, recently launched its inaugural sporting event for kids, a 2-day basketball clinics and games for 14 years old and below at the Astrodome, in Tacloban City, the regional capital of Eastern Visayas and Catbalogan City, the capital of Samar, with NBA talent development expert, veteran coach and international scout, Gary Boyson as special guest, from June 3-4, 2023.

“We take pride in spearheading trailblazing projects. So when we got the chance to invite an international personality with NBA track record, to visit Samar and Leyte and conduct mentorship for young basketball players, we know that we are creating unprecedented move that will benefit young basketball players in the region”, MaryJane Salomon, it’s founder and CEO said.

“With our vision and mission, to support promote and develop sports, from grassroots up, we are happy to provide additional platform for children, pave the way for innovative and inclusive initiatives and make them accessible for them to achieve their full potential”, she added.

Universal Sports Promotions is into curation, production, and management of various sporting events such as basketball, marathon, cycling, boxing, regatta, amongst others and is into promotion of sports tourism as well.

“We would like to champion sports tourism. Whether we are organizing sporting events, providing training and coaching, or partnering with other organizations to support sports initiatives, USP is here to make a meaningful difference in the lives of athletes and sports enthusiasts alike”, Salomon added.

The basketball event which attracted almost 500 kids from different parts of Leyte and Samar including Biliran, highlighted the importance of collaboration and significance of private led initiatives in pursuance of sports development, that is sustainable and scalable, in the countryside. It was supported by the city governments of Tacloban City and Catbalogan City, Department of Educations, Department of Tourism, Hiraya Foundations, IFranchise Business Corporations and Stratoppo Global.

“As a sports advocate, it is important to promote the benefits of sports participation, diversity and inclusion in sports, the impact of sports in society, the role of sports in promoting mental health, and the need for sportsmanship and fair play”, she quipped.
“Sport brings people together and provides hope for everyone. It is a unifying initiative.

Generally speaking, we need to be creative, must think out of the box and raise the standards. When we do these, we inspire others to do something, embolden their desire to get involved and provide the confidence to join in pursuing shared vision and common goal. Cooperation is key, to achieve more and do more”, Salomon concluded. (PR)

KANANGA, Leyte– As this town is to celebrate its founding anniversary, it also launched its first-ever ‘Kaanyag Festival.’

Mayor Mat Torres said that the festival will showcase Kananga’s beauty, history, and its resources, particularly its ylang-ylang which is abundant in the town.

“The Kananga Kaanyag Festival is a celebration of the fragrance, flavor, beauty, and abundance that our beloved town embodies,” said Matt Torres, Kananga Municipal Mayor. “We cordially invite everyone to join us in this grand launch and immerse themselves in the vibrant culture and rich traditions that make Kananga truly unique.”

The five-day festivity started last Saturday with a holy Mass followed by the presentation of candidates for the Festival Queen competition.

Last Thursday (June 8), a ‘grand’ tree planting of ylang-ylang was held as the said flower is considered as Kananga’s official flower.

And on Sunday (June 11), the grand float parade will be held and the coronation of its festival queen. (ROBERT DEJON/LIZBETH ANN A.ABELLA)

NSSDEO, Brgy. Burabud, Laoang, Northern Samar– The DPWH-NSSDEO Quality Assurance Section conducted a t-core test of its completed asphalt road project located at the Pangpang-Palapag-Mapanas-Gamay-Lapinig Road in the Pacific Area.

The project with contract ID No. 23II0002 is under contract with ANLE Construction. It has a contract amount of P5,885,417.11 funded under DPWH regular infrastructure program, GAA FY 2023.

The testing was done by drilling a concrete road with the use of t-core machine, to determine its thickness, compact strength and mixture of aggregates, and to ensure the stability and quality of road asphalt pavement project and its resistance to deformation.

The findings indicated that the completed project passed and complied with the standard specifications as provided in the contract documents.

The activity was conducted on April 19, 2023 by the QAS technical team led by Engr. Mikhail Benedik Mondigo, Materials Engineer II, with the assistance of Engr. Ulyssis Pelegrino, Engr. Hannah Esquillo, and Remedios Nitor, Laboratory Technician I.
(MECHU T. ADONGAY, PIO STAFF)

TACLOBAN CITY– She does not middle in local politics.

Thus said Senator Imee Marcos, who visited the region last week, when asked if she will be supporting local candidates for the forthcoming 2024 elections.

“We respect the decision of the people, and we leave the local politicians alone. We don’t meddle with whoever is there. We let them be,” the senator said during a media interview.
The senator said that personally, she has a very good relationship with the family of Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho ‘Icot’ Petilla whose family has dominated the province for decades now.

“I have been working with Gov. Jericho Petilla while former governor Leopoldo was my contemporary when I was governor of Ilocos Norte,” the senator said.

“Even with Mayor Remedios Petilla, former Baybay mayor Carmen Cari and even former congresswoman Trinidad Apostol. We are all okay. We were in Congress together,” Marcos added.

Meantime, Sen. Marcos said that she will seek reelection during the 2025 elections.
“Yes, it’s for reelection for me for the 2025 elections,” she said.
There were rumors that the senator, the elder sister of President Marcos, will run for mayor of Manila which she denied.

The senator also squelched rumors that she is eyeing the second highest elective post in the country, the vice presidency, in the 2028 elections, with Vice President Sara Duterte as her running-mate.

The senator visited Borongan City and Oras town in Eastern Samar as well as in Southern Leyte to lead the cash distribution under the government’s AICS (assistance to individuals under crisis situations) program.

She also vowed to help the region particularly its poor provinces like Eastern Samar become economically developed as this will also contribute to ending the communist insurgency problem.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)