Inside Track

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

BRACE YOURSELF FOR A MUSCLE PUMPING EXPERIENCE AT BUDDY FIT GYM

Featuring Ms. Gii Hipolito. Photo Credit: Jah Sales

BUDDY FIT GYM: YOUR BEST FITNEST BUDDY

By: Daryl Canillas Pagaduan

Whether you are a hardcore body-building enthusiast, a health-conscious soul, or a self-loving individual who wants to look better, enrolling in a fitness gym is an excellent decision to make. However, fitness gyms are different from each other –so of all the fitness gyms that opened in the City, where should you enroll?

Are you looking for a total-body workout that totally kicks butt? Buddy Fit Gym caters a popular form of kickboxing known as AEROBIC or CARDIOVASCULAR KICKBOXING, which combines elements of boxing, martial arts, and aerobics to provide overall physical conditioning and toning. Unlike other types of kickboxing, cardio kickboxing does not involve physical contact between competitors — it's a cardiovascular workout that's done because of its many benefits to the body.

In 2013, I started my adventure in the fitness world because of the encouragement of my friend David Ugale who is a body-building enthusiast. Together we hopped to different fitness gyms within Tuguegarao City to search for the best fitness gym. For this, I have chosen (5) five evaluating areas specifically: 1. Fitness Programs Offered, 2. Trainers, 3. Gym Equipment, 4. Environment, and 5. Cost.

With all the gyms I tried, Buddy Fit gym is my choice. Here are the reasons why:

Promoted as both a physical exercise philosophy and also as a competitive fitness sport, CROSSFIT WORKOUTS incorporate elements from high-intensity interval training, Olympic weightlifting, plyometrics, powerlifting, gymnastics, girevoy sport, calisthenics, strongman, and other exercises. According to a recent study from the American Council on Exercise, CrossFit burns more calories in a shorter period of time compared to other form of exercises.

1. AS TO FITNESS PROGRAMS OFFERED.

Buddy Fit Gym boast (6) Six Fitness Programs –giving you different arrays of effective fitness plans to choose from. It offers the classic Weight Lifting Program, Crossfit Program, Boxing/Kickboxing Program, Kettlebell Fitness Program, Insanity Workout, and also Mix Martial Arts Program. In fact, it is the only fitness gym in Tuguegarao City that caters (6) six fitness programs. So whatever your fitness goals are, you are assured that Buddy Fit Gym has the appropriate program to achieve them.

BOXING as a fitness activity enables the average person to hone those high level of athletic prowess: strength, speed, agility, hand-eye coordination, endurance, nerve, and power, just to name several required attributes, all without having to take a punch. If you’re hoping to get in great shape and improve your health, you just might want to try it at Buddy Fit Gym.

2. AS TO TRAINERS.

Buddy Fit Gym houses two of the most skilled and well experienced Fitness Trainer within the City –Coach Mike Sarsale and Coach Ryan Villarosa.

Coach Mike Sarsale is very hands-on on the fitness trainings and programs of his clients. He dedicated himself in improving his knowledge, and skills on fitness by reading piles of articles on fitness and even on the anatomy and physiology of the human body to make all the fitness programs he is offering to his clients more effective and efficient.

Coach Mike Sarsale is actually a Marine Engineering graduate who worked in KorPil Shipmanagement and Manning Corporation for seven years before he decided to open Buddy Fit Gym in 2011. According to him, fitness training has been his passion since he was a teenager and this is why he left his more lucrative work in the shipping industry and dedicated himself in training and guiding fitness aficionados in Tuguegarao City, and also in increasing his knowledge about fitness. On the other hand, Coach Ryan Villarosa specializes on mix martial arts and boxing.

3. AS TO GYM EQUIPMENTS

Honestly, Buddy Fit Gym does not have those fancy and state-of-the-art weight lifting machines. Most of its gym equipment are “free-weights”. But as Arnold Schwarzenegger once said, free-weights have better impact on muscles than machines since the entire heaviness of the weights is placed on your muscles and you have greater range of motions. Nonetheless, Buddy Fit Gym has all the equipment suited for your fitness, toning, conditioning and body building needs.

KETTLEBELL WORKOUTS offer all the benefits of dumbbell training, plus a few more. The super-thick handles challenge your grip, and the position of the weight in relation to the handle works your core extra hard. They're ideal for explosive exercises that work major muscles, burn body fat, and build power, but they also add a new dimension to classic moves like chest presses and flyes.

5. AS TO GYM ENVIRONMENT

The thing that I love the most about Buddy Fit Gym is its warmth and friendly atmosphere. In fact, Buddy Fit goers had not only developed a strong bond of friendship but they had also established a family. With Buddy Fit Gym, going to fitness center is not only for fitness but it has also become a way to relax and have fun with new found friends. Another good thing about this gym is the fact that simplicity is observed. Here, you don’t need to wear expensive attires. You can wear any of your outdoor clothes with which you are most comfortable. After all, wearing Nike from head-to-toe will not make you bigger, sexier and stronger (got that?).

INSANITY WORKOUT is a total body workout that requires no gym or equipment –you will be using your own body weight for resistance. The program is based on a fitness method called "max interval training." Max interval training has you work as hard as you can for 3-minute intervals, with 30-second periods of rest in between. According to the Insanity web site, exercising at this extreme intensity level will help you burn up to 1,000 calories an hour.

5. AS TO COST

Buddy Fit Gym is absolutely very affordable. There is no membership or registration fees collected. Their monthly rate is only P300.00 for students and P400.00 for non-students. Their one (1) day session is only P30.00 for students and P40.00 for non-students. For their Boxing/Kick Boxing Program and Mix Martial Arts Program, it is only for P75.00 for students and P100.00 for non-students. This is good already for (2) two hours of boxing session and unlimited weight lifting session (that is if you still have the energy to do so).

As hot as Tuguegarao’s Weather! Gii Hipolito worked his body to perfection. Want to have those abs or toned body figure? Well, work your butt off lazy ass.

Always remember that Fitness Center is not the only one you will need to become bigger, bolder, stronger, sexier or healthier. You will also need dedication, perseverance and self-discipline. So what are you waiting for -pump your muscles, shred fats, push your limits and boast your better self to the whole world.

Buddy Fit Gym is Located at #19 Gonzaga Street, Ugac Norte, Tuguegarao City

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Thursday, March 24, 2016

Philippines’ Economy and Politics: Virtually Controlled & Owned By The Cojuangco Family

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The Love Story of Heneral Antonio Luna and Ysidra Cojuangco: Why the Filipinos Should Know.
by: Pinay Thinks

This is a REBLOG. You can view the original blog by clicking the link here: Pinay Thinks.

I watched Heneral Luna the movie alone and while I was very impressed and deeply moved by the unfolding of the story, I was left with one question in mind.

Who is Ysabel, in the movie, played by Mylene Dizon?

A decade ago, reading through my collection of Ambeth Ocampo’s history books, I learned that General Antonio Luna had a love affair with Ysidra Cojuangco. Their love story in fact, has a deep repercussion in the current Philippine politics and economy which is why it interests me. But since the book is not with me now, I turned to google.

I learned that Ysabel as depicted in the movie, was just a fictional lover of Heneral Antonio Luna. She was an amalgamation of the women that Antonio, a ladies’ man and loverboy, had.

This brings me again to google on the background of the legendary love story of the real Ysidra Cojuangco and General Antonio Luna which, if true, provides us a good understanding of the Philippines as it is today.

Family Background

Antonio Luna comes from a wealthy and intelligent family originally from the Ilocos Region. His brothers are the famed Juan Luna who painted the Spolarium and Jose Luna, a medical doctor. He finished pharmacy and got a doctorate in Europe specialising in medical chemistry. He also had expertise in military tactics which brought him to his position as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. He was feared by the Americans because of his military genius but he also earned the ire of a lot of his revolutionary comrades because of his very bad temperament.

This is the shrine of Juan Luna, brother of Antonio Luna in Badoc, Ilocos Norte

Ysidra also known as Ysila (slightly sounding similar to Ysabel in the movie) is the daughter of a Chinese carpenter and artisan from China named, Co Yu Huan, who was later baptized as Jose “Ingkong” Cojuangco through Roman Catholic rites. She is the eldest of three. She is followed by Melecio and Chanita. Melecio got married but Chanita became a spinster like her.

The Love Story and the Treasure Trove

Ysidra’s father built staircases for the priests in Malolos. He also built a house there which they retained even as the whole family moved to Paniqui, Tarlac in 1896. The house of Ysidra’s family was used by the Malolos Congress which opened in September 15, 1898. Antonio Luna was a member of the congress and used to sleep there.

Ysidra and Antonio Luna must have met in Paniqui, Tarlac during one of Luna’s trips as he controlled the railways during the revolution. They must have trysted in both Tarlac and Malolos ( in Ysidra’s family’s house).

Luna as the Chief of Staff, collected gold and silver from Pampanga and Ilocos as salary for his men. On several occasions, Luna brought caskets of these treasures to Ysidra in Tarlac for safe keeping and because he also planned to establish the revolutionary capital there.

It is said that Ysidra in her 30’s must have been pregnant or had given birth before General Antonio Luna was assassinated in June 5, 1899. Three days before he died, Ysidra received another batch of treasure for safe keeping. The treasure was an assurance and insurance that he was going to marry her.

When Antonio Luna died, the First Republic was on the run, the revolutionary army was defeated by the Americans and disbanded. The Americans was then inquiring about the gold which Ysidra and her family hid. The contemporaries of Antonio Luna also suspected that the wealth was with Ysidra as well.

To dispel the rumors circulating in the region and protect them from the threat of the Americans and former revolutionaries who are pursuing the treasure, the Cojuangco family creatively stirred a dummy story to confuse the public. The family said that Ysidra gave birth to a love child with a Chinese mestizo who died before he can marry her. According to them, the love child died in infancy.

Who is the real love child of Antonio Luna and Ysidra Cojuangco

Ysidra put her son on “adoption” and raised by her brother Melecio who married Tekla Chichioco. They had four children Jose, Juan, Antonio and Eduardo. Antonio Cojuangco is the name of the love child (obviously).

Juan and Eduardo were born and conceived at the time when Luna was not present in the Philippines to impregnate her, so it could not be them. Only Jose and Antonio will coincide with Antonio Luna’s presence in the Philippines. But we are left focusing on Antonio instead of Jose because of the following circumstances.

All proof wiped from the face of the earth

Luna’s contemporaries alleged that the source of the Cojuangco fortune is the revolutionary treasure trove. But it could not be proven as all proof are already obliterated, but we are left now with more raging suspicions.

Among the four sons of Melecio Cojuangco, it is only Antonio’s exact date of birth that is unknown. The records of Antonio’s birth was erased in all registry. In Ateneo where Antonio Cojuangco studied, the entire 1918 Annual graduates listed only the year of births of graduates. Antonio was listed as born in 1899. The years before and after this, they listed the complete birthday – year, month and date for all the graduates. Similarly, the church’s registry was missing, specifically for the year 1877 to 1902. In the tombstone of Antonio Cojuangco in the family’s mausoleum, his birthdate is not indicated so with his descendants while the rest of his brothers had.

Uncanny Resemblance

Antonio Luna comes from a highly intelligent and academically achieving family, whereas, the Cojuangcos are indifferent to academics.

But among all children of Melecio Cojuangco, Antonio was different. He finished a doctor of medicine, an interest he shared with his father General Antonio Luna and his uncle Jose Luna. The rest of the Antonio Cojuangco descendants were also different from the Cojuangco clan as they were scholastic achievers. Ramon, son of Antonio Cojuangco graduated cum laude at Fordham University, his son Tonyboy (grandson of Antonio Cojuangco and partner of Gretchen Barreto) graduated summa cum laude with a degree of economics in Ateneo.

General Antonio Luna and Antonio Cojuangco also shared common features such as the lower pout on the lower lip, bushy eyebrows on the right side and less pronounced pencil-thin eyebrows on the left, their right eyes are also round and almond shaped and their left eyes are small, slant and located lower than those on the right. Ramon and his son Tonyboy shared the same temperament with General Antonio Luna.

Please see google images to compare their images as I have reservations grabbing photos due to copyright restrictions.

Where is the body of General Antonio Luna

His body disappeared and can neither be found in Batac where his family originated or in Cabanatuan where he was assassinated.

When his alleged son Antonio Cojuangco died during a massacre in 1945. He was buried in Laloma Quezon City. His remains was transferred later to the Cojuangco family’s mausoleum. But Antonio Cojuangco shared his tomb with another – the remains of his Chinese amah or the yaya. But is it really the amah or the yaya or could it be somebody else?

Could it be possible that Ysidra Cojuangco collected the remains of her lover General Antonio Luna to be interred with the remains of their son Antonio Cojuangco?

The Cojuangco Fortune

With the death of Ysidra’s father Jose “Ingkong” and her brother Melecio who died in an altercation with the Americans. Ysidra became the head of the family. She bought thousands of hectares of land, controlled the trade of the region and lent money to planters who cannot pay her back thus she gained more lands from their collateral.

Their neighbors cannot imagine how Ysidra can come up with such wealth because not only that the Cojuangco Clan, were just doing rice trading, milling and lending but at that time the economy was down and there was drought.

The Cojuangcos also established the Paniqui Sugar Mills, a stock brokering firm and the first bank in the country, the Philippine Bank of Commerce, wholly owned by Filipinos.

It is estimated that the combined assets of Ysidra Cojuangco Clan now totals to 200 billion pesos.

Controlling Philippine Politics and Economy

Ysidra now took care of the four sons of Melecio Cojuangco.

Antonio Cojuangco, her real son died early and is only survived by Ramon Cojuangco and later had a son named Tonyboy Cojuangco who owned PLDT.

Juan Cojuangco was married but had no legitimate children.

Jose Cojuangco, begat, Ceferino (stillbirth), Pedro, Josephine, Teresita, Carmen (died at infancy), Corazon, Jose and Maria Paz. Of historical note is Teresita who married Ricardo Lopa (who owns the Pulse Asia Survey*), Jose or Peping (who owns the political party UNA supportingJejomar Binay and Gregorio Honasan ) and Corazon Cojuangco whose son Benigno Aquino III now current president of the Republic of the Philippines, owns the Liberal Party supporting the candidacy of Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo). When Cory took over the country after the EDSA revolution, she sold the companies she sequestered from Marcos and cronies to the family of her sister Teresita Lopa on a bargain. She further gave extra favors to her relatives and nephews with the Philippine Airlines and PLDT shares of stocks. She also gave ABS-CBN back to the Lopezes without a single cent. ABS-CBN was salvaged by the Marcos government because they were mired in debt.

Eduardo Cojuangco begat Eduardo also called “Danding” Cojuangco and Merceditas. Merceditas is the mother of Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro who ran in the 2010 presidential elections but was not supported by his uncle Danding. Danding Cojuangco now owns shares of San Miguel Corporation using the coco levy fund. He also owns the National Peoples Coalition (NPC), who is also supporting the candidacy of Grace Poe and Chiz Escudero. Danding supported his nephew, Benigno “Noynoy Aquino in the 2010 presidential election. He now owns Liberty Company that monopolizes the internet frequency of the country of which Grace Poe’s husband is working for.

The big corporations of the country and the government is virtually controlled and owned by the Cojuangco family. The list above is just the tip of the iceberg. The capital of the Cojuangcos can be traced back to the alleged revolutionary treasure trove of the KKK which was supposed to be the salary of the men fighting for the freedom of the Philippines.

This is my summary of the Antonio Luna and Ysidra Cojuangco’s love story and interpretation of the accounts made from the following sources. Please click on the link below for details.

The Heneral and Ysidra love story. FROM A DISTANCE By Carmen N. Pedrosa (The Philippine Star) | Updated October 17, 2015. http://www.philstar.com/opinion/2015/10/17/1511519/heneral-and-ysidra-love-story

Inside Antonio’s Secret Love Affair with Ysidra Cojuangco by Filipiknow. http://www.filipiknow.net/antonio-luna-affair-with-ysidra-cojuangco/

Library of the Most Controversial Files. https://www.facebook.com/ControversialFiles/posts/356283854461645

Philippine Defense Forum. The Love Story of General Antonio Luna and Ysidra Cojuangco. http://www.timawa.net/forum/index.php?topic=21844.0 Asia’s Finest Discussion

Asia’s Finest Discussion FOrum. KKK Treasures Source of Wealth of the Cojuangco Family. http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=2

Untold Story. Scandals during the Corazon Aquino Administration. http://www.thedailytrends.net/2013/09/untold-story-scandals-during-corazon.html

*Note:

I wrote SWS Survey in my original post. I kind of interchange one from the other because they have interlocking directorates anyway. For further details read link below.

http://antipinoy.com/sws-and-pulse-asia-polling-firms-owned-by-relatives-and-friends-of/

Some of the information in this post I got from Cecilio Arillo’s Greed and Betrayal.

The AuthorPinay Thinks

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Wednesday, March 23, 2016

VISITA IGLESIA: Churches in Cagayan to pray this Holy Week

St. Peter's Cathedral Tuguegarao City

Church Visitation also known as Visita Iglesia is an ancient religious Catholic tradition observed during Holy Week -specifically on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. During Visita Iglesia, believers visit (7) seven to 14 (fourteen) churches to pray before the Blessed Sacrament in each church and to reflect on Jesus’ sufferings.

Today, thousands of Filipino Catholics still practice Visita Iglesia. Some of them go to different provinces of Philippines and others even go abroad just to practice this tradition. However, for Cagayanos there’s no need for us to leave our own province because there are plenty of churches to visit within Cagayan.

Here are Eight (8) Churches in Cagayan (in-order) which you may consider for your Visita Iglesia:

1. BASILICA MINORE OF OUR LADY OF PIAT

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Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Piat is located in the outskirts of Piat Cagayan, just 1 (one) hour drive from Tuguegarao City. The shrine is dubbed as the PILGRIMAGE CENTER OF THE NORTH, and a home to the 407-year-old Black Virgin Mary, OUR LADY OF PIAT.

The altar of Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Piat

2. SAINT PETER METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL

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Saint Peter Metropolitan Cathedral, also known as the Tuguegarao Cathedral, is an 18th-century Baroque church located along Rizal Street, Barangay Centro 10, Tuguegarao, Cagayan, Philippines. The church, originally built by Dominican friars, is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tuguegarao and is considered as one of the largest churches in the Cagayan Valley

Inside Saint Peter Metropolitan Cathedral.

The interior designs of the church are exceptional. The details of the church’s ceiling are so intricate and very artistic.

3. SAN JACINTO ERMITA CHURCH

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San Jacinto Ermita Church (St. Hyacinth Church) or Ermita de Piedra de San Jacinto is located in Bonifacio Street, Tuguegarao City. It is an elevated chapel whose construction dates back from 1600-1724. The small church is 100 years older than the St. Peter Cathedral.

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The altar of Basilica Minore of San Jacinto Ermita Church (St. Hyacinth Church) or Ermita de Piedra de San Jacinto

4. STO. NIÑO PARISH

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Sto. Niño Parish - Archdiocesan Shrine of the Sto. Niño - San Gabriel is located at Main Street, San Gabriel Village, Tuguegarao City.

The altar of Sto. Niño Parish

5. STA. ROSA DE LIMA PARISH CHURCH

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Sta. Rosa de Lima Parish Church is located in Annafunan, Tuguegarao City. Historians remember St. Rose of Lima for her piety and chastity. Her beauty was so great that she was nicknamed "Rose". According to legend, a servant had a vision where her face turned into a rose. At her confirmation in 1597, she officially took the name of Rose.

6. PARISH OF THE DIVINE MERCY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

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Parish of The Divine Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ is located at Maharlika Highway Brgy Leonarda Tuguegarao,Cagayan.

The message and devotion to Jesus as The Divine Mercy is based on the writings of Saint Faustina Kowalska. It is a message we can call to mind simply by remembering ABC. A — Ask for His Mercy. B — Be merciful. C — Completely trust in Jesus.

7. ST. CLARE MONASTERY CHURCH

St. Clare Monastery is located in Bayo, Iguig Cagayan. It is a 15 to 20 minutes drive from Centro, Tuguegarao City. St. Clare Monastery is considered as the center for mediation and spiritual retreat, and it is also a popular pilgrimage site in the province

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St. Clare was designated as the patron saint of television in 1958 by Pope Pius XII, because when St. Clare was very ill, she could not attend mass and was reportedly able to see and hear it on the wall in her room. She is also the patroness of eye disease, goldsmiths, and laundry.

8. CHURCH OF SAN ANTONIO DE GALICIA

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The church is located in Centro, Iguig Cagayan. It was constructed from brick and stone. The church is believed to have been erected circa 1765 to 1787 under the parish priest Pedro de San Pedro, who also built the well, the convent, the staircase, and a bridge. It is the first church in the Cagayan Valley region to make use of galvanized iron sheets for roofing. (Wikipilinas)

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Located at the back of the church is Calvary Hills. Calvary Hills consists of 11 hectares of rolling hills where enormous concrete statues portraying the 14 Stations of the Cross could be found. Because of this, it is a favorite pilgrimage site during Holy Week. For me, this is the best place to end your Visita Iglesia since the life-size concrete statues portraying the 14 Stations of the Cross will help you grasp a clearer picture of the sufferings of Jesus for our salvation. Also, walking in the 11 hectares of rolling hills and under the scorching heat of the sun to pray the holy rosary in each station will give you a deeper sense of penance and connection to the spirit of the Holy Week celebration

You may also want to visit the following historical churches: