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Gov’t wavering on rice tariffs could weaken farmers’ market position

NFA rice warehouse import
PHILSTAR/MICHAEL VARCAS

ACTION for Economic Reforms (AER), a non-government organization, warned the administration against sending any signals that would call into doubt the future of the Rice Tariffication Law, saying that its repeal will give rice traders even more leverage to depress the price they pay to farmers.

“While the falling prices of palay (unmilled rice) is a growing concern, any policy pronouncements which imply the erosion of the Rice Tariffication Law creates uncertainty over the law’s implementation and is precisely the cause for the lack of stability in palay prices. Rice traders who anticipate a reversal of the law (will be) hoarding rice, depressing farmgate prices to the detriment of Filipino rice farmers,” AER said in a statement.

“Halting implementation would only play into their hands,” it added.

To prevent this from happening, the group said the government should be clear on its intent to implement the law.

“Strong signals must be sent as regards the certainty and consistency of this reform,” it said, adding that the government should not break its commitment to make rice more affordable for all Filipinos, while implementing measures that will improve competitiveness of rice farmers.

“AER calls on the President (Rodrigo R. Duterte) to stay the course in implementing the Rice Tariffication Law. We call on the swift implementation of mitigating measures to address the plight of the Filipino rice farmers,” it said.

The Rice Tariffication Law took effect in March, liberalizing rice imports. The large volumes of cheap foreign rice on the market weakened the bargaining position of farmers against the traders they sell palay to.

According to the Bureau of Customs (BoC), rice imported between March and October totaled 1.87 million metric tons (MT).

The price of palay has also been declining since March. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said that in the fourth week of October, palay prices were at P15.43 per kilo, down 0.4%, week-on-week, and down 24.2%, year-on-year.

On Sunday, GMA News reported that Mr. Duterte has ordered the suspension of rice imports. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo then said on Monday that no order has been officially issued yet.

When asked about the government’s position, Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said at a news conference Tuesday in Quezon City: “I think the Palace has clarified things, so (the policy remains) the same. (We are practicing) free trade… Let’s just be fair in pursuing this free trade, but the government will be doing its best also to help the affected palay farmers.” — Vincent Mariel P. Galang

Agri dep’t targets further P3-billion cash assistance to rice farmers

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it hopes to add another P3 billion to its unconditional cash assistance fund for more rice farmers severely affected by falling palay prices.

“We are looking at another P3 billion for this coming year,” Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said in a news conference Tuesday in Quezon City, adding that this was agreed upon by agencies involved in implementing the Rice Tariffication Law.

This will supplement the initial P3 billion approved by the Cabinet in October to be sourced from rice tariff collections, beyond the P10 billion a year to be allocated to the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), a component of the Rice Tariffication Law.

The initial P3 billion will benefit 600,000 rice farmers deemed most severely affected by the collapse in palay prices. They will each receive P5,000. Guidelines for this distribution are being finalized by the DA.

“The total of P6 billion (for) 2019 and 2020 will be given as unconditional cash assistance and we will zero in this time around on farmers tilling 1.01 hectare up to two hectares,” he said.

“Another question to be asked, will we only consider the most affected provinces where palay prices are down, or will we consider the 57 provinces where RCEF is being implemented,” he said.

The Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) claims that rice farmers have lost about P60 billion in potential revenue since the implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law, which liberalized rice imports. It said that this could reach P140 billion by the end of the year, equivalent to P30,000 per hectare.

Farmers are seeking cash assistance of P30,000 to make up for their losses.

Mr. Dar said excess collections from tariff on imported rice will fund cash transfers to farmers, crop insurance, and crop diversification support. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang

No firm budget set for national ID system, to depend on gov’t generating extra revenue

THE National ID rollout next year has not been allocated specific funding in the 2020 Budget and financial support will depend on any fresh revenue or loans raised by the government.

Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph G. Recto said the proposed 2020 General Appropriations Act (GAA) does not provide “programmed funds” for the Philippine Identification System ID (PhilSys ID).

“There is zero funding for the project in the programmed portion of the proposed national project. What is provided is a P2.4 billion in ‘unprogrammed appropriations’ which at best, is a tentative allocation dependent if new loans or revenue will be raised,” he said in a statement Tuesday.

The P2.4 billion will cover the registration of 6.3 million Filipinos next year, less than half of the government’s goal of 14 million for 2020.

Mr. Recto said the lack of funding will “trigger a domino effect” and set back the timetable for the National ID system. The target of 14 million is the number of Filipinos due to be registered in 2020, followed by 57 million, including 5 million overseas Filipinos in 2021, and 49 million in 2022, including 5 million more overseas Filipinos.

“To meet this deadline, 4.3 million registrants must be processed every month by the 5,000 registration kits in mobile and fixed registration centers,” Mr. Recto said.

The National ID project is authorized by Republic Act No. 11055 or the Philippine Identification System Act. The project entered pilot testing in September and will run until next month.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said that the PhilSys IDs will be issued beginning April next year. The BSP was tasked to print the cards over the next three years. — Gillian M. Cortez

Palace weighs in on taxing POGOs in rebuff to Calida; seen generating P45 billion a year

THE President has asserted the government’s right to tax Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) should be taxed, rebuffing his own Solicitor General Jose C. Calida, who had stated that POGOs cannot be taxed.

In a statement Tuesday, the President’s Spokesman Salvador S. Panelo said the government is authorized to tax POGOs by the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC), which will generate up to P45 billion in additional revenue each year, according to the government’s top economic planner.

Mr. Calida had determined that POGOs operating in the Philippines derive their income from overseas, and are not subject to Philippine tax.

“While the matter is being studied at length by the DoF (Department of Finance), what is clear is that the State cannot be denied its right to collect on all applicable taxes on any entity or individual. This is particularly true with regard to the case of individuals working in these companies for certainly, their compensation, salaries or wages for the services they render here are considered taxable income under Section 23 (A) & (D) of the NIRC,” he said.

“In order to defray the expenses of the government, the State has, among its inherent powers, the authority to tax.”

Mr. Panelo, who is also President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s legal adviser, added that POGOs registered as domestic corporations are subject to Philippine tax as outlined in Section 23 (E), Chapter 2 of the NIRC. Foreign-registered POGOs are subject to tax on income earned within the country, under Section 23 (F) of the NIRC’s Chapter 2.

“We trust that the DoF, together with the BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue), has the competence to evaluate the respective charters and operations of these entities in order to subject them to Philippine taxes in accordance with the law,” he added.

House Bill No. 5267 aiming to tax POGOs was approved Monday by the House Committee of Ways and Means. The bill will be discussed next at plenary level.

Representative Jose Ma. Clemente S. Salceda of Albay’s second district, who chairs the House Committee on Ways and Means, said in a statement Monday that a 5% franchise tax will be imposed on winnings of POGOs. POGOs also can only receive licenses after they have registered with the BIR. A 25% withholding tax will be imposed on POGO workers who earn a minimum of P600,000 per annum.

Speaking with reporters Tuesday, Socioeconomic Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said taxing POGOs which generate P45 billion in additional revenue each year. “We have to tax the POGOs. We will have to do that… (P45 billion) is not coffee money.” — Gillian M. Cortez

Councils to endorse national government projects starting in 2021

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said it will start requiring agencies to obtain certifications from regional development councils (RDCs) for 2021 budget items, to ensure that projects have local support.

Budget Secretary Wendel E. Avisado said that he ordered the certifications ahead of the budget call for 2021 this month, which officially directs agencies to start drafting their spending plans.

“We will be issuing the budget call this year, within this month, not December. I have said all departments who will be proposing projects for funding… will have to submit a certification from the RDCs that these projects that they want to be funded under the NEP (National Expenditure Program) are duly endorsed by the RDCs,” he said.

He said currently, only 25% of all projects pursued by the national government have gone through the RDC endorsement process.

The RDCs are the regions’ equivalent of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Board, with a brief to “review, prioritize, and endorse” the annual budgets of agencies’ regional offices to the national government.

Mr. Avisado said by phone yesterday that the order will formalize the RDC endorsement process.

“The experience is that not all of these projects that have been funded by the national government went through the process as they don’t have respective certification the RDCs… We just want to institutionalize that, otherwise, why do we need to have an RDC if the projects do not go through the process,” he said. — Beatrice M. Laforga

Letran NCAA champ

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

THE Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights are back at the summit in men’s basketball of the National Collegiate Athletic Association after four years, taking the Season 95 title with an 81-79 victory over erstwhile defending champions San Beda University Red Lions in their do-or-die Game Three on Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Forced to a sudden death by the Lions with a Game Two loss, the Knights showed the needed composure and grit to overcome the tough stand of San Beda and win the title.

It was the 18th NCAA crown for Letran but first since Season 91.

The teams slugged it out to begin the contest, angling to set the tone for their respective causes.

But San Beda would create some separation, 17-9, midway on the lead of league most valuable player Calvin Oftana and veteran Clint Doliguez.

The Knights though finished the opening quarter on a flurry as graduating player Jerrick Balanza waxed hot.

Letran outscored San Beda, 17-7, the rest of the way to go on top, 26-24, at the end of the first canto.

At the start of the second frame the Knights continued to pour it in, stretching their lead to 11 points, 37-26, by the 6:30 mark.

The Lions would manage to tie the count at 37-all in the next four minutes.

Letran, however, would finish the frame strong anew, going on a 7-1 run to build a 44-38 advantage at the break.

The third frame got to a fiery start with the two teams getting early baskets.

Letran maintained a safe distance of 55-45 with five minutes remaining.

San Beda then went on a 6-0 blast, to pull itself to within four points, 55-51, a minute later.

Momentum swung back-and-forth after eventually settling at a count of 69-59 in favor of the Knights heading into the final quarter.

Sensing that the Knights were having their way, the Lions began the fourth with more bite.

They opened things with a 7-0 run, with Oftana and Donald Tankoua leading the charge, to narrow their deficit to 69-66 with 6:09 to play.

Larry Muyang stopped the bleeding for Letran with a deuce inside the paint to make it 71-66.

But San Beda was undeterred, scoring back-to-back points to pull to within a point, 71-70, with 4:30 remaining.

The Knights kept their head above water, 73-70, after two made free throws from Balanza with 3:20 to go.

San Beda tried to claw its way back in the next minute and had solid chances but could not complete them.

Making matters worse for the Lions, Ato Ular made it a six-point lead for Letran, 76-70, with an and-one play with 2:06 left.

Doliguez got back the three points with a trey with 1:40 to go only to be answered by Balanza 11 seconds later to reestablish a six-point cushion, 79-73.

Evan Nelle pushed the Lions to within three points anew, 79-76, with a triple with 43 ticks remaining.

The Lions’ defense forced the Knights to a backcourt violation after.

They, however, could not capitalize on it as their three-point attempt in the ensuing play failed to hit the mark.

Letran guard Fran Yu was fouled by James Canlas with 15 seconds left.

He made both of his charities to make it a five-point lead, 81-76.

San Beda called timeout after to set up a play.

Off the lull, Nelle hit a trey to make it 81-79 with 12 seconds left.

San Beda kept the pressure on Letran, forcing a jumped ball on Yu with five seconds to go.

Compounding the woes of the Knights, Yu suffered leg cramps and had to be carried off the floor.

Possession arrow pointed to San Beda.

The Lions though could not convert a basket after as time expired, preserving the win and handing the title to Letran.

Balanza led the Knights in his final NCAA game with 27 points and seven rebounds.

Fellow graduating player Bonbon Batiller finished with 19 points.

Finals MVP Yu, meanwhile, had eight points, seven assists and five rebounds.

For San Beda it was Tankoua who showed the way with 22 points, followed by Oftana with 18.

The loss prevented the Lions from completing an NCAA four-peat.

“There is a reason for everything. There was a reason there was a Game Three. When we lost in Game Two many said we could not recover from it. We just stayed positive and played hard and we won,” said Letran coach Bonnie Tan after their championship win.

A total crowd of 19,876 witnessed Game Three of the finals live at MOA Arena.

Ateneo tries to complete a perfect UAAP season

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

HISTORY beckons for the Ateneo Blue Eagles when they trek back to the court today in Season 82 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines as a win completes for them a season sweep of men’s basketball, something not seen in the league for nearly three decades.

Up 1-0 in their best-of-three finals series over the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, the Katipunan-based Eagles go for the title-clincher in Game Two scheduled at 4 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena that would earn for them a perfect season.

In the event Ateneo completes a sweep, it becomes only the fourth team in UAAP history to achieve such feat, joining the University of the East (1969 and 1970), Far Eastern University (1976, 1980 and 1981) and UST (1993).

The Eagles put themselves on the verge of an unblemished season with a dominant performance in the finals series-opener on Nov. 16, beating the Tigers, 91-77.

Despite a break of two weeks after sweeping the elimination round and rendering the semifinals a step-ladder, Ateneo returned hardly showing any rust, crisp in its attack on both ends to manhandle UST.

Ateneo took a 32-17 lead at the end of the opening quarter before it hit a rough patch early in the second frame.

But once it got its collective footing back it sprinted away and never looked back the rest of the way.

Graduating player Thirdy Ravena set the tone for the Eagles from the get-go en route to finishing with 32 points, five rebounds and three assists.

Ange Kouame had solid all-around numbers of 18 points, 12 rebounds and five assists, with SJ Belangel scoring 12 points, all coming from beyond the arc, to go along with five dimes, four boards and two steals for Ateneo.

“Well, it’s good to get the win obviously. But we tend to not really see that as a win. We see that as the first half of basketball and we just get a long halftime break. We get to prepare for the second half, which will be in your eyes, Game Two,” said Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin as they gear up for Game Two today.

“We just want to be 1-0 from here. We don’t really care what’s going on in the past. We have one game left [to win]… Believe me, we just want to play this game on Wednesday well, play it really well. Win the game and whatever comes with that, comes with that. We don’t want our focus on anything else. Especially any talk about records or anything like that. Let’s just play this game on Wednesday and do the best we can,” the Ateneo coach added.

BOUNCE BACK
For UST, the game plan is to win the game, extend the series and pull the rug from under Ateneo in a sudden death.

Coach Aldin Ayo said they will try to come out more prepared in Game Two and bounce back from a “bad” outing last time around.

“We played bad, really bad. We were not executing. Some players did not play their usual game. But I think the problem was the coaching staff. I think we were not able to prepare them well,” said Mr. Ayo following Game One.

“I told the players that we just have to handle this loss the right way; that means going back to our videos and see where we need to improve. We have to correct them. We have three days to prepare for Wednesday,” he added.

In Game One, rookie Mark Nonoy paced UST with 26 points with Brent Paraiso and Soulemane Chabi Yo adding 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Meanwhile, prior to the start of Game Two, the season individual awards will be handed out.

Among those to receive awards are UST’s Chabi Yo as league most valuable player and Nonoy as rookie of the year.

SEA Games-bound shuttlers kick off SMART National Open campaigns

SOUTHEAST Asian Games-bound standouts Ros Pedrosa and Mika De Guzman kicked off their 2019 SMART National Open Badminton Tournament stints in style, Monday evening at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex.

Pedrosa, the top-ranked player, took two quick wins in both the morning and afternoon sessions to move into the fifth round of the men’s singles event. The former UAAP Most Valuable Player first dominated Vicarlo Buenaventura, Jr., 21-12, 21-10. He then needed only 35 minutes to take down Lance Novilla, 21-13, 21-11.

Meanwhile, Second-seed Lyrden Laborte needed to three sets to survive Christian Selga, 21-14, 14-21, 21-14, to join Pedrosa in the next phase.

Lanz Zafra and Solomon Padiz Jr. likewise dealt Kevin Dalisay and John Sy, respectively, straight-set defeats to keep the top four seeds into the following round.

On the other hand, UAAP Season 81 Rookie of the Year De Guzman waylaid Lorraine Araneta, 21-6, 21-4, to advance to the third round of the women’s singles draw.

Seventh-seed Jeya Pinlac joins the Lady Eagle in the next round after sweeping Lizette Dela Cueva at 21-10, 21-13. Princess Barrientos likewise advanced at the expense of Anielka Paz, in a marathon 15-21, 21-14, 21-19 contest.

Men’s doubles action also saw seeded pairs into the third round. Sixth-seeds Gregg Paz and Orlan Ticala drubbed Lennox Cuilao and Aaron Prieto, 21-14, 21-11; while seventh-ranked Elbren Concha and Jerrickson Obaob took care of Aran Booc and Miguel Relente, 21-2, 21-5.

Top-seed Sarah Barredo will take the court on Tuesday as the third round of women’s singles rolls on.

San Miguel goes for twice-to-beat edge; Alaska looks to book QF spot

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

THE PHILIPPINE Basketball Association Governors’ Cup holds its final matches in the elimination round today with the San Miguel Beermen and Alaska Aces looking to pad their respective quarterfinal thrusts against separate opponents.

San Miguel (6-4) takes on the TNT KaTropa (7-3) in the scheduled 7 p.m. match at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City while Alaska (4-6) collides with the NLEX Road Warriors (8-2) at 4:30 p.m.

The Beermen shoot for the twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals in their game against the KaTropa with the Aces gunning for outright entry to the quarters versus the Road Warriors.

Currently sitting at fifth place, San Miguel with a win over TNT moves into the top four, which will have the twice-to-beat incentive in the next round of the season-ending PBA tournament.

A victory by San Miguel creates a three-way logjam for the third spot among the Beermen, KaTropa and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings at 7-4.

Using the quotient system, if the Beermen beats the KaTropa in today’s game by 14 points or more they secure number three with Barangay Ginebra at number four and TNT at fifth. A loss by San Miguel though keeps it at number five and will have a twice-to-win disadvantage in the quarterfinals while pushing TNT to either number two or three depending on the outcome of the game between NLEX and Alaska.

The Aces, meanwhile, gain automatic entry into the quarterfinals as the seventh seed, edging the Northport Batang Pier (5-6) by virtue of a higher tiebreak quotient.

A loss, however, sends Alaska to a one-game playoff for the final quarterfinal spot against the outside looking in Columbian Dyip (4-7).

The Beermen are coming off a loss to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 91-85, on Nov. 9.

Alaska, for its part, is riding a three-game winning streak.

Beach volleyball tandem of Rondina, Pons turns attention to SEA Games

AFTER topping the just-concluded Rebisco Beach Volleyball International Open at the Sands SM By The Bay, the women’s beach volleyball tandem of Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons are turning their attention to the 30th Southeast Asian Games which the country is hosting beginning next week.

One of two teams representing the Philippine women’s team in the biennial regional sporting meet, Misses Rondina and Pons hope to do well in the competition, armed with the lessons they got in the international open which concluded last Sunday.

“It was hard competing with the international teams as they had taller and more experienced players,” said Rondina, a four-time University Athletic Association of the Philippines beach volleyball champion for University of Santo Tomas, of the competition they had at the recent international open.

“But the experience we got from there would go a long way. We joined the tournament to prepare ourselves for the SEA Games and I think we got just that,” she added.

In topping the Rebisco tournament, Misses Rondina and Pons defeated the team of Dij Rodriguez and Dzi Gervacio, 21-10, 21-16, in an all-Filipino finale.

Misses Rodriguez and Gervacio incidentally make up the second women’s team for the Philippines in the SEA Games.

The two gave their fancied rivals fits in the second set but Misses Rondina and Pons displayed tremendous composure to prevail in the championship match of the tournament, presented by Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc., in cooperation with Beach Volleyball Republic.

A total of 20 teams, eight in women and 12 in men, participated in the Rebisco Beach Volleyball International Open, which was also backed by Liberty Insurance, Glorious Blend and Globe Telecom.

Beach volleyball in the SEA Games begins on Nov. 29 then on Dec. 1 to 6 at the Subic Tennis Courts.

Representing the Philippines in the men’s competition, meanwhile, are the teams of Edmar Bonono and Jude Garcia, and Anthony Arbasto and James Buytrago. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Skateboarder Margielyn Didal’s new training leading up to 2019 SEA Games

TWENTY-YEAR-OLD professional skateboarder and newly announced Red Bull Athlete, Margielyn Didal, is ready for the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games to be held in the Philippines this December.

To prepare for her upcoming competitions, Didal underwent months of therapy at Cardia Olympia coupled with an intense assessment last July at the Red Bull High Performance Training Center in Santa Monica, California to address lingering injuries.

“Last December 2014, I had a very severe ankle sprain that didn’t seem to get better,” reveals Didal. “Until recently, it affected my skating because I kept thinking it might happen again.”

Her assessment included a series of exercises that improved her flexibility and core reflexes, which allowed her to build up confidence. In addition, Didal worked on fine-tuning her trick executions.

“The best part about them (Red Bull) is when they would torture me during rehab,” joked Didal. “But really, they have the best team, therapist and equipment. They helped so much — especially with my ankle concerns and other key areas. Now we’re focusing on a lot of ways to improve my skills.”

Didal’s effective rehab program helped lead to a 5th place finish at the recently concluded Street League Skateboarding (SLS) World Tour in Los Angeles, California, establishing her as the highest-ranked Filipino skater in the world today.

With a top-10 finish at the SLS World Tour, Didal has her sights set on a podium finish at this year’s SEA Games in order to secure her place at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics.

“I’m always prepared and ready to compete, no matter where it is. That’s why I recently spent time in Rio de Janeiro/Los Angeles to get the best place training possible. I’ve also got some new tricks prepared but will stick to the game plan.”

INSPIRING FUTURE GENERATIONS
Spending her early years borrowing skateboards in order to practice around abandoned building and the bustling streets of Cebu, Didal was able to build up her prominence, find the right sponsors like New Balance that helped her secure spots in major tournaments around the world.

Regarded by Time Magazine as one of the “25 Most Influential Teens of 2018,” Didal took home the gold medal at the 2018 Women’s Street Skateboarding Event at the Asian Games. She is also the first Filipino of any gender to compete at the X-Games.

With a series of historic accomplishments, Didal has established herself as one of the top skaters in the world today. And as such, she has become an influential figure among aspiring athletes in the Philippines.

I’m honored to be an inspiration to the next generation of skaters,” Didal admits. “In the future, I am keen on doing more projects like clinics to share with them what I’ve learned.”

PYH retires

On Monday night the local football community was caught by surprise when popular Philippine Azkals member and legend Phil Younghusband announced his retirement from the game at the age of 32.

Taking to social media, Younghusband said he is setting his sights on a “new journey” and was hanging up his boots after more than a decade of parlaying his wares on the field, which started when he was a member of Chelsea FC in the mid-2000s.

He then thanked all those who were part of his football journey, from his coaches, bosses, teammates, competitors and supporters.

Not surprising, when news of his retirement broke out, fans and football stakeholders did not waste time in expressing their gratitude to “No. 10” for what he had done for local football and paid tribute to him.

Admittedly, and funny I must say, my first real introduction to PYH was not on the football pitch but through a singing contest show on GMA, Celebrity Duets.

While I did hear of him playing for the Under-23 and 21 teams of the country, it was in watching the singing show where I got to know him early on.

I remember he was part of the second season of Celebrity Duets, hosted by Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez.

Younghusband went against former Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando, fashion designer JC Buendia, comedian and politician Joey Marquez, beauty queen Carlene Aguilar, chef JL Lang, TV personality Cory Quirino and Miss International 1979, model and actress Melanie Marquez.

In the show, where the contestants had to carry a tune in pair with celebrity partners, Younghusband had the chance to sing with the likes of Aicelle Santos, Jay R, Nyoy Bolante and Jolina Magdangal.

He was the fourth to be eliminated with Fernando eventually winning the contest.

After Celebrity Duets, my steady exposure to Younghusband was largely on the football field where he made his legend no doubt.

He was part of the many standout moments in local football history, including the “Miracle in Hanoi” in 2010 where they reached the semifinals of the AFF Suzuki Cup at the expense of defending champion Vietnam, which was largely credited for the resurgence in appreciation for the sport of football in the country.

Last year, Younghusband provided the winning goal against Tajikistan that earned for the Philippines a first-ever spot in the AFC Asian Cup.

In between the Miracle in Hanoi and the goal against Tajikistan, Younghusband was a steady fixture in the local football scene as a member of the Loyola Meralco Sparks and Davao Aguilas FC which competed in various leagues and tournaments.

He also lent his support in many football-oriented causes, doing them with his trademark warmth and smile.

Fans last saw him on the field in the Asian Cup early this year. And while he came off the bench in each of the three games the Azkals played, it did not matter to him as he went out there and competed.

At the time of his retirement, Younghusband undeniably was one of the best, if not the best, who donned the Philippine colors in football — making 108 international appearances for the national team and scoring 52 goals, both tops in the country’s football all-time history,

More than the records, Younghusband surely made an impression on a lot of people with his professionalism and passion for the game, inspiring many to pick up the “Beautiful Game.”

To PYH, thanks for the service to the country all these years. What a stellar career indeed. Enjoy retirement and all the best on the new journey.

 

Michael Angelo S. Murillo has been a columnist since 2003. He is a BusinessWorld reporter covering the Sports beat.

msmurillo@bworldonline.com

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