U14 Pinoy squad wins third place at the Borneo Football Cup

Members of the third-place winning U14 squad from the Philippines

The U14 team from the Philippines, represented by players of the youth teams of Global FC and Laos FC, won third place in its age group at this year’s Borneo Football Cup, a tournament organized by the Football Association of Malaysia through its member Sabah Football Association. The matches for their division were held from September 21-23 at the Penampang Stadium in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, East Malaysia. 

The third-place finish is the highest rank for any Pinoy team in the said tournament which Philippine clubs have been joining since 2013. 

Members of the winning squad included discoveries from grassroots development football programs—Jill Pillora of Iloilo, Nicolai Abalos of Laguna, Josh Asignar and Tristan Enad of Cebu, and Drexler Valencia of Dumaguete, who were scouted in their hometowns in 2013 and brought to the UK for elite training by the British Council and Pru Life UK; and Gregrory Tacondong who was a standout at the Football for a Better Life event held early this year In Gingoog, Misamis Oriental.

Alfredo Ray Estacion and Richard Jay Alipar served as coaches. Spears FC, Azkals Foundation and Pru Life UK supported the delegation.  

The boys’ participation at the 2016 Borneo Football Cup was authorized by the Philippine Football Federation (PFF). In a message posted on the PFF website on September 22, PFF General Secretary Edwin B. Gastanes said, “The PFF Affiliate clubs, Global FC and Laos FC, have been joining the Borneo Cup for two years to date. The teams these local clubs send are not national teams, although may have players who are in the national team pool.

“The PFF’s authorization for these youth clubs to compete at the international setting is in line with its objective to train and expose Filipino youth players to further their development in football.”

source by: "sports.abs-cbn.com"

The 5 Kidney Damage Symptoms You Are Most Likely to Ignore

If the function of any body organ is impeded, including the kidneys, the entire condition of the body is threatened. Namely, if their function is not done properly, they will not filtrate toxins from the blood well, and it will have a serious consequence on the overall health.

Therefore, it is of great importance to learn to recognize the symptoms of kidney damage in order to enhance their function and preserve your health.

The most common signs of kidney damage are the following:

Fatigue

The kidneys are responsible for the production of erythropoietin, a hormone which aids in the formation of red blood cells which carry oxygen.

Yet, in the case the red blood cells are reduced in number, the person may experience anemia, which will furthermore lead to fatigue, when there is a deficiency of oxygen in the cells.

Changed urinary function

When kidneys do not properly produce urine, the urinary patterns are altered, meaning that the individual may experience frequent night urination, more urine than normally, foamy or bubbly urine, or pale urine.

On the other hand, it is also possible to experience the opposite symptoms as well, like less urine than usually, dark urine, bloody urine, lesser urination than normally, difficulty urinating or feeling of pressure etc.

Swellings in certain body parts

Since the kidneys fail to remove the waste from the body, extra fluid builds up in certain body parts such as the face, hands, legs, ankles, and feet.

Dryness, rashes, and itching

In case the function of the kidneys is disturbed, waste is accumulated in the blood and causes skin dryness, persistent itching, and rashes. You should never ignore these signs and treat them with some creams or ointments, as the problem will persist until you address it properly.

Lower back pain

People often experience lower back pain in the case of kidney damage, initially on one side only, and then on both sides. Moreover, if you usually sleep on one side, the kidney on the same side will be more painful.

The most common cause of kidney damage is cadmium- a heavy metal may pollute the environment via burned oil and coil, or incineration of municipal waste.

Also, it is also found in phosphate fertilizers which intoxicate the food we consume. Due to all this, smoking is even more harmful, as smokers inhale this dangerous metal directly into the lungs.

In order to solve the kidney issues and restore their proper work, you need to make some changes in the lifestyle and start consuming a healthy diet. F, and avoid products rich in cadmium.

You should also drink lots of fluids, water, and freshly squeezed juices, like unsweetened cranberry juice. Regularly exercise and try to frequently consume foods like horsetail herb, goldenrod flowers, corn silk, burdock root, juniper berries, chanca piedra, and uva ursi leaves.

source by:www.thescienceofearth.com

The Philippines’ Top 10 biggest shopping malls

These days, spending time at the mall is a fairly common hobby for most people. It doesn’t matter which part of the world you’re in; you will always find a large shopping center where people browse and buy to their heart’s content, or simply hang out to people-watch or enjoy the air conditioning. In the Philippines, malls are so revered that many real estate developers contribute to the habit of “malling” by building humongous malls, many of which are sizeable enough to compete with the biggest ones other nations have to offer. Think your favorite mall is among the country’s top 10 largest malls?

SM Mall of Asia was then the biggest mall in the world.

10. Robinsons Galleria

Found at the corner of EDSA and Ortigas Avenue, the 216,000 sqm Robinsons Galleria was launched in 1990 as the first Robinsons mall. Prior to the construction of the mall, the land on which it stands was owned by SSS until 1987, when business tycoon John Gokongwei bought much of the land. Years later, Robinsons Galleria is now part of a mixed-use complex that includes the Galleria Corporate Center, the Holiday Inn Manila, the Galleria Regency, and the EDSA Shrine.

9. Robinsons Place Manila

Also known to patrons as Robinsons Ermita due to its location, Robinsons Place Manila is the largest Robinsons Mall, with a retail floor area of 240,000 sqm. The seven-level mall initially housed over 330 shops, restaurants, and entertainment facilities, but the development of the Padre Faura Wing in 2000 and the Midtown Wing in 2008 added to its retail and dining options, surpassing Robinsons Galleria in floor space.

8. Greenbelt Mall

Ayala Land launched the 250,000 sqm Greenbelt in 1989, merging small arcades and shops within Ayala Center. It was then renovated and reopened as Greenbelt 1, 2, and 3 in 2002, followed soon after by Greenbelt 4 in 2004 and Greenbelt 5 in 2007. Greenbelt offers mostly high-end retail brands and sit-down restaurants with the exception of Greenbelt 1, which focuses mainly on supply stores and fast food chains. In the middle of Greenbelt is an open space with a park, several al fresco restaurants and the Santo Niño de Paz Chapel.

7. Glorietta

Owned and operated by Ayala Land subsidiary Ayala Malls, Glorietta was originally part of a park built in the 1970s that made up a portion of the Makati Commercial Center complex. The Zobel De Ayala family decided to redevelop the area in the early 1990s, giving birth to Ayala Center. Having been transformed into an indoor facility, Glorietta was launched in 1992, having a gross leasable area of 250,000 sqm.

Previously named Quad, Glorietta has five components. Glorietta 1 (formerly Quad 1), which retained the Quad cinemas until 2010; Glorietta 2 (formerly Quad 2), which then housed the theme park Glicos Great Adventure; and Glorietta 3 (formerly Quad 3) all opened in 1992. Glorietta 4, an entertainment hub that also houses the Oakwood Premier, was launched in 1998. Glorietta 5, which was launched around 2010, is detached from the first four components and is located beside Rustan’s Department Store. Glorietta 1 and 2 were redeveloped in 2010 and launched in 2012.

6. SM Aura Premier

The 13th SM Supermall in Metro Manila, SM Aura Premier was opened in 2013, with a retail floor area of just over 251,000 sqm. SM Aura, whose name is derived from the elements of gold and radium to define luxury and elegance, is an upscale establishment that houses several high-end retail shops and dining concepts. Also within the premises are SkyPark with al fresco restaurants and bars, the 1,000-seat Samsung Hall, and the Chapel of San Pedro Calungsod.

SM Aura is connected to a 40,424 sqm office tower serving as home to many government offices, including Social Security System (SSS), PhilHealth, the Pag-IBIG Fund, and the Taguig City local government. The SM Aura Office Tower, which rises 29 stories, is designed in accordance with international green standards, incorporating features such as energy efficiency and sustainable operations.

5. SM City Cebu

Known by the locals as SM Cebu, SM Prime’s fourth shopping mall SM City Cebu opened its doors to customers in November 1993 with a gross floor area of nearly 162,000 sqm. In 2006, SM Cebu began the addition of Northwing, a 107,049 sqm expansion. When the new building was completed and launched in 2007, SM Cebu’s gross floor area increased to almost 269,000 sqm and its dining and shopping options reached around 680.

After the positive reception of the country’s first IMAX theater in SM Mall of Asia, SM Prime made an agreement with IMAX Corporation to launch more IMAX theaters, including one in SM Cebu, which opened in mid-2010. In 2015, the brand also announced that SM Cebu is set for more expansion, with plans to add more parking spaces and transport terminals as well.

4. SM Mall of Asia

Opening in 2006 with a floor area of 406,962 sqm, SM Mall of Asia (MOA) in Pasay City was then the biggest mall in the world for two years before being trumped by SM North EDSA in 2008. The mall consists of four buildings: the Main Mall, the Entertainment Mall, and the North and South Parking. MOA holds over 1,000 retail and dining shops, as well as the country’s first Olympic-sized ice skating rink and first IMAX theater, and the world’s first science discovery center called the Exploreum.

SM MOA might not have to settle for fourth place for long: during the mall’s 10th anniversary, SM Prime announces its plan to expand the massive complex to around 650,000 sqm to reclaim its place as the country’s largest mall. Aside from opening new shops and restaurants, the two-level expansion on top of the main mall—to be completed in 2017 or 2018—will involve the addition of a rooftop football field, botanical gardens, and parks.

3. SM Seaside City CebuLaunched in November 2015, SM Seaside City Cebu is currently the largest mall in the Philippines outside the National Capital Region and the eighth largest worldwide, with a retail floor plan of 470,000 sqm and a collection of over 400 shopping and dining options. One of its most notable features is the Seaside Tower, a 148-meter-high tower that will be composed of a viewing deck and several restaurants. As part of its recreational offerings, the mall also has an Olympic-sized ice skating rink, a 16-lane bowling alley, and a 350-seat large screen cinema.SM Seaside City Cebu serves as the centerpiece of the 30-hectare SM Seaside Complex, where SM Prime is also planning to build an indoor events venue to be called Seaside City Arena, an SMX Convention Center, and an oceanarium to be named Cebu Ocean Park.

2. SM Megamall

Opened in 1991, SM Megamall in Mandaluyong started out with just over 330,000 sqm of gross floor area and held the honor of being the largest mall in the Philippines for 17 years. It was eventually dethroned with the development of SM Mall of Asia and the expansion of SM North EDSA, but Megamall will always be recognized for having the first ice skating rink as well as one of the first trade halls in the country.

Megamall has seen multiple expansions over the years, namely the construction of Mega Atrium in 2008 and the rise of Building C in 2012. In 2014, it reclaimed its title as the country’s largest mall when it expanded its total gross leasable area to about 474,000 sqm with the inauguration of Mega Fashion Hall in 2014, increasing the mall’s collection of stores and dining options to over 1,000 offerings. The 101,000sqm, five-level addition houses a slew of international fashion brands and restaurants; as well as an upscale food court, an IMAX theater, and an Olympic-sided ice skating rink. But SM City North EDSA’s 2015 expansion again toppled Megamall from its pedestal as the Philippines’ largest mall, but has managed to secure its place as the fourth largest internationally.

1. SM City North EDSA

SM North EDSA is SM Prime’s first mall, and was constructed in 1983 on a 16-hectare land previously owned by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). Launched in 1985, the Quezon City mall started out with a 125,000 sqm gross floor area, had three floors, and contained only SM’s fifth department store and the brand’s first supermarket. Thirty years since it first opened its doors, SM North EDSA is now the largest mall in the Philippines with a total retail floor area of 498,000 sqm containing over a thousand stores and restaurants, and the third largest in the world. And with the construction of 5,760 solar panels on its rooftops, SM North is also the largest solar-powered mall in the world.

Said to be the first to introduce “malling” as a Filipino past time, SM North has seen a lot of expansions and redevelopments, cementing its position as one of the pioneers of the “one-stop-shop” concept. A carpark named Annex 1 was unveiled in 1988, followed by the introduction of a retail building named Annex 2 in 1989. Annex 3, also known as “The Block,” was opened in 2006, and a reconstructed Annex 2 was launched two years later. These were eventually succeeded by The North Link (Annex 4), which primarily caters to business process outsourcing (BPO) companies; Sky Garden, an open area hosting several restaurants and an event venue; the Warehouse, part of which serves as valet parking; the five-tower condo development Grass Residences, and SM Cyber West Avenue.

source by:"www.thesummitexpress.com"

Kenya Olympic officials arrested over alleged mismanagement

FILE - In this Aug. 11, 2012 file photo, Kenya's Julius Yego competes in the men's javelin throw final during the Summer Olympics in London. The Kenyan athletics federation turned on the country's Olympic committee on Monday, Aug. 8, 2016, blaming it for the travel problems that left javelin world champion Julius Yego without a plane ticket to the Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro. Yego did eventually manage to get a flight to Brazil. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

Those problems included a new doping scandal, ineligible athletes, missing plane tickets, and bad blood between the athletics federatioTOM ODULA, Associated Press

MUTWIRI MUTWOTA, Associated Press

 

 

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Three officials of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) have been arrested in connection with the alleged mismanagement of the country's team at the Rio de Janeiro Games, police officials said Friday.

 

NOCK's secretary general, Francis K. Paul, was detained at Nairobi's Muthaiga Police Station, according to the police officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

 

The same officials said Kenya's chef de mission, Stephen Arap Soi, and his deputy James Chacha were arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Friday. The two were arriving from Brazil with members of the Olympic team, amid some claims from athletes about being left to live in difficult conditions after the Olympic Village closed.

 

The government disbanded NOCK on Thursday, with Kenya sports minister Hassan Wario saying problems faced by the team in Rio had damaged the morale of athletes.

 n and the national Olympic committee. Athletes' complaints also include missing sponsor kits.

 

Even so, Kenya had its best Olympic performance in Rio, winning six golds, six silvers, and a bronze medal.

source by:"sports.abs-cbn.com"

A damaged reputation

A damaged reputation

Phuong Thao

With C2 green tea and Rong Do (Red Dragon) energy drink banned from the store shelves over higher-than-allowed lead content, consumers must be worrying about their health at the moment. The two popular beverages have been available on the market for years on end and favored by youngsters and children. Many customers are facing the possibility of lead poisoning. Lead is a toxic metal that is harmful to human health even at low levels of exposure since it can bioaccumulate in the body of the consumer over time.

The accusing finger is being pointed to the Vietnam unit of the Filipino food and beverage firm Universal Robina Corporation (URC) for defying the law and exposing thousands of consumers to lead poisoning risk. Rumors about higher-than-permitted levels of lead in C2 and Rong Do drinks have begun circulating since early last month. Therefore, the Vietnam Food Administration collected samples of two Philippine beverage brands to test for lead.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Health announced to impose a fine of more than VND5.8 billion (US$260,000) on URC for producing and selling lead-contaminated products. According to the ministry, a batch of C2 green tea manufactured on February 4, 2016 and a batch of Rong Do energy drink made on November 10, 2015 were found to contain high levels of lead. Test results showed these batches have lead content of 0.053 to 0.085 mg per liter, above the limit of 0.05 mg per liter.

Earlier this month, the company was ordered to recall the two batches but it was too late as some 800,000 bottles, a majority of the total in the batches worth a combined VND3.9 billion, had already been sold. Many consumers have vented their anger on the firm, calling URC a criminal for having intoxicated them. Doctor Ngo Ha is quoted by Nguoi Tieu Dung newspaper as saying the total volume of lead in 800,000 bottles of C2 and Rong Do drinks amounts to around 30 kg, which is enough to cause blood deficiency for three million people and serious health problems for two million expectant mothers.

The scandal has drawn more fire from the public and media as URC has committed other violations. As reported by Thanh Nien newspaper, two of the company’s warehouses failed to meet food safety regulations, with spoilt products stored next to those for sale.

The Ministry of Health chose to stand by its own findings on the quality of the company’s bestselling products despite various conflicting results released by other local labs. On social media the Philippine producer is accused of having bribed quality control officers into falsifying test results, and journalists from multiple news outlets into ignoring the company’s serious violations. There are reports that three other sold batches contained high levels of lead also but the ministry is still determining the exact number of contaminated bottles. They are being recalled but no fines have been imposed.

Nguyen Manh Hung, vice president of the Vietnam Standard and Consumers Association, says in Tuoi Tre newspaper that buyers of lead-tainted C2 and Rong Do must be compensated. According to health experts, an excessive intake of lead could cause health problems, especially among children and pregnant women. Lead poisoning is a serious and fatal condition with symptoms including severe abdominal pain, stomach cramping, vomiting, muscle weakness, seizure, comatose, confusion, loss of appetite, fatigue, headache, anemia and kidney dysfunction.

Lawyer Pham Huong Giang in Hanoi says on the news site Vietnamnet that consumers had questioned the quality of C2 and Rong Do drinks they had consumed before the scandal made headlines. URC might have marketed a larger volume of lead-contaminated drinks than the 1,200 cartons, weighing over 10 tons, which have been destroyed with the witness of Ministry of Health inspectors.

Consumers can sue URC but it might be difficult to prove any immediate health problems caused by its contaminated beverages. In addition, URC’s business partners, sales agents and suppliers canfile legal action against the firm for making substandard products and thus affecting their business operations and revenues.

Following an inspection into URC Hanoi, Ministry of Health inspectors will carry out similar inspections into URC Vietnam. Other major beverages producers might be next on the ministry’s inspection list.

The lead contamination scandal has damaged the reputation of the company and consumers will surely shun its products altogether. This is the price it must pay.


source by:"www.talkvietnam.com"

China faces 1-year ban from weightlifting over doping

Gold medal winner Meng Suping, of China, competes in the women's 75kg weightlifting event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

JAMES ELLINGWORTH, AP Sports Writer

MOSCOW (AP) — China is facing a one-year ban from weightlifting over repeated doping cases in a move which threatens to stop some of the world's top athletes from competing internationally.

The International Weightlifting Federation confirmed Thursday that three failed retests of drug test samples from the 2008 Beijing Olympics will lead to China's automatic ban — if the cases are proven and the athletes in question disqualified by the International Olympic Committee.

IWF spokeswoman Lilla Rozgonyi told The Associated Press that the positive tests for gold medalists Cao Lei, Chen Xiexia and Liu Chunhong, all announced Wednesday, were enough for a ban under rules adopted by the IWF board in June.

"It happens automatically. The vote was already taken so now we only need to receive the closed cases from the IOC to proceed," Rozgonyi said in an e-mail.

China is the world's dominant country in weightlifting, having topped the medal table at every Olympics since 2000. It won seven medals in Rio de Janeiro this month, five of them gold.

Along with China, IWF said that Ukraine and Azerbaijan have joined Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, which were already facing one-year bans under earlier announcements.

Wednesday's announcements took Ukraine to three failures from retesting, with four for Azerbaijan. At least six lifters from each of Belarus and Kazakhstan have failed Olympic retests, with seven for Russia.

Between them, those countries won 14 medals in Rio, meaning that next year's world championships in Malaysia could have a significantly depleted field if none of them are allowed to compete.

Russia was already banned from Olympic weightlifting in Rio after the IWF ruled that its numerous doping cases and allegations of a state cover-up had brought weightlifting into "disrepute."

Weightlifting is fighting a severe doping crisis, with as many as 16 medals from 2008 and 13 from 2012 likely to be stripped following failed drug retests. In addition, last year's world championships in Houston saw mass drug test failures and one medal from the 2016 Olympics has already been taken away after bronze medalist Izzat Artykov of Kyrgyzstan tested positive for the banned substance strychnine.

source by: "sports.abs-cbn.com"

Pinakamalaking perlas sa daigdig, natuklasan ng mangingisdang Pinoy

Ayon sa pahayagang "Daily Mail" ng Britanya nitong Lunes, Agosto 22, 2016, 10 taon na ang nakararaan, sa aksidenteng pagkakataon, natagpuan ng isang mangingisdang Pinoy ang isang napakalaking perlas na may bigat na 34 kilo. Sa kasalukuyan, posible itong maging pinakamalaking pearl sa daigdig. Ayon sa pagtaya, nagkakahalaga ito ng halos 100 milyong US Dollar.

Noong panahong nakita ng naturang mangingisda ang nasabing perlas, hindi niya alam na ito ang isang "napakamahal na kayamanan," at inilagay lamang niya ito sa kanyang barungbarong. Napilitan siyang lumipat ng tirahan matapos masunog ang kanyang kubo. Pagtapos nito'y ibinigay niya ang dambuhalang perlas sa opisyal ng departamentong panturista ng Palawan.

Ayon sa kinauukulang opisyal ng departamentong panturista, hinihintay na ang identipikasyon ng jewel institute at ibang kinauukulang pandaigdigang organo sa nasabing yamang dagat.

source by:"filipino.cri.cn"