FORT BONIFACIO, Taguig City – The Philippine Army with the Republic of Korea (ROK) Embassy in Manila held a Wreath-Laying Ceremony in commemoration of the 74th Anniversary of the Battle of Yuldong on April 22, 2025 at the Korean War Memorial Pylon, Libingan Ng Mga Bayani, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

The event relives the heroism of the 10th, 20th, 19th, 14th, and 2nd Battalion Combat Teams along with the Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea (PEFTOK) against the attacks of Chinese communists and North Korean Soldiers in South Korea during the Korean War.

The Commanding General Philippine Army (CGPA) Lt. Gen. Roy M. Galido led the ceremony in honor of the living veterans and the Filipino soldiers who braved unfamiliar territory and overwhelming opposing forces during the Korean War. The families and descendants of the soldiers also graced the ceremony and received the CGPA’s appreciation for keeping the memories and heroism of the soldiers alive. Lt. Gen. Galido also highlighted the strong bond between the Philippines and South Korea during the ceremony and expressed his gratitude for more than seven decades of friendship.

Officials and members of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office and the PEFTOK Veterans Association Inc., in coordination with the Philippine Army, organized the momentous occasion that will continue to inspire generations of the Filipino and South Korean nations. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY – The ‘Bagong Sibol’ Grassroots Tournament, organized by the San Juanico De Tacloban Sepak Takraw Club Incorporation, kicked off at Robinsons North Tacloban City from April 24 to 27, 2025.

Among the passionate participants is 12-year-old Yvan Bryceley Castillote, a young player representing the Scaniards SDC team from Scan Tacloban City.

In a short yet insightful interview, Bryceley openly shared his reasons for joining the tournament: “For experience,” he said simply. When asked to elaborate, he added, “I applied because I have experience.”

The young athlete showed determination and focus when he talked about his preparations. “Training,” he said. “Ball control, receiving, and serving.” These are the key skills he’s been honing ahead of the competition.

Bryceley has already built a strong foundation in sepak takraw. He mentioned having played for two years as a crowd player and participated in at least one to three tournaments before joining this event.

When asked about his team’s goal for the Bagong Sibol tournament, Bryceley answered with maturity beyond his years: “Give our best. Give us a good performance.”

The grassroots tournament, under the leadership of Director Francisco Albesa Jr., continues to be a platform for young athletes like Yvan to gain exposure, showcase their talents, and foster a deeper love for the sport.

As the Bagong Sibol Grassroots Tournament progresses, stories like Yvan’s reflect the spirit and potential that youth sports can nurture in local communities.

(JHARRLYN O. NAPOLES, LNU STUDENT INTERN)

TACLOBAN CITY — The San Juanico de Tacloban Sepak Takraw Club kicked off a four-day grassroots Sepak Takraw tournament titled “Bagong Sibol” at Robinsons North Tacloban, aiming to cultivate youth talent, foster discipline, and introduce fresh dynamics to the fast-paced sport.

The tournament, which began on April 23, gathers teams from across Eastern Visayas (Region 8), competing in four age and gender-based categories, according to Club President Francisco Albesa Jr.

Participants compete in two formats:

The Regu, the traditional three-player team match

The Quad, a highly anticipated format featuring four players per team, which will be showcased on Saturday, April 26, the final day of the tournament.

“I joined this event so I could learn something from the sport and for the experience itself,” said Yuan Bryceley Castillote, 12, a member of The Scaniards from Tacloban City, competing in the Under-17 boys’ category.

The event is overseen by nationally and internationally certified referees, coaches, and organizers, ensuring a professional and competitive environment.

Since 2009, the club has been active in promoting Sepak Takraw across the Philippines, organizing tournaments as far as Baguio and Davao City.

“Bagong Sibol”—meaning “new growth”—not only refers to the rising interest in Sepak Takraw in the region but also highlights the emergence of young athletes eager to make their mark in this uniquely Southeast Asian sport.

(JUSTIN ANDRIAN F. POTOLIN, LNU STUDENT INTERN)

TACLOBAN CITY – In celebration of Filipino Food Month (FFM), the regional office of the Department of Agriculture (DA) launched a three-day Kadiwa pop-up store from April 23 to 25 at the DA-8 Carpark, Kanhuraw Hill, this city.

Organized by the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD), the event featured 20 exhibitors, including farmers’ associations, local entrepreneurs, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from across Eastern Visayas.

On display were native delicacies such as binagol, moron, and suman, along with locally made products like tablea, organic vinegar, and handmade peanut butter.

In her opening message, DA- 8 administrative and finance division chief Jenny Lyn Almeria emphasized the role of Filipino Food Month in preserving the country’s rich culinary heritage while promoting food security.

“We are celebrating FFM to highlight our traditional Filipino foods. Through this, we aim to strengthen local food production and ensure food security for all,” she said.

Almeria also acknowledged the vital role of farming communities in producing traditional delicacies and thanked Kadiwa partners for helping sustain regional culinary traditions.

As part of the event, an information caravan for “Project 29 Rice” was also introduced. This initiative aims to offer rice at a subsidized rate of P29 per kilogram, with the National Food Authority (NFA) set to supply the rice following successful coordination with DA-8.

To extend this effort beyond Tacloban, the agency is preparing to roll out “Kadiwa on wheels” alongside Project 29 Rice in May, in celebration of Farmers and Fisherfolk Month.

This mobile market will target geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas across the provinces of Leyte, Samar, Biliran, Southern Leyte, and Northern Samar. Around 1,000 bags of NFA rice have been secured for the mobile program.

The public was encouraged to support local producers by visiting the KADIWA pop-up, which operated until 5 pm daily during the three-day event.

(NAPOLEON JASPER BALTAR, LNU STUDENT INTERN)