EDUARD SACAPAÑO TAKE A BOW SON

I was at the stands and watched the Philippines Men’s National team take on the Singapore Men’s National team in a friendly enroute to the AFF Suzuki Cup next week.

The Philippines won by 1-0 scoreline, but if it weren’t for Eduard Sacapano’s heroics, Singapore could have won.

I was fortunate enough that I actually captured the Singapore penalty he saved right before the first half ended. 

My London-based classmate and I clearly gave the MoTM award to him, and I am glad that the crowd recognized his efforts, that his name was chanted by everyone at the stands.

To Manong Ed, take a bow! 

#AskPoldi: I'm Really Naughty This Year

I'm naughty. So no gifts for me from Santa then.

When Arsenal made a surprise announcement that they're going to have another Twitter Takeover last Nov. 8, I was in panic to shoot some question on the mystery player they're going to feature on the hot seat.

When they announced that Lukas Podolski will be on board first, I went blank. I can't think of any questions on this guy who I have a crush on since 2006 (That long!). I tweeted some random questions tagging Arsenal with hashtags #AskPoldi and #ArsenalTwitterTakeover but it seems the club didn't notice my questions. (You're question might get answered by the players if the club will click on "Favorite" on your tweet.)In my desperation (Yes I was that desperate for Poldi to take notice of me.), I ask him to be my sperm donor. The club may find my Q offensive, but I got compliments for being such a laugh trip.

Thank you Jady Salonga for the screen shot! Forever cherished!

RE: Weighing Arsenal's Chances

On a fine Saturday morn, I had a chance to read on a column in our local daily regarding Arsenal's chances of winning any silverwear this 2012-2013 season. I promised that author to make a reply, but since Arsenal's form as of late has been dismal, I needed to muster enough inspiration to write my reply.

Arsenal's 7 years and counting trophy drought has been the major talking point among the press and fans alike. To be a big club not just in England and in Europe, but in the whole world, you have to win a major trophy season after season. The last time we won any trophy was the 2005 FA Cup.

After that 2-0 lost against Schalke in the Champion League, Arsenal had a general meeting attended by members of the Supporter's Trust, the board members, stockholders and the manager himself, Arsene Wenger.

The Arsenal board emphasizes on being a club with balanced accounting books and banks on self-sustainability. A major dent into club's cheque book is the payment for their new stadium. Sure an airline company bought the naming rights for it, but I felt the club is somehow short changed with an estimated fee of  £100 million for 15 years (not counting inflation rates during that period). Thus the club have to sell their most prized players to other big clubs both in the UK and in the continent. There are some sections of fans who supported such scheme, but there are also who won't give in to the club's self-sustainability b*llsh*t. In the age where an oligarch or a sheikh can buy a mediocre club success, these Arsenal fans wanted the club to the same since they know that the club has money to burn. Stan Kroenke, the club's majority shareholder, may have the ability to pump in millions to cash on Arsenal's arsenal; but he too embraced the club's self-sustainability philosophy. *I actually read the transcript of the AGM, so that was where I got my information.

On to the trophy thing, during that AGM, Arsene Wenger told everyone that in every season that he is in-charge for the club, we are in contention for 5 trophies; 1. Premier League, 2. Champions League, 3. Champions League qualification, 4. FA Cup, 5. League (Capital One Cup).In the course of his 16 years as Arsenal's manager, Wenger won the Premier League 3 times, FA Cup 4 times (2 double winning seasons), 14 straight Champions League qualification, 1 Champions League runners-up (2006), 2 League Cup runners-up (2007, 2011). The fans' point of view, CL qualifications is not a trophy, we want something tangible. But in Arsene's perspective, qualifications in Europe's elite club competition mean added revenue to Arsenal, as well as attracting players to play for the club. Even fans from beleaguered Liverpool and rivals, Tottenham, can attest how much what is at stake by just merely qualifying for it. Arsenal's league form took a dip after an impressive start having lost thrice already to Chelsea, Norwich and Manchester United. In the Champions League, they lie second to Schalke in Group B with 2 fixtures still to be played. Arsenal will enter the FA Cup this January, while the League Cup is still up-for grabs after a dramatic 5-7 win at Reading.

As a fan, I admire Arsenal frugality, but on this day and age of social media, success in the balance sheet without trophies to boot is not success at all. But season 2012-2013 season is long, anything can happen. I hope Lady Luck will finally smile at Arsenal, I guess that's what this football club needed.

Earrings

A friend of mine made these for me! I super love! Thanks Jo!

Birthday Greetings from the Azkals lads

Thanks to my college cheatmate, Peter, for this wonderful surprise.

Daddy Rob, my CB crush. :D

Thanks fellow Gooner, OJ Porteria!

Ayee! The YH brothers!

One of my favorites, Manong Chieffy!

Hey Patrick! Thanks! Make us Bisdaks proud!

It's not everyday (or in my case birthday) that members of your national football team greet you. :D

HIBAG: How I Became a Gooner

I am celebrating my 9th year as Arsenal FC fan today. So in honor of such milestone, I am writing this blog for the curious.

THE BEGINNING
Way back in high school, I already exhibited signs of my fangirlism. Most of my high school friends often associated me with basketball, that they even predicted that I'll be the first female coach of the Cebu Gems of the now defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association. But unknown to them, I was secretly rooting for the likes of Barcelona (because of the original Ronaldo) and Liverpool (because of Michael Owen), during the time where David Beckham was the crush of football. 

Back when David Beckham was the girls' word of mouth when it came to football, I find this baby-faced Scouser cute.

The things was I did not watch most football matches then. I only relied on the results being broadcasted via Sportscenter, Sport Today and World Sport. I did tried to watch an Italian Serie A (which was shown on cable back then), but I fell asleep in the half-hour mark. The first (not-so full) match that I saw was the 1999 UEFA Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Manchester United, in which Teddy Sherringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored at Fergie time to win the club's second CL crown.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer stunned Oliver Kahn and Bayern Munich  enroute to the Red Devils' treble that year.

When I moved on to the much provincial setting for my college degree, I was kind at lost of my basketball and football (news) fixation. Back then only the affluent families had access to cable television with huge satellite dish. I became accustomed to Filipino soap operas and such...

PRELUDE TO GOONERDOM
Before I graduated on my first course (My state run school had a ladderized system for the DVM degree.), cable TV in the province is readily available in the masses and even in some dormitories. Every June, upper class men (and women) of the DVM degree would flocked into Banahaw Dorm (aka the Vet Dorm) to watch the NBA playoffs and finals. This was in 2003. The San Antonio Spurs where the NBA champs and my apple of the eye was Tony Parker.

REMOVAL EXAMINATIONS, LUNCH, FARM REPORTS, SEMESTRAL BREAKSWhile waiting for my housemates to finish their removal examinations, I was eating lunch alone in our hangout, The Honeycomb. One of my housemates boyfriend, Justin, joined me for lunch. We initially talked about basketball, then we started talking about football. He was merely raving about Barcelona's (I being a Barcelona admirer back then.) latest acquisition, the great Ronaldinho ( Ronaldinho was a revelation during the World Cup 2002. That was what I've read.), and at the same time he was talking about Tony Parker's BFF, a guy named Thierry Henry who plays for Arsenal. Justin encouraged me to watch any Arsenal match during the semestral break. I agreed.

When I got home, Justin texted me that Arsenal had a match on the weekend I arrived home for my semestral break. But the kick-off was late night. That was Oct. 18, 2003 at around 10 in the evening or so.

I did not paid much attention to the match back then. All I wanna watch was that guy named Henry and check if how good he was since Justin was comparing him with Ronaldinho. The only thing I could remember during that match was the date, the venue, Highbury, and Thierry Henry scoring. By 12 midnight, I was convince that I'll follow the progress of this club in the Premiership. By May 15, 2003, Thierry Henry and his teammates (by now I already knew all their names), were crowned the Premier League Champions without conceding a loss.
 

The Invincibles. Played 38. Won 26. Drawn 12. Lost 0.

It was just recently that that Oct.18-19, 2003 match was against Chelsea, their runners-up for that season. But who cares. On that night, I fell in love with the brand of football Arsenal played. It was an attacking style of football, and I swear I never fell asleep on an Arsenal match, EVER!

I will forever be grateful to Justin for introducing me to Arsenal! Take a bow, Jus!

HBD Bimby

You're ain't a puppy anymore!
Happy birthday Bimby, este, Bambino!