When martial artists from all over the world cross paths In Manila, MMA fans can only expect bombs, blood, and an absolute war! Guam-based MMA promotion Pacific Xtreme Combat delivered just that when their nine-fight offering blew the roof off the Ynares Sports Arena in PXC 29, the fourth event held in the Philippines by the promotion.   When In Manila was invited to the event care of PXC head honcho Joey Calvo. As [...]

  When in Manila and a die-hard pro wrestling fan, chances are you can only get your fix through watching wrestling on TV or on YouTube (if you hate the commercials and fast forward through the women’s wrestling matches).   Manila has not had a chance to witness a live wrestling event since 2009 but that will change when WWFX, or the World Wrestling Fan Xperience: Champion Showcase Tour 2012, hits our shores this weekend. [...]

adidas launches the adiZero Rose 2.5 Written by Kenny Ansis   When in Manila and looking for your next pair of kicks, check out the adidas adizero Rose 2.5, the fourth installment of Derrick Rose’s signature shoe. Weighing only 11 ounces, the adizero Rose 2.5 has upgraded most of its features to provide D-Rose his need for speed and maneuverability.         The adizero Rose 2.5 features a top down Google Earth view [...]

    When In Manila and passing time people-watching, one could easily spot a kuya or manong wearing a rough imitation of a Tapout or Affliction shirt. For some reason, imitations of these rather costly MMA brands have become fashionable among the masses. Go to Shoppesville in Greenhills and you’d be amazed at how better-looking their Affliction, Silver Star, Bad Boy, and Form Athletics “Class A” imitations are compared to the originals! Such is the crux [...]

  When in Manila and looking for blood, the Universal Reality Combat Championship made sure there was a lot of it in the 10-fight inaugural Tribal Brawl held at SM North Edsa Sky Dome. Even with protective head gears on, fighters were bleeding from their orifices in almost all bouts. Only two fights went the distance, but even those had the audience shouting “DAAAAMN!” throughout the matches!       For starters, these girls made sure [...]

  When in Manila and loving free events, fight fans will be spoiled by the Universal Reality Combat Championship this December and the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation of the Philippines January of next year.   First of, the final round of the URCC Tribal Brawl will be held on December 17, 2011, 5 PM, at SM North Edsa Sky Dome. The best amateur fighters from the country will test their mettle against each other one [...]

  When in Manila and you’re acquainted with the local mixed martial arts scene, Alvin Aguilar and Willy Carlos are two of the most recognized personalities outside the square ring. They are the Dana White and Joe Silva of the country’s top MMA promotion, the Universal Reality Combat Championship. I sat down and chatted with them about the year that was, the year to come, URCC’s tie-ups with Singapore-based OneFC and potentially The Ultimate Fighter [...]

    When In Manila, you can always rely on Boardwalk Business Ventures, Inc. to offer opportunities for our country to become a better place.     Last weekend, the ABS-CBN Foundation, Boardwalk, and other sponsors spearheaded an event dubbed as “A Run For The Pasig River.” This advocacy run aims to encourage Filipinos in taking their part to restore Pasig River’s former beauty and to keep it safe and clean. It also aims to spark awareness to [...]

  When in Manila and painting the town red, do yourself (and society) a favor and NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE. Such is the slogan of the Johnnie Walker Join the Pact campaign of which is the brand’s global commitment to promote the safe and responsible consumption of its products. Last November 5, 100 lucky individuals were blessed with gold passes which granted them access to Johnnie Walker’s Step Inside the Circuit party held at Prive Luxury [...]

  When In Manila, you’ll hear nothing but the sound of silence on the streets only about once or twice a year. No busy city traffic, no jeepneys honking their horns, no cops blowing their whistles and no lost souls wandering the alleys. The streets turn EMPTY whenever a Manny Pacquiao fight is on!   This time, it was the third time that Manny Pacquiao would go against Juan Manuel Marquez to finally silence the [...]

    WhenInManila join the Manny Mania! Manny Pacquiao : Yet Another Controversial WIN against  Juan Gabriel Marquez          In the Record  12 world Championship Rounds MannPacquiao y beat his ace Challenger  Juan Marquez! 3 Judge Jury in Nevada Las Vegas favored Manny, the Filipino Welterweight champion, against Juan Gabriel Marquez!         It was like Battle cats entering the ring to settle it once n for all…..   A [...]

    When in Manila on December 3, make sure you’re one of the lucky fans screaming their heads off in Rizal Stadium as our very own Philippine Azkals will be going up against the L.A. Galaxy. As if that wasn’t good enough, it is confirmed that THE DAVID BECKHAM will be competing in the game as well.   Click here for the video of Beckham’s message to us wonderful Filipinos.   Tickets for the [...]

    When in Manila and in search of something cool that you and your friends can do, head on over to Gandiva Cafe and Archery Range for an experience that you’ll surely not forget!    “Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow. Historically it has been used for hunting and combat. Nowadays it has evolved as a sport. Gandiva promotes and advocates sports through archery. [...]

  Freedom is an endowment that Filipinos sometimes neglect. It is more often associated to independence, as in from colonizers in 1896 and from dictatorship in 1986. Now that the Philippines is sovereign with a democratic political system, is the country really free? What is true freedom?   On 27 November 2011, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty (FNF), together with the National College for Public Administration and Governance, and APEX are organizing a Freedom [...]

  When in Manila, I was going through the news when I came upon an article stating that David Beckham would be coming to Manila. I died! Well, obviously not literally, but you get my point. DAVID BECKHAM?! In Manila?! God loves me!!    According to the article, Azkals team coordinator Ace Bright made the announcement on his twitter account last Saturday night: ”LA Galaxy and Azkals, dec 4 rizal stadium :)”    Apparently, LA Galaxy (Beckham’s current soccer/football team) [...]

  When in Manila, 21-year old professional figure skater Melissa Bulanhagui is set to join the roster of athletes who will represent Team Philippines at the Olympics.Bulanhagui is formerly part of Team USA and she has earned medals for them, including a bronze at the 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy in Germany. But she felt now’s the time to focus on giving back to Philippines. 

    When in Manila, amazing things happen every day: stars are born, millions are made (and lost), and people defy gravity.  I got to see this for myself, watching the jaw-dropping, eye-popping, and even heartwrenching performance of Polecats Manila, the Philippines’ premiere pole-dancing group, at PhilAm Life Auditorium.  Infusing pole-dance moves with jazz, ballet, gymnastics, and maybe just a pinch of superhumanity, the Polecats wowed the crowd at Polarity: The Polecats Manila Second Year Anniversary Show. [...]

  When In Manila, are you ready to see a 20-piece orchestra alongside ten performers spinning, flipping and inverting on a pole?   Polarity– The Polecats Manila 2nd anniversary show On October 16, 2011, 7pm at Philamlife Theater, UN Avenue, Manila.   Watch the PoleCats Manila live alongside the Manila Symphony Orchestra!   The premier pole dancing group in the country presents a show that’s never been done before! Polecats Manila performs all-original choreography to [...]

  When in Manila, you’ll find that basketball is an all time favorite sport for most people. It’s an intricate part of our culture and our lives! So it was with great pleasure that I’m able to step forth into this “rite of passage” of watching my first live basketball game, at the same time that a new team was making their Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) debut! Here’s the story of my very first live [...]

When in Manila, here’s something for the UAAP fanatics: The UAAP Board has decided to postpone Game 2 of the highly-anticipated UAAP Seniors Men’s Basketball Finals Series to October 1, Saturday 3PM at the Araneta Coliseum.