Jacobs wins anew Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Philippines

by Lizel S. Macatangay

CADLAN, Pili, Camarines Sur, Aug. 15 (PIA) -- Sheer determination coupled with luck listed Pete Jacobs anew as this year’s winner Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Philippines triathlon registering a winning time of 3:51:43.

The feat is Jacob’s second consecutive winning following last year’s competition as he had already smelled victory even before the race ended, consistently maintaining his lead in the swim and bike race and eventually in the running event.

Belinda Granger, an experienced Ironman Distance champion, grabbed the top plum under the women category with a winning time of 4:26:23, beating last year’s winner, Amanda Stevens who clocked 4:28:34 during the race.

In 2008, Granger won three Ironman titles when he participated in the said event in Malaysia , China and Canada . But her feat in Ironman Distance race in Germany has earned her a lot of recognition when she busted the nine-hour mark 4th place finish in the said Ironman race.

While almost dominated by foreign athletes, Arland Macasieb raced the Philippine flag when he made it under the Filipino Elite Category beating the clock at 4:26:31. Macasieb , like other participating contestants, took the rain shower as a blessing, giving them a cooling effect that proved to be advantageous , specifically under the biking and running category.

The race this year became even more significant since this will serve as a qualifier for the Ironman World Championship which is set to be staged in Kailua-Kona in Hawaii and Ironman World Championships 70.3 in Las Vegas , Nevada this year.

Top 30 triathletes in their age group categories will have a sure place in the said international competition.

Meanwhile, equally athletic kids also showed their determination and youthful advantage when they competed under the Alaska IronKids Philippines received all but praises and admiration after completing the races held at the Camarines Sur Water Sports Complex (CWC) here Saturday (Aug. 13).

Tara Borlain of Pasig City wowed the crowd after emerging as winner under the 6-8 years old girls category. Everly Janarie Macalalad of Muntinlupa City and Angelina Powell, grabbed the second and third posts respectively.

Boys contenders under same age group, was dominated by Juan Francisco Banigued of Lagua. Eric Almendral and Nathan Skylour Vincent Manalo, both representing Cavite landed 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Other winners were : Nicole Danielle Eiijan Santos, First; Samantha Borlain of Pasig City , 2nd; and Jesila Mari Faustine de Juras of Laguna, 3rd under the 9-10 years old Girs Division Category. Boys Division Category with the same age group: 1st- Nathan Nalo from Mabalacat, Pampanga, 2nd- Craig Joshua UY and 3rd – Juan Manolo Barrera. Other races participated by the Iron Kids are age group categories 11-12, and 13-14.

Camarines Sur has recorded another historical mark in one of the fastest growing triathlon series in the globe promoting among others, the sport’s values of will, discipline, determination, endurance and perseverance, (MAL/LSM, PIA Camarines Sur)

PNP campaign against loose firearms nets 171 firearms, 100 persons arrested

by Aida Alcazar-Naz

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 15 (PIA) -- For the first semester of this year, the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Bicol recoup 171 loose firearms, and arrested 100 individuals 63 of whom are facing cases in courts.

The number of firearms retrieved is 65 less than last year’s first year accomplishment. The discrepancy, according to PNP Bicol Regional Director Cecilio Calleja, Jr., was attributed to 2010 as an election year. Last year, Masbate had the highest number of seized firearms at 118 but for same period this year, the firearms captured was 69 or a variance of 49.

For 2011 and 2010, Masbate registered the highest number of seized loose firearms, followed by Camarines Sur with 33 in 2011 and 50 in 2010 and Albay with 22 firearms seized for each year.

PNP report showed a decline of captured firearms for 2011 except for Catanduanes which reported 1 loose firearm confiscated in 2010 as against 9 this year. Camarines Norte has a variance of 2 since captured firearms in 2010 were 13 with 11 this year. Sorsogon’s variance is 17 from 26 in 2010 to 9 this year.

For 2011, there were 137 or 80 percent low powered firearms seized and the remaining 20 percent are high powered firearms.

Presidential Decree No. 1866 as amended classified firearm “as high-powered firearm which includes those with bores bigger in diameter that .38 caliber and 9 millimeter such as caliber 40, 41,44, 45 and also lesser calibered firearms but considered powerful such as caliber 357 and caliber .22 center fire magnum and other firearms with firing capability of full automatic and by burst of two or three”.

The same law stated that “low-powered firearm such as rim fire handgun, 380 or 32 and other firearms of similar firepower”.

Still under the police law enforcement directive, the police in Bicol was able to recover 35 motor vehicles in its effort to curb carnapping with Albay provincial police office able to recoup 12, Camarines Sur 10, Regional Highway patrol Group 6, Sorsogon 4, Camarines Norte 2, and Masbate 1.

The police too, after conducting 522 operations for the first six months neutralized 93 watch listed persons. (MAL/AAN, PIA V)


Training on coco-flavored food production highlights Coconut Week fest

by Rosalita Base-Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte, Aug. 15 (PIA) -- A training on coconut food products particularly coco sugar and coco-based ice-cream making in Labo town will be conducted for all interested small entrepreneurs in the province slated on August 17 in connection with the Coconut Week celebration on August 16-19, 2011 here.

The training is a joint project of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and the local government units of Labo and will be attended by farmers, small entrepreneurs and women’s organizations in the province.

There will be an opening program on August 16 to be led by Mayor Dindo V. Pardo with invited guest PCA OIC regional director Eduardo B. Allorde to be followed by a ribbon cutting of booths and displays of different coco by products from the different towns here to be located nearby the municipal building.

PCA division chief Bobbie M. Jacob said that the training will help small entrepreneurs, farmers, women and to others who will participate to have another source of additional income.

The participants will be trained on how to make a coconut sugar and coco-based ice cream from coconut that will not only serve as an additional income but is beneficial to health especially those with diabetics and highblood.

She said that some of the coconut food products will be displayed in the Trade Fair to be held in the SM Mega Mall on August 25-28, 2011.

This year is the 25th National Coconut Week Celebration and the 10th National Coconut Festival with the theme “ Niyog: Yaman ng Nasyon, Noon man hanggang ngayon”. (MAL/RBM, PIA Camarines Norte)