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Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone downs Yancy Medeiros in the opening round

AMERICAN welterweight fighter Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone trumpeted his return to winning in a grand way, making short work of opponent Yancy Medeiros via a technical knockout in the opening round of their headliner at “UFC Fight Night 126” yesterday in Austin, Texas.

Lost in his previous three fights in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) entering the match, Mr. Cerrone (33-10) halted his longest career losing streak by stepping up and taking the challenge by Mr. Medeiros (15-5) head-on in a competitive, albeit short, fight held at Frank Erwin Center.

The protagonists immediately got it going in the opening round, trading solid blows and kicks to the body.

Mr. Cerrone though would find an opening as the round reached the windup.

After breaking from a tie-up with a minute left, Mr. Cerrone caught his opponent with a big right hand.

He got Mr. Medeiros once again moments later which proved to be the start of the end as the latter dropped to the canvas and received more punches from Mr. Cerrone before referee Herb Dean stopped the fight with 4:58 left in the round.

The win was the first for Mr. Cerrone since December 2016 while Mr. Medeiros saw his three-fight winning streak come to an end.

“A finish was what I and Yancy were going for. And I did just that,” said Mr. Cerrone after the fight.

Meanwhile in the co-main event, heavyweight Derrick “The Black Beast” Lewis knocked out Marcin “Tybur” Tybura in the third round to get back on the winning track as well.

Mr. Lewis (19-5) was all over Mr. Tybura (16-4) in the third round, connecting with telling blows that eventually took a toll on the latter.

A crisp combination by Mr. Lewis sent Mr. Tybura down the mat one last time, and seconds later the referee stopped the contest.

“That is the way I fight, That is the way I do things,” said Mr. Lewis after, referring to the power he showed to finish off things.

In other fights at UFC Fight Night 126: Cowboy vs. Medeiros, lightweight James Vick beat Francisco Trinaldo by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28 and 29-28), welterweight Curtis Millender defeated Thiago Alves by knockout (knee) in the second round, featherweight Brandon Davis downed Steven Peterson by UD (30-27, 29-28 and 30-26), and lightweight Sage Northcutt beat Thibault Gouti by UD (29-28, 29-28 and 29-28).

In the Philippines, Cignal TV, the country’s foremost direct-to-home (DTH) company, is the home of the UFC after the two groups agreed to an extensive deal that will see the UFC beamed on various platforms. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Shazwan and Barredo ready to defend Prima Pasta Open titles

MALAYSIAN Shahrul Shazwan and national player Sarah Jane Barredo will defend their respective singles open crowns starting this week in the 11th Prima Badminton Championships at the Powersmash Badminton Court in Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City.

Shazwan, the last year’s men’s open singles winner, will return and prepare for the longest and most prestigious badminton tournament in the country sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association and affiliated with the Philippine National Ranking System.

But Shazwan will be facing a daunting task in defending his title this year as 2016 Prima Pasta open singles champion Michael Kevin Cudiamat, R-Jay Baquiran Ormilla, national players Ross Leenard Pedrosa, Lanz Zafra and Arthur Salvado, among others, are going to challenge him for the title.

“I’m no longer part of the national team so my goal in this tournament is to get even with the Malaysian (Shazwan) if ever I will face him because he beat me last year. I’m also willing to prove myself that I can still play,” said Cudiamat.

Last year, Shazwan beat Ormilla in the men’s singles open finals while Barredo outplayed fellow national player Airah Mae Nicole Albo also in the women’s open singles championship of the annual tournament organized by Prima Pasta Chairman Alex Lim.

Crowdsourced travel

IT USES a crowdsourced itinerary — that’s the main idea behind AXN Philippines’ newest travel show, Adventure Your Way, which started airing on Feb. 8 on the Sony Network channel.

Hosted by Atom Araullo, every week the show poses two Philippine destinations on its dedicated Facebook page and asks visitors to vote on which experience Mr. Araullo will do.

On a post dated Feb. 12, the show put “Torpedo Boating” up against “Inter-island Ziplining” in Samar and asked fans which activity would appeal to them more. A casual inspection of the comments showed “Torpedo Boating” to be the more popular choice.

“I think it comes with the times as well, we felt that it was a good opportunity for us to combine the TV platform as well as the online platform,” Armi Malaluan, director and business head for Sony Pictures Television Philippines, told BusinessWorld during the show’s launch on Feb. 1 at Cities Events Place in Quezon City.

In its pilot episode, which aired on Feb. 8, Mr. Araullo was taken to Cebu where he went skydiving for the first time as well as trekking to the less well-known Tinubdan falls. On the second episode, Mr. Araullo went to Sagada to visit the Blue Soil hills. The activities were suggested by the show’s viewers

“The crowdsourcing helps a lot because it gives suggestions wherein there are adventures that are not even in our options… [because of this] it’s more exciting than what we used to do,” Ms. Malaluan explained.

She described the 30-minute show as “spontaneous” and “actually engages the audience.”

“It’s not like a full-scripted production show,” she said.

Aside from airing every Thursday at 8:30 p.m., Adventure Your Way also uploads its videos on its Facebook and YouTube pages.

“Now, on a local production we are encouraging viewers to be more engaged. We can’t just say ‘we’re TV so we’ll stick to TV’ — we also want to attract the younger audience by being on social media,” Ms. Malaluan said, adding that more of the network’s productions will be utilizing social media more and more.

Adventure your Way airs every Thursday, 8:30 p.m., on AXN. AXN is available on Cablelink ch. 38, Cignal ch. 121, Destiny Cable ch. 49, Dream Satellite TV ch. 20, G Sat ch. 51 and SkyCable ch. 49 (HD is on 247). — Zsarlene B. Chua

Muntinlupa eyes first home win, but faces acid test vs pacesetter Quezon City

LEAGUE-LEADING Quezon City tries to pick up another win on the road when it takes on home team Muntinlupa tonight in the main game of the MPBL-Anta Rajah Cup.

Expect a full house crowd at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex as the Angelis Resort-backed Cagers try to finally win at home and sustain the momentum of their three game winning streak against the formidable Capitals supported by Royal Manila.

The Cagers were denied of a home victory in their first game of the season, losing to a crack Navotas Clutch-Big J Sports side, but coach Aldrin Morante and his troops had since then gathered together to pick up three consecutive wins and climb into a share of third to fourth spots with the Valenzuela Classic-Yulz.

This makes Muntinlupa a dangerous foe, according to Quezon City coach Vis Valencia, whose wards also came from a huge win on the road against the Parañaque Patriots last time around.

“It was a huge test for us, winning on the road last time. There are still a lot of lessons to be learned in the game,” added Mr. Valencia. “We’re playing another road game against a different Muntinlupa team. They’ve been playing well the past few games, different from the one we’ve seen since they lost their first game.”

In their last game against the Parañaque Patriots, the visiting Capitals were able to snatch a win, Mr. Valencia and his troops are hoping to duplicate the feat of notching another victory on the road to be able to move up to solo lead.

Winless teams Bataan and Imus collide in the first game at 7 p.m. as either one of them will finally break into the win column after five games.

But which between the Bai-Shipping bankrolled-Defenders and the GLC Truck and Equipment-supported Bandera can finally snap a four-game skid will be determined by the kind of energy these teams will show.

Gary David, the former multiple PBA scoring champion, had produced his least output in the tournament last time around, scoring only 10 points, yet the Defenders were able to push the Caloocan Supremos-Longrich to the limit. — Rey Joble

Minireview: Adventure Your Way

WHILE Adventure Your Way — a travel show which is based on the premise that its itinerary is crowdsourced — promised to be more spontaneous, the first episode (which the media previewed during the show’s launch) felt as if the numerous sponsorships detracted from the overall feel of an unplanned trip.

Some of Mr. Araullo’s expressions felt real — the way he sarcastically told his child guide to Tinubdan Falls in Cebu province that the trek was easy and fast, and the way he was scared out of his wits while skydiving — but the product placements every few minutes detracted from the experience.

“The program is co-presented by Vivo Smart Phone, BDO and Cherifer; and co-sponsored by Petron, Chevrolet and Cebu Pacific,” said a press release. — ZBC

Ski federation lauds first-time Olympian Asa Miller

CONSIDERING he was up against more seasoned athletes in the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, the Philippine Ski Federation lauded the performance of first-time Olympian Asa Miller.

While the 17-year-old Miller did not finish on the podium, still to see him handle the pressure of the competition and complete both runs in the giant slalom event on Sunday was in itself an achievement and something to build on moving forward, the federation said.

“In his first run he had a little bit of a problem but recovered and did extremely well in his second run as he ran five seconds better. He was ranked 104th [entering the event] but came out 70th,” said Jim Apelar, president of the Philippine Ski Federation, in a text message to BusinessWorld following Miller’s Olympic debut.

“Asa is just 17 years old and those in the top are in their mid-30s and have plenty of experience,” added Mr. Apelar even as he underscored the tremendous upside of the Filipino-American Alpine skier.

Portland, Oregon, resident Miller, who traces his Filipino roots to Manila, finished his first and second run in the giant slalom event with a combined time of 2:49.95, good for 70th place out of 110 competitors.

Miller struggled early in his first run, held at the Yongpyong Alpine Centre, to finish with a time of 1:27.52 but improved on it in his second run, clocking in with a time of 1:22.43.

Marcel Hirscher (2:18.04) of Austria took the gold in the giant slalom with Henrik Kristoffersen (2:19.31) of Norway coming in at second and Alexis Pinturault (2:19.35) of France at third.

Competed in last year’s Junior World Championships in Sweden, teen Miller used the Olympic Games to further carve his niche as an Alpine skier.

“I am very proud to represent our country, and am happy to finish my race! I’m very thankful for all the support! I hope that my actions act as an inspiration for others to achieve their dreams. Mabuhay!” said Miller in a post on the Philippine Ski Federation’s Facebook page.

Moving forward, the Philippine Ski Federation said it will continue to put in the needed work to advance the country’s snow sports program for future events, including the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

“Our snow sports program has no way [to go] but up. We look forward to an exciting next Winter Games as our young teenagers/athletes try to compete and make it to Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games. This time we are shooting to have four to five new athletes ready to compete in various disciplines and events,” said the federation. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Proptech, and soon AI, to change house hunting

By Mark Louis F. Ferrolino
Special Features Writer

PROPERTY TECHNOLOGY is changing the face of the local real estate business today, offering boundless opportunities for both industry players and property seekers.

From the traditional way of on-site ocular visits, property hunting in the country is now mostly done online. Online property portal Lamudi Philippines, for instance, received 15 million user visits in 2017, clocking in a total of 2.7 million hours spent searching for properties online.

“More developers, brokers, and owners are now breaking the brick and mortar barrier to cross over to the click-and-discover business environment,” Lamudi Philippines Chief Executive Officer Bhavna Suresh said in a recent media briefing.

Lamudi has seen close to five times growth in its online traffic since 2014. This indicates that Filipinos are now accepting property technology as a tool in helping them make a major purchase decision.

In the years to come, property technology or proptech — which includes software, hardware and all kinds of innovation used to optimize the workflow processes of and address the market problems of the real estate industry — is anticipated to continuously fuel the local property sector.

Information from online-based portals will enable Filipino property seekers better understand the market and gather more consumer insights through big data. Ms. Suresh said data will become the most important source of knowledge in the real estate sector and it’s hard to question the value of it.

“These information — from unit types, sizes, and price ranges — can be used by developers and property owners to understand actual market insights and offer products that cater to the demands of the market,” Ms. Suresh said.

On the other hand, with the steady growth of digital native Filipino millennials getting into active economic participation and aggressive Internet penetration, Lamudi sees more property searches and transactions going online.

Ms. Suresh thinks that millennials — mostly composed of young workers — are more financially sensitive. “A lot of them want to invest, a lot of them want to make smart decisions, and a lot of them are very eager to educate themselves. That’s why a lot of information available online is catering to this segment,” she added.

In line with the government’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program, Lamudi anticipates more demand for both residential and commercial properties. In this case, more properties will likely be advertised online, giving property seekers more reasons to utilize online-based portals.

Lamudi also says demand will likely get support from buoyant construction activity.

“It doesn’t need to be in certain markets anymore. People are not going to struggle to live closer to work but they will segment out. And that’s where technology will help… it helps you search better,” Ms. Suresh said.

In 2017, Quezon City properties account for the most number of listings online at 18% of the total.

Makati trails Quezon City in terms of share to total listings, at 12%; Parañaque and Pasig both at 8% each; and Taguig, Manila, and Davao at 7% each.

Quezon City also hosts most of the online property buyers in Lamudi, accounting for over 15% of the total views on the platform, followed by Makati at 10%. Property searchers from established cities outside Metro Manila have started to grow in the past three years.

To keep in touch with buyers who want to get immediate responses online, the real estate sector can tap the potential of artificial intelligence, Ms. Suresh said.

“Buyers want [developers and brokers] to get back to them in seconds, otherwise you lose them. That’s where AI (where there are bots talking and keeping the initial conversation going before the initial human interaction) comes when it comes to real estate,” Ms. Suresh said.

“I think AI is still far-off. It’s not going to completely change the way business is done but it will definitely become part of conversations,” she added.

Blockbuster Black Panther may be game changer for US minority artists

THE EPIC box-office debut of Black Panther, the first Marvel superhero movie with an African-American in the title role, will force Hollywood to reassess the work it gives black actors and filmmakers and lead to better roles for minorities and women.

The movie from Walt Disney Co.’s superhero factory opened with estimated weekend sales of $192 million, ComScore, Inc. said Sunday in an e-mail, setting a record for a February opening and likely becoming the biggest movie ever starring a largely black cast. It’s the fifth-biggest open ever in the domestic market and second-biggest for Marvel.

Success breeds success in Hollywood, and the money Black Panther rakes in will almost certainly open the door to more action films with black casts and filmmakers. While Disney hasn’t announced a sequel, one seems likely.

“It is a precedent-setting movie that we hope will create more,” John Fithian, chief executive officer of the National Association of Theater Owners, told Bloomberg TV on Friday. “We really look forward to the day when these aren’t anomalies.”

Disney will follow next month with A Wrinkle in Time, a young adult film with a large, diverse cast from African-American director Ava DuVernay, the first woman of color to direct a movie with a budget of $100 million.

Black Panther was also the biggest movie globally over the weekend, taking in $361 million, according to a statement from the studio. It opened in about 70% of the international territories that are slated to show the film, but won’t debut in China, the world’s second biggest market, until March 9.

“If you can have something that authentically is a showcase of the diversity of the world, people will respond favorably to it,” Dave Hollis, president of global distribution at Disney, said in an interview.

The biggest film of the year was Maze Runner: The Death Cure with $259.2 million in worldwide sales, according to Box Office Mojo.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, joined by some studios and guilds, has been pressing for more diversity in Hollywood. If there is a sequel to Black Panther, Marvel chief Kevin Feige said in an interview with Variety that he hoped African-American director Ryan Coogler will return.

Disney first announced plans for a Black Panther movie in 2014. The film has received rave reviews, scoring 100% positive ratings from top critics, according to aggregator RottenTomatoes.com. It cost $200 million to make, not including marketing expenses, according to the studio.

Black Panther tells the story of T’Challa, played by Chadwick Boseman, who fights for control of the kingdom of Wakanda after the death of his father. A Wakandan raised in America, Erik Killmonger, played by Michael B. Jordan, threatens to overthrow him and seize control over the fictional African nation’s stores of vibranium — a powerful resource that can be fused into clothing and body tissue for super-strength.

The movie “has taken on a life of its own at movie theaters, playing to huge, broad audiences in AMC markets around the country,” Elizabeth Frank, chief content officer at AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc., said Sunday in an e-mail. AMC, the biggest US distributor, is adding more showtimes for the film, she said.

With the Monday President’s Day observance, Black Panther has another full day to advance its run. The film is showing in 4,020 locations in the US, many of them multiplexes. The screenings include 3,300 theaters with 3-D, 403 with Imax screens and 665 so-called premium large format screens.

For the extended weekend, Disney raised its sales forecast Saturday to as much as $210 million after boosting the estimate a day earlier to $198 million. Box Office Pro was forecasting revenue of $205 million, while Box Office Mojo predicted $212 million.

The previous sales record for an opening three-day weekend in a February was $132.4 million for Deadpool, a Marvel superhero movie released in 2016 by 21st Century Fox, according to Box Office Mojo. — Bloomberg

What ancient feng shui says about arranging a space

THE Chinese zodiac has switched into the Year of the Dog — it’s that time of the year in ancient Chinese when believers of feng shui rearrange spaces to maximize harmony and attract good luck.

Riding that wave of traditional interest in feng shui, Federal Land, in a statement issued over the weekend, has some advice on feng shui which literally means “wind-water”:

Mind the site. For Feng Shui practitioners, one of the most auspicious sites for a residential building is within the belly of the dragon, a place that’s higher than plains but below strong winds, striking a balance between wind and water. Symbolically, the belly is considered the center of the dragon — a place of sustenance and nourishment. People living in the area are in the good position to prosper, accumulate wealth and attract luck.

Check the unit. A unit located in the higher floors is greatly associated with good fortune because you get a lighter energy when there are fewer condo units encumbering your space. Also, natural light is more available in top floors, bringing more positive energy. Ideally, go for units that are shaped regularly and evoke balance. Hallways and elevators should be wide enough and obstruction-free as they are considered an internal gateway of energy.

Feel the flow. Feng Shui stresses the importance of organizing spaces so that positive energy flows and circulates. Space should be properly divided but sans barriers that restrict the stream of energy. Open, uncluttered areas are endorsed because cramped corners trap stagnant energy which begets negativity and malaise as it prevents life to flow freely.

Self-defense for women at TACS Expo Manila

WOMEN who want to step up their self-defense game and be ready for any distressing situations may want to check out and take part in the “Modern Combative Solutions” seminar, which is part of the Tactical, Survival and Arms (TACS) Expo happening from Feb. 22 to 25 at the SMX Convention Center AURA, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

To be handled by Erika Fernandez of Kalis Ilustrisimo, the seminar aims to equip women with the right knowledge of self-defense that they can use to protect themselves from various forms of abuse.

They intend to do it by teaching techniques, through different martial arts, to combat rape, abduction and being held up at gunpoint or knife-point, among other situations.

“Self-defense is one of the things TACS stands for. I think people should be prepared, especially women. Often times when you talk about self-defense, firearms and ammunitions women are forgotten because it has been a male-dominated sector or point of conversation. And it is about time that women take more responsibility for their protection through martial arts or shooting sports,” said Martin Tuason, president and CEO of ARMSCOR Global Defense, Inc., prime sponsor of TACS Expo, as he highlighted the dimension that the seminar on self-defense for women brings to the upcoming expo.

Other highlights of TACS Expo, now on its second year of staging, are the showcase of traditional weapons, survival gear, and preparedness stuff as well as firearms and accessories from various manufacturers, inventors, builders, initiators, proponents, distributors, and dealers.

The TACS Expo, proponents said, is geared towards making people aware of the significance of being ready across all forms and eventualities as well as promote the firearms and weapons industry in the country.

Admission to the TACS Expo is free with online or on-site pre-registration. For more information on the event, check out its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TACSandArmsExpo/. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

LBC will kick-start Ronda Pilipinas 2018 in Vigan, Ilocos Sur on March 3

GEORGE OCONER of Go for Gold guns for his very first Ronda Pilipinas title when the 2018 edition presented by LBC unfurls in Vigan, Ilocos Sur on March 3.

Back after missing last year’s race to focus on the national team’s Southeast Asian Games preparation, the 26-year-old Oconer will be one of the favorites to win it all the country’s biggest cycling race staking P1 million.

“I’m happy to be competing again in Ronda and I’m focused on winning it this year,” said Oconer, whose best came in 2015 when he wound up second to eventual champion Santy Barnachea, in Filipino.

Oconer is seeking to join an elite company composed of former winners Morales (2015, 2016), Barnachea of Team Franzia (2011, 2015), Irish Valenzuela of CCN Superteam (2012), Mark Galedo (2013) and Reimon Lapaza (2014).

Oconer, whose father is two-time Olympian Norberto, said he will bring in a fearsome team capable of challenging a heavily favored Navy Standard Insurance in this race presented by LBC and supported by MVP Sports Foundation, CCN, Petron, Versa.ph, 3Q Sports Event Management, Inc., Boy Kanin, Franzia, Standard Insurance, Bike Xtreme, SH+, Guerciotti, Prolite, Green Planet, Maynilad, NLEX Cycling, Lightwater, LBC Foundation and PhilCycling.

Boots Ryan Cayubit, John Renee Mier, Jerry Aquino, Jr., Elmer Navarro, Orlie Villanueva, Arjay Arbastro and daredevil Jonel Carcueva.

Carcueva, a 22-year-old native of Minganilla, Cebu who debuted by finishing 12th overall in last year’s race, showed flashes of brilliance by finishing second to Navy’s Junrey Navarra in the second of two-leg qualifying race in Mandaue City, Cebu late last year.

“He’s talented, strong and fearless, he will be a big part of our campaign,” said Oconer of Carcueva.

A cool P1 million will be at stake in this 12-stage race that will be jump-started by the 40-kilometer Vigan criterium Stage One on March 3 and the 155.4-km. Vigan-Pagudpud Stage Two the next day.

PHL office market to grow by 40% in next 6 years — Leechiu

By Arra B. Francia, Reporter

THE Philippine office market is seen to grow by 40% in the next six years, driven by the continued expansion of information technology-business process management (IT-BPM) companies in the country, according to a real estate service firm.

Data released by Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC) showed that 4.5 million square meters (sq.m.) of office spaces are in the pipeline from 2018 to 2023. Of this, 71% or 3.2 million sq.m. are being built in Metro Manila, while 29% or 1.3 million sq.m. are in provincial areas.

This will be added to the current supply of 11.5 million sq.m. across the country, 86% of which are in Metro Manila and 14% in the provinces.

“BPM players already invested in the Philippines will continue to dominate the Metro Manila office sector… In the meantime, they are also expanding to provincial locations such as Clark in Pampanga, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, and notably, Cebu City,” LPC Chief Executive Officer David Leechiu said.

The country’s largest property developers will be delivering the bulk of the office supply in the next five years, with Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) contributing 21% of 667,000 sq.m. in the pipeline, followed by SM Development Corp. with 15% or 480,000 sq.m.

Filinvest Land, Inc. (FLI), Megaworld Corp., and Robinsons Land Corp. will account for 11%, 7%, and 5% of the upcoming office supply, respectively.

Other property developers set to expand during this period include DoubleDragon Properties, Corp., Century Properties Group, Aseana Holdings, Inc., and Eton Properties Corp.

Meanwhile, FLI will account for the biggest chunk of office supply in the provinces, with 204,000 sq.m. to be delivered from 2018 to 2023, while ALI will contribute 9% or 117,000 sq.m. to the supply.

Cebu remains to be the top option for IT-BPM firms expanding outside Metro Manila, cornering 451,000 sq.m. of the total supply in the provinces.

“The efforts of the national government to fund infrastructure projects positively impact cities in nearby Metro Manila such as Cavite, Laguna, and Pampanga as these cities become more accessible,” LPC said.

In Metro Manila alone, at least one million sq.m. of office spaces are expected to go online this year, versus a projected take-up of 937,000 sq.m. With 415,000 sq.m. already pre-committed since the start of January, Mr. Leechiu noted this projected take-up is achievable.

The 2018 projection tops the actual take-up of office spaces seen in 2017, which was recorded at 775,000 sq.m., according to LPC. Of this, the IT-BPM industry accounted for 46% of total space, while online gaming firms took up 30%.

Mr. Leechiu noted online gaming firms as stable tenants as long as the Philippine government maintains good relations with China.

Metro Manila’s office supply currently stands at 9.92 million square meters. The vacancy rate stands at 5.44% or 539,781 sq.m., which LPC noted is still healthy for the market.

Most of these vacancies are across the Quezon City, Ortigas, Pasig, and Mandaluyong districts. This translates to an average vacant space of 3,969 sq.m. per building in 136 buildings.