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Philippines sends fighting team, 22 Athletes to Paris World Olympics 2024

The Philippines sends its 22 delegates as fighting team for its participation at the 2024 Paris Olympics games. The Paris Summer Games opens early Saturday (Philippine time) and the 22 Philippine athletes from athletics, boxing, fencing, golf, gymnastics, judo, rowing, swimming, and weightlifting will give their best shut to bring home medals.

Olympic silver medalists and boxers Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam will lead the Philippine delegation in the opening ceremony to be held at the Seine River.

List and Profile of Athletes

1. EJ Obiena, Athletics (pole vault

Asian Games – September 30, 2023 – Philippines’ EJ Obiena celebrates with the Philippines flag after winning the Men’s Pole Vault Final. Photo: REUTERS/Jeremy Lee

  • Age: 28 
  • Place of birth: Manila
  • Olympic appearances: Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024
  • Major achievements:
    • Gold: 2019 Asian Athletics Championships; 2019 World University Games; 2019, 2021, 2023 SEA Games; 2022 Asian Games; 2023 Asian Athletics Championship
    • Silver: 2015 SEA Games; 2023 World Athletics Championships
    • Bronze: 2017 Asian Athletics Championships; 2022 World Championships
  • Personal best: 6.0 meters (national record, Asian record)
  • World ranking: 2
  • Schedule:
    • August 3, 4:10 p.m. – Men’s pole vault qualifying round
    • August 6, 1:00 a.m. – Men’s pole vault finals

2. John Cabang Tolentino, Athletics (110m hurdles)

Photo: PATAFA/Instagram 

  • Age: 22
  • Major achievements:
    • Bronze: 2023 SEA Games (110m hurdles); 2024 Asian Indoor Championships (60m Hurdles)
  • Personal best: 13.37 – 110m hurdles (national record)
  • World ranking: 35 (110m hurdles)
  • Schedule:
    • August 4, 5:50 p.m. – Men’s 110m hurdles round 1
    • August 6, 4:50 p.m. – Men’s 110m hurdles repechage
    • August 8, 1:05 a.m. – Men’s 110m hurdles semifinals
    • August 9, 3:45 a.m. – Men’s 110m hurdles finals

3. Lauren Hoffman, Athletics (400m hurdles

Photo: PATAFA/Instagram

  • Age: 25
  • Place of birth: Virginia, USA
  • Personal best: 55.72 – 400m hurdles (national record)
  • World ranking: 40 (400m hurdles)
  • Schedule:
    • August 4, 6:35 p.m. – Women’s 400m hurdles round 1
    • August 5, 4:50 p.m. – Women’s 400m hurdles repechage
    • August 7, 2:07 a.m. – Women’s 400m hurdles semifinals
    • August 9, 3:25 a.m. – Women’s 400m hurdles finals

4. Carlos Yulo, Artistic Gymnastic

Southeast Asian Games – Artistic Gymnastics – Olympic Marquee, Phnom Penh, Cambodia – May 8, 2023 Philippines’ Carlos Edriel Poquiz Yulo celebrates after winning gold medal in individual men’s qualification REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa 

  • Age: 24
  • Place of birth: Manila
  • Olympic appearances: Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024
  • Major achievements:
    • Gold: 2019 World Championships (floor); 2021 World Championships (vault); 2022 Asian Championships (floor, vault, parallel bars); 2023 Asian Championships (floor, vault, parallel bars); 2024 Asian Championships (all-around, floor, vault, parallel bars)’ 2019 SEA Games (all-around, floor)’ 2021 SEA Games (floor, still rings, all-around, vault, horizontal bars); 2023 SEA Games (all-around, parallel bars); 2024 FIG World Cup – Doha leg (parallel bars); 2023 FIG World Cup – Baku leg (vault, parallel bars); 2023 FIG World Cup – Doha leg (floor)
    • Silver: 2021 World Championships (parallel bars); 2022 World Championships (vault); 2022 Asian Championships (all-around); 2023 Asian Championships (all-around); 2019 SEA Games (pommel horse, still rings, vault, parallel bars, horizontal bars); 2021 SEA Games (team, parallel bars); 2023 SEA Games (team, still rings); 2024 FIG World Cup – Doha leg (vault); 2023 FIG World Cup – Doha leg (parallel bars)
    • Bronze: 2018 World Championships (floor); 2022 World Championships (parallel bars); 2023 Asian Championships (horizontal bar); 2024 FIG World Cup – Doha leg (floor); 2023 FIG World Cup – Doha leg (vault); 2023 FIG World Cup – Cottbus leg (parallel bars)
  • Schedule:
    • July 27, 9:30 p.m. – Men’s Qualification Subdivision 2
    • July 31, 11:30 p.m. – Men’s all-around finals
    • August 3, 9:30 p.m. – Men’s floor finals
    • August 3, 11:16 p.m. – Men’s pommel horse finals
    • August 4, 9:00 p.m. – Men’s rings finals
    • August 4, 10:24 p.m. – Men’s vault finals
    • August 5, 5:45 p.m. – Men’s parallel bars finals
    • August 5, 7:33 p.m. – Men’s horizontal bar finals

5. Levi Ruivivar, Artistic Gymnastics

Photo: Levi Ruivivar/Instagram

  • Age: 18
  • Place of birth: California, USA
  • Major achievements:
    • Silver: 2024 FIG World Cup – Doha leg (uneven bars)
    • Bronze: 2024 Asian Championships (uneven bars)
  • Schedule:
    • July 28, 8:50 p.m. – Women’s Qualification Subdivision 3
    • August 2, 12:15 a.m. – Women’s all-around finals
    • August 3, 10:20 p.m. – Women’s vault finals
    • August 4, 9:40 p.m. – Women’s uneven bars finals
    • August 5, 6:38 p.m. – Women’s balance beam finals
    • August 5, 8:23 p.m. – Women’s floor exercise finals

 

6. Aleah Finnegan, Artistic Gymnastics

May 15, 2022 Philippines’ Aleah Finnegan Cruz poses on the podium after winning the Women’s Vault Exercise with silver medallist Vietnam’s Thi Quynh Nhu Nguyen and bronze medallist Indonesia’s Rifda Irfanaluthfi. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

  • Age: 21
  • Place of birth: Missouri, USA
  • Major achievements:
    • Gold: 2021 SEA Games (team, vault)
    • Silver: 2021 SEA Games (all-around, balance beam)
    • Bronze: 2023 Asian Championships (vault, balance beam)
  • Schedule:
    • July 28, 8:50 p.m. – Women’s Qualification Subdivision 3
    • August 2, 12:15 a.m. – Women’s all-around finals
    • August 3, 10:20 p.m. – Women’s vault finals
    • August 4, 9:40 p.m. – Women’s uneven bars finals
    • August 5, 6:38 p.m. – Women’s balance beam finals
    • August 5, 8:23 p.m. – Women’s floor exercise finals

7. Emma Malabuyo, Artistic Gymnastics

Photo: UCLA Gymnastics/Instagram

  • Age: 21
  • Place of birth: California, USA
  • Major achievements:
    • Gold: 2024 Asian Championships (floor)
    • Silver: 2023 Asian Championships (floor); 2024 FIG World Cup – Cairo leg (floor)
    • Bronze: 2024 Asian Championships (all-around)
  • Schedule:
    • July 28, 8:50 p.m. – Women’s Qualification Subdivision 3
    • August 2, 12:15 a.m. – Women’s all-around finals
    • August 3, 10:20 p.m. – Women’s vault finals
    • August 4, 9:40 p.m. – Women’s uneven bars finals
    • August 5, 6:38 p.m. – Women’s balance beam finals
    • August 5, 8:23 p.m. – Women’s floor exercise finals

8. Eumir Marcial, Boxing (80kg)

Tokyo 2020 Olympics – Boxing – Men’s Middleweight – Last 16 – Kokugikan Arena – Tokyo, Japan – July 29, 2021. Eumir Marcial of the Philippines wins the fight. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino 

  • Age: 28
  • Place of birth: Zamboanga City
  • Major achievements:
    • Gold: 2015 SEA Games (welterweight); 2017 SEA Games (middleweight); 2019 SEA Games (middleweight); 2021 SEA Games (middleweight); 2020 Asia and Oceania OQT (middleweight)
    • Silver: 2015 Asian Championships (welterweight); 2019 World Championships (middleweight); 2022 Asian Games (light heavyweight)
    • Bronze: 2020 Olympics (middleweight); 2018 Asian Games (middleweight); 2021 Asian Championships (middleweight)
  • Schedule:
    • July 31, 3:04 a.m.- Men’s 80kg Round of 16
    • August 2 – Men’s 80kg quarterfinals
    • August 4 – Men’s 80kg semifinals
    • August 7 – Men’s 80kg finals

9. Nesthy Petecio, Boxing (57kg

Tokyo 2020 Olympics – Boxing – Women’s Featherweight – Final – Kokugikan Arena – Tokyo, Japan – August 3, 2021 Nesthy Petecio of the Philippines reacts. Pool via REUTERS/Luis Robayo

  • Age: 32
  • Place of birth: Davao del Sur
  • Olympic appearances: Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024
  • Major achievements:
    • Gold: 2019 World Championships (featherweight); 2019 SEA Games (featherweight); 2023 SEA Games (featherweight)
    • Silver: 2020 Olympics (featherweight); 2014 World Championships (featherweight); 2015 Asian Championships (bantamweight); 2011 SEA Games (bantamweight); 2013 SEA Games (featherweight); 2015 SEA Games (featherweight)
    • Bronze: 2012 Asian Championships (bantamweight); 2022 Asian Championships (featherweight); 2021 SEA Games (lightweight)
  • Schedule:
    • July 30, 11:54 p.m. – Women’s 57kg Round of 32
    • August 2 – Women’s 57kg Round of 16
    • August 4 – Women’s 57kg quarterfinals
    • August 7 – Women’s 57kg semifinals
    • August 10 – Women’s 57kg finals

10. Aira Villegas, Boxing (50kg)

Photo: 24 Oras

  • Age: 28
  • Place of birth: Tacloban City, Philippines
  • Major achievements:
    • Bronze: 2019 SEA Games (bantamweight)
  • Schedule:
    • July 29, 3:20 a.m. – Women’s 50kg Round of 32
    • August 1 – Women’s 50kg Round of 16
    • August 3 – Women’s 50kg quarterfinals
    • August 6 – Women’s 50kg semifinals
    • August 9 – Women’s 50kg semifinals

11. Carlo Paalam, Boxing (57kg

Tokyo 2020 Olympics – Boxing – Men’s Flyweight – Quarterfinal – Kokugikan Arena – Tokyo, Japan – August 3, 2021 Carlo Paalam of the Philippines reacts after winning his fight Pool via REUTERS/Luis Robayo 

  • Age: 26
  • Place of birth: Bukidnon
  • Olympic appearances: Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024
  • Major achievements:
    • Gold: 2022 Asian Championships (bantamweight); 2019 SEA Games (flyweight); 2023 SEA Games (bantamweight)
    • Silver: 2020 Olympics (flyweight)
    • Bronze: 2018 Asian Games (flyweight)
  • Schedule:
    • July 31, 9:30 p.m. – Men’s 50kg Round of 16
    • August 3 – Men’s 50kg quarterfinals
    • August 8 – Men’s 50kg semifinals
    • August 10 – Men’s 50kg finals

12. Hergie Bacyadan, Boxing (75kg)

Photo: Hergie Bacyadan/Instagram

  • Age: 29
  • Place of birth: Quezon City; Hometown: Kalinga
  • Major achievements:
    • Gold: 2023 World Championships (vovinam)
    • Silver: 2017 World Championships (wushu); 2017 Sanda World Cup (wushu); 2023 SEA Games (vovinam)
  • Schedule:
    • July 31, 6:04 p.m. – Women’s 75kg Round of 16
    • August 4 – Women’s 75kg quarterfinals
    • August 8 – Women’s 75kg semifinals
    • August 10 – Women’s 75kg final

13. John Ceniza, Weightlifting (61kg)

  • Age: 26
  • Place of birth: Cebu City
  • Major achievements:
    • Silver: 2019 SEA Games (55kg); 2023 SEA Games (61kg)
    • Bronze: 2020 IWF World Cup (61kg)
  • Schedule: August 7, 9:00 p.m. – Men’s 61kg

14. Elreen Ando, Weightlifting (59kg)

Tokyo 2020 Olympics – Weightlifting – Women’s 64kg – Group A – Tokyo International Forum, Tokyo, Japan – July 27, 2021. Elreen Ann Ando of the Philippines in action. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido

  • Age: 25
  • Home town: Cebu City
  • Olympic appearances: Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024
  • Major achievements:
    • Gold: 2023 SEA Games (59kg)
    • Silver: 2020 Asian Championships (64kg); 2024 Asian Championships (59kg); 2019 SEA Games (64kg); 2021 SEA Games (64kg)
    • Bronze: 2022 Asian Games (64kg)
  • Schedule: August 8, 9:00 p.m. – Women’s 59kg

15. Vanessa Sarno, Weightlifting (71kg)

Southeast Asian Games – Weightlifting – Olympic Taekwondo Hall, Phnom Penh, Cambodia – May 15, 2023 Philippines’ Vanessa Palomar Sarno in action during the women’s – 71kg REUTERS/Cindy Liu 

  • Age: 20
  • Home town: Tagbilaran, Bohol
  • Major achievements:
    • Gold: 2020 Asian Championships (71kg); 2021 SEA Games (71kg); 2023 SEA Games (71kg)
    • Silver: 2023 Asian Championships (71kg)
  • Schedule: August 10, 1:30 a.m. – Women’s 71kg

16. Sam Catantan, Fencing (women’s foil)

Photo: Sam Catantan/Instagram

  • Age: 22
  • Home town: Quezon City
  • Major achievements:
    • Gold: 2021 SEA Games (foil)
    • Silver: 2017 SEA Games (foil); 2021 SEA Games (team foil); 2023 SEA Games (foil)
    • Bronze: 2019 SEA Games (team foil); 2019 SEA Games (foil)
  • Schedule:
    • July 28, 3:30 p.m. – Women’s foil table of 64
    • July 28, 4:25 p.m. – Women’s foil table of 32
    • July 28, 8:05 p.m. – Women’s foil table of 16
    • July 28, 9:55 p.m. – Women’s foil table of 8
    • July 29, 1:00 a.m. – Women’s foil semifinals
    • July 29, 2:50 a.m. – Women’s bronze match
    • July 29, 3:45 a.m. – Women’s gold match

17. Joanie Delgaco, Rowing (women’s single sculls)

Photo: Korean Rowing Association/World Rowing, Facebook 

  • Age: 26
  • Home town: Camarines Sur
  • Major achievements:
    • Gold: 2019 SEA Games (lightweight double sculls); 2023 Asian Rowing Beach Sprint Championships (double sculls – mixed rowing)
    • Silver: 2021 SEA Games (single sculls)
    • Bronze: 2021 SEA Games (quadruple sculls); 2021 SEA Games (lightweight quadruple sculls)
  • Schedule:
    • July 27, 4:24 p.m. – Women’s single sculls heats 2
    • July 28, 3:00 p.m. – Women’s single sculls repechage
    • July 29, 3:54 p.m. – Women’s single sculls semifinals
    • July 30, 3:30 p.m. – Women’s single sculls quarterfinals
    • July 31, 4:14 p.m. / August 1, 3:30 p.m.  – Women’s single sculls semifinals
    • August 2, 3:42 p.m. / August 3, 3:30 p.m. – Women’s single sculls finals

18. Bianca Pagdanganan, Golf

Bianca Pagdanganan at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, photo: REUTERS/Toby Melville.

  • Age: 26
  • Olympic appearances: Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024
  • Residence: Arizona, USA
  • World ranking: 118
  • Major achievements:
    • Gold: 2018 Asian Games (team); 2019 SEA Games (team); 2019 SEA Games (individual)
    • Bronze: 2018 Asian Games (individual)
  • Schedule:
    • August 7, 3:00 p.m. – Women’s individual stroke round 1
    • August 8, 3:00 p.m. – Women’s individual stroke round 2
    • August 9, 3:00 p.m. – Women’s individual stroke round 3
    • August 10, 3:00 p.m. – Women’s individual stroke round 4

19. Dottie Ardina, Golf

Photo: WPGA Tour of Australasia/Facebook

  • Age: 30
  • Place of birth: Calamba, Laguna
  • World ranking: 267
  • Major achievements:
    • Gold: 2009 SEA Games (team)
  • Schedule:
    • August 7, 3:00 p.m. – Women’s individual stroke round 1
    • August 8, 3:00 p.m. – Women’s individual stroke round
    • August 9, 3:00 p.m. – Women’s individual stroke round
    • August 10, 3:00 p.m. – Women’s individual stroke round 4

20. Kiyomi Watanabe, Judo (63kg)

Photo: Kiyomi Watanabe/Instagram

  • Age: 27
  • Home town: Japan
  • Olympic appearances: Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024
  • Major achievements:
    • Gold: 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 SEA Games
  • Schedule:
    • July 30, 4:00 p.m. – Women’s 63kg Preliminary Rounds
    • July 30, 10:00 p.m. – Women’s 63kg finals

21. Kayla Sanchez, Swimming (100m freestyle)

Photo: Kayla Sanchez/Instagram

  • Age: 23
  • Residence: Canada
  • Olympic appearances: Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024
  • Major achievements (For Canada):
    • Gold: 2021 World Championships SC (4x100m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle, 4x50m mixed freestyle)
    • Silver: 2020 Olympics (4x100m freestyle); 2018 Commonwealth Games (4x100m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle); 2021 World Championsips SC (4x100m medley); 2022 World Championships LC (4x100m freestyle, 4x100m mixed freestyle)
    • Bronze: 2020 Olympics (4x100m freestyle); 2018 Pan Pacific Championships (4x100m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle); 2019 World Championships LC (4x100m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle); 2022 World Championships SC (4x200m freestyle, 4x100m medley)
  • Personal best: 51.45 (women’s 100m freestyle)
  • Schedule:
    • July 30, 5:00 p.m. – Women’s 100m freestyle heats
    • August 1, 2:30 a.m. – Women’s 100m freestyle finals

22. Jarod Hatch, Swimming (100m butterfly)

Photo: Jarod Hatch/Instagram

  • Age: 25
  • Place of birth: California, USA
  • Major achievements:
    • Silver: 2019 SEA Games (4x100m freestyle relay); 2023 SEA Games (mixed swimming: 4x100m medley relay)
    • Bronze: 2023 SEA Games (50m butterfly, 100m butterfly)
  • Personal best: 52.87 (men’s 100m butterfly)
  • Schedule:
    • August 2, 5:00 p.m. – Men’s 100m butterfly heats
    • August 4, 2:30 a.m. – Men’s 100m butterfly finals

Initial Game Schedule

The Philippines will open its campaign on Saturday with rower Joanie Delgaco in the women’s single sculls event, followed by gymnast Carlos Yulo in the men’s qualification of artistic gymnastics.

Here are the initial schedules of Philippine athletes per day:

July 27:

  • 4:12 p.m. – Joanie Delgaco – Women’s rowing single sculls heats
  • 9:30 p.m. – Carlos Yulo – Men’s artistic gymnastics qualification 

July 28:

  • 3:30 p.m. – Sam Catantan – Women’s fencing foil table of 64
  • 8:50 p.m. – Emma Malabuyo, Aleah Finnegan, Levi Ruivivar – Women’s artistic gymnastics qualification

July 29: 

  • 3:20 a.m. – Aira Villegas – Women’s boxing 50kg Round of 32

July 30: 

  • 4:00 p.m. – Kiyomi Watanabe – Women’s judo 63kg Preliminary Rounds
  • 5:00 p.m. – Kayla Sanchez – Women’s 100m freestyle heats
  • 11:54 p.m. – Nesthy Petecio – Women’s boxing 57kg Round of 32

July 31: 

  • 6:04 p.m. – Hergie Bacyadan – Women’s boxing 75kg Round of 16
  • 9:30 p.m. – Carlo Paalam – Men’s boxing 50kg Round of 16

August 2: 

  •  5:00 p.m. – Jarod Hatch – Men’s 100m butterfly heats

August 3:

  • 4:10 p.m. – EJ Obiena – Men’s pole vault qualifying round

August 4: 

  • 5:50 p.m. – John Cabang Tolentino – Men’s 110m hurdles round 1
  • 6:35 p.m. – Lauren Hoffman – Women’s 400m hurdles round 1

August 7:

  • 3:00 p.m. – Bianca Pagdanganan – Women’s golf individual stroke round 1 
  • 3:00 p.m. – Dottie Ardina – Women’s golf individual stroke round 1 
  • 9:00 p.m. – John Ceniza – Men’s weightlifting 61kg

August 8: 

  • 9:00 p.m. – Elreen Ando – Women’s weightlifting 59kg

August 10:

  • 1:30 a.m. – Vanessa Sarno – Women’s 71kg

Source: GMANetwork, No Copyrights Infringement Intended.

Sen. Robin “Bad Boy” Padilla, The Adopted Igorot, a Tagalog Muslim Honorary Kailian of Baguio

Robinhood Ferdinand Cariño Padilla , aka Robin Padilla, is a Filipino actor, film director and politician. He was born on 23 November 1969 in Daet, Camarines Norte to Casimero “Roy” Padilla Sr. and Lolita Eva Cariño. Many people in Cordillera lead to believe that Padilla is a half-Ibaloi from his mother’s side; however, no evidence supports it, although Ibaloi representatives of the prominent Cariño clan of Benguet accepted Padilla as an “honorary cousin” out of goodwill and hospitality. He is known as the “Bad Boy” of Philippine cinema for portraying anti-hero gangster roles in films such as Anak ni Baby Ama (1990), Grease Gun Gang(1992), Bad Boy (1990), and Bad Boy 2 (1992). He has also been dubbed the “Prince of Action” in Philippine cinema.

Padilla was elected Senator of the Philippines after winning Senate election in 2022. In the said election, he placed first in the senatorial race, with 27 million votes, the most votes for a Senator in Philippine electoral history.

Civic Works & Other Advocacies

Padilla is an anti-malaria advocate since 2004. He became the spokesperson for the Department of Health’s “Movement Against Malaria” campaign, appearing in infomercials to promote the use of mosquito nets.

In 2007, Padilla established the Liwanag ng Kapayapaan Foundation, a pre-school for underprivileged Muslim children in Quezon City. Padilla temporarily closed the school after it failed to acquire the necessary government permits to continue operations.  In September 2010, the school re-opened.

Padilla has also promoted Muay Thai in the Philippines, and donated ₱2,500,000 to the Muay Association of the Philippines where he also served as chairman.

Politics and National Service

Padilla is a supporter of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug war, hailing the campaign as “most successful” and claiming that extrajudicial killings are a legitimate part of the government’s anti-crime strategy.

Padilla joined the military and he became a reserve officer in the Armed Forces of the Philippines with the rank of captain. He held the rank of reserve Lieutenant Colonel as of March 2024. On July 30, 2020, he was elected by the Army’s Multi-Sectoral Advisory Board as its new Strategic Communication Committee chairperson. In December 2021, Padilla and other reservists running in the 2022 elections were relieved of their posts “to ensure the organization’s non-partisanship” though the Army clarified this does not relieve them of being in the reserve force of the army.

Padilla entered politics in 1995, when he ran for Vice Governor of Nueva Ecija as an Independentcandidate. He was later endorsed by the Lakas–NUCD–UMDP and became the running-mate of its nominee for governor, Virgina Perez–Custodio. However, they both lost their bids. Padilla garnered 209,501 votes over 285,812 votes of the incumbent Vice Governor Oscar Tinio, who was running under NPC–BALANE.

On October 8, 2021, Padilla filed his certificate of candidacy for senator under PDP–Laban for the 2022 election. His platforms include pushing for anti-criminality measures, a crackdown on illegal drugs, the establishment of federalism and legislating community policing. Padilla stated that he is also against giving tax incentives for foreign investors and seeks to increase the minimum income of Filipino families to encourage Overseas Filipino Workers to go back home. He also said he would be hiring lawyers to help him draft laws if he win.

Padilla won a seat in the Senate, topping the vote count. He believes it was his platform on federalism and not solely his popularity as an actor that led to his win. Senator Win Gatchalian, who is a reelectionist and in the UniTeam Alliance coalition like Padilla, has vouched for Padilla as a representative for Muslims in the Senate. Following his win, Padilla announced that he would hire lawyer Salvador Panelo to help him fulfill his role as senator.

In the 19th Congress, he voted to elect Migz Zubiri as Senate President, thus becoming part of the majority bloc. He, however, abstained in the election of Joel Villanueva as Senate Majority Leader. Padilla is the current Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes and the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs.

Legislative output

Padilla filed in the first week of July his first 10 bills, including the Equal Use of Languages Act; Suspension of Excise Tax on certain fuel products; Medical Cannabis Compassionate Access Act; Amending the Rice Tariffication Law; Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers; Equality and Non-discrimination Act; Civil Service Eligibility for casual, contractual govt employees who rendered at least 5 years of service; Regionalization of Bilibid Prisons; Mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Act; and Divorce Act of the Philippines.

He has also expressed interest in filing measures that will benefit the environment, after disclosing in a July 6, 2022 Facebook Live post that he is meeting with Sen. Loren Legarda on the matter.

In the second week of July, Padilla filed a second batch of priority bills and resolutions that touched on federalism, the creation of the Congress-Parliamentary Bangsamoro Forum, a resolution on the appointment of the Marawi Compensation Board, a resolution on joint exploration of the West Philippine Sea, the Local Development Fund Act, a Nursing Home for Senior Citizens Act, Civil Unions Act, the Eddie Garcia Act, inclusion of Philippine History in high school curriculum, and Unsung Heroes Day.

Padilla, who chairs the Senate committee on Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs, pushed for an investigation into why Aetas in Central Luzon have not been able to get some ₱19 million due them from an agreement signed in 2007.

Legalizing medical cannabis

Padilla has filed a bill to legalize medical cannabis in the Philippines and has proposed Israel’s policy as its model. Padilla however clarified that he still considers cannabis or marijuana as a dangerous drug. The Medical Cannabis Party however argued that the penalties proposed in the bill makes cannabis more inaccessible and exacerbate the stigma against cannabis use.

Charter change

Padilla started holding hearings on amendments to the 1987 Constitution, in his capacity as chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes. He has indicated he will hold hearings in the provinces, to make sure all Filipinos understand the issue and have a say on the matter. He is focusing on changing the Charter’s economic provisions.

Fake news

Padilla sought an inter-agency effort in fighting fake news, and sought a probe into the matter. This was contained in his Senate Resolution 191, which he filed in September. He is poised to lead the probe as chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media.

He also called on other institutions like the news industry and educational institutions to do their part against fake news.

Mandatory ROTC

The re-imposition of mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) training has been one of Padilla’s advocacy when he ran for Senator. Due to the ROTC bill still pending on Congress, Padilla in March 2024 launched his own Basic Citizen Military Training which will have volunteers which will serve the needs of the Senate.

Muslim rights

Padilla filed Senate Bill 1273 seeking more cemeteries for Muslims and indigenous people (IPs) to ensure that proper burial in accordance with their customs and tradition will be observed.

Rights of entertainment industry workers

Padilla filed Senate Bill 450, the proposed “Eddie Garcia Law,” which outlined safety measures and other benefits for workers in the Philippine entertainment industry to protect the welfare of actors and workers in the industry.

Same-sex civil union

Padilla filed Senate Bill 449 seeking to give same-sex couples the same rights enjoyed by married straight couples under the law, saying it is ‘high time” for the Philippines to do so. The bill includes provisions upholding the rights of such couples to a civil union. “Providing equal rights and privileges for same-sex couples will in no way diminish or trample on the rights granted to married couples,” Padilla said.

The bill has the support of celebrity couple Ice Seguerra and Liza Dino. The Marawi Grand Imam, however withdrew his support for Padilla over the bill which he views as immoral and incompatible with Islam.

Benefits for Barangay Health Workers

Padilla filed Senate Bill 232, seeking to provide additional compensation and benefits to barangay health workers. The bill, dubbed An Act Providing for the Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers, include 20% discount on items under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, transportation allowance of at least ₱1,000 per month, and a one-time retirement cash incentive of ₱100,000 for accredited BHWs who have served for at least 15 years.

Funding for local government units’ projects

Padilla filed Senate Bill 447 assuring funding for priority development projects of local government units. Padilla said this measure aims to provide an equitable distribution of wealth to LGUs to foster development with the end goal of bridging the gap between the revenue expenditure mandates of the LGC and the General Appropriations Act.

The bill is similar to the Budget Reform Advocacy for Village Empowerment (BRAVE) bill of former Senator Panfilo Lacson. Padilla said he shares Lacson’s drive to promote the principle of devolution, as well as for budget reform.

Anti-sexual harassment

Padilla spoke out against sexual harassment victimizing Filipinos, including overseas Filipino workers and students.

The actor-turned-legislator pushed for heavier penalties against ambassadors and diplomatic officials involved in sexual harassment cases against Filipinos abroad, after Department of Migrant Workers secretary Susan Ople cited one such case in Brunei in 2012.

Meanwhile, Padilla called on parents and students to courageously report sexual harassment in schools, saying this will haunt the students for life.

South China Sea dispute

On May 15, 2021, Padilla went to the disputed Thitu Island (Pagasa Island) to visit the Filipino settlement and military outpost. In a statement, he praised the soldiers who keep enforcing the country’s sovereignty claims in the South China Sea during a courtesy call from members of the Joint Task Unit in Pag-asa Island.

On September 5, 2022, Padilla delivered a privilege speech stressing anew the need for joint exploration between the Philippines and China in the contested South China Sea. He said going back to the negotiating table is a must for the country’s interest.

In 2023, Padilla would raise skepticism if the United States would fulfill its obligations with its treaty ally Philippines in case that conflict escalates in the South China Sea. He has insisted that the Philippine military can manage on its own.

2024 Kingdom of Jesus Christ Senate hearings

Padilla believes that the Senate hearing on the alleged abuses by the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and its leader and founder Apollo Quiboloy is unnecessary. He disputes the hearings are conducted in aid of legislation and insists that the allegations raised in the Senate could only be dealt in the country’s legal system. He attended at least one meeting where he vouched for Quiboloy’s character and urged the victims who testified anonymously to not conceal their identities.

Padilla believes that the church leader is both a “hero” who fought against the Communist armed conflict led by the New People’s Army (NPA) while also tagging him as a victim of the rebel group.

Padilla however explicitly denied “defending” Quiboloy insisting that he is only upholding “democracy” and is moving to ensure that due process is upheld in dealing with allegations hurled against the pastor and his church.

He along with his colleagues Imee Marcos, Cynthia Villar and Bong Go made a failed bid to block the contempt order imposed on Quiboloy by the Senate panel led by Risa Hontiveros.

Personal life

Robinhood Cariño Padilla was born on November 23, 1969, in Daet, Camarines Norte to Casimero “Roy” Padilla Sr. and Lolita Eva Cariño. He has eight siblings—three brothers and five sisters. Padilla is popular believed to be half-Ibaloi from his mother’s side; however, no evidence supports it, although Ibaloi representatives of the prominent Cariño clan of Benguet accepted Padilla as an “honorary cousin” out of goodwill and hospitality.

His father, Roy, was a film director and politician who served as governor of Camarines Norte in the 1970s and assemblyman in the 1980s. His mother was an actress.

His siblings BB, Rommel, and Royette, are also actors. His half-brother Casimero succeeded in their father’s political endeavors, serving as a union leader, a congressman, and a three-term governor of Camarines Norte.

He is also the uncle of actors Bela Padilla, Daniel Padilla, and Mark Anthony Fernandez. Robin is also the great uncle of Grae Fernandez, via his father.

In 1994, Padilla was convicted for illegal possession of firearms and sentenced to a maximum of eight years in jail. In 1998, he was pardoned by President Fidel Ramos.

Formerly a Jehovah’s Witness, Padilla converted to Islam, adopted the name Abdul Aziz, and married his first wife Liezl Sicangco in a Muslim ceremony while he was still serving his prison sentence. He has four children with Sicangco, including actresses Queenie (who left showbiz) and Kylie Padilla.

In November 2009, Padilla announced that he and Sicangco had divorced in 2007. On August 19, 2010, Padilla and Mariel Rodriguez were married at the Taj Mahal in India. Padilla and Rodriguez had met during his stint as a host of Wowowee. Rodriguez gave birth to their first daughter in November 2016 in Delaware, and a second daughter in November 2019. Despite their marriage, Rodriguez remained a Roman Catholic. In 2017, Padilla became a grandfather when his daughters Queenie and Kylie gave birth.

In 2014, Padilla campaigned for presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte and in May 2016 filed a libel case against a Twitter user for calling him an “ex-convict”. In November 2016, Padilla was granted an absolute pardon from President Rodrigo Duterte to endow him full civil and political rights.

Education

Padilla took his elementary education at Siena College of Quezon City and attended high school at Saint Louis University Boys’ High School. He discontinued his studies when he was 17 to pursue his acting career.

He finished his bachelor’s degree in Criminology at Philippine College of Criminology.

Source: All information are from Wikipedia, Credits to authors. No copyright infringement intended.

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Super Typhoon tried and tested BBM’s 5500 Flood Control Projects. It’s weak!, says Filipinos.

BBM presented with pride his 5500 flood control projects worth P244B during his SONA, and after 2 days, it was tried and tested by Super Typhoon Carina.The weakness were witnessed by at least 31M Filipinos, seeing the massive floods across the country.

Philippines indeed has money. Philippines is not poor. It can buy and build anything it wants. From billions of intelligence funds to useless flood control projects that cost billions and billions of pesos, Philippines wealth is undeniable.

As expected, Filipinos remain poor because they are contented to live in the hands and promises of leaders they vote. Leaders and Filipinos live in circles, just going back and forth with no commitment to progress. Filipinos continue to be happy fighting each other during elections, standing for their chosen candidate and is happy to fight to death in exchange of relief goods, tupad and other forms of small tokens for their votes. Then when calamity and disaster arrive, they all suffer while the officials they have voted and fought for are in the comfort of their mansions or palace.

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“Babaklaem ya”- LBTQs, How we treat them in Cordillera

We can call them bakla, bading, shokla, antey, tita and even SIR, or tomboy with respect, confidence and acceptance. There had been no problems no matter how we call the LBTQs in the Cordillera. It’s because they never demanded respect from the community, instead they feel already well-privileged to be accepted in a conservative Cordilleran environment. They gained our natural respect.

LBTQs, most especially the bakla or gay, are not a discriminated or disadvantaged fraction of the society in the Cordillera. They live normal lives and in fact a lot of them have become a valuable member of a family, organisation or a community. A lot of LBTQs have good education and have successful careers in various industries or economic sectors.

LBTQs in the Cordillera do not behave nor feel entitled because they understand how to deal with normal or straight people, same as how others treat them as a member of the community. They also recognise the fact that there are other people who they need to offer respect, those people who believe that there are only 2 genders created by God, male and female. They understand that respect goes both ways. Respect is never demanded, but gained.

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Photo credits: Jude Bacalso, Pepita and IgorotHost

Alex Eala, the first Filipino player to win a junior Grand Slam singles title wins both Single & Double titles in International Tennis Federation Tournament 2024

Alexandra Eala, the first Filipino player to win a junior Grand Slam singles title in 2022, took another significant forward stride on the ITF World Tennis Tour this weekend after winning both the singles and doubles titles in the tournament held in Spain.

The 19-year-old from the Philippines previously won four professional titles. Although, her win were outside the entry level W25 tournament grade. Also. I am not aware there was a picture of emotion after completing a milestone week with a 6-4, 6-4 triumph over fellow rising star Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva.

“This win means the world to me, it even made me ugly cry,” she posted on Instagram. “I am so proud because this represents the culmination of so much hard work. Securing my biggest titles yet in both singles and doubles is a fairytale finish, and I’m overwhelmed with emotion.

Eala, the world No. 155, had also won her 3rd doubles, title of her career a day earlier – combining with Frenchwoman Estelle Cascino to beat Lia Karatancheva and Diana Marcinkevica.

Eala participating at the 2024 Open Araba en Femenino in Spain, an ITF W100 tournament, triumphed in both singles and doubles. She won the tournament in singles without dropping a set. For doubles tournament, Eala and her partner Estelle Cascino, won their second doubles crown. As of today, new career high ranking in both singles and doubles, at 143 and 208 respectively.

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source: ITF Website

Session Road, Baguio City- The Art Street of the Philippines

Session Road, Baguio City- has become the art street of the Philippines, not because of historical artistic obras of known artists but for serving as an open medium for everyone to express their artistic minds thru visual and performing arts. Despite the traffic problems, the City Government of Baguio has opened Session Road to the public since 2019, free of Motor vehicles, to allow locals and tourists to enjoy walking around the historic downtown road free of pollution and as a venue for visual artists, musicians, performers as well as start-up businesses to try their products or services.

Every Sunday, Session Road becomes a festive venue for locals and tourists to enjoy listening to music buskers from solo and band performers, street chalk artists, living or human statues, business stalls and other interesting acts.

Although the downtown road is open to such activities, participants are currently regulated which will maintain quality of performers as well as safety, peace and order. One is by not allowing subversive performances or artworks that will stir the public such as depicting current divisive issues or criticism on the government.

This setting is a unique signature attraction of the City of Baguio as it may be impossible to replicate it elsewhere in the country due factors that are distinct to the city. These factors include the high influx of locals and tourists as spectators or artists and cool weather which very conducive and safe inspiring environment.

Photo Credits to: Igo Com Facebook page

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“Gawin mo yan sa Mindanao” challenge

“Gawin mo yan sa Mindanao” is a comment we see on social media which confuses readers on what it really means. Knowing most people from Mindanao who migrated to Baguio are entrepreneurs, we could understand it as, like in this picture, “buy one, take one.” Although it is obvious that the comment has a double meaning.

Whatever it means, it is up to the reader to interpret. They might mean inviting content creators in Mindanao who’s contents they don’t like and aim to give the lessons of life or it could be a truly invitation for the person to do such thing in Mindanao.

We see this comments on contents with themes that are seem to be not acceptable to the culture of Mindanao such as sexy dancing or other contents that they consider as non-sense.

In return, fast-thinking netizens outside Mindanao will find similar content creators based in Mindanao such as that individual who died because of doing mukbang and put their comment, “nasaan yung comment na Gawin mo yan sa Mindanao?”

Any how, life is everything in social media. It is up to the readers and users to understand contents and comments.

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Ilocano not Igorot, not an Aeta, Krishna Marie Gravidez wins Miss World Philippines 2024

Not Igorot, not Aeta but an Ilocano of Baguio wins Miss World Philippines 2024, following the recent public anger when Aetas were mistakenly said to be in Itogon, Benguet by a popular blogger and a veteran broadcaster. A perfect example of point of view of humans, disowning what they hate and embracing what that gives honour and favour.

Krishnah Marie E. Gravidez (born October 11, 2000) is a Filipino beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss World Philippines 2024. A youth advocate, Gravidez will represent the Philippines at the Miss World 2025 pageant. 

Gravidez previously represented Baguio at the Miss Universe Philippines 2023 pageant. Finishing as a top five finalist, she was appointed as the country’s delegate to the Miss Charm 2024 pageant before withdrawing from the competition to represent Baguio in Miss World Philippines 2024, where she was named the winner.

Gravidez was born on October 11, 2000, in Ilocos Sur. She began studying industrial engineering at the Saint Louis University in Baguio before transferring to the University of Northern Philippines in Vigan to pursue a degree in civil engineering. In an interview on the variety show Wowowin in 2019, Gravidez stated she uses the cash incentives she earns from her stints in pageants to pay for her education.

Miss Universe Philippines 2023

On February 18, 2023, Gravidez was introduced as one of the 40 delegates competing in the fourth edition of the pageant, serving as the delegate of Baguio after having previously been selected as Miss Baguio 2022. Her performance in the preliminary rounds was received positively online, with praise directed in her performance in the swimsuit round. In the national costume round, Gravidez wore a Strawberry-inspired ensemble designed by Erjohn dela Serna. The costume was made from Cordilleran textiles and featured a kabayang basket. Her costume reaped her the “Tingog ng Filipina” award for Luzon.

In the pageant proper, she won the Best in Swimsuit award. Subsequently, she advanced to the Top 5, where she, and her co-finalists, were asked “For you, what is the best that we can offer to the rest of the world? Why do you consider it so?”, alluding to the Department of Tourism’s new branding campaign. She responded:

“Having to struggle at a very early age, I have uncertainties. But I’ve received kindness a lot of times. So now, aside from it’s free, I give kindness to everyone. Because this kindness can go a long way, can motivate someone, can give radiance to rainy days. Because this kindness also made me transform myself from a woman who have nothing to a woman who has the universe on her doorstep.”

At the end of pageant, Gravidez finished as a Top 5 finalist to Michelle Dee, who won the pageant to become the Philippines’s delegate to Miss Universe 2023. Following Gravidez’s finish at the Miss Universe Philippines 2023 pageant, she was appointed as Miss Charm Philippines 2024 in a ceremony at the Okada Manila. The city government of Baguio issued a resolution honoring Gravidez for her appointment to the title and was honored with a motorcade organized by the city’s tourism office. While Miss Charm Philippines 2024, Gravidez participated at the 12th Mindanao Fashion Summit held at Cagayan de Oro.

Miss World Philippines 2024

As Miss Charm Philippines, Gravidez was the country’s delegate to the Miss Charm 2024 pageant in Vietnam. Amid uncertainties in the pageant, she announced her withdrawal on June 2, 2024, more than a year after her designation. A day following her withdrawal, Gravidez was introduced as part of the second set of candidates for Miss World Philippines 2024, designated as the delegate of Baguio. In an interview with The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Gravidez revealed that she had been tapped by the pageant’s accredited partner for Baguio to represent the city in the national pageant since April 2024.

Gravidez won four special awards in the charity gala held on July 18. The pageant was held the following day at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, where she would win all three major awards—Miss Photogenic, Best in Swimsuit, and Best in Evening Gown—and seven special awards from the pageant’s sponsors. Gravidez advanced to the top 20 through winning the Top Model and Miss Multimedia fast track challenges. She progressed to the top ten question and answer portion, where she was asked “Should inclusivity be a top priority among pageants? Yes or no? Explain your answer”. In her answer, she noted the role of pageants as platforms for advocacies and stated that humans must adapt to an evolving world.

Gravidez went on to win the pageant, being crowned by her predecessor Gwendolyne Fourniol and Krystyna Pyszková, Miss World 2023.

Advocacy

Gravidez established the non-profit Colors of Kindness charity, which advocates for the welfare of children and the youth

Source: Wikipedia

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Ilocanos and Igorots treat animals equal

Ilocanos and Igorots, being regionally close to each other, have a lot in common. They share commonalities on their language hence they can understand each other. They also share the same attitude towards animals. They don’t discriminate dogs, from goats, pigs, cows, cats, chicken, carabao, etc. They treat them all the same and equal.

This is true when visiting Baguio most especially in the 1980s to 1990s. When Igorots go to the lowlands to visit relatives or friends, the nice smell of a goat will add to the warmth hospitality and interaction of the Ilocano host and the Igorot guests. The same thing when an Ilocano visits an Igorot friend or relative in Baguio, most especially during the cold seasons, the Igorot host will make sure there’s a warming experience for his Ilocano guest. This is by bringing the guests to visit dogs at Sagada Lunch.

Either way, both appreciate each other’s hospitality. They don’t discriminate each other, instead they will be equally appreciative to each other. In fact, everytime they visit each other, they are both happy seeing any of their pets, be it a dog, cats, pigs, goats, etc.

However, todays rhetorics have changed everything. Ilocanos and Igorots were taught by strangers and foreigners to treat dogs as man’s best friend, cats as something with 9 lives, etc. Civilisation taught Igorots and Ilocanos how to be discriminatory towards animals.

Additionally, Philippine History shows no serious tribal war between Ilocano and Igorots. They can jokingly mock each other but not the point of causing fatal injury to each other. Even the spoiled brat members of Samahang Ilocano and Igorot Wakad gangs in schools in the old days, they both behave like big dangerous gangs but they are actually nothing but just the same pulutan boys.

Take note: Please read this article with a little bit of art, and not too serious. The intention was to make you smile. No animals were hurt in making this article.

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If your contents don’t make money, Better plant a tree!

Some people most specially bloggers focus too much on their content and money that they forget about the basics of life and reality. That’s why even a content creator with huge money and a popular journalist got mistaken that our Aeta kailians are in Itogon instead of Zambales; that a bulul is for fertility instead of rice production, and that it is made buy Aetas in Itogon instead of Ifugaos.

Going back to the basics is good for us to realise the importance of appreciating God’s blessings, taking care of it and nurturing it. Nature is a gift, taking care of it is a good basic life responsibility. So here at The Cordillera Connection’s PROJECT T.R.E.E, the group of Joycelyn Sotelo Silva, Baguio Junior Police Batch 1983-93, and Lead Volunteer of TCCs Project TREE went to visit our designated area at Forbes Park, Baguio City to clean the surroundings where we planted pine saplings some years back. This is a project initiated and handled by our TCC-Montreal, Canada.

The group were amazed to see many saplings have thrived and survived the challenges of growing amidst the thick weeds. Lo and behold, the group will continue what they have started.

Activities like this will help us go back to real life and what matters to everyone. Temptations, fantasy and fake news in social media has taken control of our lives.

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