A bit of football and history

July 5, 2011
Spain’s victory in the recently concluded FIFA World Cup reminded me of one event in the history of the Philippines that is rarely discussed in our classrooms or even written in our history books – the Battle of La Naval.
Much like the Filipinos, the Dutch were once ruled by the Spaniards. This led them to begin a revolt in 1568 that lasted 80 years. In 1646, Spanish and Dutch forces fought in Philippine waters. The Dutch were trying to capture the Philippine Islands from the Spanish. With the help of a large Filipino contingent, two Spanish galleons engaged the Dutch armada consisting of eighteen ships. Though outnumbered, the Filipino-Spanish forces were not outfought. This caused the Dutch to abandon their attempt to invade the Philippines due to the heavy damages they sustained from the battle. It is a popular belief that the Blessed Virgin Mary had a hand in these series of unexpected victories against superior numbers.
Déjà vu
The heavily favoured Dutch National Team (they reached the finals with an unblemished record) might have felt a distinct sense of déjà vu when they lost in the finals of the World Cup against the underdog Spanish National Team. David Villa, who was recently acquired by Barcelona FC from Valencia FC for a fee of €40 million, led the entire team in goal scoring throughout the tournament, but it was Andres Iniesta, another Barcelona FC player, who scored the winning goal on the 116th minute of the 1-0 victory by the Spanish side.
Filipino connection to Barcelona FC
Eight players from the 2010 World Champions came from the Spanish Football Club, Barcelona FC. But did you know that one of Barcelona FC’s early football stars was a Filipino? Yes, you read it right. Born in 1896 to a Spanish military officer and a Filipina mother in Iloilo, Philippines, Paulino Alcantara is widely regarded as the first Filipino and Asian player to play for a European club.
Alcantara moved to Spain at the young age of 14 to play for FC Galeno. He was later discovered and recruited to play for Barcelona FC by the club’s founder Joan Gamper. On February 25, 1912, at the age of 15, he scored the first three goals in his debut for Barcelona in the Catalan Football Championships. His performance in the 9-0 victory against Catala SC, made him the youngest player to play or score for the club. He went on to set an unprecedented record of 357 goals in 357 matches – a feat that remains unparalleled in the club’s history.
When Alcantara returned to the Philippines in 1916, Barcelona failed to win championships in his absence. In the Philippines, Alcantara played for the Bohemian Sporting Club and helped them win two Philippine Championships. He represented the Philippines in the 1917 Far Eastern Championship Games in Tokyo and helped the Philippine national football team defeat the host nation 15 to 2.
During the 1920 Olympics, Alcantara was selected to represent Spain but he remained in the Philippines to finish his studies to become a medical doctor. He made his debut for Spain’s national team the following year, scoring both goals in a 2-0 victory against Belgium. He earned the nickname El Rompe Redes (the net breaker) when he ripped the net with a powerful kick 35 yards from the goal in a game against France. Between 1921 and 1923, Alcantara made five appearances and scored six goals for Spain. He hung up his jersey in 1927 at the age of 31.
State of Philippine Football
Considered the oldest in Asia, the Philippines’ national football team was established in 1907. However, despite their long association with the beautiful game, they have not had much success in international play since the 1940’s. During the period of the Commonwealth, basketball gained prominence at the expense of football. By 2006, the team was placed as low as 195th on the FIFA World Rankings. They are currently ranked 167th in the world and did not enter the qualifications for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Today most Filipinos prefer to play and watch basketball, even though it is a game that requires height, which is not a common trait among us. Instead, we should draw our inspiration from Paulino Alcantara and start playing football again. International Football stars like, Pele, Diego Maradona, Carlos Messi and David Villa have shown that you don’t need a lot of height to play good football. Besides, playing football is just like playing sipa.

Source: http://www.pilipino-express.com/history-a-culture/special-features-history-a-culture/925-a-bit-of-football-and-history.html

Clark Wine Center was built in 2003 by Hong Kong-based Yats International Leisure Philippines to become the largest wine shop in Philippines supplying Asia’s wine lovers with fine vintage wines at attractive prices. Today, this wine shop in Clark Philippines offers over 2000 selections of fine wines from all major wine regions in the world. As a leading wine supplier in Philippines, Pampanga’s Clark Wine Center offers an incomparable breadth of vintages, wines from back vintages spanning over 50 years. Clark Wine Center is located in Pampanga Clark Freeport Zone adjacent to Angeles City, just 25 minutes from Subic and 45 minutes from Manila.

Residents of Pampanga Angeles City, Subic, Tarlac and Clark Philippines know of this wine shop as one of the best places in Clark, a good night out place and simply the best place to hang out, enjoy some good wine with cheese on the roof deck with good atmosphere, or just relax and unwind with friends and family in a cool place. This wine shop in Clark Pampanga is recognized by many to be one of the best places to buy fine vintage wine in the Philippines. Located near Mimosa Leisure Estate surrounded by golf courses, resorts and a casino, this well known wine shop is frequently visited for its good selection of wine not available in Manila or Subic. Clark Wine Center is open 7 days a week from 10am to 8pm. Private dinners, wine tastings and group gatherings can be organized by advanced reservation.

Foodies and wine lovers travel north from Manila to wine and dine at Philippines’ best fine dining restaurant in Pampanga Clark Freeport worth the 60-minutes drive for a memorable evening of good food with vintage wine at Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar. Most guests would stop by this famous wine shop called Clark Wine Center to bring home a few good bottles of fine vintage wine also. Other visitors may find the wine selections in some of the restaurants in Angeles City Pampanga to be less than interesting, so they stop by this wine shop near Angeles City Pampanga Clark Philippines, buy some good wines and bring these bottles of good vintage wines to the restaurants so they can enjoy the dinner.

Wines from Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rhone, Loire, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Alsace, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, South Africa, Chile and Argentina etc. are well represented in this Clark Wine Shop.

This is one of the frequently visited places for wine lovers from Manila and Angeles City to buy international wines in Pampanga.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com