PHILIPPINES NEWS PERTH Vol.1 No. 1 | 1-15 December 2020

VOL. 1 NO. 1

1-15 DECEMBER 2020

SERVICE BEYOND SELF

The mission of Philippine Consul to Perth Virma Symons

By NEIL BRAVO

STORY ON PAGE 2

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VOL. 1 NO. 1 • 1-15 DECEMBER 2020

Atty Symons juggles between her consular duties and running her own law firm.

M

y phone rang with an unregistered number one afternoon in November. I usually frown upon unregistered numbers with many calls coming from telemarketers both in Australia and overseas.

For no apparent reason, I picked up the call.

"Hi, is this Neil Bravo. I'm Virma," sounded the voice on the other line.

Virma. The name rings a bell. There's no other Virma I could think of except for the recently-appointed Philippine Consul to Perth.

Could it be Virma Symons?

"Consul Virma Symons?" I asked.

That was the first conversation.

The next one was meeting her up personally at the Philippine Consular Office in Perth at the Australia Asia House down Stirling Street.

For an honorary consul, I was expecting a very formal and protocol-driven conversation. The position is recognised in international law and theoretically enjoy the same privileges as career diplomats.

Ms Symons did not show any of the trappings persons of her stature usually display.

From the first handshake, she was genuinely sincere, grounded and

warm without having to shed the strength in character that she possesses.

Throughout the courtesy call where she obliged for an impromptu interview and pictorial, Ms Symons was accommodating. And I thought, I'd sound this off back home in the Philippines how she fits to a T as the honorary consul in Perth.

REVIVING THE CONSULATE For a while, the Philippines did not have an honorary consul in Perth. On 17 April 2020, it was officially announced that the Consulate Office is re-opening with the appointment of Atty Virma Symons as Philippine Honorary Consul to Western Australia and will be serving a term of three years.

The re-opening of the Philippine Consulate in Perth significantly resumes its service more than 30,000 Filipinos in Western Australia.

Ms Symons was sworn into office by Philippine Ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega via video link on 17 April 2020.

The Honorary Consul is responsible for promoting and protecting the interests of the Philippines in Western Australia. It is also her duty to protect the rights and promote the welfare of Filipino citizens in her consular jurisdiction.

Ms Symons said it is privilege and honour to be working with the Department of For-

"It's time to give back to the community. I know there are so many Filipinos in WA whose interest we need to protect and promote." -- ATTY VIRMA SYMONS

eign Affairs of the Philippines in general, and the Philippine Embassy in Canberra, and to be able to serve the Filipino community in Western Australia.

Vicki Wotherspoon, President of Filipino Australian Club, Inc and founding member of the Filipino Community Council of WA prodded Symons to apply for the vacant honorary consul position. Wotherspoon approached Symons and encouraged her to apply for the role of Philippine Honorary Consul in Perth three times before finally deciding to give it a go and after consulting her husband.

Her appointment had the support of the Executive Committee and Board of the FACPI, and Dante Maribbay (former President of FCC Australia and FCC WA). A colleague in the legal profession, Luciano Sales, also backed her application and introduced her to leaders of the Filipino community who in turn threw their support on her bid for the role.

The rest, as they say, is history.

LIFE-CHANGING Ms Symons admitted she lived a quiet life since moving to Perth and finding a career in the legal profession.

"At first I was hesitant to take the position when it was offered to me. I was busy with my legal practice and adding up a new function may be too much to take," Symons told this writer. "But I thought, it's time

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VOL. 1 NO. 1 • 1-15 DECEMBER 2020

Atty Symons says working a honorary consul is a life-changing experience.

to give back to the community.

I know there are so many Filipinos in WA whose interest we need to protect and promote."

A lot has changed since she accepted the consular duties.

"It's a life-changing experience," she said.

As honorary consul, Ms Symons has so far visited the WA regions as far as Kalgoorlie and Karratha and is set to launch more outreach missions at the start of the year.

EDUCATION Ms Symons earned a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Communication at the University of the Philippines in 1985 before obtaining a Bachelor of Laws degree also in the staterun university in 1990. She moved to New York to further her studies at Cornell University where she was awarded Master of Laws in 1998.

After settling in Australia, she obtained her law degree at Murdoch University School of Law in 2000.

"When I came here, I thought

I would like to continue my legal profession so I had my academic records evaluated. After two years of further studies, I got my degree," she narrated.

PROFESSIONAL CAREER After passing the Philippine Bar Examinations in 1990, Ms Symons began her legal career as a general counsel in the Philippines. She worked as a lawyer under the Meer, Meer & Meer Law Office. She held the position as in-house corporate counsel of Victory Liner (19911995), manager and assistant corporate secretary for Keppel Monte Bank (1995-1996), and in-house lawyer for Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company (1996-1997).

In 2001, Ms Symons started her legal practice in Australia under work experience and later as articled clerk before working as a lawyer in 2006. In 2007, she established her own legal practice as a solicitor and registered migration agent.

Today, Ms Symons runs her

own legal firm Symons & Co Legal which she founded in 2013.

The company specialises in family law, property law, trusts, will and estates, joint ventures, business, and international law.

VOLUNTEERS Assuming the role as honorary consul was only the beginning. The next steps were critical. For one, she had to assemble a working force to help her run the office. It being a voluntary role, she had to rely on the spirit of volunteerism.

This is where the Filipino 'bayanihan' spirit thrives so well. It took no time for her to tap people who came up to the plate with a volunteer mindset.

“I have a team of volunteers who are currently helping me.

They come from various organisations: Marino Salinas Ed Magtuto, Eric Almen, Mervin Matondo, Carmelita Baltazar, Roger Acacio, Cecilia Concepcion, and Father Nelson," she said. “I welcome the support of other volunteers who are willing to be of service to our

Filipino community in Western Australia in their own unique way because as I said, I cannot do the role alone."

SYMONS' MISSION As honorary consul, Ms Symons knows pretty well the challenges of the times. But she is not fazed.

No matter how daunting the responsibilities, she is determined to carry out her role, among them are supporting the Philippine Embassy’s outreach programs such as consular mobile services. She looks to promote Filipino culture in Perth in collaboration with the Philippine Embassy through event platforms like food fairs, fashion shows, and trade shows.

She also envisages a university-to-university and sister city agreements to promote these bilateral relations and to work with the Filipino community in championing bilateral relations between Perth/Australia and the Philippines.

On the business and trade

relations, she is eyeing outbound trade missions and business-to-business networking activities through the Perth Chamber of Commerce and other agencies.

For, she said, the most pressing concern is to help Filipinos affected by the pandemic -- people who have lost their jobs, home or finding them new jobs, assisting stranded Filipinos who need to go back to the Philippines, helping students who have lost their jobs, assisting families of Filipinos who passed away from COVID-19.

Her vision for Pinoys in WA is to help generate livelihood for the unemployed and in the long haul, see them achieve their potentials.

Her motivation?

"I would like to see Filipinos in WA live in unity and harmony despite the many differences that we have."

Consul Virma Symons certainly had gone leaps and bounds in carrying out her mission.

And she's only just begun.

Volunteer staff keeps the Consular Office running day in and day out.

4 INSIDEPERTH

VOL. 1 NO. 1 • 1-15 DECEMBER 2020

Construction is steaming ahead on the METRONET Thornlie-Cockburn Link. On 4 Deember, a 120 tonne piling rig started drilling 156 eighteen metre deep holes at the Ranford Road Station site. This work will form the foundation superstructure for the new Ranford Road bridge. The Thornlie-Cockburn Link project is currently employing 500 locals, including many apprentices. (Mark McGowan Facebook page photo)

WA enforces SafeWA app W

hile Western Australia remains free of community transmission, the WA government are doing everything possible to ensure the State is prepared, in case COVID-19 returns.

So, beginning today, certain businesses and venues will be required to keep a COVID-19 contact register to assist in contact tracing of an outbreak occurred,” Premier Mark McGowan said in a statement released on social media.

The government has released a free app, SafeWA, to make the process as quick and easy as possible, and paper registers will also be available.

Businesses or venues required to keep a contact register include: - food and licenced venues (restaurants, cafés, bars, pubs, taverns, nightclubs); - gyms, indoor sporting centres and pools; - places of worship and funeral parlours; - beauty and personal care services including hairdressers and barbers; - galleries and museums; - cinemas, theatres and other entertainment

venues; - auction houses and real estate inspections; - community facilities, libraries and halls; - zoos and amusement parks; - function centres; and - accommodation facilities that already have check-in arrangements in place (i.e. hostels, hotels, large campgrounds).

The government assured that records will only be used for the purpose of COVID-19 contact tracing, should it be required, and will only be kept for 28 days and not used for any other purpose.

INSIDEPERTH 5

VOL. 1 NO. 1 • 1-15 DECEMBER 2020

WA Premier's statement on controlled interstate border

T

his morning our Chief Health Officer provided us with updated health advice for our border controls.

Our controlled interstate border has been in place since the 14th of November and it has been effective.

Last Tuesday we announced, based on the latest health advice, that New South Wales and Victoria could both transition to a ‘very low risk’ state.

That transition would occur from Tuesday, the 8th of December.

Unfortunately, just one day later, NSW recorded a case of COVID-19 from a person who worked in their hotel quarantine system.

As a result, we took a decision to carefully monitor the situation in NSW before giving the final go ahead on the updated border controls.

All through this pandemic I have made it crystal clear that Western Australia will take a considered, cautious, careful approach to our decision making.

We’ve kept COVID out, protecting people’s lives. And Western Australia’s economy has roared back to life as a

result, faster than we ever expected.

Over the past few days we have watched what has occurred in New South Wales like a hawk.

It is very pleasing to know that no further cases have been identified over the past five days.

Therefore, with no additional cases in NSW over the past 30 days, the Chief Health Officer has recommended that the risk of importation of COVID-19 from NSW is now ‘very low’.

As a result, it is safe to continue our plans, as announced last week.

This will occur for both Victoria and New South Wales, effective from midnight, tonight.

These States will join the ACT, Queensland, Northern Territory and Tasmania, as ‘very low risk’ jurisdictions.

As of tomorrow, travel is permitted to WA from these States, with conditions, under our controlled border.

Thank you for your patience and understanding, while we cautiously assessed the situation over a few extra days.

I also can provide an update on South Australia. cont.page 14

WA’s controlled interstate border arrangements with South Australia

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ffective from 12.01am Friday, 11 December, South Australia will be reclassified to ‘low risk’ from its current medium risk classification, subject to no further community outbreaks.

Anyone currently travelling to Western Australia from South Australia will need to meet strict exemption criteria, in addition to the self-quarantine and COVID-19 testing requirements which commenced on 15 November. This criteria also ap-

plies to anyone arriving by road through the Eucla checkpoint.

This exemption system mirrors the system we had in place for Victoria during the height of their second wave.

The exemption list for South Australia is limited to: - certain senior Government Officials; - certain active military personnel; - a member of the Commonwealth Parliament;

- a person carrying out functions under a law of the Commonwealth; - certain specialists responsible for time critical maintenance where the skills are not available in WA (excludes FIFO); - a person coming to WA at the request of the Chief Health Officer; - a person responsible for transport freight or logistics; and - anyone who is given ap-

proval by the State Emergency Coordinator or an authorised officer.

Failure to adhere to those conditions or providing false information upon entry to Western Australia will result in fines of up to $50,000 or even jail time.

Testing Anyone in WA will now be assessed for a COVID-19 test if they present with ANY of the following: - present with a fever of

NEILWIN BRAVO Publisher bravoneil@rocketmail.com 0451969616 ABN 98916845367

37.5°C or above - have had a fever in the last few days (for example, night sweats or chills), without a known source - have acute respiratory symptoms (for example, coughing, shortness of breath, sore throat) - acute loss of smell or taste If you have these symptoms, please get tested, and help us identify every case of COVID-19 cont.page 14

6 DATELINEPHILIPPINES

VOL. 1 NO. 1 • 1-15 DECEMBER 2020

Duterte’s ‘hesitation’ won’t delay vaccine supply for PH

M

ANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte’s initial hesitation to pay a reservation fee to suppliers won’t delay the Philippines’ acquisition of supply of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines, Malacañang said Monday.

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the acquisition of vaccines will not depend on a country’s capacity to pay in advance, but on the issuance of an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).

“I don’t think it would have affected the timeline because unang-una, as I said, ngayon lang po nagkakaroon ng (first, as I said, it’s only now that there has been an) Emergency Use Authorization worldwide. As far as I know, there have only been two countries that have given EUAs and that is China and the United Kingdom. So hindi po tayo nahuhuli (So we’re not lagging behind),” he said.

Roque pointed out that making an advance payment will not necessarily mean that the Philippines will lag behind compared to other countries.

“The advance payment po, I don’t think will really affect when we will actually get it kasi lahat naman po tayo (because we are all) subject first to scientific scrutiny. So what determines kung kailan tayo magkakaroon (when we will get the vaccine) is scientific scrutiny,”

he added.

He also said Duterte never insisted that paying reservation fees for a vaccine is a violation of Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act. “There is an exception under the RA 9184 that procurement pursuant to international agreements shall not be covered; and number two, there is expressed authorization vested on the President under Bayanihan 1 and 2 to resort to extraordinary procurement in relation to Covid,” he said.

Roque said Duterte eventually agreed to make advance payments after seeing initiatives of the private sector to purchase vaccines.

“Well, I think ang nangyari (what happened) was, the President was first told about the private sector initiative.

And when the President was told, he was appreciative and said, let’s do everything that we can now to get the vaccines,” he said.

On Dec. 1, Duterte signed Executive Order 121 granting authority to the FDA director general to issue a EUA for

Covid-19 drugs and vaccines subject to several conditions.

The EUA is expected to speed up the processing time for approval of potential vaccines from six months to 21 to 28 days.

Duterte approved the recommendation to make advance payments to suppliers of Covid-19 vaccines last Nov. 19.

First in line Roque, meanwhile, said Duterte is willing to be vaccinated under EUA upon receiving permission from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the Philippines.

“As Spokesperson, I think the President is the best communication tool. So kung papayagan na po ng FDA, I think po mangunguna ang Presidente at nag-volunteer naman po siya, in fact, gustung-gusto na niya (So if the FDA will allow him, I think the President will be the first to volunteer, in fact, he really wants to be the first),” he said.

Duterte has previously expressed willingness to be the first to be inoculated with a Covid-19 vaccine to allay fears on its effectiveness.

“Ang Presidente hindi na makaantay. Gusto niyang talagang turukan na siya nang mapakita nga po sa buong bayan na ligtas at epektibo, ito po’y dumaan sa expert panel group nang pinakadalubhasang Pilipino (The President can’t wait. He really wants

to be the first to be vaccinated to show the whole nation that it’s safe and effective, that it underwent an expert panel group of Filipino scientists),” Roque said.

Asked if Duterte would be willing to get inoculated with the vaccine live, Roque said it won’t be necessary to make a spectacle out of the vaccination but it will all depend on the President.

“It all depends on the President. Pero (But) the point is, hindi naman kinakailangan na ipakitang live iyan (It doesn’t necessarily need to be live).

But in any case, it’s the President’s decision; I will not second guess the President,” he said.

Roque, meanwhile, said he would leave to Cabinet secretaries to decide

whether they are also willing to be inoculated with the vaccine. However, he noted that they would probably hesitate to avoid being criticized as being given “VIP” treatment.

“Alam ninyo po personal na desisyon iyan ng ating mga namumuno ‘no pero kapag nangyari po iyan, babatuhin na naman ang gobyerno na inuuna ng bakuna ang mga VIPs gaya ng nangyari doon sa [polymerase chain reaction] test ‘no. So either way talagang mayroon pong mga kritiko na mambabato (You know, that’s the personal decision of our secretaries, but when it happens, they will be criticized that they are being given VIP treatment like what happened with PCR tests. So either way, there will be criticism),” he said.

He said it would be more important to regain Filipinos’ confidence about the importance of immunization.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said the government will purchase vaccines from four brands — Sinovac (China), Pfizer (US), AstraZeneca (UK), and Sputnik V (Russia).

(PNA) Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. (Presidential Communications Photo)

VOL. 1 NO. 1 • 1-15 DECEMBER 2020

DATELINEPHILIPPINES 7

Senator Bong Go and Budget Secretary Wendell Avisado interviewed by PCOO chief Martin Andanar.

to help in transport, DSWD releases P199-M AFP distribution of vaccines aid for ‘Ulysses’ victims T

T

he Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continues to provide relief assistance to victims of Typhoon Ulysses.

In an update released on Monday, the agency’s Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC) reported it has so far poured a total of PHP199,436,373 to aid Filipinos who were affected by the recent calamity.

The amount came from the fund of the agency, local government units (LGUs), non-government organizations, and other private sectors.

The aid came in the form of family food packs and nonfood items such as sleeping kits, kitchen kits, and hygiene

kits.

Based on DROMIC's official tally, the typhoon has affected 1,202,886 families in 7,251 barangays.

As of Monday, there are still 9,726 families or 39,028 persons taking shelter in 240 evacuation centers. It also added that 1,994 families or 7,787 persons are staying outside evacuation centers.

DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said these families have opted to stay with their nearby relatives or friends.

“Lesser families in evac-

uation centers means they are slowly going back to their homes and are recuperating,” Dumlao added.

Typhoon Ulysses has totally damaged 23,173 houses and partially damaged 166,407 houses.

Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Eduardo del Rosario has partnered with various concerned agencies to provide financial assistance for the settlement of those affected by recent typhoons through the Build Back Better Task Force.

Earlier, the National Housing Authority estimated that the government would need PHP2.2 billion to provide onetime housing cash assistance to typhoon victims. (PNA)

he Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday said it would help in the transportation and distribution of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines once these arrive in the country.

AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Gilbert Gapay, in a Laging Handa briefing, said the military would assist especially in the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines in remote areas in the country.

"So initially ang tasking natin dyan is sa transport and distribution ng (Covid-19) vaccines, lalung-lalo na dun sa far-flung areas na hindi talaga maabot ng ibang ahensya ng ating gobyerno (Initially, our tasking is on the transport and the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines especially in far-flung areas that cannot be reached by other government agencies) so we will be guided by the provisions and the guidelines that will be published by the IATF

(Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) so (we'll be) utilizing our air, naval and ground assets," he added.

Last week, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director General Eric Domingo said Covid-19 vaccines in the country may be rolled out in the country as early as March 2021.

Since Covid-19 vaccines require cold storage, Gapay said the AFP will ensure that these are delivered and administered in a timely manner.

Aside from providing assistance in the transport of vaccines, the AFP can also assist in ensuring security in its distribution.

"Of course, not everyone would have immediate access. The national government has a priority list, first are the front-liners, particularly health workers and medical staff. cont.page 14

PH execs continue investing in digital transformation

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n IBM study showed top executives of Philippine-based firms will continue investing in digital technology in the next two years, accelerating their digital transformation amid the pandemic.

In a virtual media roundtable Friday, IBM Philippines president and country general manager Aileen Judan Jiao said companies will continue

to roll out digital transformation initiatives even if coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines come out.

“One out of two executives we interviewed, which is practically 51 percent to be exact, shared in the study that digital transformation is increasing priority not only today but also for the next two years,” she said Jiao added businesses

now realize the need for operational scalability and flexibility that can be addressed by investing in digital technology.

“From a technology standpoint as well, many of them mentioned they will now prioritize cloud (computing) more than ever. This is a technology that allows you to do a dynamic delivery of your operations without seeing physically all your servers right in

front of you, but it’s going to be hybrid,” she said.

Likewise, outlook for investments on artificial intelligence (AI), automation like robotics process automation, and cybersecurity is increasing.

“People will continue to apply AI automation and other exponential technologies to make all their workflows happen in a very intelligent way,”

Jiao said.

Filipino executives have also said prioritizing AI is going to happen between now and the next two years, she said.

“They’re also saying they will be permanent changes…

They have said that whatever it is we’re doing today it is very unlikely that we’ll go back exactly from we were at before,” she added. (PNA)

8 PUBLISHER’SNOTE

VOL. 1 NO. 1 • 1-15 DECEMBER 2020

Bringing Pinoys closer Half a century and a year ago, these words were immortalised from the moon: "One small step for man. One giant leap for mankind."

In the same breath, publishing PHILIPPINES NEWS PERTH feels just that.

Four years ago, I left the Philippines after nearly three decades of a career in journalism. It was a bittersweet decision but ultimately it was the obligation of raising a family that weighed more. After four years of 'hybernation', the cat is out of the hat so to speak.

On this very first issue, we give birth to the PHILIPPINES NEWS PERTH -- a dream project that was conceived for years. The challenge of putting up this publication was too overwhelming most especially coming at the times when most enterprise are reeling from the effects of the pandemic. But the doggedness of the publication to bring closer the Filipino communities in Perth as well as the regional areas of Western Australia brought down the scaffoldings of obstruction.

PHILIPPINES NEWS PERTH will try to bridge the information gap for Pinoys in Perth and their families and friends in the Philippines. Putting both the current news and issues from home and in similar note, the goings on in the WA environs, in one digital platform is the very mission of this news organization.

We thank those who supported this project from conception to its eventual birth -- Philippine Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, Chairman William "Butch" Ramirez of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine Honorary Consul in Perth Atty Virma Symons, the Presidential Management Staff -- and to our colleagues in the media industry in the Philippines, the Philippine News Agency and the various Filipino community organizations in Perth.

Officially, we are now on circulation.

FRED C. LUMBA SPECKS OF LIFE

WAKING UP WITH A PURPOSE Focus on the important task rather than the routine so that the flow of things to do becomes smooth and satisfactory.

This appears to be a sane approach to right living, isn’t it?

Most successful company and business executives who lead large corporations have this creed tattooed in their mindset and they wake up in the morning ready to face any circumstances that come their way.

Many of us who are intimidated by the urgency and the toughness of the tasks before us usually take on the easy ones first because they are convenient and seem like second nature.

And then they are suddenly stopped cold in their tracks when the harder and tougher stuff come to challenge them.

Students or examinees taking professional exams for their license to practice are usually taught this way. Because one can always go back to harder questions that were not yet answered, the easy questions are the first being tackled and penciled in.

But in the business world the tougher assignments are usually the more important and the first to

be completed because they mean much more in terms of ROIs to the company.

That is why executives get the highest salaries, compensation and perks, better than the middle managers and supervisors who usually take on the preliminary routine of checking the meticulous details but leave to the higher authority – the vice –president, SVP, EVP, COO or CEO – the heavier task of decision-making.

Because the purpose of the whole exercise actually is about making the final decision. Whether to push through or not, the decision is only recommendatory from the middle managers and supervisors but the final say is left with the guys up there seated in their leather swivel chairs inside their cool and cozy executive rooms, sipping hot fresh brewed coffee served by their pretty and intelligent executive assistants. Oh, don’t forget the donuts please.

Perhaps, and I must say this with finality and dogmatic stance, government officials (Cabinet members particularly) must possess this kind of executive class because we the citizenry expect them to be extraordinary since

they are appointed by the President who is the highest appointing authority in the land.

Unfortunately, we the people see that not all but perhaps half of those presidential appointees not really of executive class.

One can easily size them up the way they speak when interviewed by the media. Many stammer and cannot talk impromptu without scripts.

Some even ask for prior questions before agreeing to be interviewed live on air. Are these Cabinet secretaries capable or just half-incapable?

Because many do not understand that living is not merely breathing air and exhaling it. It is a creative existence that separates the intelligent from the moron, the extraordinary from the ordinary, the rich from the poor, the executive from the clerk and so forth and so on.

Hey, life has a purpose.

One has to have a reason for living, the right reason for pursuing a dream and achieving your ambition.

If the government is managed by executives who possess the right skills for the position, the

right reasons for the right purposes, we can say the people are in good hands.

In this case, the government should be in fact in very good hands.

Conversely, if the executives appointed to Cabinet positions do not possess the right skills and attitude, how can they even muster to have the right reasons and the right purposes?

I know you will agree that there are Cabinet members who are ill-equipped. You’ve seen them come and go, no legacy to be remembered for during their stint.

But you know that some are so quiet because they do not want to stir a hornet’s nest during their incumbency.

This reminds me of Henry Ford who said: “Most people spend more time and energy going around problems than in trying to solve them.”

Isn’t this a very appropriate description of government officials?

Take the environmental sanitation and health problems Boracay was encountering before the President ordered a thorough clean-up of the world’s favorite

beach haven.

Several DENR secretaries have come and gone but the Boracay problem went unresolved until Duterte came along.

Why does it have to take the President to holler before anything gets done decisively?

Without a purpose, how can a man keep his sanity?

Without a purpose, how can the government satisfactorily serve its constituency?

Surely, it is time we all woke up with a purpose.

The citizens have their own share of responsibilities by just being law-abiding.

Government officials have heavier responsibilities and accountabilities by performing their executive duties and doing them in an A-one manner.

No ifs and buts.

Those who cannot perform above par should resign. They need not be prodded by the Senate nor by the media nor by the President to tender their resignations.

They know they are incompetent. They are purpose-less. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@ yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

INFOCUS 9

VOL. 1 NO. 1 • 1-15 DECEMBER 2020

Senator Bong Go reminds agencies to deliver on commitments promptly

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mid reported delays on the release of the active hazard pay and special risk allowance benefits for COVID-19 medical frontliners, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Saturday (December 5) urged concerned government agencies to ensure and expedite the implementation of the provisions stated in the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act as well as other commitments that should be delivered to benefit the public.

In an interview during the first television broadcast of the Mindanao Media Hub (MMH) in Davao City where he was invited as guest of honor, Go said that the release of the funds must be expedited with or without a Senate resolution calling for the investigation on the alleged delay.

“Part po ito ng Bayanihan 2 Law. Naglaan po ng about thirteen billion pesos para sa hazard pay at special risk allowance at narinig ko po may resolution sa Senado na pa-imbestigahan at napakatagal ng releases (This is part of Bayanihan 2 Law where we allocared about P30 billion for hazard payand special risk allowance. I also heard there is a resolution in the Senate to investigate any delays in the releases),”

Senator Bong Go wants government agencies to deliver their commitments to the public promptly.

(Office of Sen. Go)

Go said.

“Para sa akin, with or without reso, wala pong dahilan na matagalan ang release nito (For me, with or without the resolution, we don't have any reason to delay the release),” he added.

In his Administrative Order No. 35, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the government to provide active hazard pay to all human resources for health, such as medical, allied medical staff

and other personnel in the public sector involved in the country’s health care response to contain COVID-19 transmission. They can receive up to PhP3,000 per month depending on the number of days they have worked from September to December.

He also signed AO 36 which authorizes the grant of monthly special risk allowance to private and public health workers directly in contact with COVID-19 patients. The allowance is worth PhP5,000 per month and is pro-rated from September to December.

In the interview, Go also called on the Department of Budget and Management and the Department of Health to hasten the release of the funds and the delivery of these commitments.

“Ayon sa DBM, nagpirmahan na sila ng joint circular.

Nananawagan ako sa DBM at DOH na ‘wag nyo na tagalan ang pag-release (Ac-

cording to the DBM, they have signed a joint circular. I called on the DBM and DOH not to delay the release),” he said.

“Nagta-trabaho kami sa Senado para maipasa agad ang Bayanihan (to Recover as One Law) at wala pong rason na magkaroon ng delay sa release. Maliit na halaga ‘yan para sa sakripisyo ng mga health workers (We work in the Senate to pass this law and there is no reason to have any delays in the releases),” he added.

Go, then, warned concerned government agencies to ensure that they are fulfilling their mandates or else face the consequences.

“Buhay po nila ang nakataya.

‘Wag n’yo na pong hintayin na magagalit na naman po si Pangulong Duterte na nangyari po noong nakaraan na nagkaroon ng delay sa release ng budget, may na-suspindido sa Ombudsman. Dapat three days, tapos na ito (Lives are at stake. Let's not wait for President Duterte to get mad. The last time there were delays, somebody got suspended by the Ombudsman.

It should be within three working days),” urged Go.

10 COMMUNITYBULLETIN

VOL. 1 NO. 1 • 1-15 DECEMBER 2020

Among the visits made by Consul Virma Symons and her team are the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation and the Rio Tinto Seven Mile Facility.

PH Consulate Office outreach mission goes to Karratha

By NEIL BRAVO

T

he Philippine Consulate Office continues its outreach mission with a visit to Karratha in the Pilbara region.

Philippine Consular General Atty. Virma Symons and her team embarked on its recent visit to Filipino communities leaving Perth last Friday (October 29, 2020). Consul Symons team was composed of Marina Salinas, Vicki Wotherspoon, Eddie and Precie Magtuto, Eric and Wednie Almen and Conchita Bloubin.

Consul Symon's team was joined by Member of the Parliament for Pilbara Kevin Michel, MLA. Karratha is a city in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, adjoining the port of Dampier. It was established in 1968 to accommodate the processing and exportation workforce of the Hamersley Iron mining

company and, in the 1980s, the petroleum and liquefied natural gas operations of the North West Shelf Venture.

The Karratha mission includes visits to Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation, Karratha Gas Plant in the North West Shelf, KPG Visitor Center in Woodside, Yara Ammonia Plant, Rio Tinto Seven Mile Facility, Roeburne, Ganalis Centre, Cossack and Dampier.

The Consulate team will hold Meet and Greet with the local Filipino Community and will conduct processing of fingerprinting and authentication of identity to support the NBI clearance application, and consularisation of documents such as special power of attorney.

COMMUNITYBULLETIN 11

VOL. 1 NO. 1 • 1-15 DECEMBER 2020

Team NST receiving their trophy and medals from PEPSCI chairman Gil Mangoba.

PEPSCI fetes 2020 champs, individual awards winners

P

erth Pinoy-aus Sports Club Inc (PEPSCI) paid tribute to the winners of the PEPSCI Season 11 during its annual Awards Night held at the Mills Park Centre on Friday (4 December 2020).

PEPSCI chairman Gil Mangoba receives a plaque from FCWA.

Joy and Melissa Aguasa of Melissa’s Filipino Shop with Consul Virma Symons.

Philippine Consul in Perth Atty Virma Symons graced the ceremonies as guest of honor. In her speech, Atty Symons shared her thoughts on the value of sports to the biggest Pinoy sports club in Perth.

The event was also attended by the supporters of PEPSCI led

by Melissa's Filipino Shop, Filipino Dream Homes, J. Cordon Express Pty Ltd and FCCWA, among others.

PEPSCI chairman Gil Mangoba lauded the players, tournament commissioners and sponsors for their participation and support.

PPESCI has nearly 600 members as of this year.

The full list of awardees: AWARDS AND TROPHIES -- PEPSCI 2020 SEASON 11 PERPETUAL TROPHY VOLLEYBALL: WOMEN'S - LUNACHIX MIXED - WALWAL TITANS BASKETBALL: DIVISION 1 - AUBIN GROVE DIVISION 2 - PINOY SLASHERS DIVISION 3 - EMPIRE DIVISION 4 - D’HUNKS

Consul Symons with PEPSCI supporters and guests.

BASKETBALL (TEAM AWARDS) UNDER 15 CHAMPIONS GREEN TEAM KENNETH VESO JOHN PEREZ

JASPER MARTO JOMAR AREVALO XANDER INTERVENCION ANGELO LAPUT JOHN LEGASPI PATRICK TAN MERRICK AGOOT JAE ONG JDEN BAYRON ERICK KHAEMBA LANZE AHMAD UNDER 15 1ST RUNNER UP YELLOW TEAM ROD MANGOBA EUSAINT ESPANOLA AARON BORJA JARRETH MORALES ROSH GALPA ELIJAH BANZON EDEN FOSSOM LOUIS QUINDOZA JAYSON JUNCO EVREN VINCENT BAGUIO UNDER 15 2ND RUNNER UP RED TEAM DIVISION 4 CHAMPIONS - D’HUNKS BIEN DELA CERNA BIENMAR DELA CERNA JOHN MARK DELA CERNA MARK REYES JEFFREY BUREROS DAVE COLLIS ROGE MIRO ELJHON BACLAAN JOSEPH DONES MIRO ROGER OLIVER ASCANO

DIVISION 4 1ST RUNNER UP EL ESTUDYANTE EDGAR LOUIS ALIS LEZTER TAGALAG KING GARCIA MARK RONDILLA ENERSON LACANILAO JAF AZRIEL DUBAN DAN TRISTAN AMADO REYNANTE GAMIAO RENE HABABAG NILMAN WARNAKULA RONALDO GORDO JEFFREY AGUILA DIVISION 4 2ND RUNNER UP MECHANICS DIVISION 3 CHAMPIONS - EMPIRE DEO FESTEJO SITTA AMPHATONG KYLE MARCOLETA DARWIN VIDAD KENDRICK BALBAS MIKE MICRAG EL BUSLOG NEIL VELUZ EMMAN MAGNAYE SANDER CASTILLO GABRIEL BRACEROS GODOFREDO DULAY JORDAN GARCIA ANDRES PAOLO CHRISTIAN BORROMEO VINCENT SILVA DIVISION 3 1ST RUNNER-UP EAGLES RONNIEL BORILE VEEJAY ILAD RAZEL GLORIOSO JAMES GARILLOS RYAN RAMOS ANDREI MEJIA HAROLD MARTIN MICHAEL BAHILANGO ACER SAPUNGAN cont.page 14

12 GAMECHANGER

VOL. 1 NO. 1 • 1-15 DECEMBER 2020

AUBA:

We Ball as One

By NEIL BRAVO

I

ndeed, great things start from small beginnings.

Whilst Pinoys in Perth have demonstrated their love for basketball through basketball leagues across South and North of the River, one league stood out to take it further.

AUBA or Asia United Basketball Association (AUBA) demolished the barriers of ethnicity and paved the way for the sport's inclu-

sivity. At AUBA, ballers from the Asia and Oceania region (which, under FIBA's new groupings, puts together Australia, New Zealand and Asia under one landscape) share the same floor under the mantra "We Ball as One." AUBA has a very unique model which puts together all skills and age levels under one league.

With the global trend of using a two-pronged basketball program where professional leagues like the NBA and the NBL maintain a developmental league -- G-League for the NBA and NBL 1 (formerly State Basketball League) for the NBL -- AUBA has successfully organised a league that has juniors,

GAMECHANGER 13

VOL. 1 NO. 1 • 1-15 DECEMBER 2020

semi-professionals, masters, and all-Filipino divisions.

Now running for two years, the AUBA can very well be beyond the experimental stage.

"It's a very unique concept, but at the same time very challenging," said AUBA lead organiser Reymon Marasigan who lends his services for the league as a volunteer.

Marasigan said the AUBA group thought of the concept of putting up a basketball league during the offseason of the SBL (now NBL 1 West) which plays during the winter season.

"We decided to put it up in the summer to provide players in the SBL some form of competition during the offseason. At the same time, we thought of the usual divisions and added the juniors," Marasigan said.

The AUBA is also

unique in that it is not confined to Filipino players or players with Filipino lineage.

"We followed the FIBA concept of Asia-Oceania group.

That is why we opened the league to other nationalities within the Asia Oceania group," he said.

The AUBA thus became the 'home' of semi-professional players from the SBL while maintaining the Filipino community basketball unit as well as developing the next generation of hoopsters in the junior ranks.

"It's all about inclusivity," Marasigan aptly describes it.

About AUBA AUBA is an incorporated non-forprofit association, registered as KSL Perth Inc. since April 2019. In September 2019 to March 2020, it held its inaugural season of basketball competitions

with 3 divisions namely: Premier (open age > 18), Junior (18 and under), and Senior (35 and above). In its second season which runs from October 2020 to Feb. 2021, the league grew to 4 divisions namely: Premiere Division, All Filo Division, Senior Division Junior Division.

AUBA’s operations and activities are guided with the vision, "We Ball as One" - An Asian Basketball League making a difference on and off court.

It promotes unity, anchored in the principle of inclusivity, among basketball enthusiasts in Western Australia. To date, it has

approximately 400 members (coming from various nationalities, Asians and Non-Asians).

The founding team of AUBA is the same team who started the Kwinana Summer League (KSL) whose basketball competitions were Filipino-focused and ran from 20152019.

14

VOL. 1 NO. 1 • 1-15 DECEMBER 2020

WA PREMIER’S from page 5 South Australia is currently classified as a ‘medium risk’ state – which effectively gives rise to the hard border.

Only those very few people exempt are permitted to enter WA from South Australia.

The Chief Health Officer has also updated his advice in relation to our South Australian border controls.

South Australia has now done 9 days with no community cases and after extensive testing and quarantining of contacts, South Australia now has a 14-day rolling case average of less than one case.

As a result, effective from midnight on Thursday night, or 00:01am on Friday, December 11,

South Australia will move to the ‘low risk’ category.

Of course, this is pending no subsequent outbreaks in that State.

For travellers from South Australia, or anyone that has been in South Australia in the previous 14 days, they will be permitted to enter WA. However, they will be required to comply with strict conditions.

It is important to note, that if you are driving through South Australia from another State over east, you will be required to follow the same conditions of travel as someone living in South Australia.

These cautious and safe

steps are a positive move for our State and our country.

But, like I have said before, I will not hesitate in bringing back the hard border if that is what’s required.

Our border controls have always, and will continue, to be in place based on our expert public health advice.

That is something I can guarantee, as we moved forward on our COVID journey.

But we won’t get complacent, and that why’s our controlled border measures will remain in place for the time being.

They are a unique Western Australian arrangement, to keep us safe and strong.

TOM BLURETE WYRLO LOZARES MARK SINADJAN ALJUNE ABELLANIDA ALVIN COVERO KIM AREVALO ISSER PATALEN REYMARK HERNANDEZ BHERT ANOR JAMES ABREGANA DUSTIN VALENCIA DIVISION 1 2ND RUNNER-UP ALAMATS

COORDINATORS OVOI GARCIA NEIL VELUS MARK PINO BUBOY SABANDO NAX LOPEZ KING GARCIA ARMIN PACIA JAIME LARIOSA NORMAND TOLENTINO AMADO FULLEROS JOHN FLORES HAROLD MARTIN JOHN PAULO NENGSHA

WA’S CONTROLLED from page 5 in WA as early as possible.

10 COVID clinics are now operational – visit https://healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/A_E/ COVID-clinics to find your local COVID clinic or other testing locations.

In other regional areas, people should go to a public hospital, health service or remote health clinic. Please call ahead if you are concerned that you have contracted COVID-19.

Patients will be assessed and

where appropriate tested, provided with appropriate information and referred for further medical treatment if necessary.

Those individuals who are tested and well enough to return home, will be asked to self-isolate while they await test results.

Anyone who is confirmed to have COVID-19, who does not require hospitalisation will be required to stay in self-isolation as instructed by the public health team.

AFP from page 7 Then, we have senior citizens and indigent communities and others. Aside from transporting, your AFP would also help

ensure peace and order and would provide other services based on the tasking from the IATF," Gapay said. (PNA)

ELISHA TADLIP ARGAUX ALAGON CRYSTEL DIMANDAL WOMEN’S DIVISION 1 1ST RUNNER UP XTREM DAISY NABONG JOLINA NAVARRO ISABELLA POPOVIC ELENA POPOVIC MARIEL CASTRENCE TRACEY NINDUARA CATHERINE HEW ASHLEY DANCEL PAULA TASANI BAMBA TUIZA

BASALO MOST IMPROVED PLAYER WOMEN – ARGAUX ALAGON MIXED – ALEJANDRO SABLAYAN COMMISSIONER’S CHOICE AWARD LYNDSAE ANNE MANDOCDOC

PEPSCI from page 11 VINCE TIONGCO JOHN MANANSALA KIAN JOHN PABLO YD DIALOGO IVAN SAPUNGAN RICHARD MIGUEL DIVISION 3 2ND RUNNER-UP PIRATES DIVISION 2 CHAMPIONS - NST YURI ABRENICA EUVICK MACAPAGAL WARREN ZHIE SUNGA ARJIE MANALILI NORMAND TOLENTINO JAYSON PAREDES JOSEL DINO KELLY BACSAL IVAN ALFONSO KEVIN MASSEZ SEAN DEOGRACIAS RYAN LUTCHIANG JEFFREY CABAUATAN ROMEL DE ARROZ TUPE VIESCA DIVISION 2 1ST RUNNER-UP BENGGA BOYS ARCHKEY LIGUTAN MARK MOJANA PAULIE BALANE JERIC GOMEZ LITO BALCE JACK GENOVE JASFER ESTAL JOEBERT HABABAG JERSH CATIMBANG ELIEZER MERIOLES YAN PABUSTAN BRYAN PAUL PASCO RILEY MACARAIG JAYSON DIMANDAL JA DYANGKO DENNIS DELA CRUZ DIVISION 2 2ND RUNNER-UP CHILL NATION DIVISION 1 CHAMPIONS AUBIN GROVE RUDEN SUMALO PJ WALSHAM LESTHER LEYNES JEROME CHENG JOMAR BELO FERNANDO VESO ARMANDO ENORASA RICO PANGANORON ARNEL LOPEZ AMBETZKI ACABADO BENJO INOPIQUEZ JAY PABUSTAN SEPH MORILLA KING-IMPORT MASON DIXTER TIMOGTIMOG DIVISION 1 1ST RUNNER-UP MEPHALENE PAT BASILIDES PAU BASILIDES DENG ZEINU

BASKETBALL (INDIVIDUAL AWARDS) FINALS MVP UNDER 15 – JOHNDEN BAYRON DIVISION 1 – FERNANDO VESO DIVISION 2 – TUPE VIESCA DIVISION 3 – KYLE MARCOLETA DIVISION 4 – ROGE MIRO SEASON MVP UNDER 15 – ROD MANGOBA DIVISION 1 – ARMAND ENORASA DIVISION 2 – YAN PABUSTAN DIVISION 3 – IVAN SAPUNGAN DIVISION 4 – DAN AMADO MYTHICAL 5 GROUP 1 PAT BASILIDES JORDAN MELANO KELVIN SANTIA JOMARI IBANEZ FERNANDO VESO MYTHICAL 5 GROUP 2 IVAN SAPUNGAN KYLE MARCOLETA DAN AMADO ROGE MIRO PAOLO ANDRES ROOKIE OF THE YEAR JOSHUA CAMAYA SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD JR FUENTES MOST IMPROVED PLAYER JIMUEL CAMACHO PLAQUE OF RECOGNITION FOR LOYALTY AWARDS TEAM COORDINATORS BIEN DELA CERNA - D’HUNKS MARK PANFILLO - PIRATES JOEL PONTERAS - SLASHERS MHACK BALILA - BALLERS EUGENE ESPANOLA - KNIGHTS BHERT ANOR - MEPHALENE AMADZ EMPERADOR - AMAZING BOUNCY CASTLE REX MARTO - JUAN ORIENTAL RAY RETIZA - ALAMATS BENJO INOPIQUEZ - AUBIN GROVE JAYSON DIMANDDAL - BENGGA BOYS RECOGNITION AWARD AS TEAM

BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER JOHNDEN BAYRON UNDER 15 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR LOUIS QUINDOZA UNDER 15 MYTHICAL 5 JOHNDEN BAYRON ROD MANGOBA JB AGUDO LUCAS REQUIERO KENNETH VESO CHAIRMAN’S CHOICE AWARD GROUP 1 - NORMAND TOLENTINO GROUP 2 - BIEN DELA CERNA VOLLEYBALL TEAM AWARDS MENS DIVISION CHAMPIONS GREEN TEAM JOHN DERICK BASERA PATRICK LAGMAN IAN ANIEVAS DRINCE EMMAN BASALO MARK SINADJAN NIKKI GABRIEL MARTINEZ TITO RODRIGO JOHN PANAHON MARC JUSTIN BERNADOS HANZEL DAVE VILLASTIQUE MENS DIVISION 1ST RUNNER-UP YELLOW TEAM KEVIN ATIENZA MIKI DELOS SANTOS JOHN AMIL JOSHUA LOBA THOMAS LOPEZ KRISTIAN BERNADOS MIMI CASTRENCE CHRISTIAN PAULIN AIDEN PLINTO VINCENT OYO BONGA WOMEN’S DIVISION 1 CHAMPIONS LUNACHIX CARRISA BRILLANTES NICOLETTE KERR MISCHELLE GIMARINO – CHIO CIARA MEDRANO PRINCESS GONZALES FLORENCE NITURA JESSA GLEN LAYOLA

WOMEN’S DIVISION 2 CHAMPIONS ZODIAC LIGHTS FREENA PEPITO FAITH PEPITO ALCESTIS PEPITO KAREST MANLAPAZ ALEXANDRA MAE NAZARENO ARLINE SCHILLER ROSELLE ANDALAN KRISA FAY GAMBOA FRENZY NERINE PEPITO ANA MARGARITA ATIENZA WOMEN’S DIVISION 2 1ST RUNNER UP FAHWA MIXED DIVISION CHAMPIONS WALWAL TITANS DIXTER TIMOGTIMOG ALEJANDRO SABLAYAN GLENN GALVEZ JESSA LAYOLA CAMILLE COMODA IAN ANIEVAS RIYA GERELT-OD JANINE LABRADOR ARGAUX ALAGON GRACELYN PANGILINAN TANI BERNADOS SAM TAWIN ALJUNE ABELLANIDA MIXED DIVISION 1ST RUNNER UP WEST WARRIORS NIKKI GABRIEL MARTINEZ PRINCESS GONZALES REIGNER ABRILLA ARCHIE BERMEJO JOHN MARK DALANGAN IVY CORTEZ LYNDSAE ANNE MANDOCDOC TITO RODRIGO CARRISA BRILLANTES HANZEL DAVE VILLASTIQUE MIXED DIVISION 2ND RUNNER-UP HOKAGE INDIVIDUAL VOLLEYBALL AWARDS ROOKIE OF THE YEAR WOMENS – STEPHANIE DEVA CANETE MIXED – DRINCE EMMAN

WOMENS OVERALL MYTHICAL 6 FRENZY NERINE PEPITO IVY CORTEZ JOLINA NAVARRO ARGAUX ALAGON NICOLETTE KERR ISABELLA POPOVIC MIXED OVERALL MYTHICAL 6 DIXTER TIMOGTIMOG ERWIN MASINANDING HANZEL DAVE VILLASTIQUE MARC JUSTIN BERNADOS MIYU UDO STEPHANIE DEVA CANETE SEASONS MVP MENS DIVISION – MIMI CASTRENCE WOMENS DIVISION 1 – JOLINA NAVARRO MIXED DIVISION –DIXTER TIMOGTIMOG FINALS MVP MENS DIVISION – DRINCE EMMAN BASALO WOMENS DIVISION 2 – FRENZY NERINE PEPITO WOMENS DIVISION 1 – MISCHELLE GIMARINO-CHIO MIXED DIVISION – DIXTER TIMOGTIMOG PLAQUE OF APPRECIATION FOR TEAM COORDINATORS WOMENS DIVISION CARRISA BRILLANTES FAITH PEPITO DAISY NABONG OFILIA LEADBEATER CHRISTIAN JOY ABOGADO LOUISA COTTER ANGELICA SABLAYAN HAZEL MENDOZA MIXED DIVISION CARRISA BRILLANTES ALEJANDRO SABLAYAN JOHN DARYLL BARERA JO ANFERNEE BONGA THOMAS LOPEZ BADMINTON SPECIAL AWARDS PLAQUE OF APPRECIATION JP MARZAN ELSA FULLEROS RICCI DEL ROSARIO JOY DEL ROSARIO

SPORTS 15

VOL. 1 NO. 1 • 1-15 DECEMBER 2020

Members of the Perth Pinoy Tennis Club during its first tournament held in Busselton.

Ricafrente bags inaugural Perth Pinoy Tennis Open

J

ay-r Ricafrente cemented himself a place in the club history of Pinoy Perth Tennis Club after capturing the first ever Pinoy Perth Tennis Open title last 25 October 2020 at the Bayview Geographe Resort Tennis Center in Busselton.

Playing on grasscourt surface, Ricafrente neutralized Junly Jerez's aggressive net game with pin-point baseline forays mostly to the backhand side to win the singles title 8-4 in an exciting climax to the two-day netfest which served also as a tennis holiday for the Perthbased club.

With Jerez retreating to a defensive mode throughout the match, Ricafrente relied on his steady baseline game to keep his rival at bay. Ricafrente's kick

serves also gave him wide leverage and in the process gave up only one serve.

The march to the title for Ricafrente was a rather breezy ride as he gave up only two games on the way to booking a finals ticket via a masterful 8-2 conquest of Rey NuĂąez in the semis and an 8-0 shellacking of Paolo Molina in the round of eight. Jerez reached the championship after beating JC Sayasa in the other semifinals with the same scoreline and Marvin "Na-

dal" Akip 8-1 in the quarterfinals.

Sharing the limelight with Ricafrente are Stefer Yap and club organizer-administrator Akip who took the doubles title earlier on Saturday. The Yap-Akip duo turned back the hard-fighting tandem of Ricafrente and Paolo Molina in the finals 8-6.

Yap and Akip wore down the pair of Regan de Ocampo and Bernard Cabrera 8-4 to advance to the finals while Ricafrente and Molina survived Jerez and Edgar Geronimo 8-6 in the other doubles semis tussle.

Pinoy Perth Tenis Club was formed this year and has since grown to 16 active members.

The club plays regularly at Gosnells Tennis Club and Jandakot Hall in Cockburn Central. (NJB)

Buckets still undefeated in Mandurah hoopfest Standings: Buckets: 6-0 (+105) Pirates: 5-1 (+63) Kaizen: 4-2 (+47) Hoonigan: 3-3 (+30) Hotshots: 3-3 (-8) Jaguars: 2-4 (-66) Atomic: 1-5 (-94) FCG: 0-6 (-111) League-leading Buckets continued its winning ways with their sixth straight win in the 2020 Mandurah Filipino Sports Club Inc. Summer League basketball tournament at the Halls Head Recreation Centre in Mandurah.

The Buckets steamrolled past the Hotshots 59-44 behind the explosive performance of CJ Dutton who fired from all cylinders with a game-high 24

points. The Buckets are on top of the standings after Week 6 with a perfect 6-0 win-loss record. The Hotshots dropped to 3-3 and no. 5 in the standings.

The Pirates kept second place overall after notching their fifth win against against the Jaguars 73-64. Jeric Placente had 23 points to lead the Pirates who now tote a 5-1 card.

The Jags dropped to 2-4.

Harvey Kaizan improved to 4-2 after taking down the cellar-dwelling FCG Warriors 9556. Jake Pino led the scoring with 18 markers.

Hoonigan took fourth place in the leaderboard after hacking out a 64-47 triumph over Atomic. They were paced by Justin Balingcogan with 12 points. (NJB)

Basketball and volleyball action during the 2020 Mandurah Filipino Sports Club Inc. Summer League. (NJB)

16 SPORTS

VOL. 1 NO. 1 • 1-15 DECEMBER 2020

Olympic medalists automatically nominated to PH Sports Hall of Fame

F

ilipino athletes who win medals in the Olympic games will receive automatic nominations to the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame (PSHOF).

The PSHOF Review Committee adopted a resolution to this effect during a virtual meeting last week.

William "Butch" Ramirez, the PSHOF 2020 Chairperson and the chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission, supported the inclusion of the "very few" medalists of the country in the Games.

"Achieving a medal from the most prestigious Games in history is something worth recognizing for a lifetime.

They deserve it even without the process of someone voluntarily proving it for them," he said of the committee's decision.

Akiko Thomson Guevara, representing the Philippine Olympian Association in the Review Committee, volunteered to produce the names of all the country's Olympic medalists in the next meeting.

Only ten Filipinos have won medals in the Summer Olympics. Teofilo Yldefonso, the only athlete to win a

back-to-back Olympic medal in 1928 and 1932, holds the record to date.

The PSHOF Review Committee seeks to have the Olympic medalists honored to ensure that they are never forgotten.

Among the members of the committee are Games and Amusements Board (GAB) Chairman Abraham Mitra, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) Secretary-General Atty. Edwin Gastanes, Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines Secretary-General Atty. Avelino Sumagui, and University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Executive Director Atty. Rene Saguisag Jr. Following the signing of Republic Act No. 8757 or the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame Act, the highest sports award-giving body has enshrined Filipino athletes, coaches, and trainers who made a valuable contribution in Philippine sports since its first induction in 2010.

Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman William “Butch” Ramirez. (PSC photo)