15th NYC Practice

One of the hardest part of the STI National Youth Convention is the practice and preparation for the actual convention. Just like what I mentioned before, the STI Convention is very unconventional as one of its features is the dancing master of ceremonies. This year we have made plans that the dance that I will have will be from Michael Jackson's This is it movie. If you remember their dance number with the song "Sing and Shout" you would probably say that its reloaded version is slightly better than the original. The STI College Alabang dancers are one great dancing crew and I hope that we will make good this NYC, til then!

A lot of NYC faithfuls that have always been going back to the manila run are always waiting for the new gimmicks that usually accompany each and every STI Convention. I just hope this year they will be amazed again.

Dancing Inmates

Filipinos are very proud whenever other filipinos do good. Word would easily come out on a person's achievement however small it may be. Just recently, one thing that Filipinos have been very proud of is the video shoot of a dance number by the 1500 inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and rehabilitation center. Michael Jackson's long time choreographer Travis Payne, who is also seen in MJ's movie This is IT took two days to complete the dance video tribute to MJ to the tune of "They don't care about us!" This just shows that you can actually do something good even if the persons involved are BAD. The only problem I see is that the crime rate might go up in Cebu so that gang members can join the dancing inmates!

10th STI Basketball Showdown: STI College Sta. Rosa early favorite

Nokia RP Youth Campaigners

Von Pessumal, Paolo Romero and Kieffer Ravena

chose the Best Muse from STI College Global City

It was billed as the battle of the runner ups. Since DLS-STI E.Rodriguez did not join this year, 2009 1st Runner Up STI College Balagtas and 2008 1st Runner Up STI College Santa Rosa are two of the favorites that are billed to slug it out this year. After their sorry 2008 loss to the DLS-STI squad, the Santa Rosa dribblers beefed up their line up by recruiting young guns and had fruitful campaigns in their own area. Back to lead the team are the vastly improved point guard Winston Balmaceda and the hard nosed forward John Batisan.

John Batisan fouled hard

On the other hand, STI College Balagtas lost steam in the finals after sweeping the eliminations. Back in their line up are two young campaigners who did well in the 9th Season of the NAASCU 18 year old Cedric Ablaza and 20 year old Paulo Villadoz. Both forwards will stamp their class among the other teams who are vying to break the 5 year dominance of DLS-STI. Add to that two more big guns in Patrick Pascual and Chowking Yee then you have a formidable squad.

Mid-air action

The 10th STI Basketball showdown opened at the Rizal Coliseum with eight STI Teams heeding the call for the STI Basketball program. Besides the two schools mentioned , last year's third placer STI College Global City, fourth placer STI College Quezon Ave. who have also beefed up their line ups looks to crowd the two favored teams. Other teams include STI College Taft which is the only other holdover with three new teams joining the fray, STI College Marikina and returnees STI College Muñoz and STI College Novaliches.

Cedric Ablaza could not do it all

STI College Santa Rosa worked overtime from start to finish as they won the battle of the runner ups with a convincing 74 - 63 win over 2009 1st runner-up STI College Balagtas. The Laguna based cagers had their biggest lead of 30 points back in the second quarter 45-15. Summoning the strength that made them sweep the eliminations last year, the Bulacan based dribblers staged a comeback that cut the lead to only 9 points. Newly recruited Olympian Cedric Ablaza arrived in the fourth quarter to jumpstart the comeback but his end game heroics was not enough to overcome the Santa Rosa lead.

Leguin with a lay in

Other opening day winners include STI College Global City winning over STI College Taft 84 - 53, STI College Quezon Ave. winning over STI College Munoz 78 -49 and STI College Marikina beating STI College Novaliches 87 - 67.

15th NYC in Cebu City

The Queen CIty of the South was once again the venue for the STI National Youth Convention. This year, besides the host city CEbu, students from STI Mandaue, STI Calbayog, STI Dumaguete and STI College Surigao were at hand to witness this one of a kind extravaganza.

STI students from the south are really different from the northern part of the country, Here, students and Filipinos are more appreciative and always greet you with a ready smile. The culture I believe shows that Visayan people are proud people but more hospitable and accommodating than any other region in the country.

As you can see, the smiles of the students kept us going as the National Youth Convention booked another successful run in the Queen city of the south. The event once again was held at the CAP Auditorium in Osmena St. Cebu. The CAP place is actually the ancestral home of Cebu's foremost politician - Sergio Osmeña Sr.

15th NYC in Ormoc City

The city of Ormoc has always given me fond memories and all because of the countless times we were there for the STI National Youth Convention. This time the stay in Ormoc was different because we stayed for two nights. Normally we would go back to Tacloban City after the event since the flight back to Manila was around 8 am. Here are some highlights of the National Youth Convention held at the Ormoc Astrodome.

Globe Lab's Princess Cruz

spoke for the first time

on the Innovate topic

Ricky Bunag was

called back for action

STI'ers proudly sing

the STI Hymn

Dana and Maricel are all smiles

Team Panlilio wins anew

A hard start and big push was all Team Panlilio needed to jumpstart its bid to its second consecutive win in the Francisco division of the 10^th Season of the Ateneo Basketball league. Team Panlilio used a second quarter push and never looked back as it disposed Team Amurao at the D-Zone in Makati City. Peter Gonzalez led the charge of Team Panlilio as he and Jerome Buhay took charge of the fastbreaks that broke the backs of Team Amurao to win convincingly 79 -63.

Conditioning plays a big role in the Ateneo Basketball league as most of the Alumni who play are usually past their prime since beer bellies are the in thing and it is the venue where weekend warriors summon their strength anew. Team Panlilio boasts of two well conditioned athletes in Peter Gonzalez who is an accomplished triathlon campaigner. ON the other hand, Jerome Buhay spends a lot of time conditioning himself through various 10k runs and a full marathon. These two guard-forwards leave opponents gasping for air as they usually go for the basket in every fastbreak opportunity.

Team Panlilio has other weapons who clicked this time around as three point specialist Bong Berbano led TeamPan with 18 points after sinking four three pointers which he complemented with 5 steals. Dato Arroyo on the other hand provided the fourth quarter spark as Gonzalez sat down for the whole fourth quarter. Jun Castro, the team’s primary inside penetrator was saddled by early foul trouble and was not into his game early on as he just scored 6 points. Dennis Manalo opened the third quarter with valuable lane incursions together with another center Buboy Go who just arrived from abroad in the morning of game day.

With two straight wins, Team Panlilio has a bright outlook in the tournament as the confidence in their defense, fastbreak and inside plays will be a big factor in the coming games. Next stop, a battle between two undefeated teams as Team Panlilio takes on another unbeaten team, Team Jalandoni. Stay tuned.

Callospa Resort in Antipolo

During the time that I went to Antipolo i remember having to be one of the people who were walking on the eve of May 1 from Ortigas avenue to Antipolo church. That was so long ago and my image of Antipolo is a place that is not really that developed. But then again that was a long time ago when we frequent the place for a little booze a top the hills over looking Metro Manila. Now that is a thing of the past.

Along the way just a tricycle from Unciano Colleges are various resorts where one can hold a wedding reception or just a great hideaway to unwind during the weekend. Luckily my galpal Zerina Tiangco, one of my angels invited us over to share here 20th birthday in this nice weekend getaway - the place is called Callospa.

Callospa is a sanctuary for the mind, body and soul in the midst of a stimulated rainforest surrounded by flora, waterfalls mistings all over the place. It is a place to relax since the pool is great, the badminton area is okay and there is also a spa in the place. Numerous functions were already held in the venue and I am happy that I have discovered another place to nest.

Luckily I got the numbers of the place. 0917-8334351,09228007889. YOu can actually rent the place form 8 am to 4 pm for P 10,000 and even have an overnight stay for P 12,500. This is great for a party of 10 to 30 people who are looking for fun. Hope to go back again here.

Zerina's Birthday Party

I blogged about the sTI All Star Dancers before here. Now lets see some pictures of the birthday swim party of Zerina Tiangco. It's in a resort in Antipolo, the name of the resort is Callospa It's a nice place to wind up and relax since not only does it have a pool but you can actually hold functions, weddings, badminton games and enjoy the place. Here are some pictures of the birthday of Zerina.

Yours truly and RJ

enjoying a dip

on the cool pool

The Gurls Zerina, RJ,

Rynee and Bujoy show

how to pose

in front of a camera

Yours truly and the Birthday Gurl

Pose and Pose and

smiling on the my camera!

Let's go Gurlz!

15th NYC in Bacolod City

I have always fond memories of the STI National Youth Convention, and one of them is the NYC in The city of smiles - Bacolod City. Indeed, students have ready smiles to show and most of the faculty and staff members of the STI College Bacolod school are very accommodating, helpful and will always assist you with a smile.

Yours truly after the dance

Greg Igaya of Globe

talked for the 1st time

and his presentation

brought great insights

on Innovation

Dennis Evangelista was

awesome as usual

Neil Coleta wowed the crowd

Return to 18th STreet

Bringing my former teacher

Pido Aguilar to

18th Street Pala Pala

Sumptous Scallops

KILLER KILAWEN

THE FISH PARADE

Another view of the fish

L Fisher Hotel

Six years ago, we were having the STI National youth Convention here in Bacolod at the number one hotel in the city - L Fisher Hotel. That time the hotel can only accommodate 500 people so when STI College Bacolod grew to be a bigger school we left the place and found other places to hold the convention. Although we found an0ther home for the convention I always wanted to go back to this one of a kind hotel which gave me great memories. Today was the chance I longed for and it did not disappoint.

The swimming pool upstairs

Tara Na, Lets take a dip

15th NYC in Kalibo

This event was moved since the original date would have fallen on the date of the Ati-atihan festival.But nevertheless the event pushed through with flying colors and both speakers and STI students were excited with the event. The previous year, STI students from Kalibo, Barotac - Viejo, Antique and Iloilo trooped to the SM City in Iloilo for the 14th NYC, but this year STI College Kalibo played host for the 15th NYC.

For one I was very excited for this part of the National Youth Convention since it is the event where veteran speaker Dennis Evangelista will start to join the team. A witty, hardworking and down to earth person, when Dennis first started to join the NYC team way back in 2005 he showed that he can connect to the STI audience and that he is as funny and dynamic like the other NYC speakers as well. Couple that with the things that he has learned from the STI National Youth Convention then you have a world class speaker who is a legend in sharing great thoughts with the STI students.

The two other speakers, Pido Aguilar and Romy de Villa also had nice things to share. Pido as usual was his fiery self and the song bayani ka was well received by the STI students. At the same time, Romy de Villa who heads the development group of Globe Labs added a game to his presentation. In the spirit of fun and making his presentation more exciting, Romy had nice inputs and his game was a hit.

STI students from Aklan were high praises as they were seen with their new Convention kits and were taking down notes on the three topics that were at hand. The sampaguita gardens were filled with many STI students having their pictures taken from various points of the resort. Two years from now we will be back again and hope that we go straight to Boracay afterwards. But for now the NYC will shift back to Iloilo next year. Until then aklanons will be looking forward again for another breathtaking spectacular show.

SamPaguita Gardens

Precious Moments store

Boracay is the beach destination that a lot of Filipinos enjoy going to. Just an hour from caticlan is a resort that you would never think is there, Sampaguita Gardens. One thing that makes this different is that the place is actually owned by the owner of Precious Moments. Here are some pictures of the place.

The Hotel which is affordable

The Coffee Shop that offers

Manila tasting coffee

Sampaguita Gardens theme

Everday is Christmas

As usual there are also

affordable Pasalubongs