The Filipino Football Story

July 5, 2011
Football came to the Philippines at a similar time to many of the traditional footballing powers. But for over a hundred years, since the United States replaced Spain as the nation’s colonial rulers, the game has been eclipsed by other sports. But now, with the help of FIFA’s Goal Programme, the beautiful game is set for a revival.
Football had been the most popular sport in the last 50 years of the 400-year Spanish rule over the island nation. But when the States took over, the decidedly American fixation with basketball seeped into the sporting pores of the Philippines and remained in its marrow for the better part of a century, even after the Americans left following the Second World War.
As a sport, football was marginalised, overlooked by commercial sponsors and ignored by the government. Football languished in basketball’s shadow throughout the 20th century.
A century’s worth of neglect appeared set for major amendment on 17 March, 2003, when a FIFA Goal project was officially inaugurated in the city of Barotac Nuevo, situated in the province of Ilo-Ilo, an hour’s flight north of the capital Manila. There on a three-hectare expanse of land, a National Training Centre for football and a grass field laid under the Phillipines’ Goal project was officially presented to the people in a ceremony attended by FIFA and Philippine Football Federation (PFF) officials.
The guest of honour at the ceremony was Mohamed Bin Hammam, Chairman of the FIFA Goal Bureau and President of the Asian Football Confederation. He was accompanied by an entourage of Asean Football Federation (AFF) council members. Leading the host delegation was Neil Tupas, Governor of Ilo-Ilo, Pedro Hautea, Mayor of Barotac Nuevo, and Rene Adad, President of the PFF.
The colourful opening ceremony was spiced up by a cultural dance troupe, a police band, and scores of boys and girls in full football kit. Speeches by local dignitaries were followed by a much-anticipated address by Mohamed Bin Hammam in which he stressed FIFA’s desire to see football flourish among the 80 million inhabitants of the Philippines.
He remarked that the National Training Centre in Ilo-Ilo would act as the prototype of football training centres in five other regions of the far-flung island nation that are currently under construction with FIFA’s help. As he spoke, the news that Alfredo Gonzalez, currently the top striker in the national team, had been signed by a professional club in Vietnam was making the rounds in national football circles. Gonzalez’s example is certain to be an inspiration to other Filipino aspirants and a spur to PFF administrators.
The PFF President, in his speech, stated that football would not be the same after the opening of the training centre and hoped that the football family would benefit greatly from it. He assured Mohamed Bin Hammam that the training centre would be fully utilised to create a pool of quality players who can raise the performance of the national team to a higher level of prominence.
Selected for special commendation at the ceremony in Ilo-Ilo was local magnate Emmanuel Gemora who donated the three-hectare plot of land on which the National Training Centre now stands. He donated the land to the Barotac Nuevo Municipality that then leased the land to the PFF on a long-term basis. Mohamed Bin Hammam presented a FIFA souvenir medal to Gemora.
The day following the ceremony in Ilo-Ilo, Mohamed Bin Hammam, Rene Adad and key PFF officials met in Manila with Senator Jose Lina, Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government of the Philippines, to obtain a commitment from the Philippine Government that they would assist in the launch of a football league for the PFF.

Source: http://www.azkals-philippinesfootball.com/philippines-football-history-fixtures-stories.php

Wine is becoming increasingly popular in Manila and other cities in the Philippines. Wine lovers in Manila travel to the north to visit Clark, Pampanga to shop for good and rate vintage wines at good duty-free prices. The most frequently visited liquor shop in Manila and wine shop in Pampanga is Clark Wine Center. This highly recommended wine shop located outside Manila near Angeles City, Pampanga in North Luzon is known for offering a great selection of fine vintage wine that is good quality and good value for money also.

This well-known wine shop is a famous shopping destination for wine enthusiasts in Manila and wine lovers from other cities in Asia including Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul, Osaka and Tokyo.

Famous Philippines wine supplier known for its line of fine vintage wines, Yats Wine Cellars was established in 2000 to address the requirement of a growing population of wine enthusiasts in the Philippines. This 5-star wine shop caters to the discerning client who requires these qualities in their wines: (1) excellent value, (2) large selection of labels and vintages to choose from and (3) wines properly aged for full enjoyment.

Public wine tastings are held from time to time in Clark and sometimes in Manila. Tickets range from p500 to p1500 for these themed events that are professionally run –no wine merchants sponsorship, pushy salesmen or tacky banners to ruin the evening. Each ticket contains a certain number of stubs that can be redeemed for a tasting pour of a wine among those on a line-up which often contains wines that are quite old and expensive.

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