STA. CRUZ, Davao del Sur (MindaNews/29 April) — Brothers Cresenciano and Gerald Sabal of Team Bebang from Manila outpaced defending champion Jonathan Pido of Team Carmen (Davao del Norte) and his partner in the 2nd International Boulder Face Challenge, a 24-hour endurance race from the town proper to the peak of Mt. Apo and back. [...]

STA CRUZ, Davao delSur (MindaNews/28 April)  – Forty four teams are currently navigating through rugged terrain to scale  Mt. Apo, the country’s highest peak, as the 2ndInternational Boulder Face Challenge kicked off on Saturday morning and is expected end before lunch time Sunday. LIFE GOES ON. Life goes on for this villager as racers pass [...]

BUTUAN CITY (MindaNews/23 April) – Forty professional women surfers from Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia and other parts of Asia and the world are expected to compete in the famous surf of Cloud 9 in Siargao Island for an Asian-wide competition on May 1-4. The Asian Surfing Championship (ASC) circuit for women will be held in five [...]

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/15 March) – With retirement from boxing now a very distinct possibility, probably no later than 2013, Manny Pacquiao needs to close out his illustrious and phenomenal career with flourish. A one-for-the-ages fight with archrival Floyd Mayweather should be the loud bang to end his career as demanded by boxing fans all [...]

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/10 January) – The tourism potentials of Southwestern Mindanao or Region 12 in the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) circuit is getting a boost after it was chosen as host of the subgrouping’s athletic competition. Ritchie Garcia, Philippine Sports Commission chair, said this city and nearby Sarangani province will jointly host [...]

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/8 Nov) – For awhile, Manny Pacquiao used to wear “No Fear” apparel, being one of its then budding product endorser. Pacquiao now wears the universally recognizable slash brand Nike, a testament to his certified crossover star status not only in the sports of boxing but also in the American mainstream media [...]

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/22 June) – Juan Manuel Marquez finally gets the third and, safe to say, last fight he has been moving heaven and earth to have before he retreats to the sunset. There is not much money fight left in him as he approaches his 38th birthday. He has had two memorable and [...]

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/2 June) – In a bid to develop more top athletes, the provincial government of South Cotabato will launch next month a new scholarship scheme for “poor but promising” student athletes in the province. Florentino Perez Sr., South Cotabato sports coordinator, said Thursday the local government has initially allocated some P200,000 for [...]

ALABEL, Sarangani (MindaNews/8 May) – While Sunday’s boxing match was trending in Twitter and sports analyses and predictions went viral elsewhere in the Internet, folks in Manny Pacquiao’s hometown didn’t let any chore of the day hinder them from enjoying the sight of the legendary People’s Champ beat up Shane Mosley. More than the thrill [...]

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/06 May) – The city government has allotted some P300,000 for the pay-per-view subscription to the May 8 showdown between world boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and American brawler Sugar Shane Mosley. City Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio said the city government will open anew to the public the 5,000-capacity city gymnasium on Sunday for [...]

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/5 May) – If you are going to Dapitan City for the 2011 Palarong Pambansa, prepare for tightened security. The city government of Dapitan has intensified its security and safety measures for the week-long competition which unfolds on May 8 to 14. In his statement posted at the official website of Dapitan City, [...]

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/5 May) – Good news for Mindanaoan cycling enthusiasts. The LBC Ronda Pilipinas will hold a Mindanao elimination on May 15 in Malaybalay City with top cyclists from across the island expected to take part in the race. Jun Paholio, Philcycling vice president for Mindanao, said all cyclists shall secure license before the [...]

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/30 April) — The Davao and Dipolog football teams will represent Mindanao in the quarterfinals of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) – Suzuki Under 23 (U23) National Cup in Bacolod and Laguna next month.

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/28 Apr) – The Davao Football Association’s team blanked visiting Dipolog squad in the opening game of the Philippine Football Federation-Suzuki Under 23 (U23) National Cup All Mindanao Finals at Tionko Football Field here on Thursday. The Davao booters scored two goals in the first half of the game and another goal in [...]

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/18 April) – The local government aims to make the city one of the country’s sports hubs despite the lack of facilities by teaming up with the private sector. Officials said the Summer Fest on April 29 to May 29 will kick off efforts toward such goal. “We need not be limited to [...]

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/16 April) – Stung by setbacks in two crucial ballgame championship matches and its failure to snatch a single gold in swimming, the Davao Region bowed to Central Visayas in this year’s National Collegiate Games of the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) in Zamboanga city which ended Thursday. Central Visayas banked on its [...]

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/16 April) – Between 500 and 1,000 running enthusiasts and fitness buffs here are expected to give their share of relief to the already mounting loads of international aid to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan last month when the 6K Run for Japan hits the road on April [...]

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/13 Apr) – The Asian Football Federation (AFC) has donated television sets to four Mindanao schools in an effort to give students across Southeast Asia opportunity to learn football skills and tactics. Davao City’s Zonta Elementary School, Maco National High School in Compostela Valley, Patin-ay Elementary School in Agusan del Sur and Del [...]

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/14 Apr) – A sports award giving body here has feted the region’s finest professional and amateur boxers, including three champions who were conferred with a Hall of Fame award in simple but meaningful rites. Former Regional Trial Court Judge Jaime Quitain, Davao Sports Hall of Fame (DSHF) president, inducted World Boxing Council [...]

ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/09 April) — The Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) 2011 kicked off Saturday afternoon without the delegation from the National Capital Region, PRISAA’s reigning champion. Aside from the NCR, the delegation from Western Visayas, last year’s second runner-up, will see action without the athletes from Negros Occidental. Dr. Robert Milton Calo, PRISAA National [...]

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/5 April) – All 17 regions in the country have confirmed participation in the upcoming 2011 Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) National Collegiate Games which is set to kick off on April 9 to 14 in Zamboanga City amid reports that some regions are boycotting the games. Joaquin “Boy” Sarabia, PRISAA Davao Region [...]

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/10 March) ¬– Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc. (PPPI) is now in the process of joining the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), on the way to buying the franchise of Barako Bull. The Davao City-based oil company is now awaiting approval of the PBA board, according to Dennis Uy, PPPI president and chief executive officer. [...]

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/19 February) — Of the many promises Rep. Manny Pacquiao made during the 2010 election campaign, one particular project resonated most to his supporters – building a provincial hospital for the province of Sarangani. To many who are not familiar with the demographics of the province, building a local government-run hospital may [...]

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/17 Feb) – After hosting an international musical event, Tagum City will play host to the 34th Annual Federation of Duckpin Bowlers of the Philippines (FEDBOP) National Bowling Championship on May 2 to 7, bringing the games back to the city after three years. Hundreds of top class bowlers nationwide are expected to [...]

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/16 Feb) — The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has no plans to revive the ill-fated Mindanao Friendship Games, a sports for peace program aimed to help secure peace in Mindanao and promote the island. In an interview, PSC Commissioner Chito Loyzaga said the new sports agency leadership under Chairman Richie Garcia, thus far, [...]

MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/12 February) — Seven Kenyans, an Australian national and Bukidnon’s Mt. Everest climber Carina Dayondon will be joining 191 other participants in the 1st Kitanglad International Rugged Mountain Race on February 27. “And we continue counting,” Rachito Abellanosa, a member of the organizing team said. Abellanosa said Erwin “Pastor” Emata, the second Filipino [...]

MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/8 Feb) – An independent documentary film on the Bukidnon-Talaandig culture will premier on March 1 during the Kaamulan Festival in a yet unannounced venue, contemporary Talaandig visual artist and musician Redelio “Waway” Saway said. Saway said the film “Sakay sa Hangin” (Windblown), directed by Regiben O. Romana, features the music and the [...]

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/04 February) – It would be a busy year for sports in Mindanao as Western Mindanao will host two national multi-sport competitions this summer. Zamboanga City will host the 2011 Private School Athletic Association (PRISAA) National Collegiate Games, the premier private school competition for tertiary athletes, on April 10 to 16, marking the [...]

MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/30 January) — Instead of just playing indigenous sports as it has been the tradition in the annual Kaamulan Festival, Bukidnon’s indigenous peoples and communities will hold the province’s Tribal Olympics on March 2 to 4. The provincial government here through the Provincial Indigenous Communities Affairs Division (PICAD) in coordination with Bukidnon’s seven [...]

MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/22 January) — In response to the declaration of the Mount Kitanglad Range Natural Park as an ASEAN Heritage Site, local trail run enthusiasts will hold next month the 1st Kitanglad International Rugged Mountain Race, an event they hope would launch Bukidnon as an international sports tourism destination. The 17-kilometer race will take [...]

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/13 Jan) – The 3rd Kidapawan Open Chess Championship gets underway on February 12 to 13 at the Kidapawan Convention Center. International Master Oliver Barbosa is expected to defend his crown in the two-day tournament, which is one of the sporting highlights in Kidapawan City’s founding anniversary. Top woodpushers across the country, especially [...]

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/15 December) – Pacman, a book written by Gary Andrew Poole, is now available in all National Bookstore outlets nationwide. The 251-page book is a crafty chronicle of the phenomenal rise to fame and fortune of our very own Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Pacquiao. Written with keen journalistic fervor, it offers insights of Pacquiao [...]

ALABEL, Sarangani (MindaNews/25 November) — Eight-division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao arrived in his adopted province amid a rousing welcome and several bonuses to boot for his fellow Sarangans. In a message during the opening of the Munato Festival to mark the 18th Founding Anniversary of Sarangani, Pacquiao announced he was able to get a [...]

ARLINGTON, Texas (MindaNews/14 November) – Manny Pacquiao is bringing home to the Philippines his eighth world boxing title, the WBC super welterweight championship. He said he will continue fighting in the boxing ring. A few days later, he will be reporting in Congress to resume serving as House Representative of the lone district of Sarangani. [...]

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/15 November) – A day after witnessing boxing icon Manny Pacquiao’s successful bid for a historic eighth world boxing title, residents and local officials here started to draw out plans for a grand hero’s welcome for the homecoming of the city’s favorite son. Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio said Monday the city government will [...]

ARLINGTON, TEXAS ( MindaNews/14 November ) – Without any hesitation, the eight-division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao admitted Antonio Margarito was the toughest opponent he has ever fought. “He’s very tough, I was having difficulty in defeating him, Pacquiao said during a press conference an hour after the WBC super welterweight title fight here at [...]

By Jaime A. Frias II/MindaNews contributor CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews/14 November) – Like other cities in the country, this city also stood still as Manny Pacquiao pummeled his Mexican  opponent, Antonio Margarito, for the World Boxing Council super welterweight title in Texas Saturday night (Sunday noon in the Philippines). The streets were empty as [...]

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/13 November) — A Chinese restaurant in Davao City had a stall installed on the side of the national highway in Matina, to promote its special Sunday treat: Pacquiao and Margarito for lunch. In Cagayan de Oro City, a cellphone company is offering one seat at the Xavier University Gym for a load [...]

ARLINGTON, TEXAS ( MindaNews/13 November) – While Mexican Antonio Margarito tipped the scale at the 150 pound catch weight yesterday, seven-division world title boxer Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao surprisingly weighed lighter than expected at 144 lbs. [zdvideo]http://mindanews.com/video/weighin.flv [/zdvideo] Margarito was described as “dehydrated” and “shot,” Pacquiao, on the other hand, appears to look more dangerous. Early [...]

PACMANIA. Business entrepreneurs in Mindanao are busy promoting their establishments for the grand fight (Saturday night in Texas, Sunday morning in the Philippines)  between “pound for pound king” Manny Pacquiao and the “Tijuana Tornado” Antonio Margarito.  In Cagayan de Oro City, a big shopping mall has put up this projector screen for its shoppers. MindaNews [...]

ARLINGTON, Texas ( MindaNews/11 Nov) – A very hungry Antonio Margarito promised World Boxing Council (WBC) President Jose Sulaiman there will be a new Mexican super welterweight boxing champion on Saturday (Sunday in Philippines). “I feel I am very strong enough to knock out Manny Pacquiao,” Margarito told MindaNews shortly after a press conference held [...]

GRAPEVINE, Texas (MindaNews/11 Nov) – This is now the third time since 2007 that Fil-Am Jonas Padullon had set out to personally meet world boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao. [zdvideo]http://mindanews.com/video/filam.flv [/zdvideo] He skipped from his Carrollton high school class Tuesday hoping to meet his idol during a public boxing workout here at the Gaylord Texan hotel. [...]

GRAPEVINE, Texas  ( MindaNews/10 November) – World boxing champion and Sarangani congressman Manny Pacquiao has decided to rely on his speed when he tangles with Mexican Antonio Margarito for the vacant WBO light middleweight title at the Dallas Cowboys stadium on Saturday. It will be the best weapon in countering Margarito’s obvious height, reach and [...]

MCALLEN, TEXAS ( MindaNews/5 November) -  Emotions are now running high as  the Pacquiao-Margarito world boxing title fight is barely one week away, yet a boxing promoter in south Texas is in a struggle on what to do with his seven-division world title holder idol. Is he going to bring him to court for breach [...]

[zdvideo]http://mindanews.com/video/teaserpacquiaotagalogversion.flv [/zdvideo]

ARLINGTON,  Texas (MindaNews/05 September) —  An air of  excitement was evident during last Friday’s end of a three-day media tour announcing the November 13 WBC Junior Middleweight title fight between the Philippines’ Manny Pacquiao and Mexico’s Antonio Margarito here at the Cowboys stadium. Filipino fans chanting “Manny Manny” punctuated by the Mexicans’ “Mexico Mexico” and [...]

SURIGAO CITY (MindaNews/23 August) — Now on its 16th year, Siargao International Surfing Competition will start on September 24 at Cloud Nine, the famous surfing  capital of the Philippines in General Luna,  the island of Siargao, Surigao del Norte. Zeny Pallugna, secretary-general of the Philippine Surfing Federation (PSF), said this year’s invitational event will take [...]

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/13 August) – As tribute to the country’s sports heroes, South Cotabato (1st District) Rep. Pedro Acharon, Jr. is pushing for the passage of a proposed law that would grant retirement pension and several other benefits to all world champion athletes. Acharon said he filed the proposed “Professional Filipino Athletes Retirement, Health [...]

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/16 July) – With the tropical storms hitting the country now getting unusually stronger and their impact turning worse, world boxing champion and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao believes it’s high time for the government to push for a stronger reforestation program, especially in the countryside. The first-term lawmaker said he will file [...]

ALABEL, Sarangani (MindaNews/28 June) — Seven-time world boxing champion Emmanuel “Pacman” D. Pacquiao is now Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, having taken his oath of office as Sarangani’s lone representative to Congress at 10:15 a.m. Monday at the provincial capitol here. The 31-year old pugilist vowed to push legislation for sports advancement, better education, stronger agriculture [...]