Hail to Venus!

                                                Photos courtesy of Miss Universe L.P., LLLP

Congratulations to my kababayan from Albay! She must have prepared more for a socially or politically relevant question like "Do you think President Noynoy was on laughing gas the night of the tragic hostage-taking crisis?" Anyway Venus Raj still made our country proud by winning 4th runner-up in the recent Ms. Universe beauty pageant. Credit also goes to her for the now famous redundancy which is undeniably already more popular than "Take it! Take it!" (God bless the former Ms. Mauritius' soul).

How MMA can save your life - a basic self-defense technique

First a disclaimer: I of course cannot guarantee that the self – defense technique featured here will be effective against a violent physical attack on the street, in the workplace or at home. Mixed martial arts (MMA) competitions take place in highly organized and controlled environments. Factors like venue, schedule, fight cards and the approval and enforcement of rules and regulations, within and immediately outside the ring are meticulously planned (well, most of the time). The fighters know beforehand whom they are facing, that it will be a one – on – one and no weapons affair. They know that violating rules like using illegal holds or a baseball bat can cost them their victory. Most significantly, their confrontation is witnessed by hundreds or thousands of spectators who expect them to obey the ref’s “command at all times” and engage in a “good, clean fight.”

Criminal acts of violence, on the other hand, are more often than not random and unpredictable on the part of the target victim. The same rules do not - or rather no rules - apply. Criminal elements may be armed or unarmed. The malevolent act could be planned or random, by one individual or multiple attackers. Prior threats may have been communicated, or it could be a complete surprise. Nevertheless, knowing a basic self – defense technique or two – especially from a sport with the most comprehensive skill set in empty hand, one – on – one fighting - will definitely enhance your chances of survival.

When the bad guy got you cornered and it has come to a fight and no–more–chance–for–flight situation, I recommend the following MMA technique against the lone attacker (emphasis on “lone”). This is a variation of setting up and successfully executing the “ground – and – pound” attack. Please refer to my illustration below to make the following instructions clearer.

1. Grab one of your attacker’s wrists, either wrist if unarmed or the wrist of the hand holding a weapon if unarmed.
2. Maintaining your hold on his wrist, step closer and wrap your other arm underneath his free arm and secure the clinch by pressing your hand and forearm against his back.
3. Leaning forward (to keep your balance and apply pressure on your attacker), move your foot which is on the same side of your clinching arm over and behind his far foot.
4. With a powerful sweeping motion, kick your active foot backward to take him down to the ground. What’s good about this take down is you can keep yourself on your feet and stand above your fallen opponent, without getting dragged to the ground.
5. When he is lain on his back, you can land a punch or two with either fist, or if he is still clutching his weapon, keep your grip on the armed hand and pound him with the fist of your other hand.
6. Now you have the chance to run like crazy before his partners in crime appear and make it more complicated for you. If you are certain that he is all by his lonesome, you can rush to a nearby weapon (maybe his) or heavy object like an anvil and finish him off, while he is still dazed by your, ahem, devastating takedown and strikes. Screaming your lungs out, if you are sure that only benevolent souls can hear you, might help. Otherwise, shut up.

The best self – defense tips would still be 1) maintain harmonious relations, 2) avoid notorious places and 3) secure your home and belongings. But in case a dangerous predicament arises that leaves you no choice but to defend yourself, we hope this basic MMA technique, coupled with your will to survive, will prove valuable.

Mariella Castillo crowned Teen Queen of Asia and Oceania

                                                                 Photo by Melvin Sia

“I'll show to the world what a Filipina Batangueňa is made of,” Mariella “Ella” Castillo confidently asserted during her send-off party last June 22, 2010 at the Bliss Bar and Restaurant on Tomas Morato Avenue, Quezon City and she made good on her word. The 18-year old charmer from Mabini, Batangas represented the Philippines, reached the semi-finals and was crowned "Teen Queen of Asia and Oceania" in the very first Miss Global Teen Pageant held last June 28 to July 3, 2010 in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.

Winning the crown as the first Miss Global Teen is Dominican Republic's Mayte Brito Medina, who was also crowned as Teen Queen of the Caribbean. First runner-up is Tara Emad of Egypt (Teen Queen of Africa) and 2nd runner-up is Chelsae Durocher of Canada (Teen Queen of the Americas).

Held at the home of the world famous samba and Mardi Gras celebrations, the first Miss Global Teen Pageant's mission is to gather young women from different countries, aged 15 to 19 years old,who will do their best in realizing their personal goals. It aims to "produce a world-class winner who will be able to inspire and serve as role model to teenagers everywhere.”

The finals of Miss Global Teen 2010 was staged at the Rubens Gil de Camilo Convention Center in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul on July 3, 2010.

Aside from winning the pageant's crown as Miss Teen Queen of Asia and Oceania, Ella also enjoyed the very rare chance of touring this scenic spot of Brazil.

The town of Bonito, the eco-tourism capital of Brazil, welcomed the planet's most beautiful teenagers last June 29 and 30. Ella had the chance to see and experience the amazing Waterfalls' Park, the Blue Lagoon Cavern, and Formoso River. She and the other contestants were billeted at the Marrua Hotel.

Then in Campo Grande City Ella and the other candidates took an official tour in a double-decker bus and visited the city's main tourist attractions such as The Indigenous Nations Park, the Poderes Park, the Central Market and the Araras Plaza.

The third of four children, Ella is an alumna of San Juan Sto. Nino Elementary School in Mabini, Batangas and Sta. Teresa College High School in the town of Bauan, also in Batangas. Ella is currently a Fashion Design student at the De La Salle University College of St. Benilde.

Statuesque at 5 foot 8,  Ella's credentials in beauty contests are: finalist in Bb. Pilipinas 2010, 1st runner–up in Miss Bikini Philippines 2009 and 1st runner-up in Bb. Batangas 2008. She also participated in the 2009 International Modeling and Talent Association (IMTA) Convention in New York.

Before leaving for Brazil last June 25, Ella charmed the press at her send–off party hosted by Kristine Caballero, 2002 Mutya ng Pilipinas first runner-up. Lamberto Ricalde, National Director of Miss Global Teen, introduced Ella to her well–wishers and expressed his pride in the young lady “who will represent flag and country in a new international beauty pageant.” Ella gracefully thanked “Mega Star Production, OPMB Worldwide, Paul San Juan of Print Mode Photography, makeup artist Yani Garcia, Lamberto N. Ricalde, Rodgil Flores, Gio Flores, Cliff Dimaala, George Garrido, Arnaldo de Leon, Jay Patao, Sonny Boy Lindo, Paul Refol and BLISS Tomas Morato.” Saving the best for last, she tearfully expressed her most profound gratitude to her “exceptionally kind and supportive parents Mr. and Mrs. Marcelo and Clemencia Castillo.”  

With her intelligence, gentleness, and distinct and dusky Filipina beauty, Ella  definitely proved that she is of Miss Global Teen caliber.

Fightin' Faingason (or why a Third World athlete's quest for glory descended into a sad case of "for God, for country, forgotten")

August 16, 2021 UPDATE: Coach Jerry Faingason recently passed away due to COVID-19 last August 13, at age 58. Rest in peace, Coach Jerry. +

Former Philippine Wrestling Team Head Coach Jerry N. Faingason (August 16, 1963 to August 16, 2021)

Coach Jerry could have been one of the country’s Olympic medalists. Under more favorable circumstances, maybe he would have won the country’s first and only Olympic gold medal. He “could’ve been a contender,” to quote the line uttered by Marlon Brando’s classic movie character, as far as winning what has become the Holy Grail of Philippine sports. (August 16, 2021 update: Female weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz finally won the country's first Olympic gold medal in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.)

Still, non-participation in the world’s most prestigious sporting event notwithstanding, Coach Jerry Faingason’s athletic achievements are nothing to scoff at. More so that in the beginning, he had the odds stacked against him—growing up with a build unfit for one of the world's toughest sports: wrestling.

Born the seventh of eight children on the 13th of August, 1963 to a farmer and housewife in the rural town of Miag–ao, Iloilo, Jerry Faingason in his childhood was one of the thinnest in the neighborhood. His friends and classmates teased him “payoy,” short for “payatot” (thin) for his small and vulnerable frame. When he was in first year high school, one of his teachers called him “malnourished” and said that he “would be of no use to the government.” Worst of all, he was always picked on and pushed around by the neighborhood bully.

It was when his father died in his second year high school that he decided to improve his lanky physique. Having lost his protector and inspired by his idol, comedian/action star Ramon Zamora (who mimicked Bruce Lee), he committed to a stringent personal training regimen. For weeks, he woke before dawn and jogged across farms and streets, swam along the river and lifted the rocks strewn on the riverbank to improve his endurance, strength and size. He also began honing his combative skills by practicing on improvised training equipment: he tied a rubber slipper to a branch of a bamboo tree and struck repeatedly on its exposed sole like a punching pad; hung a ball of cloth up in the ceiling of a nipa hut as his target for high kicks; and played “dumog,” as the Ilonggos called pastime wrestling, on the soft earth of the riverbank with his friends. All these he accomplished in between his daily chore of tending to his family's herd of cows in the fields.

His self–taught training program eventually paid off and he developed a lean and muscular build. It also proved its functional effectiveness on the basketball court: when his pesky tormentor the neighborhood bully threw the ball at him during a game, he dodged and punched him in the jaw, knocking the bigger guy out cold.

Upon graduation from high school in 1981, at 17 years old Jerry left his hometown for Manila to seek for the proverbial “greener pastures.” He first found work as a stevedore in Valenzuela, then as a household help and carpenter’s apprentice in Marikina. On his eighth month of toil in the city, he was found and fetched by his uncle Rogelio Famatid. Mr. Famatid was a soldier–athlete of the Philippine Navy and wrestled in the 1968 and 1972 Olympics. It turned out that his uncle had been looking for him since the former heard of his arrival in the big city. Mr. Famatid, who was also then coach of the International School–Makati wrestling club, picked the young man as his personal assistant.

As personal assistant to the wrestling coach, Jerry assumed the roles of bagboy, water boy, and most significantly, sparring partner to the mostly American high school wrestlers. Early on he showed potential in the sport, beating the best wrestler in the team who also happened to be a flyweight (48 kilograms) in just three months.

In August of 1982, Jerry tried out for the Philippine team that would see action in that year’s Asian Games in India. Although he did not bag the flyweight slot, he remarkably placed fourth among twelve aspirants, in spite of his being a novice with barely a year of continuous training. Encouraged by his auspicious debut, he strongly resolved to train harder and be the best wrestler he can be and someday proudly represent the country in the Olympics—just like his uncle. On August 1983, he finally qualified for the Philippine wrestling team by winning gold in the flyweight class of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Olympics.

The ensuing years saw Jerry successfully defend his title as the country’s top flyweight wrestler consistently. National tournament after tournament he wore the gold medal around his strained neck. Unfortunately, it was wrestling against injustices committed beyond the borders of the wrestling mat that dealt him his severest losses as an athlete.

In the 1988 Seoul Olympics, the Philippines was represented by a wrestler who was beaten by the wrestler beaten by the wrestler beaten by Jerry. Ranked no. 4, the undeserving grappler was favored by the Wrestling Association of the Philippines (WAP) officers over the most logical choice: the nation’s no. 1 flyweight and undeniably then the best pound–for–pound wrestler who was Jerry Faingason. It was no surprise that wrestler no. 4 returned empty handed. (Allegedly, the erstwhile officers dropped Jerry because he was vocal in his opposition to the former's transgressions, i.e. pocketing a huge chunk of the athletes' subsidies, favoritism, and negligence in promoting the sport.)

Frustrated but unbowed, Jerry persevered and continued to own and dominate the flyweight division. Finally, in 1990 he was picked to participate in the annual World Wrestling Championship in Tokyo. He split his matches by winning the first pair and losing the last two. He ended up 11th among more than 40 of the top wrestlers in the world. His feat was recognized as a breakthrough by local sportswriters and rightly so—with Philippine Olympic-style wrestling being underdeveloped by international standards, he was seeded at the bottom of his weight class. He was not even expected to reach the top 20. If his left shoulder was not injured in his penultimate match versus the eventual world champion, he claims he would have had a strong chance of winning his last fight and barging into the top 10.

It was in these top–level international competitions that Jerry realized how far ahead the other countries were (and still are) in the development of his chosen sport. He rues that he would have developed into a far better athlete had he been rightfully provided foreign exposure and training in the early years of his career–were it not for financial constraints and excessive politicking in Philippine sports.

He shared this conversation that transpired before the competition proper began in the 1991 World Championship in Hungary:

Mongolian wrestler: “How many did you beat in the Philippines for you to qualify here?”

Jerry Faingason: “Four.”

Mongolian wrestler: “Huh!? In Mongolia, I beat 42!”

Jerry wrestled for the Philippine team until 1998. He retired at age 35 an undefeated flyweight in the nationals for 15 years. Along the way, he won gold in the 1993 ASEAN–Oceania Cup, a bronze in the 1995 Asia–Oceania Open, and a silver each in the 1997 SEA Games and SEA Wrestling Championship during his last year of international competition. A year later, he hung up his wrestling shoes and finally bid his Olympic dream goodbye–a dream that he had a chance to achieve in 1988 when he was at the peak of his athletic prowess but bypassed by the sport’s powers that be.

In May of 2009 the new officers of WAP appointed Jerry Faingason as the head coach of the Philippine wrestling team–a position many in the association felt was long overdue. In the 24th SEA Games in Laos, December of last year, he led the Philippine wrestling team to a three gold, two silver and four bronze medal finish. It was a vast improvement to its previous performance when it did not win a single gold in the biennial games.

Jerry Faingason has revived his Olympic dream–this time as head coach–and works hard to train and inspire the new generation of national wrestlers to someday win a sweet historic first for the Filipino people.