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Sports Science alumna: A blazing presence in motocross MOTORCYCLES can also be a girl’s best friend. This was proven by Jannelle Kristin Saulog when she first held the leather seat of a 50-cc motorcycle at the age of four. She did not want to get off the bike since her father, a motocross legend, introduced her to the extreme sport. Growing up on the tracks, the daughter of motocross veteran Jovie Saulog’s earliest memories was competing when she was seven years old. Since then she has been finishing multiple races and has won numerous awards including the 1999 Peewee Intermediate National Championship, 2010 Sel-J Lady Rider of the Year, as well as the 2012 and 2014 Special Event National Championship. She was also named the National Motorcycle Sports and Safety Association Lady Rider of the Year for four consecutive years until 2013. She was hailed as the country’s leading female motocross rider after her recent title defense—an outstanding performance on the racetracks of the 2016 Diamond Motocross Series last April 2 at the MX Messiah Fairgrounds at Taytay, Rizal. Gender stereotype? Motocross is an extreme sport held at open race courses, where riders speed off at dirt road tracks to the finish line. It is dominated by males, and female riders are rare. Saulog said a lot of female enthusiasts have started to break the stereotype. “I remember when I was a kid, we were only two girls. Today, the community is starting to grow. There are a lot of groups forming in different parts of the country,” she said. As a girl in a male-dominated sport, Saulog said motocross is not as easy as it looks. Girls have to train and exert extra effort for them to place and get noticed during the race. “Not everyone gets the chance to be noticed. Just to be recognized as one of the leading lady riders is enough for me,” she said. Recovering from a bruise, she said accidents were normal in races. “You need to have faith and courage. You need to believe in yourself for you to execute
-lawyer will be missed
ted initiatives in the community promote the advantages of green hnology, health, and conservation h in business and everyday life, h as helping young entrepreneurs California in improving their inesses. In 2011, Sarno was awarded the standing Chemistry Alumna for ustrial Research and Development Public Service during the dricentennial celebration of UST. Her significant contributions the field of human plasma ctionation merited the ard. She was joined by ee other chemistry alumni he College of Science. In addition, Sarno ted and headed the versity of Santo Tomas emistry Periodic Table ndraiser, an endowment for mistry students with financial iculties. She also established a olarship at the Department of emistry in CSU-LB.
Sarno
The death of Sarno was a great loss of a “truly compassionate being,” Mendoza said. “[We lost someone] who is devoted to improving the lives of others and who also had inspired many of us to make a difference,” Mendoza said.. MARY GRACE C. ESMAYA
jumps, stunts and also for speed. The sport isn’t just for play,” she said. Motocross competitions take up the entire day with races happening one after another. With this, riders have to fight off the heat, especially on outdoor racetracks. The 25-year-old graduated last year with a degree in sports science from the College of Rehabilitation Sciences. Initially thinking that her course was purely sports related, Saulog only came to appreciate it during her internship year when she was able to apply all the lessons she had learned. “With my course, I’ve learned how to properly work out. This has helped me a lot especially with all the training I have to do for a race,” she said. Her internship has allowed her to work with the University’s Swimming Team, known as the Tiger Sharks. Saulog said being a sports science graduate prepared her with the necessary knowledge and skills to handle the physical training that her sport demands. She has to train two to three times a week before entering a race, focusing on cardio and upper body strength. Aside from motocross, she also enjoys trying different sports during her free time, including tennis and basketball.
logo of the family-run business, JMS Motorcycle Shop, stitched on her racing suits. Nueva Ecija, Baguio, Iloilo, Cebu, Palawan, Davao, and Cagayan de Oro were some the many places that she was able to visit because of the sport. Saulog urged tough and competitive girls to try out motocross, saying the adrenaline rush was worth feeling. She appealed for more support to riders in local and international competitions. “Everything I’ve done, everywhere I’ve been, and everything is all because of motocross. I wouldn’t have gone to places without my bike,” she said. VIANCA A. OCAMPO
Sanchez
Toward the ‘finish line’ Saulog was optimistic of the future of motocross. The crowd is energetic, and more people are beginning to notice the sport. It’s fulfilling to be able to be one of the few girls who can actually say that they can handle a bike, she said. “Not all girls can ride a motorcycle, so if you’re one, then you’re cool. The feeling that many of you are racing together is one of the best things ever,” she said. Saulog acknowledged that being successful in motocross requires support from sponsors. She has the
CRS faculty braves new frontiers in geriatric health care RAPID ageing has prompted new and creative approaches in healthcare and prevention strategy. This is why Thomasian physical therapist and academician, Donald Manlapaz, aims to bring into perspective an innovative way of getting everyone in tip-top shape through “Exergaming,” a combination of both exercise and gaming. “As physical therapists, we promote an active lifestyle by encouraging individuals to be physically active by exercising. With the advent of virtual and augmented reality, I’m exploring its possible adherence to exercise since this can both be fun and motivating especially for patients,” Manlapaz said in an email. The 31-year-old alumnus of the College of Rehabilitation Sciences is currently taking up his doctorate studies as a scholar in School of Physiotherapy in the University of Otago in New Zealand. He has been in the spotlight mainly for his thesis, “The use of Nintendo Wii Fit™ in improving falls risk and adherence to exercise in patients with Knee Osteoarthritis,” a study about a degenerative disease affecting the aging population not only in the Philippines, but also in other countries. “As age increases, the prevalence and incidence of falls also increase. Therefore,
addressing balance as one of the risk factors for falls may help in lessening the occurrence,” he said. This study served as Manlapaz’s tool in encouraging therapists in maximizing the benefits of assistive technological advancements in rehabilitation sciences, including the use of game console, Nintendo Wii Fit. Nintendo Wii Fit is currently being used both for exercise and recreational purposes, most especially in yoga, aerobics, balance and endurance training and strength exercises. Being a functional gadget, it is highly recommended by therapists for both home therapy and clinical rehabilitation. “Technology has invaded the rehabilitation domain. This idea prompted me to explore and investigate on the role of exergaming, in order to say that it is really effective,” he said. Aside from being a scholar in the University of Otago, Manlapaz takes great pride in the College of Rehabilitation Sciences, calling it his home and comfort zone, after finishing his undergraduate studies with a degree in Physical Therapy back in 2006 and serving as the college’s secretary for three years from 2012 to 2015. He later on graduated cum laude and earned his master’s degree at the University’s Graduate School in 2015. “My contribution for UST
after obtaining my PhD will be in three-fold aspects: positively contributing in teaching and learning strategies, research productivity, and empowering my colleagues,” he said. He has also presented many of Health PAGE 14
Manlapaz