Philippine Embassies Around the World

1. ABU DHABI  EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Mr.) LIBRAN N. CABACTULAN


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


Villa No. 2 Street 5, E-18/02, Plot No. 97


behind Al Falah Plaza, Madinat Zayed


P.O. Box 3215, Abu Dhabi


UNITED ARAB EMIRATES


Tel. Nos. (00-9712) 641-5922 / 641-5944


Fax No.   (00-9712) 6412559


Email: auhpe@emirates.net.ae





2. ABUJA EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Mr.) MASARANGA R. UMPA


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


16 Lake Chad Cresent cor. Kainji St.


Maitama District, Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria


Tel. Nos. (234-09) 413-3649 / 7981/ 7829/ 7830


Fax No. 00-23409-413-7650


Email:  abuja_pe@yahoo.com.uk


(Jurisdiction: Burkina Faso)





3. AMMAN EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Mr.) JOSE P. DEL ROSARIO, JR.


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


No. 86 Uqbah Bin Nafe St., Jabal Amman


(between 4th and 5th circles) Amman, JORDAN


P.O. Box 92507, 11190 Amman, Jordan


Tel. No. (962-6) 592-3748, 592-9402, 592-9403


Fax No. 00-962-6 592-3744


Mobile Phone No. 962-077-340052


Email: ammanpe@wanadoo.jo  / ammanpe@dfa.gov.ph





4. ANKARA EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Ms.) BAHNARIM A. GUINOMLA (en route)


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


Mr. ALFONSO A. VER


Charge d’ Affaires, a.i.


No. 56 Mahatma Gandhi Caddesi, Gaziosmanpasa,


06700, Ankara, TURKEY


Tel. Nos. (90312) 446-5831


Fax No. 00-90312-4465733


Email: ankarape1@marketweb.net.tr





5. ATHENS EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Mr.) RIGOBERTO TIGLAO (en route)


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


26 Antheon Street, Paleo Psychico


154-52, Athens, GREECE


Tel. Nos. (30-210) 672-1883, 672-1837, 672-1869


Fax No. 00-30-210-672-1872


Email: athenspe@otenet.gr  / athenspe@dfa.gov.ph





6. BAGHDAD EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


MR. WILFREDO  R. CUYUGAN


Charge d’Affaires, a.i.


House No. 4, Zukak No. 22, Mahalat 915


Hay Al-Jamia, Al-Jadriya


P.O. Box 3236, Baghdad, IRAQ


Tel. Nos. (964-1) 778-2247


Satellite Phone No. 00-88216-6322-5158


Email: bipe@uruklink.net





7. BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Ms.) VIRGINIA H. BENAVIDEZ


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


No. 17 Simpang 126, Km. 2, Jalan Tutong, Post Code BA 2111, Bandar Seri Begawan, BRUNEI DARUSSALAM


Tel.Nos.(673) 2241465; 2241466; 2238845


Fax No.(673) 2237707


Email: bruneipe@brunet.bn


Website: http://www.philembassybrunei.com





8. BANGKOK  EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Mr.) ANTONIO V. RODRIGUEZ


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


760 Sukhumvit Road, opposite Soi 30 / 1,


Prakanong Bangkok 10110, THAILAND


Tel. Nos. (662) 259-0139, 259-0140 & 258-5401


Fax No. 00-662-2592809


Email: bangkokpe@dfa.gov.ph  / inquiry@philembassy-bangkok.net


Website:  http://www.philembassy-bangkok.net





9. BEIJING EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Ms.) SONIA C. BRADY


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


No. 23 Xiu Shui Bei-jie, Jian Guo Men Wai, Beijing, 100600


PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA


Tel. Nos. (8610) 65322-518; 65322451; 65321872 & 65324678


Fax No. 00-8610-65323761; 6532-1921


ATN Hotline (Mobile Phone) 13911180495


Email:   beijingpe@dfa.gov.ph


Website: http://www.philembassy-china.org





10. BEIRUT EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Mr.) AL FRANCIS C. BICHARA


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


1st and 2nd Floors, Design Building cor. Abdullah Machnouk St. and


Rafic Raslan St., Raouche,


P.O. Box No. 136631, Beirut, LEBANON


Tel.Nos.(961-1)791-092;791-093;791-094


Fax No. 00-9611-791-095


Email:  beirutpe@cyberia.net.lb





11. BERLIN EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Ms.) DELIA DOMINGO-ALBERT


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


Uhlandstrasse 97, 10715 Berlin


FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY


Tel. No. (49-30) 864-9500, 864-9522 / 3


Fax No. 00-4930-8732551


Email: berlinpe@t-online.de   /  berlinpe@dfa.gov.ph


Website: http://www.philippine-embassy.de/





12. BERNE EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Ms.) RORA NAVARRO-TOLENTINO


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


Kirchenfeldstrasse 73-75; 3005


Berne, SWITZERLAND


Tel. Nos. (41-031) 350 1717


Fax No.  (41-031) 352 2602


Email: berne_pe@bluewin.ch  / bernepe@dfa.gov.ph


(Jurisdiction: Principality of Liechtenstein)





13. BRASILIA  EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Ms.) TERESITA V.G. BARSANA


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


SEN - Avenida das Nacoes, Lote 01


Brasilia, D.F. CEP 70431-900, BRAZIL


Tel. Nos. (55-61)  223-5143


Fax No. 00-5561-2267411


Email: rpembassy@persocom.com.br  / brasiliape@dfa.gov.ph  /  brasiliape@brturbo.com.br


Jurisdiction : Republic of Colombia, Republic of Venezuela and Republic of Suriname)





14. BRUSSELS  EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


Mission of the Philippines to the European Communities


H.E. (Ms.) CRISTINA G. ORTEGA


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


297 Avenue Moliere


B-1050 Brussels, BELGIUM


Tel. Nos. (322) 340-3377


Fax No. 00-322-3456425


Email: brusselspe@brutele.be


Website: http://philembassy.be





15. BUCHAREST EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES (5/00)


H.E. (Mr.) NOEL C. CABRERA


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


105-107 Carol Davila St., Sector 5


Etaj.5, Apt. 10-11 Bucharest, ROMANIA


Tel. Nos. (4021) 319-8252 / 319-8254 / 319-8256


Fax No. (4021) 319-8253


Email: bucharestpe@rdsmail.ro  / bucharestpe@dfa.gov.ph


(Jurisdiction : Bulgaria and Moldava [oversight])





16. BUDAPEST  EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES (4/00)


H.E. (Mr.) ALEJANDRO D. DEL ROSARIO


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


1026 Budapest , Gabor Aron Utca 58


Budapest, HUNGARY


Tel. Nos. (361) 200-5523 / 5524 / 5526


Fax No. 00-361-2005528


Email: phbuda@mail.datanet.hu


(Jurisdiction: Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia,  Montenegro)





17. BUENOS AIRES  EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Mr.) GEORGE B. REYES


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


Mariscal Ramon Castilla 3085


1425 Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA


Tel. Nos. (5411) 4807-3334


Fax No. 00-5411-4804-1595


Email: pheba@fibertel.com.ar


Website: http://www.buenosairespe.com.ar


(Jurisdiction: Paraguay,  Uruguay,  Bolivia)





18. CAIRO EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Ms.) PETRONILA P. GARCIA


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


No. 14 Mohamed Saleh St., Dokki, Cairo


ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT


Tel. Nos. (202) 748-0396/ 0398/ 0394/ 0391


Fax No. 00-202-7480393


Email:  cairope@dfa.gov.ph  / cairope@starnet.com.eg


(Jurisdiction: Sudan)





19. CANBERRA EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Mr.) ERNESTO DE LEON (en route)


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


1 Moonah Place, Yarralumla A.C.T.


2600, P.O. Box 3297, Manuka, A.C.T.


2603 Canberra, AUSTRALIA


Tel. Nos. (612) 6273-2535 / 2536


Fax No. 00-612-6273 3984


Email: cbrpe@philembassy.au.com


Website:  http://www.philembassy.au.com


(Jurisdiction: Nauru, Tuvalu, Vanuatu)





20.  CARACAS EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Mr.) RONALD B. ALLAREY


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


Quinta Filipina, Quinta Transversal de Altamira


Entre Cuarta y Quinta Avenida, Urbanizacion de Altamira


Municipio de Chacao, Caracas, VENEZUELA


Tel Nos. (58-212) 266-4725 / 4731; 267-8873


Fax No : (58-212) 266-6443 Direct Line: (58-212) 2667709


Email:  caracas@embassyph.com  (temp.) /  caracaspe@dfa.gov.ph





21. DHAKA   EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Mr.) NORBERTO R. BASILIO


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


House No. 6, Road No. 101, Gulshan II, Dhaka


PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH


Tel. Nos. (8802) 988-1590 to 93 / 988-1578


Fax No. 00-8802-882-3686


Email: philemb1@citechco.net  / philemb2@citechco.net





22. DILI EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. FARITA A. AGUILUCHO-ONG


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


Hotel Turismo, Quartos Num 37, 38, 39


Rua Direitos Humanos, Bidau Lecidere,


Dili, EAST TIMOR


Tel. No. (670) 726-1262


Fax No. (670)


Email: philippine_embassyindili@fastmail.fm





23. DOHA EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINESS


H.E. (Mr.) ISAIAS F. BEGONIA


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


Villa # 7 A1 Eithar Street, Saha 2, West Bay Area


Doha, STATE OF QATAR; P.O. Box No. 24900


Tel. Nos. (974) 4831-585; 4836-871


Fax No. 00-974-4831595


Satellite Phone No. 00-974-483-1595


Email: dohape@qatar.net.qa





24. HANOI EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Ms.) ESTRELLA BERENGUEL


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


27-B Tran Hung Dao Street, Hanoi,


SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM


Tel. Nos. (84-4) 943-7873/ 3849/ 4493


Fax No. 00-844-943-5760


Email: hanoipe@dfa.gov.ph  / hnpe2000@yahoo.com





25. HAVANA  EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Mr.) GEORGE REYES


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


Quinta Avenida, No. 2207 entre Calles 22 y 24


Miramar, Havana, Republic of CUBA


Tel. Nos. (53-7) 204-1372/ 1551/ 1553


Fax No. 00-537-204-2915


Email: philhavpe@enet.cu


(Jurisdiction: Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti & Jamaica)





26. HOLY SEE (VATICAN)  EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Ms.) LEONIDA L. VERA


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


Via Paolo VI, No. 29   00193 Rome, ITALY


Tel. Nos. (0039-06) 683-8020


Fax No. 00-396-6834076


Email: vaticanpe@philamsee.mysam.it  /  mailbox@philamsee.mysam.it





27. ISLAMABAD  EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Mr.) JAIME J. YAMBAO


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


House No. 12, Street No. 12, F/2, Islamabad


P.O. Box 1052, Islamabad, PAKISTAN


Tel. Nos.(9251) 265-3661/3662; 265-3670 / 3682


Fax No. 00-9251-227-7389


Email: isdpe@isb.comsats.net.pk





28. JAKARTA EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Mr.) SHULAN O. PRIMAVERA


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


# 6 - 8 Jalan Imam Bonjol, Menteng,


Jakarta Pusat 10310, Republic of INDONESIA


Tel. Nos. (6221) 310-0334


Fax No. 00-6221-3151167


Email: phjkt@indo.net.id





29. KOROR EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES (01/22/01)


H.E. (Mr.) RAMONCITO N. MARIÑO


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


2nd Flr, M. Ueki Bldg. Iyebukel Hamlet, Koror,


REPUBLIC OF PALAU 96940: P.O. Box 1447


Tel. Nos. (680) 488 5077 / 5482


Fax No. 00-680-488-6310


Email: philkor@palaunet.com





30. KUALA LUMPUR EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Mr.)  VICTORIANO M. LECAROS


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


No. 1 Changkat Kia Peng 50450


Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA


Tel. Nos. (603) 2148 4233; 2148 4654; 214 84682 & 2148 9989


Fax No. 00-603-2148-3576


Email: webmaster@philembassykl.org.my  / consular@philembassykl.org.my


Website:  http://www.philembassykl.org.my





31. KUWAIT EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Mr.) RICARDO M. ENDAYA


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


Area 7,  Street 103, Villa 503,  Jabriya,  P.O. Box 26288


Safat 13123,  STATE OF KUWAIT


Tel. Nos. (00965) 532 9318; 534 9099; 534 5761 / 62


Fax No. 00-965-532-9319


Email: kuwaitpe@philemb.fasttelco.com  / kuwaitpe@dfa.gov.ph


Website:  http://www.philembassykuwait.gov.kw





32. LONDON EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Mr.) EDGARDO B. ESPIRITU


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


9A Palace Green, London W8 4QE,


UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN


Tel. Nos. (4420) 7937-1600


Fax No. 00-44-20-7937-2925


Email: embassy@philemb.co.uk


Website: http://www.philemb.co.uk





33. MADRID  EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Mr.) JOSEPH DELANO M. BERNARDO


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


Calle Eresma 2 (Chancery)


Calle Guadalquivir 6 (Consular Section)


28002 Madrid, SPAIN


Tel. Nos. (34) 917-823-830


Fax No. 00-34-914-116-606


Email:     MADRIDPE@terra.es / MADRIDPE@filipinas.e.telefonica.net


Website: http://www.telefonica.net/web/philmadrid


(Jurisdiction: Spain, Morocco, Andorra)





34. MANAMA EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Mr.) EDUARDO PABLO M. MAGLAYA


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


Villa No. 992, Road No. 3119, Manama Town 331, KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN


Tel. No. (973) 250-990, 259-599


Fax No. 00-973-258-583


Email: manamape@batelco.com.bh





35. MEXICO EMBAJADA DE FILIPINAS


H.E. (Mr.) JUSTO O. ORROS, JR.


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


Sierra Gorda 175, Colonia Lomas de Chapultepec


Delegacion Miguel Hidalgo, D.F.


MEXICO,  C.P. 11000


Tel. Nos. (0052-55) 5202-8456 / 9360


Fax No. (0052-55) 5202–8403


Email: ambamexi@att.net.mx


(Jurisdiction: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Belize)





36. MOSCOW EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Mr.)  ERNESTO V. LLAMAS


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


Karmanitsky, Pereulok 6/8


Moscow 121099 , RUSSIAN FEDERATION


Tel. No. (+7495) - 2410563


Fax No. (+7495) - 2412630


Email: moscowpe@utsmail.ru  / moscowpe@dfa.gov.ph


Website: http://www.phil-embassy.ru/


(Jurisdiction: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakstan, Kyrgystan, Tajikstan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan)





37. MUSCAT EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Mr.) ACMAD D. OMAR


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


Building No.1041/1043,Way No. 3015, Al Kharjiyad St.


Shati Al Qurum; Muscat, Sultanate of Oman


P.O. Box No. 420, Madinat Qaboos


Postal Code 115, SULTANATE OF OMAN


Tel. Nos. (968) 605-140; 605-143; 605-335;


Fax No. 00-968-605-176


Email: muscatpe@omantel.net.om





38. NAIROBI EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


Ms. BERNARDITAS C. MULLER


Charge d’Affaires, a.i.


House No. Plot L.R. 3734/592 Mugumo Road,


off James Gichuru Road, Lavington,


Nairobi, KENYA


P.O. Box 47941


Tel. Nos. (254-2) 575 604


Fax No. 00-2542-576 233


Email:  nairobipe@wananchi.com


(Jurisdictions: Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda)





39. NEW DELHI       EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Ms.) LAURA Q. DEL ROSARIO


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


50-N Nyaya Marg. Chanakyapuri,


New Delhi 110021, INDIA


Tel. Nos. (9111) 2688-9091; 2410-1120


Fax No. 00-9111-2687-6401


Email: newdelhipe@vsnl.net


Website: http://www.philembassynewdelhi.com





40. OTTAWA EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Mr.) JOSE S. BRILLANTES


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


130 Albert Street, Suite 606,


Ottawa, Ontario CANADA KIP 5G4


Tel. No. (1613) 2331-121


Fax No. 00-1613-233 4165


Email: embassyofphilippines@rogers.com


Website: http://members.rogers.com/embassyofphilippines





41. PARIS EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Mr.) JOSE A. ZAIDE, JR.


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


4, Hameau de Boulainvilliers 75016


Paris, REPUBLIC OF FRANCE


Tel. Nos. (331) 44-14-57-00; 44-14-57-01 to 03


Fax No. 00-331-46475600; 45670797, 4288 2995


Email: AmbaphilParis@wanadoo.fr  / parispe@wanadoo.fr





42. PHNOM PENH EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Ms.) LOURDES G. MORALES


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


No. 33 Road 294 Khan Chamcarmon,


Sangkat Tonle Bassac,  P.O. Box 2018 Phnom Penh, Kingdom of CAMBODIA


Tel. No. (855) (23) 215145, 222303; 222304


Fax No. 00-855-23 215143


Email: phnompenhpe@online.com.kh





43. PORT MORESBY EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


Mr. HERMOSO A. BELARMINO


Acting Head of Post


Lot 1, Section 440, Islander Village, Hohola, NCD


PAPUA NEW GUINEA P.O. Box 5916, Boroko,


N.C.D. PAPUA NEW GUINEA


Tel. Nos. (675) 325-65-77; 325 6414


Fax No. 00-675-323-1803


Email: pompe@datec.net.pg


44. PRAGUE EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Ms.) CARMELITA R. SALAS


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


Senovazne Namesti 8, Prague 1, 110 00,


CZECH REPUBLIC


Tel. Nos. (4202) 2241-6397 or 2241-6385


Fax No.  (00-4202) 2421-6390


Email: praguepe@phembassy.cz





45. PRETORIA EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Mr.) VIRGILIO A. REYES, JR.


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


54 Nicolson St., Muckleneuk, 0181,


Pretoria, SOUTH AFRICA


P.O. Box 2562, Brooklyn Square 0075


Tel. Nos.(2712) 346-0451; 346-0452


Fax No. 00-2712-346-0454


Email: pretoriape@mweb.co.za  / pretoriape@dfa.gov.ph


Website: http://mzone.mweb.co.za/residents/pretoriape/





46. RIYADH EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Mr.) BAHNARIM A. GUINOMLA


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


Site D3 Collector Road C, Diplomatic Quarter,


Riyadh, P.O. Box 94366,


KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA 11693


Tel. Nos.(9661) 482-3559 / 480 1918


Fax No. 00-9661-488-3945


Email: filembry@sbm.net.sa  / filembry@mailandnews.com


Website:  http://www.filembry.org





47. ROME EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Mr.) PHILIPPE J. LHUILLIER


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Italian Republic, Albania and San Marino


Viale delle Medaglie d’Oro No. 112-114, 00136


Rome, ITALY


Tel. Nos. (39) 06 39746621


Fax No. (0039) 06-39740872


Office of Agricultural Attache - +39 06 3974 6717


Labor Attache - +39 06 3974 6101


OWWA - +39 06 3975 6716


Pag Ibig Fund - +39 06 3974 6716


SSS - +39 06 3972 1505


Email: romepe@dfa.gov.ph  / romepe2004@virgilio.it





48. SANTIAGO  EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Ms.) MA. CONSUELO PUYAT-REYES


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


Felix de Amesti Street, No. 367,


Las Condes, Santiago, CHILE


Tel. No. (562) 2081313, 2081939, 2281670


Fax No. 00-562-2081400


Email: santiagope@dfa.gov.ph  / embassyphil@vtr.net  / embafilsantiago@vtr.net


(Jurisdiction: Chile, Bolivia and Ecuador)





49. SEOUL  EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES (04/02/01)


H.E. (Ms.) SUSAN O. CASTRENCE


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


34-44, Itaewon I-dong, Yongsan-Ku


Seoul, REPUBLIC OF KOREA


Tel. Nos. (822) 796-7387 to 89


Fax No. 00-822-796-0827


Email: seoulpe@gmail.com  / seoulpe@dfa.gov.ph





50. SINGAPORE EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Ms.) BELEN F. ANOTA


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


20 Nassim Road, REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE 258395


Tel. Nos. (65) 6737-3977 / 6834-2938


Fax No. 00-65-6733-9544


Email: php@pacific.net.sg


Website: http://www.philippine-embassy.org.sg





51. STOCKHOLM EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Ms.) VICTORIA S. BATACLAN


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


Skeppsbron 20, 1 tr 111 30


Stockholm, SWEDEN;


P.O. Box 2219, 103 15 Stockholm, SWEDEN


Tel.Nos. (46 235-665, 230-606 & 209-187


Fax No. (46 140714


Email: ambassador@philembassy.se


Website:  http://www.philembassy.se





52. TEHRAN  EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


Mr. RENATO N. DUEÑAS, JR.


Charge d’Affaires, a.i.


No. 77 Khorsand Street, Vali Asr Avenue


Tehran, IRAN


P.O. Box 19395-4797


Tel. Nos. (9821) 204-3272


Fax No. 00-9821-205-7515


Email:  tehranpe@yahoo.com





53. TEL-AVIV EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Mr.) ANTONIO C. MODENA


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


13th Floor, Textile Center Building, 2 Kaufman Street, Tel-Aviv, ISRAEL,68012


Tel. Nos.(9723) 5175-263, 5104-651, 5100752


Fax No. 00-9723-5102229


Email: filembis@netvision.net.il


(Jurisdiction: Cyprus)





54. THE HAGUE  EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Mr.) ROMEO A. ARGUELLES


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


125 Laan Copes Van Cattenburch 2585 EZ,


The Hague, KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS


Tel. Nos. (3170) 360-4820; 360-4821 & 365-85-66


Fax No. 00-3170-3560030


Email: ph@bart.nl





55. TOKYO EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Mr.) DOMINGO L. SIAZON, JR.


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


5-15-5, Roppongi Minato-ku;


Tokyo 106-8537, JAPAN


Tel. nos. (813)5562-1600, 5562-1607, 5562-1577


Fax No. 08-13-5562-1603


Email: phjp@gol.com


Website:  http://www.tokyope.org





56. TRIPOLI EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Mr.) BAYANI V. MANGIBIN


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


KM 7 Gargaresh Road, Hail Andalous


P.O. Box 12508, Tripoli, LIBYA


Tel No. (218-21) 483 3966 / 483 6158


Fax No. 00218-21-4836158


Email: tripoli_pe76@lttnet.net


(Jurisdiction: Valleta, Malta)





57. VIENNA EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Ms.) LINGLINGAY F. LACANLALE


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


Laurenzerberg 2, A-1010 Vienna, AUSTRIA


Tel. Nos. (431) 533-24-01; (436991) 232-2034


Fax No. 00-431-533 240124


Email: office@philippine-embassy.at


Website: http://www.philippine-embassy.at


(Jurisdiction: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Mission of the Philippines to IAEA, UNIDO, CTBTO and UNOV)





58. VIENTIANE EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Ms.) ELIZABETH P. BUENSUCESO


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


Ban Sibounheuang, Sisattanak District


Vientiane, LAO PDR, P.O. Box 2415


Tel. Nos. (856-21) 215 826 / 219 318


Fax No.  (856-21) 223 725


Email: pelaopdr@laotel.com  / pevte@laopdr.com





59. WASHINGTON EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Mr.) ALBERT F. DEL ROSARIO


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW,


Washington D.C. 20036, U.S.A.


Tel. No. (1202) 467-9300; 467-9382


Fax No. 00-1202-3287614; 467 9417


Email:  phembassyusa@aol.com


Website: http://www.philippineembassy-usa.org





60. WELLINGTON EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES


H.E. (Mr.) BIENVENIDO V. TEJANO


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


50 Hobson Street, Thorndon,


Wellington, NEW ZEALAND; P.O. Box 12-042,


Wellington, NEW ZEALAND;


Tel. Nos. (644) 4729-848 & 472 9921


Fax No. 00-644-4725170


Mobile No. : (64-025_ 290-9296


Email: embassy@wellington-pe.co.nz


(Jurisdiction : Tonga, Samoa and Fiji)





61. YANGON EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES `


H.E. (Ms.) PHOEBE A. GOMEZ


Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary


No. 50 Saya San Road, Bahan Township,


Yangon, UNION OF MYANMAR


Tel. Nos. (951) 558-149 to 153


Fax No. 00-951-558-154

Titles of Philippine Places

What's in a Name?


The Department of Tourism (DoT) has the habit of using titles as a way of endorsing tourist destinations in the country. However, other countries are also using similar titles. Aside from Filipinos, the Japanese also use the phrase "Pearl of the Orient" to refer to their country. While Filipinos describe the Banaue Rice Terraces as the eighth wonder of the world, the Chinese use the same title for the Great Wall of China and the Cambodians for Angkor Wat. According to Filipinos, Mount Mayon has the most beautiful cone figure among all volcanoes in the world, the same way the Japanese view Mount Fuji and Costa Ricans view Arenal volcano. Davao City is reportedly the world's largest city but other cities in the world protest, including Puerto Princesa City of Palawan. Boracay Island is sold as the world's most beautiful beach resort, but Thailand, Indonesia, Latin American countries and several Pacific islands are ready to contest this title.


Aklan - oldest province


Angono, Rizal - town of artists


Antipolo City - picnic area


Apalit, Pampanga - tapayan capital


Baclayon Church, Bohol - oldest stone church


Bacolod City - city of smiles


Bacolor, Pampanga - country's capital in 1762-1763


Baguio City - summer capital


Balabac Island, Palawan - land of Philippine mouse deer


Baliuag, Bulacan - the first town to have election


Banaue Rice Terraces - stairways to the sky


Barasoain Church - headquarters of the Malolos Congress


Basey, Samar - town of mat festival


Batanes - smallest province; northernmost province


Bataan - last stronghold during Japanese occupation


Biak na Bato, San Miguel, Bulacan - site of the Biak na Bato republic


Binondo - known for Chinatown district


Bocaue, Bulacan - firecrackers' capital


Bohol - land of chocolate hills


Boracay Island - world's finest beach resort


Bulacan - land of heroes and beautiful women


Bukidnon - pineapple country


Calamba, Laguna - birthplace of Jose Rizal


Calamian Islands - land of Calamian deer


Calauit Island, Palawan - animal sanctuary


Camiguin - land of volcanoes


Capiz - seafood capital


Catanduanes - land of howling winds


Cebu City - premiere city in the south


Central Luzon - rice bowl


Corregidor Island - island fortress; the rock


Crisologo Street, Vigan - kamestizoan district


Davao City- world's largest city; durian capital


Davao Oriental - easternmost province


Divisoria - bargain capital


Donsol, Sorsogon - sanctuary of whale sharks


Gapan, Nueva Ecija - newest city


General Santos City - most competitive city; tuna capital


Guiginto, Bulacan - cutflower capital


Guimaras - mango capital


Hundred Islands, Pangasinan - actually composed of 400 islets


Iligan City - land of waterfalls


Intramuros, Manila - walled city


Kabayan, Benguet - land of mummies


Kalibo, Aklan - land of ati-atihan


Kawit, Cavite - first independent town


Laguna - resort province


Laguna de Bay - largest lake


Lanao del Sur - center of Islam


Las Pinas City - land of the bamboo organ


Lipa, Batangas - coffee capital


Lubao, Pampanga - the birthplace of Diosdado Macapagal


Lucban, Quezon - Pahiyas town


Luzon - world's 17th largest island


Magallanes, Agusan del Norte - site of the oldest tree


Makati City - financial center


Malolos, Bulacan - site of the First Philippine Republic


Manila - capital city


Maria Cristina Falls, Iligan City - mother of industry


Marikina City - shoe capital


Mexico, Pampanga - formerly known as Masicu


Meycauayan, Bulacan - jewelry capital


Miag-ao Church, Iloilo - fortress church


Mindanao - world's 19th largest island


Mindoro - land of the tamaraws


Mount Apo - highest peak


Mount Arayat - legendary home of Mariang Sinukuan


Mount Mayon - a volcano with nearly perfect cone


Nayong Pilipino - Philippines in miniature. (The theme park was opened in 1972 and closed on June 25, 2002.)


Negros Occidental - sugar capital; sports capital


Pagsanjan Falls - Philippines' el dorado


Palawan - the last frontier; largest province; westernmost province


Pampanga - culinary capital of Luzon


Paete, Laguna - town of wood carvers


Paoay Church, Ilocos Norte - earthquake baroque


Paombong, Bulacan - vinegar capital


Philippine Deep - world's second deepest spot


Philippines - pearl of the orient


Rio Grande de Cagayan - longest river


Romblon - marble country

San Agustin Church, Intramuros - oldest church in Luzon


San Fernando, Pampanga - lantern capital of the world


San Juanico Bridge - longest suspension bridge


San Sebastian Church - the only steel church in Asia


Siargao Island - perfect waves island


Spratleys - the islands claimed by six countries


Sta. Maria, Bulacan - egg nest of the Philippines


Sta. Maria Church, Ilocos Sur - outstanding example of Spanish baroque architecture


Subic Freeport - American town


Taal Volcano - world's smallest volcano


Tagaytay City - the next summer capital


Tangub City - Christmas symbol capital


Tawi-Tawi - southernmost province


Trinidad Valley - land of strawberry and vegetables


Tubbataha Marine Park - world's richest bio-geographic area


Unisan, Quezon - oldest town


University of San Carlos, Cebu City - oldest university


Vigan, Ilocos Sur - Spanish colonial town


Zamboanga Sibugay - newest province

The Philippine National Anthem

Lupang hinirang


Bayang magiliw,perlas ng silanganan


Alab ng puso,sa dibdib moy buhay


Lupang hinirang,duyan ka ng magiting


Sa manlulupig di ka pasisiil





Sa dagat at bundok, sa simoy at sa langit mong bughaw


May dilag ang tula,at awit sa paglayang minamahal


Ang kislap ng watawat moy tagumpay na nagniningning


Ang bituin at araw niya'y kailan pa may di mag didilim





Lupa ng araw ng luwalhating pagsinta,buhay ay langit sa piling mo


Aming ligaya na pag may mang aapi


Ang mamatay ng dahil sayo

Philippine Natural Wonders

Third Longest Coastline

The Philippines, one of the world's largest archipelagos, also has one of the longest combined coastlines in the planet. The total length of the country's coastlines is 36,289 kilometers or almost twice that of the United States. It is said to be the third country with the longest combined coastlines, after Canada and Indonesia. With 7,107 islands, the Philippines lies between two great bodies of water, namely: on the east by Pacific Ocean, the world's largest ocean and on the west by South China Sea, the world's second largest sea after Caribbean Sea.

Eighth Wonder of the World

The Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao province has been dubbed as the "Eighth Wonder of the World". The Ifugaos carved the terraces from the rocky mountain of Banaue, about 4,000 feet above the sea level, hundreds of years ago. The total outline of this architectural wonder, otherwise known as the "stairways to the sky" is about 13,500 miles long, or about half the globe's circumference and ten times the length of the Great Wall of China.

To preserve the natural beauty of the spot, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared it as a world heritage site. "For 2,000 years, the high rice fields of the Ifugao have followed the contours of the mountain. The fruit of knowledge passed on from one generation to the next, of sacred traditions and a delicate social balance, they helped form a landscape of great beauty that expresses conquered and conserved harmony between humankind and the environment," the UNESCO said.

World's Deepest Spots

The world's second deepest spot underwater is in the Philippines. This spot, about 34,440 feet (10,497 meters) below the sea level, is known as the Philippine Deep or the Mindanao Trench. The Philippine Deep is in the floor of the Philippine Sea. The German ship Emden first plumbed the trench in 1927. The world's deepest part of the ocean is the Marianas Trench, which is over 11,000 meters below the seal level.

Nearly Perfect Cone

Mayon Volcano in Albay province has the distinction of having a nearly perfect cone. Towering at a height of 2,462 meters above the sea level, Mount Mayon overlooks Legaspi City. Its name, derived from the Bicolano term Magayon, means beautiful and is associated with a folk legend. The volcano has a base circumference of 62.8 kilometers. Geologists claimed that the stratovolcano developed its cone shape from a pile around the vent of volcanic materials composed of lava, rock and ash. Its first eruption was recorded in 1616, and there were at least 47 more eruptions since then, the last one in February, 2000. In 1911, its eruption killed 1,300 people and buried the town of Cagsawa.

World's Smallest Volcano

Taal Volcano, a 406-meter-high crater, is said to be the world's smallest volcano. It is described as "a crater within an island within a lake" because it stands as an island at Taal Lake. The lake was formed after the volcano, which used to be much larger, collapsed. The ridges around Tagaytay City, which overlooks the lake, are believed to be part of the crater of the old volcano. These ridges now serve as the border of the 18-mile-diameter Taal Lake and stretch 32 kilometers from Mount Batulao to Mount Sungay. Also considered as one of the world's most active volcanoes, Taal Volcano has erupted over 20 times since 1572.

Animal Sanctuary

Located northwest off Palawan mainland is Calauit Island, a 3,700-hectare wildlife sanctuary that serves as a host to African and Philippine wildlife. The Philippine government developed the sanctuary in response to an appeal by the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to save the endangered animals. The only one of its kind in the Philippines, Calauit is home to over 600 species of giraffe, impala, topi, gazelles, eland, and zebra and to Philippine endangered species such as the Calamian deer, Palawan bearcat, Philippine mouse deer, tarsier, pheasant peacock, scaly ant-eater and monitor lizard. The island also provides a refuge to sea turtles (pawikan), giant clams and the rare seacow or dugong.

Largest Natural Park

The Sierra Madre national park in northern Luzon is the country's largest natural park. The 359,000-hectare park is the home of endangered species such as pawikan (Chelonia mytas), bayakan or giant bat, Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), wild boar (Sus philippinesis), Philippine brown dear (Cervus marianus), cloud rat (Ratus mindorensis), flame-breasted fruit dove, kalaw (Philippine hornbill), bukarot (Philippine crocodile), and native owl.

Richest Marine Park

The Tubbataha Reefs in Sulu Sea is considered as the world's richest bio-geographic area. Derived from two Samal words meaning, "long reef exposed at a low tide", Tubbataha was declared as the country's first national marine park in 1988. The marine park covers 33,200 hectares and contains what is believed to be the world's largest grouping of marine life, per unit area. Scientists claimed that more than 300 coral species, and at least 40 families and 379 species of fish were recorded in the area. Among the species identified in the area were manta rays, sea turtles, sharks, tuna, dolphins and jackfish. In 1993, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) listed Tubbataha Reefs as a world heritage site.

Finest Beach Resort

Widely known as one of the world's finest beach resorts, Boracay Island has unsullied fine talcum powder-sand beaches. Its tranquil crystal clear waters are perfect for swimming, sailing, fishing and sunbathing. The island also affords visitor a magnificent view of sapphire seas and golden sunsets. The island lies at the northwest tip of Panay, in the west Visayas region, off the Sibuyan Sea.

Siargao Island

Siargao Island, lying east of Surigao del Norte province, boasts of white-sand beaches and surfing waves comparable to that of Hawaii. The island is a mass of tropical land with scores of reefs, points and white beaches. American surf photographer John Callahan discovered the remarkable waves of the island in 1993. He came back from his trip armed with stories about the lovely sun-drenched island and documented his find with beautiful photographs. Siargao's Cloud Nine break is said to be among the best in the world.

Longest Cave

The 15-kilometer St. Paul Cave in Palawan province is considered as the longest natural cave in the country. Other notable caves in the Philippines are the 8.9-kilometer Odloman Cave in Mabinay, Negros Oriental; and the 7.7-kilometer Odessa Tumbali Cave in Penablanca, Cagayan. In terms of vertical range, the deepest cave is the Sumaging-Latipan-Lomyang Crystal Cave in Sagada Mountain Province. Its deepest point is 163 meters from its mouth.

World's Longest Underground River


Palawan's St. Paul's underground river is said to be the world's longest underground river. The navigable part of the river inside the cave of the 4000-acre St. Paul Subterranean River stretches 8.2 kilometers in length (5 miles). However, this title is being disputed in Vietnam where an underground river known as Son Trach River reportedly extends 7 miles in length. Filipino explorers, however, claimed that once fully measured, St. Paul total length would reach 15 kilometers.

Longest River

Cagayan River or Rio Grande de Cagayan, with a total length of 353 kilometers, is the longest and widest river in the Philippines. It bisects the Cagayan Valley from north to south. Also considered as the mightiest watercourse, Cagayan River sources its water from smaller rivers and streams in the mountain ranges of Sierra Madre, Caraballo, Cordillera, and Balete Pass. This river meets the South China Sea in an impressive expanse known as Aparri Delta. The other notable rivers in Luzon are Chico, Abra, Pampanga, and Bicol. In the south, the principal rivers are Mindanao (known in its upper course as the Pulangi) and Agusan. Meanwhile, the underground river of St. Paul's Natural Park in Palawan is considered as one of the world's longest subterranean rivers. The world's longest rivers are the Nile River in Egypt and Amazon River in South America. Also worth mentioning are the Yangtze River in China, Mekong River in Vietnam, and Euphrates River in Iraq.

Highest Mountain

Towering at a height of 2,954 meters (9,692 feets), Mount Apo is the highest peak in the country. Located 25 kilometers south of Davao City, the mountain which forms part of the Mount Apo National Park is blessed with hot springs, sulfur pillars, geysers, lakes, rivers and waterfalls. It is home to a number of endemic animals such as the Philippine eagle, falconet and mynah. Its peak can be reached on a four-day hiking trip. Apo means "grandfather of all mountains". Scientists classify it as a semi-active volcano. Materials from previous eruptions have made the soil around the mountain extremely fertile. The mountain's base covers 72,796 hectares of mountain ranges that extend from Davao del Sur to Misamis Oriental. While the mountain's peak looks snow-capped, the white appearance is actually caused by the presence of sulfur.

Longest Mountain Range

The longest mountain range in the country is Sierra Madre, which stretches from Cagayan province in northeastern Luzon to Aurora province in southern Tagalog.

Highest Waterfalls

The highest waterfall in the country is the 388-meter-high Aliwagwag Falls, in Cateel town, Davao Oriental province. The cascade has 13 rapids and looks like a stairway with 84 steps of varying heights.

The second highest waterfall is located in Barangay Rogongon, 54 kilometers from Iligan City. Limunsudan Falls, a two-tiered fall, has a combined height of 870 feet. Its lower cascade alone measures 400 feet, higher than the entire height of Maria Cristiana Falls.

Maria Cristina Falls, also in Iligan City (Lanao del Norte), towers at 320 feet. Also known as the "Mother of Industry", Maria Cristina Falls supplies 80 percent of the total energy requirement of the Mindanao region. Another breathtaking waterfall in Iligan City is the Tinago Falls, located 13 kilometers from the city proper. As its name implies, this 420-foot waterfall lies hidden in a deep ravine. The world's highest waterfall is the Angel Falls in Venezuela. As a tributary of Caroni River, this waterfall has a total elevation of 3,281 feet.

Largest Lake

Laguna de Bay, an inland body of water covering 900 square kilometers, is the country's largest lake. Located between the provinces of Rizal and Laguna, the lake receives its water from 21 river systems. In the middle of the lake lies the island of Talim, a heavily populated settlement of mostly fishermen. The second largest lake in the country is Lake Sultan-Alonto in Mindanao. Commonly known as Lake Lanao, the lake covers an area of 355 square kilometers. Meanwhile, the world's largest inland body of water is the Caspian Sea, which is actually a lake in the boundary of Europe and Asia and covering an area of 143,240 square miles. Lake Superior (North America), Lake Victoria (Africa), the Aral Sea (Russia) and Lake Huron (North America) are also among the world's largest lakes.

Towering Cliffs

The towering limestone cliffs of El Nido that rise magnificently from the crystal clear waters of South China Sea amidst verdant backdrop are among the most astonishing pictures one can see in the Philippines. El Nido, a secluded group of islands west off Palawan province, is also known as a sanctuary of endangered birds and marine animals.

World Heritage Sites

The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) has included four places and four Catholic churches in the Philippines in the list of world heritage sites. These include the historic town of Vigan in Ilocos Sur province, which is known for its Spanish colonial houses; the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park in Palawan province, which boasts of the world's longest underground river; the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park also in Palawan, which is home to over 300 coral species and 400 species of fish; and the rice terraces in Ifugao province, which cover about 20,000 hectares of the Cordillera mountain range.

The four Catholic churches also included in the list of world heritage sites are the Santo Tomas de Villanueva Church in Miag-ao, Iloilo, which the Agustinians built as a fortress-church in Baroque-Romanesque style on a hill in 1786; the Nuestra Se? dela Asuncion in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur, which is located on a hill surrounded by a stone wall; the San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila, which was built as early as 1587; and the Church of San Agustin in Paoay, Ilocos Norte, which was made of coral stone and was adorned like an Asian temple.

Signatory to Environmental Pacts

The Philippines is a signatory to the following international environmental agreements: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, and Wetlands (Source: US Central Intelligence Agency)

The following are information from Txtmania. For sources and more accurate and detailed information, you may visit their website at http://www.txtmania.com/

Philippine Sports Trivia

That elusive Olympic gold medal!

The country's continuous search for its first Olympic gold medal does not necessarily mean that no Filipino could respond to the challenge. Some the world's finest bowlers, cue artists and boxers have Filipino blood running in their veins. Too bad, bowling and billiards are not included in the Olympiad. Boxing, on the other hand, has already produced two silver medals for the country.

It would probably take a few decades more before Filipinos could master all the games in the Olympics, which foreigners had introduced. Had Philippine indigenous sports been included in the Olympiad, the country could have been a consistent topnotch in the Olympic medal ranking.

Who could beat the Filipinos in mind puzzling and muscle flexing games like sipa, siato, patintero and moro-moro. These games, no doubt, are far more engaging than football and baseball and require more tactical skills and strategic planning.

While most modern sports were introduced to the Philippines only in the 20th century, Filipinos for centuries have developed and perfected games like arnis de mano, which could match Europe's fencing; dumog, wrestling; sikaran, martial arts; patintero or tubigan, football; siato, baseball; moro-moro, long jump; luksong baka, high jump; bato-bato, relay; tarumpo, dart; paligsahang kalabaw, equestrian; and dama, chess.

Among other native sports in the country are buchay, bunong braso, buwan buwan, culliot, kalahoyo, lanse, lubi lubi, luksong alon, luksong lubid, luksong palia, luksong tinik, palo sebo, paluan ng palayok, piko-piko, sangkayaw, sumping, sungka, takip silim, tsakad and tumbang preso.

It's only in the early 1900s that the Americans introduced sports like basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, tennis, golf, track and field and swimming. The Europeans later introduced football, polo and cricket. Ironically, the most popular sports in the Philippines today are billiards and bowling, maybe because height is not a requirement in these games.

The problem with other Olympic events such as sprint and swimming is that they do not have weight or height divisions. How could anyone determine who the fastest five-foot man in the world is, if all contenders stand over six feet tall? It is tempting to conclude that a Filipino fits as an answer to the question.

We believe, however, that despite a disadvantage in height, a Filipino would one day bring home that elusive Olympic gold medal. And the Filipino people would be there to cherish that festive moment.

Do You Know That...

Weather Makes Basketball Popular

Basketball is considered the number one spectators' event in the country simply because it is usually held under a roof (at the Araneta Coliseum for example). Baseball and football could not gain popularity because Filipino spectators are not willing to seat under the scorching sun or heavy rains. It must be noted, however, that young Filipinos are beginning to switch to new games, such as billiards and computer games, because of the limited number of basketball courts in the country.

Filipinos Brought Home 3 Olympic Medals in 1932

Three Filipino athletes brought home a bronze medal apiece from the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. Swimmer Teofilo Yldefonso won a bronze at the 200-meter breaststroke event while Simeon Toribio also clinched a bronze in the high jump event. Jose "Cely" Villanueva clinched the country's first boxing bronze medal in the bantamweight category.

Filipinos Won 9 Olympic Medals

Filipino athletes have brought home a total of 9 Olympic medals since the country began participating in the quadrennial event in 1924. Teofilo Yldefonso, a 200-breastroke swimmer, won the country's first bronze medal at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics and its second bronze at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. The country actually had 3 medals in 1932 when Simeon Torribio, a high jumper, added a bronze and bantamweight boxer Jose "Cely" Villanueva clinched another bronze.

Miguel White, who fought for the country in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, won a bronze in the 400-meter hurdles event. Featherweight boxer Anthony Villanueva, a son of Jose, won the country's first silver medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Villanueva actually lost a controversial decision to Russian Stanislav Stephaskin in their battle for the gold medal.

Tenpin player Arianne Cerdena won a gold in bowling at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, but Cerdena's gold was not included in the medal tally since bowling was considered only as a demonstration sport. Light flyweight boxer Leopoldo Serantes, however, brought home a bronze from Seoul. Light flyweight boxer Roel Velasco won a bronze at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. In taekwondo, bantamweight Stephen Fernandez and featherweight Bea Lucero brought home two bronze medals from Barcelona, but they were not included in the medal tally, since taekwondo was just counted as a demonstration sport then.

Roel's younger brother Mansueto "Onyok" Velasco won a silver at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Onyok lost a controversial decision to Bulgarian Daniel Bojilov in the light-flyweight finals.

RP Became Far Eastern Games Champion

At the inaugural Far Eastern Games in 1913, the Philippines beat China to clinch the championship. Only the two countries competed in the event in 1913 and 1915 while Japan joined in 1917 and Indonesia in 1934. From 1913 to 1934, China won 9 championships and the Philippines only one championship.

RP Placed 2nd at Asian Games

The Philippines placed second to Japan among 18 participating countries in 8 sports events at the 1954 Asian Games held in Manila. It also placed second behind Japan among 20 participating countries in 13 sports events at the 1958 Asian Games held in Tokyo.

Filipinos Won 56 Asiad Gold Medals

The Philippines has hauled in a total of 56 gold medals since it began participating in the 1951 New Delhi Asian Games. When the country hosted the 1954 Asian Games, Filipino athletes captured 14 gold medals, good enough to make the country second to Japan in the medal tally. It also placed second to Japan in the 1958 Tokyo Asiad when Filipino athletes brought home nine gold medals.

Filipino Boxers Won 5 Asiad Golds in 1954

When Manila hosted the Asian Games in 1954, five Filipino boxers won a gold medal each. These boxers were flyweight Ernesto Sajo, bantamweight Alejandro Ortuoste, lightweight Celedonio Espinosa, lightwelterweight Ernesto Porto, and middleweight Vicente Tunacao. Four decades later, three Filipino boxers brought home a gold medal each from the 1994 Hiroshima Asiad. These boxers were light flyweight Mansueto Velaco, Reynaldo Galido and Elias Recaido.

RP Placed 2nd in Sea Games

The Philippines placed second to Indonesia in the 1991 Southeast Asian Games held in Manila, with 91 gold, 62 silver and 84 bronze medals and nearly edged out Indonesia which got 92 gold medals. In 1983, the Philippines was also second behind Indonesia in the medal tally, after getting 49 gold medals. The Philippines began participating in Sea Games in November 1977, where it placed third behind Indonesia and Thailand with 31 gold medals.

Dumapong Won a Bronze in Paralympics

The Philippines got its first bronze medal in the Paralympic Games 2000 courtesy of weightlifter Angeline Dumapong who lifted 110 kilograms to win the bronze in the women's 82.5-kilogram division in Sydney, Australia in December 2000. Paralympics is a major sports competition participated in by differently-abled athletes from around the world and held just after the Olympics.

Velasco Won a Bronze at Goodwill Games

The Philippines got its first and only medal at the Goodwill Games in New York in July 1998 when flyweight Roel Velasco outclassed an American opponent to win the bronze.

PSA Named 11 Athletes of the Millennium

In the year 2000, the Philippines Sportswriters Association (PSA) named the 11 Filipino athletes of the millennium: Paeng Nepomuceno and Olivia Bong Coo for bowling; Pancho Villa, Gabriel Flash Elorde, Anthony Villanueva and Mansueto Velasco for boxing; Lydia de Vega, for track and field; Felicisimo Ampon, for tennis; Carlos Loyzaga, for basketball; Teofilo Yldefonso, for swimming; and Eugene Torre, for chess.

Filipinos Became World Sports Leaders

At least five Filipinos had headed international sports organizations. They are Florencio Campomanes, former president of International Chess Federation; Justiniano Montano, former president of World Boxing Council; Rudy Salud, former secretary-general of World Boxing Council; Gonzalo Puyat II, former president of International Amateur Basketball Federation; and Manuel Nieto, former president of Oriental Boxing Federation.

PBA Named 5 All-Time Greats

In January 1998, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) named the All-Time Mythical Five of Philippine basketball: Carlos Loyzaga in the 1950s, Narciso Bernardo in the 1960s, Robert Jaworski in the 1970s, Hector Calma in the 1980s and Alvin Patrimonio in the 1990s.

PSA Named 5 Athletes of the Century

In 1998, the Philippine Sportswriters Association named five athletes of the century: Lydia de Vega Mercado, Gabriel 'Flash' Elorde, Paeng Nepomuceno, Felicisimo Ampon and Carlos Loyzaga.

Filipino-Americans Became World Champions

Victoria Manalo Draves, a Filipino-American raised in San Francisco, won two Olympic gold medals in diving's springboard and platform events in 1948 for the United States. She had Filipino father and English mother and was married to her coach Lyle Draves.

Anthony Clark, a super heavy weight power lifter dubbed as the world's strongest man in 1995, was reportedly born in Pampanga province but grew up in Texas.

Elizabeth Punzalan, a daughter of one Dr. Ernesto Punsalan also of Pampanga, is a five-time national skating champion. Another world champion ice skater is Filipino-American Tai Babilonia.

Liz Masakayan is a many-time world champion in beach volleyball.

Roman Gabriel, the National Football League (NFL) MVP in 1969 had Filipino father and Irish mother. Mark Rivera was another NFL player. Filipino-Americans Bobby Balcena and Bobby Chouinard played for the US baseball major league.

Champion swimmer Jocelyn Enriquez is also half Filipino. Benny Agbayani played for the New York Mets' Slugger. Tiffany Roberts, a Filipino-American, was a part of the US women soccer team that won the gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Many Filipino boxers who went to the US eventually became world champions. They included Pancho Villa, Ceferino Garcia, Speedy Dado, Little Dado, Small Montana, and Dado Marino.

Philippines Hosted World Sports Events

The Philippines has hosted a number of international sports events. It hosted the Far Eastern Games in 1913, 1919, 1925 and 1934, the Asian Games in 1954 and the Southeast Asian Games in 1981 and 1991. It will host the Southeast Asian Games in 2005. In 1975, the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City was the venue of the infamous "Thrilla in Manila", the thrilling boxing bout between Heavyweight champions, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. In 1978, the country hosted the 1978 World Men's Basketball Championships. In 1992, the Chess Olympiad was held in Manila. The country hosted the World Grand Prix Women's Volleyball championships in 1999, 2000 and 2002.

Ali Fought in Quezon City

On October 1, 1975, the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City was the venue of the infamous "Thrilla in Manila", the thrilling boxing match between Heavyweight champions, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. Manila also hosted other international sports events such as the Asian Games in 1954 and the Southeast Asian Games in 1981 and 1991.

Padilla Tamed Ali and Frazier

Carlos Padillar Jr., the first Filipino member of the International Association of Boxing Referees and Judges, was the referee in the Ali-Frazier bout held at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City in 1975.

Babe Ruth Scored Homeruns in RP

Babe Ruth, the American baseball legend who had over 200 homeruns in his professional career, once played in the baseball field of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. In 1934, Ruth and another baseball great, Lou Gehrig, selected an All-Star team that toured Asia where they played 18 games. The All-Star selection stopped in the Philippines and played at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex from December 2 to December 9. Gehrig beat Ruth when he scored the first recorded homerun at the Rizal complex on December 2. Ruth scored the 2nd homerun on the same day and 4th homerun on December 9. The other players of the same selection who also scored homeruns at the Rizal complex were Earl Averill and C. Gehringer.

Garcia Was the Heaviest World Champion

Ceferino Garcia was the heaviest Filipino world-boxing champion. He captured the world middleweight title on October 2, 1939 when he knocked out Fred Apostoli in New York.

World's Largest Golf Event

The Guinness Book of World Records claimed that the biggest amateur golf tournament takes place in Baguio City, Philippines every year. Dubbed as the Fil-Am Golf Championship since 1949, the 72-hole golf tournament attracts close to 1,000 amateur golfers from all over the archipelago.

World's Largest Covered Coliseum

At the time it was completed in 1959, the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City was touted as the world's largest covered entertainment center. Otherwise known as the Big Dome, it has a floor area of 2,300 square meters and a seating capacity of 33,000 people.

Largest Amphitheater

The Freedom Ring Giant Amphitheater in the controversial Expo Filipino in Pampanga province is considered as the largest amphitheatre in the country. It can hold as many as 35,000 people at a single event. Expo Filipino, however, has yet to become fully operational.

Lope "Papa" Sarreal Produced 22 Champions

Lope "Papa" Sarreal, the first Filipino international boxing promoter, guided 22 world-boxing champions of various nationalities in his professional career. Among such champions was his son-in-law Flash Elorde.

Three Basketball Players Became Senators

Among the Filipino basketball players who later became members of the influential Senate are Ambrosio Padilla, Freddie Webb, and Robert Jaworski.

Nepomuceno was First Olympic Bet

David Nepomuceno, a sprinter and member of the US Navy, was the country's first ever representative in the 1924 Paris Olympiad.

Pancho Villa was Francisco Guilledo

Pancho Villa was baptized as Francisco Guilledo in Ilog, Negros Occidental on August 1, 1901. He adopted the name Pancho Villa after a famous Mexican revolutionary leader.

Speedy Dado Was Disdado Posadas

Speedy Dado, the former world flyweight-boxing champion, was baptized as Diosdado Posadas.

Small Montana was Benjamin Gan

Former world boxing champion Small Montana was baptized in the Philippines as Benjamin Gan. On November 30, 1938, Filipino fighters Small Montanao and Little Dado slugged it out for the vacant California world flyweight crown. Little Dado won.

There Are Winter Athletes in the Philippines

A tropical country that has never been covered by snow, the Philippines has produced athletes who can dance on ice. And they are not just ordinary dancers, but champion ice figure-skaters. The Philippine figure-skating team placed fourth in the 1999 World Recreational Team Championships held in San Jose, California. The Filipinos amassed 60 gold, 35 silver and 22 bronze medals to emerge fourth overall. It was a big feat for the Filipinos, considering that there were a total of 107 teams that participated in the event. Most of these teams came from cool countries like United States and Canada. In 1998, the Philippine team placed fifth overall in the same prestigious competition held in St. Louis, Missouri.

RP Ranked 175th in Football

The country's performance in football's World Cup, regarded as the planet's greatest spectator event, was almost non-existent. While the rest of the world were glued to television during the World Cup final between Brazil and Germany in June 2002, most Filipinos were not even aware that such an event existed. Former Senator Rene Saguisag noted that the Philippines was ranked 175th in world football. Montserrat was regarded as the world's worst team ranked at 202nd, after it lost to Bhutan in a match dubbed as "The Other Final" just before the start of Yokohama Final between Brazil and Germany, which the former won.

Guagua Little Leaguers 2nd in World Series

The Little League team composed of girls aged 12 years old and below from Pulungmasle in Guagua, Pampanga represented the Philippines and the Far East in the world series for four years from l994 to 1997. In 1996, the Guagua batters won second place at Alpenrose Softball Field in Portland, Oregon.

Mikee Won an Asiad Gold

Mikee Cojuangco, an actress, was 28 years old and had two sons when she won a gold medal and a silver medal in equestrian at the 2002 Busan Asiad.

Bong Coo is Most Bemedaled Filipina Athlete

Filipina bowler Bong Coo is the most bemadaled athlete in the Philippines. Her collection includes 37 gold, 23 silver and 16 bronze medals, which she won in her stints at the Asian Games, Southeast Asian Games and World and Asian championships. She brought home five gold medals from Asian Games alone.

Golez was a Former Boxing Champion

National Security Adviser Roilo Golez was unbeaten in 20 fights as a four-year amateur champion at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis.

Pee Wee Was a Boxing Judge

Pasay Mayor Wenceslao Pee Wee Trinidad was a former boxing judge.

Rudy Salud Was First WBC Secretary General

Lawyer Rudy Salud was the first secretary general of the World Boxing Council (WBC).

Incentives Await Champions

Rich incentives await Filipino medallists. The Sports Incentives Law provides that Olympic gold medallists in individual events shall get cash awards of P5 million; silver medallists, P2.5 million; and bronze medallists, P1 million. Gold medallists at the Asian Games shall get cash bonuses of P1 million; silver medallists, P500,000; and bronze medallists, P100,000. At the Southeast Asian Games, gold medallists shall receive cash gifts of P100,000; silver medallists, P50,000; and bronze medallists, P10,000.

RP Placed 7th at World Chess Olympiad

The Philippines' best finish in the World Chess Olympiad was 7th place at the 1988 Greece Olympiad.

Roel Velasco Won a Bronze at Goodwill Games

The Philippines won its first-ever bronze medal at the Goodwill Games in 1998, courtesy of light-flyweight boxer Roel Velasco.

Baseball Was Introduced in 1898

There are historical accounts that the US Marines introduced baseball in Cavite immediately after they defeated the Spanish troops in 1898.

Teofilo Yldefonso Won 2 Olympic Medals

Teofilo Yldefonso, a swimmer from Piddig, Ilocos Norte, is the only Filipino who has won two Olympic medals. He won the bronze medals in the 200-meter breaststroke event at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics and at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics.

Haydee Brought Home 10 Asiad Medals

Haydee Coloso-Espino has a collection of 10 medals, which she claimed from the Asian Games in 1954, 1958 and 1962. These medals include three golds, five silvers and two bronzes.

Basketball Produced 4 Asiad Golds

Basketball produced four gold medals for the Philippines in the Asian Games. Filipino basketball players won these gold medals in four consecutive Asiads in 1951, 1954, 1958 and 1962.

RP Nearly Won Olympic Bronze in Basketball

The Philippine basketball team that placed fifth in the basketball event of the 1936 Olympic Games during the Nazi rule in Berlin, Germany, should have won at least a bronze medal, if not for a controversial ruling. Despite winning four of its five games, the country did not bring home any medal. It lost only to the United States, which eventually clinched the gold medal, but defeated Mexico, Estonia, Italy and Uruguay.

There Were 4 Filipino Grand Masters

The Philippines has produced four chess grandmasters: Rogelio Antonio, Jr., the late Rosendo Balinas, Eugene Torre and Bong Villamayor.

Cardoso Was Asia's First International Master

The first international master in Asia was Rodolfo Tan Cardoso, a Pangasinan born chess champion. Cardoso placed 5th in the world junior chess tournament in Toronto, Canada in 1957 and became the first Asian chess champion at the age of 25.

RP Produced 3 Asia's Sprint Queens

Before trackster Lydia de Vega of Bulacan province won gold medals in the 100-meter dash in the 1980s, two Filipino women had already been considered Asia's sprint queens, namely: Inocencia Solis in the 1950s and Mona Sulaiman in the 1960s. Amelita Alanes won a silver medal at the 1970 Bangkok Asiad.

Minoza and Espinosa Had Two Things in Common

Former world boxing champion Luisito Espinosa and international golfer Frankie Minoza had two things in common. Both of them were declared "Athletes of the Year" in 1998 and 1990.

Arianne Caoili Defeated a Grand Master

In March 2000, 14-year-old Arianne Caoili, who was in quest for her international master title, defeated Russian Grandmaster Vladimir Epishin, the top seed at the International Malaga Chess Open.

Bea Lucero Switched to Taekwondo

Bea Lucero, before becoming a broadcast journalist, had been a gymnast champion and an Olympic bronze medallist in taekwondo.

Amparo Lim was a Badminton Player

Former Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Commissioner Amparo Lim was a veteran Olympian who played badminton.

Eric Buhain was a Swimmer

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Eric Buhain was a swimmer who had participated in Southeast Asian Games and Asian Games.

Call of Nature Cost A Gold

According to author Jorge Afable, Filipino high jumper Simeon G. Toribio could have won the gold medal in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympiad if not only for the "call of nature." It was a grueling four-hour competition to jump over the bar raised at 6 feet and six inches high. Toribio, who once made the jump, failed to overcome it the second time because he was distressed by call of nature.

Toribio Joined Two Events in Olympics

Aside from the high jump event where he won a bronze medal in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, Simeon Toribo also participated in a six-hour marathon.

Greatest Asian Athlete

In 1930, high jumper Simeon Toribio was awarded the Helms World Trophy for being Asia's greatest athlete. He was also the "Filipino Field Athlete of the Half Century."

Simeon Toribio Became a Congressman

High Jumper Simeon Torribio, who won a bronze medal at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympiad, later represented Bohol province in Congress. He was a lawyer.

Miguel White Played for the Philippines

Hurdler Miguel White, who had an American father, won a bronze for the Philippines, at the 1936 Berlin Olympiad.

Ben Arda Played for the Masters

Ben Arda is considered the first Filipino golfer who has played at Masters Tournament and British Open in the 1970s.

Felicisimo Ampon was only 5 Feet Tall

Felicisimo Ampon, who won the Pan-American singles championship in Mexico in 1950, was dubbed as "The Mighty Mite" because he was barely five feet tall. He was also once considered the greatest tennis player in the world, pound for pound.

Father and Son Won Olympic Medals

Jose "Cely" Villanueva won a bronze in boxing's bantamweight division at the 1932 Lost Angeles Olympiad. Three decades later, his son Anthony won a silver in boxing's featherweight division at the 1964 Tokyo Olympiad.

Brothers Won Olympic Medals

Roel Velasco won a bronze in boxing's light-flyweight division at the 1992 Barcelona Olympiad. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympiad, his younger brother Mansueto or Onyok clinched a silver medal in the same weight division.

Arnis Players are Called Arnisadores

The Philippines introduced arnis or kali to the world. Today, arnis players are called arnisadores.

Negros Occidental Produced World Champions

Negros Occidental province is considered as a breeding ground for world boxing champions. Among the many top-caliber boxers who came from this province were Pancho Villa, Small Montano, Little Dado, Roberto Somodio, Elias Recaido, Dodie Boy Penalosa, Gerry Penalosa, and Roel and Mansueto Velasco.

There were 3 Rolandos Who Became Champions

At least three Rolandos became world-boxing champions. They are Rolando Navarette, Rolando Bohol, and Rolando Pascua.

There were Two Roberto Cruz Who Became Champions

In 1964, Roberto Cruz of Baguio City became the World Boxing Association (WBA) junior welterweight champion. In 1999, taekowondo-jin Roberto Cruz won the gold medal in the finweight division (56 kilograms) of the World Cup Taekwondo.

Pinoy Pugs Clinched 3 Boxing Golds in 1994 Asiad

One of the most memorable tales of achievement by Filipino athletes took place in the 1994 Asian Games held in Hiroshima, Japan. Three Filipino boxers - Mansueto Velasco, light flyweight; Reynaldo Galido, welterweight; and Elias Recaido Jr. - brought home three gold medals.

Caidic Won 2 Jones Cup

Allan Caidic has represented the Philippines as a player in four Asian Games (1986, 1990, 1994 and 1998) and as an assistant coach in the 2002 Asian Games. He was a part of the basketball team that won the Jones Cup in 1985 and 1998 and played a large part in clinching the Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) championship in 1986.

Filipinas First Played Basketball

There are historical accounts that Filipino women first played basketball, which was introduced by the Americans in the country. It was said that Filipino men considered basketball as a game for girls only.

Filipinos Won 26 Asiad Medals in 2002

In the 2002 Asian Games held in Busan, South Korea, the 218 Filipino athletes brought home only 3 gold, 7 silver and 16 bronze medals. The Philippines finished 18th overall in the medal tally in a field of 44 nations.

PBA was the First in Asia

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), which came into existence in 1975, was the first professional basketball league in Asia.

RP Had the Biggest Lead in a Basketball Game

The Philippine team registered what could be the world's biggest lead in an amateur basketball game when it clobbered Brunei Darussalam, 160-19, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on July 2, 2000. The 141-point lead could be the biggest for any amateur basketball team since basketball was introduced in the Philippines by the Americans. During the game, the Philippine national team limited the Brunei squad to only 19 points. It later won the Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) Young Men's Tournament crown against Malaysia.

Filipinos Invented Yo-Yo

There was a tale that yo-yo originated in the Philippines, although other accounts claimed that it was first used in China or Greece. It was said that in the 1920s, a certain Pedro Flores moved to the US where he established Yo-Yo Company that manufactured yo-yo, which was a native toy in the Philippines.

Filipino Developed Game of the Generals

One Ronnie Pasola is credited for having developed or invented the "Game of the Generals", a board game that uses military strategy. It is said that Pasola first played the game in Makati in August 1967 but introduced it to the public in 1973.

Filipinos Were First Football Players in Asia

It was said that Filipinos were the first Asians who played football. The Philippine Football Federation (initially the Philippines Amateur Athletic Federation) was in fact founded as early as 1907. The first football match in Asia took place in the 1913 Manila Far Eastern Games where the Philippines defeated China 2-1.

Jabar Borrowed Backmann's Hook Shot

Kurt Bachmann Jr., a basketball player who had a German father, reportedly impressed Kareem Abdul Jabbar in an exhibition match between the US and the Philippines in 1954. Jabbar, who was known as Lew Alcindor then, reportedly borrowed Bachmann's hook shot.

Tallest Player in 1954 was 6'2"

Mariano Tolentino, a Caviteno with a height of 6 feet and two inches, was reportedly the tallest in the Philippine team that won the third place at the 1954 World Championships in Brazil.

Carlos Badion Introduced Bicycle Drive

Carlos Badion, who was named MVP of the first Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) championships held in Manila in 1960, popularized the bicycle drive and the jackknife layup.

Jaworski was the Oldest Professional Basketball Player

In 1998, Robert "Sonny" Jaworski was considered the oldest professional basketball player in the world. At 52, he was still donning his No. 7 jersey for Barangay Ginebra, probably the most popular team in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). In that year, he played alongside his son Dudut Jaworski for the same team, much to the excitement of the crowd. No other professional player in the world his age has played competitive basketball. In the NBA, the Los Angeles Lakers' Kareem Abdul-Jabbar retired at 45. Most professional basketball players retire from the league before they are 35. Jaworski, on the other hand, was still playing at least 30 minutes a ball game in his 40s. In 1986, he set the record for playing the most number of minutes in a game, 58, in a Ginebra versus Manila Beer encounter, when he was 40 years old. He is the only player who has played in the PBA from the league's birth in 1975 up to the league's 25th year.

As a player, he won the Most Valuable Player in 1978 while playing for the fabled Toyota Corolla. He is listed as one of the PBA's 25 all-time greatest players and was given the Lifetime Achievement Award by the league.

Jaworski retired from the PBA in 1998 just before he assumed his new post as a senator of the Republic. He had served three decades of his life as a basketball player.

Feihl was the Tallest PBA Player

The tallest PBA player is Edward Joseph Feihl of TJ Hotdogs. Feihl who stands seven feet tall is half German. With his height, Feihl could bang bodies with the centers in the NBA. Feihl was part of the Philippine Centennial Team, which won third place in the 1998 Asian Games. Feihl is at least three inches taller than other PBA centers like Marlou Aquino, Paul Asi Taulava, James Walkvist, Andy Seigle and Bonel Balingit.

Meanwhile, the tallest basketball player who has played in the NBA is Gheorghe Muresan (7'7 or 2.31 m). But the tallest basketball player in the world was Suleiman Ali Nashnush (8'1/2" or 2.45 m) of the Libyan team. The tallest man in history was Robert Wadlow (8'11 or 2.72 m).

Kazmer was First White PBA Import

The fans of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), the world's second oldest professional basketball league, saw something unusual in the import-laden PBA Commissioner's Cup 2000.

For the past 20 years, the league saw African-American imports in action. Then came Ryan Fletcher, a white American, and the chosen import of Barangay Ginebra. Two weeks after Fletcher arrived, league newcomer Red Bull hired another white American, in the person of Jack Hartman. The first white import who landed at the PBA was John Kazmer who saw action for U-Tex in 1981.

Caidic Holds Highest Score Record

Allan Caidic holds the all-time, one-game individual high scoring record in the PBA for local players. Caidic scored 79 points while playing for Presto Tivoli against Ginebra on November 21, 1991. His 68 points broke the old scoring record of 71 points by Paul Alvarez in 1991 and the 64 points shared by William Adornado of U-Tex and Danny Florencio of Seven-Up. Florencio set the mark in 1977 and Adornado in 1980.

Harris Holds PBA Score Record

Former NBA player Tony Harris holds the all-time high scoring record in the PBA. As a Swift reinforcer, Harris scored 105 points to lead his team in defeating Ginebra, 151-147, in an out-of-town game held in Iloilo on October 10, 1992.

Highest PBA Score was Recorded in 1989

The highest combined points scored by the competing teams in a single game were recorded on November 2, 1989. In that game, the Tivolis beat Alaska, 175-159 in overtime behind Allan Caidic's 68 points. Both teams had a total of 334 points, the highest in any PBA game.

Caidic Had Most Three-Point Shots

The record of having the most number of three-point shots in a single game belongs to former Tivoli hotshot Allan Caidic. Caidic accomplished this feat when he sank in 17 three-point shots while playing for the Tivoli against Ginebra on November 21, 1991.

Cortez was First Rookie of the Year

Gil Cortez of Toyota was the first recipient of PBA's Rookie of the Year award. He received the award in 1976.

Adornado was First MVP

Bogs Adornado was chosen as the first recepient of PBA's Most Valuable Player (MVP) plum in 1976.

Dionisio Scored First Basket

Joy Dionisio, who was playing for Concepcion-Carrier against Mariwasa-Noritake, made the first shot in the PBA. He scored a layup on April 9, 1975, at the Araneta Coliseum. But Mariwasa-Noritake went on to win the PBA's first game, 101-98, behind Cisco Oliver's 48 points.

Jones and Oliver were First PBA Imports

The first foreign players to have played in the PBA as imports were Byron Jones of Toyota and Cisco Oliver of Noritake.

Former PBA Import Became an NBA Coach

Keith Smart, who played for San Miguel at the Philippine Basketball Association's (PBA) Third Conference in 1989 became the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers' at the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 2003.

Mark Paragua was the Youngest International Master

In January 2000, the 16 years old Mark Paragua became the country's youngest International Master.

Siargao is a Surfing Destination

The Siargao Cup, which is held every October at Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte province, is a part of the Australian Championship Circuit.

There are Filipino Ice Hockey Players

The SM-Philippines Ice Hockey Team has been joining the World Hockey 5s Tournament since 1998.

4 PBA Coaches Had Grand Slam

Four PBA coaches were able to win a grand slam (three championship titles in a year) each for their respective teams. They are Baby Dalupan and Tommy Manotoc of Crispa Redmanizers, Norman Black of San Miguel Beer, and Tim Cone of Alaska Milk.

Basketball Player Became Governor

Former basketball Olympian Francisco Rabat later became governor of Davao province.

Bata is Four-Time World 8-Ball Champion

Least known among his exploits is the fact that Efren "Bata" Reyes is a four-time World 8-Ball champion.

Filipinos Joined World's Largest Synchronized Exercise

On February 16, 2003, some 107,000 Filipinos joined a 30-minute aerobics exercise supervised by the Department of Health (DOH) at Rizal Park in Manila, which could be the largest synchronized exercise in the world. Thousands of people also gathered at different venues in Cebu City and Davao City to participate in the exercise simultaneous with the Manila event. The new record broke the previous Guinness Book of World Records set at a park in Guadalajara, Mexico by some 38,633 people who joined the massive aerobics exercises in June 1998.

Significant Dates in RP Sports

The following are some of the most memorable dates in Philippines sports:

January 16, 1988 - Rolando Bohol beat a South Korean boxer to become the International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight champion at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

February 6, 1964 - Filipino boxer Anthony Villanueva won the country's first silver medal in the Tokyo Olympics.

February 14, 1998 - Melvin Magramo defeated a Thai challenger to retain his World Boxing Organization (WBO) flyweight crown.

February 15, 1969 - Rene Barrientos was declared World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight champion of the world in Tokyo, Japan.

February 20, 1997 - Gerry Penalosa beat Hiroshi Kawashima to become the World Boxing Council (WBC) super flyweight champion in Tokyo, Japan.

February 22, 1987 - Dodi "Boy" Penalosa , the older brother of Gerry Penalosa, beat a South Korean boxer to become the International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight champion.

March 7, 1999 - Paeng Nepomuceno won the World Tenpin Masters championship in London, England.

March 16, 1960 - Gabriel "Flash" Elorde became a world champion in the 130-pound division on when he knocked out American Harold Gomes at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

March 20, 1964 - Roberto Cruz knocked out Raymundo Torres in the first round to clinch the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) junior welterweight championship in Los Angeles, California.

April 25, 1972 - Ben Villaflor dethroned Alfredo Marcano as the world junior lightweight champion at the age of 18 years old.

May 21, 2000 - Malcolm Tuñacao grabbed the World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight crown from a Thai boxer in Bangkok.

June 18, 1923 - Pancho Villa, then 22, knocked out reigning world flyweight champion Jimmy Wilde of England in the seventh round at New York's Polo Grounds and became the first Asian world boxing champion.

July 18, 1985 - Ramon Brobio became the first triple winner of the 18th junior world golf championship held in San Diego, California.

August 1, 1950 - Salvador "Dado" Marino defeated Terry Allen to bag the world flyweight boxing championship.

August 8, 1984 - Paeng Nepomuceno won the International Tournament championship in Las Vegas, Nevada.

September 18, 1988 - Arianne Cerdena won a gold medal in bowling at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

September 21, 2002 - Kaye Cabalatungan won the ladies title at the 13th World Shoot Championship held in Pietersburg, South Africa.

September 27, 1983 - Frank Cedeno defeated Charlie Magri at Wembley Arena in London, England to win the World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight championship.

October 1, 1975 - The Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City hosted the infamous "Thrilla in Manila", the thrilling boxing match between Heavyweight champions Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.

October 2, 1939 - Ceferino Garcia knocked out Fred Apostoli to become the new world middleweight champion in New York.





On October 4, 2002 - Paeng Nepomuceno and RJ Bautista won a gold medal in bowling's double event for men at the Asian Games held in Pusan, South Korea.

October 20, 1969 - Bernabe Villacampo defeated a Japanese opponent to bag the World Boxing Association (WBA) flyweight title.

November 5, 1954 - The Philippine team beat the favored Uruguay team, 67-63, to clinch the third place in the World Basketball Championship held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

November 5, 1988 - Tacy Macalos defeated a South Korean boxer to clinch the International Boxing Federation (IBF) light flyweight title in a bout held in Manila.

November 8, 1999 - Athena Lee bagged the Open Ladies title at the 12th World Shoot Championships held in Cebu City. The Philippine ladies team also won the championship.

November 11, 1982 - Lydia de Vega won the gold medal in the 100-meter dash at the Asian Games held in New Delhi.

November 19, 1976 - Paeng Nepomuceno won his first World Cup in Tehran, Iran when he was only 19 years old.

November 2, 1996 - Paeng Nepomuceno won his fourth World Cup in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

November 5, 1954 - The Philippines beat the favored Uruguay team, 67-63, to clinch the third place at the World Basketball Championship held in Brazil.

December 3, 1998 - Manny Pacquiao knocked out a Thai champion in the 8th round of their bout in Bangkok to win the World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight title.

December 03, 1998 - Manny Pacquiao knocked out Chatchai Sasakul in the 8th round of their match in Bangkok to win the World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight title.

December 4, 1999 - Joma Gamboa knocked out a Japanese fighter in Nagoya, Japan to become the World Boxing Association (WBA) minimum weight (105 pounds) champion.

December 07, 1970 - Erbito Salavarria defeated a Thai opponent to win the WBC flyweight title.

December 14, 1968 - Pedro Adigue beat American Adolph Pruitt to bag the World Boxing Council (WBC) junior welterweight title.

December 19, 1990 - Rolando Pascua knocked out Chiquita Gonzalez in the sixth round to bag the World Boxing Council (WBC) light flyweight title.

December 21, 2001 - Time Magazine included Efren "Bata" Reyes in its roster world's best in sports and described him as the Philippines' "sole bona fide international sports superstar".

Note:

The following are information from Txtmania. For sources and more accurate and detailed information, you may visit their website at http://www.txtmania.com/

Titles of Philippine Places

What's in a Name?

The Department of Tourism (DoT) has the habit of using titles as a way of endorsing tourist destinations in the country. However, other countries are also using similar titles. Aside from Filipinos, the Japanese also use the phrase "Pearl of the Orient" to refer to their country. While Filipinos describe the Banaue Rice Terraces as the eighth wonder of the world, the Chinese use the same title for the Great Wall of China and the Cambodians for Angkor Wat. According to Filipinos, Mount Mayon has the most beautiful cone figure among all volcanoes in the world, the same way the Japanese view Mount Fuji and Costa Ricans view Arenal volcano. Davao City is reportedly the world's largest city but other cities in the world protest, including Puerto Princesa City of Palawan. Boracay Island is sold as the world's most beautiful beach resort, but Thailand, Indonesia, Latin American countries and several Pacific islands are ready to contest this title.

Aklan - oldest province

Angono, Rizal - town of artists

Antipolo City - picnic area

Apalit, Pampanga - tapayan capital

Baclayon Church, Bohol - oldest stone church

Bacolod City - city of smiles

Bacolor, Pampanga - country's capital in 1762-1763

Baguio City - summer capital

Balabac Island, Palawan - land of Philippine mouse deer

Baliuag, Bulacan - the first town to have election

Banaue Rice Terraces - stairways to the sky

Barasoain Church - headquarters of the Malolos Congress

Basey, Samar - town of mat festival

Batanes - smallest province; northernmost province

Bataan - last stronghold during Japanese occupation

Biak na Bato, San Miguel, Bulacan - site of the Biak na Bato republic

Binondo - known for Chinatown district

Bocaue, Bulacan - firecrackers' capital

Bohol - land of chocolate hills

Boracay Island - world's finest beach resort

Bulacan - land of heroes and beautiful women

Bukidnon - pineapple country

Calamba, Laguna - birthplace of Jose Rizal

Calamian Islands - land of Calamian deer

Calauit Island, Palawan - animal sanctuary

Camiguin - land of volcanoes

Capiz - seafood capital

Catanduanes - land of howling winds

Cebu City - premiere city in the south

Central Luzon - rice bowl

Corregidor Island - island fortress; the rock

Crisologo Street, Vigan - kamestizoan district

Davao City- world's largest city; durian capital

Davao Oriental - easternmost province

Divisoria - bargain capital

Donsol, Sorsogon - sanctuary of whale sharks

Gapan, Nueva Ecija - newest city

General Santos City - most competitive city; tuna capital

Guiginto, Bulacan - cutflower capital

Guimaras - mango capital

Hundred Islands, Pangasinan - actually composed of 400 islets

Iligan City - land of waterfalls

Intramuros, Manila - walled city

Kabayan, Benguet - land of mummies

Kalibo, Aklan - land of ati-atihan

Kawit, Cavite - first independent town

Laguna - resort province

Laguna de Bay - largest lake

Lanao del Sur - center of Islam

Las Pinas City - land of the bamboo organ

Lipa, Batangas - coffee capital

Lubao, Pampanga - the birthplace of Diosdado Macapagal

Lucban, Quezon - Pahiyas town

Luzon - world's 17th largest island

Magallanes, Agusan del Norte - site of the oldest tree

Makati City - financial center

Malolos, Bulacan - site of the First Philippine Republic

Manila - capital city

Maria Cristina Falls, Iligan City - mother of industry

Marikina City - shoe capital

Mexico, Pampanga - formerly known as Masicu

Meycauayan, Bulacan - jewelry capital

Miag-ao Church, Iloilo - fortress church

Mindanao - world's 19th largest island

Mindoro - land of the tamaraws

Mount Apo - highest peak

Mount Arayat - legendary home of Mariang Sinukuan

Mount Mayon - a volcano with nearly perfect cone

Nayong Pilipino - Philippines in miniature. (The theme park was opened in 1972 and closed on June 25, 2002.)

Negros Occidental - sugar capital; sports capital

Pagsanjan Falls - Philippines' el dorado

Palawan - the last frontier; largest province; westernmost province

Pampanga - culinary capital of Luzon

Paete, Laguna - town of wood carvers

Paoay Church, Ilocos Norte - earthquake baroque

Paombong, Bulacan - vinegar capital

Philippine Deep - world's second deepest spot

Philippines - pearl of the orient

Rio Grande de Cagayan - longest river

Romblon - marble country

San Agustin Church, Intramuros - oldest church in Luzon

San Fernando, Pampanga - lantern capital of the world

San Juanico Bridge - longest suspension bridge

San Sebastian Church - the only steel church in Asia

Siargao Island - perfect waves island

Spratleys - the islands claimed by six countries

Sta. Maria, Bulacan - egg nest of the Philippines

Sta. Maria Church, Ilocos Sur - outstanding example of Spanish baroque architecture

Subic Freeport - American town

Taal Volcano - world's smallest volcano

Tagaytay City - the next summer capital

Tangub City - Christmas symbol capital

Tawi-Tawi - southernmost province

Trinidad Valley - land of strawberry and vegetables

Tubbataha Marine Park - world's richest bio-geographic area

Unisan, Quezon - oldest town

University of San Carlos, Cebu City - oldest university

Vigan, Ilocos Sur - Spanish colonial town

Zamboanga Sibugay - newest province

Note:

The following are information from Txtmania. For sources and more accurate and detailed information, you may visit their website at http://www.txtmania.com/