By Wilnard Bacelonia | Philippine News Agency
Senator Joel Villanueva has filed a resolution seeking to commend the bronze medal finish of Alas Pilipinas in the recent 2024 Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Challenge Cup held in Manila from May 22-29.
In Senate Resolution No. 1042, Villanueva noted that the success of Alas Pilipinas is historic, being the country’s first podium finish since it joined the AVC in 1961.
“Despite having only a short time to prepare, Alas Pilipinas showed their talent, passion, and mettle in the grueling week-long tournament, winning all but one of their matches en route to their bronze medal finish,” the senator said.
“Ang tagumpay na ito ay patunay ng kanilang sipag, dedikasyon, at hindi matitinag na diwa ng ating mga atleta, coaches, at buong support team,” Villanueva said.
Alas Pilipinas is led by team captain Julia Melissa Morado-De Guzman, along with Cherry Ann Rondina, Eya Laure, Vanessa Gandler, Faith Janine Shirley Nisperos, Angel Anne Canino, Arah Ellah Panique, Thea Allison Gagate, Mereophe Aevangeline Sharma, Dell Palomata, Cherry Rose Nunag, Julia Cyrille Coronel, Dawn Nicole Macandili-Catindig, and Jennifer Nierva.
Meanwhile, the coaching staff is composed of coach Jorge Souza de Brito and assistant coaches Ed Ortega and Ronwald Dimaculangan.
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano also congratulated Alas Pilipinas despite losing to Kazakhstan in the semifinals.
“My salute to Alas Pilipinas for bringing honor to the country, happiness to the volleyball community, and unity among Filipinos,” Cayetano, the chairperson emeritus of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation, said.
He also expressed his support for the Alas Pilipinas Men’s National Volleyball Team, set to compete in Bahrain next month.
National artist Eddie Romero
Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada has filed a resolution commemorating the 100th birth anniversary of national artist for film and multi-awarded director Eddie Romero.
Romero worked as a film director, producer, and screenwriter, and his work is known to have explored the nation’s history and politics, often thought-provoking masterpieces that became cult classics and inspiration for future generations of artists.
“The legacy of Romero as a prolific writer, ambitious yet practical artist, should be recognized and celebrated, especially on July 7, 2024, which marks the 100th anniversary of his birth,” Estrada said in his Senate Resolution 1039.
A known figure in Philippine cinema, Romero’s works include critically acclaimed films like “Ganito Kami Noon…Paano Kayo Ngayon?”, “Kamakalawa”, “Banta ng Kahapon”, and the 13-part series “Noli Me Tangere” where he brought the novel of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal to a new generation of viewers.
Born on July 7, 1924 Romero was declared as a National Artist in 2023.
Romero, who began his film career in the 1940s when the Philippines was still recovering from World War II, died on May 28, 2013 at the age of 88.
The 1980 film “Agila”, written and directed by Romero, was considered the biggest event in local movie history and the biggest Filipino film ever made. It won numerous FAMAS Awards and Gawad Urian Awards that year.
Romero’s films, the National Artist citation stated, “are delivered in an utterly simple style – minimalist, but never empty, always calculated, precise, and functional, but never predictable.” (with report from Leonel Abasola)