Cebu Sports Blog by John Pages

Me’Anne Solomon

“The Scariest Alphabet Letter Many Don’t Want To See,” an article I wrote in July 12, 2005…

Lance Armstrong owned a $1 million Texan home and a French villa with a ravishing blond girlfriend swimming in its pool. He pedaled home the World Championship crown; sprinted first to snatch Tour de France stage victories. He was such a European celebrity that he couldn’t walk down Paris without getting swarmed. He was the world’s No.1 cyclist.

Then it struck… Mary Anne Alcordo-Solomon couldn’t have enjoyed life better. With husband Tito, she spent lots of hours with her teeners Ma-ann, 18, and Mikey, 16. For eight years, she was one of the most active at the Rotary club, rising to the top spot as the district secretary. Back in the office, she owned and managed the billboard giant Alcordo Signs, one of the largest outside Manila.

ACTIVE ZONE at Ayala Center Cebu

This October will be exciting. Apart from Barack Obama trying to convince the IOC officials to choose Chicago in 2016 (and Brazilian President Lula Da Silva reminding the delegates that never before has a South American nation hosted the Olympics), this month will be fascinating.

Here in Cebu, we will see, for the first time, the opening of an all-sports, all-lifestyle, all-wellness center. The venue? Ayala Center Cebu. Remember the former Ayala Food and Entertainment Center, where the likes of Ratsky and Don Henrico’s and Tequila Joe’s used to be found?

Pink October

Real men wear pink. So says my daughter Jana. And so I wear pink. Once in awhile. But this month, I hope to wear pink more often. The reason is obvious: It’s Pink October. It’s that time of each year when one color shines brighter than gold, yellow or silver. Why Pink October? Because this is the month that’s also termed, “Breast Awareness Month.”

Me’Anne Alcordo Solomon, one of the most animated and charismatic people that you can meet in Cebu, is the leader of this yearly movement. The reason why Me’anne is so involved? She herself, back in 2004, was a victim of the scariest alphabet letter that anyone wouldn’t want to hear: C. The Big C. Cancer.

Pink October Run

Dancing with Ed and Eleanor Hayco

Three nights ago, the Pacific Grand Ballroom of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel glittered. Inside the vast hall tiptoed dancers. Sexy, long-legged, with nothing on their legs but four-inch-tall high heels, their backs stood erect, their smiles ear-to-ear, their poise and stature, exquisite.

They arrived in Cebu to compete. Bulgarians. Vietnamese. Russians. Hong Kongers. Slovenians. Germans. They came to showcase their curvaceous bodies. To wow the judges with their twists and bends and turns and spirals. Wearing sparkling silver or glowering gold or blazing blue, they boogied. Skipped. Whirled. They danced the Rumba, Jive, Chachacha, the Viennese Waltz and, my favorite because it elicited the most noise and frenzy, the Paso Doble.

Last Saturday evening, when participants from 15 nations joined the competition called the 4th Dancesport sa Sugbo and IDSF Dancesport Open, it was an eye-popping experience. When the competition started and the dance pairs were called to the giant wooden dancefloor that slept at the middle of the ballroom, I made sure to stay close. And so I sat on the carpet, just meters away.

Press Freedom Run photos

Last Saturday morning, members of the media joined together to run. Starting and finishing at the City Sports Club area inside the Cebu Business Park, the mediamen participated in the 5K and 3K runs. Here’s the Sun.Star story by Edri Aznar (who placed 2nd overall in the 5K) and by Raffy Osumo of The Freeman (who also did well, despite abdominal cramps, in his 5K run).

Singapore’s formula for a party? Formula 1

If you’ve ever been to The Lion City, this you’ll notice: There is more thrill and action at night than when the sun is out.

Consider the famous Clarke Quay. Located along the Singapore River, it houses five blocks of old warehouses that have been transformed into restaurants and nightclubs. Or the shopping street Orchard Road. With dozens of mega-malls ranging from Ngee Ann City (Takashimaya) to Paragon to the newly-opened Orchard Central, night-shopping is a Singapore must.

There’s the Merlion, a symbol of The Lion City, which glows when fully-lighted. Same when you visit Sentosa Island and watch the multitude of evening shows. Visiting this December? Perfect! Their streets glow with millions of shining Christmas lightbulbs. And, of course, there is the renowned Singapore Zoo where a plethora of tourists visit the Night Safari—the world’s first night zoo.

Will Obama-MJ-Oprah pitch for Chicago 2016?

They are three of the most famous individuals among the estimated 6,785,975,546 people who inhabit this planet today. Barack Hussein Obama. Oprah Gail Winfrey. Michael Jeffrey Jordan.

One is television’s biggest superstar. The other is a global sports icon who is arguably, despite his having retired from the NBA six years ago, the most celebrated athlete in the world. The third member of the trio? Simply put, he happens to be the most recognizable and powerful person on earth.

Missing James Yap, Purefoods was unexciting

Vacationing in the paradise island of Hawaii with his wife Kris Aquino and children Baby James and Joshua, the former Most Valuable Player was absent in the PBA vs. Cebu basketball game last Monday night at the Cebu Coliseum.

James Carlos Yap, Sr.’s team, the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants, was up against the Michel Lhuillier-owned M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños. Having not watched a live PBA encounter in over a year, how did I find the ballgame?

Exciting. Unexciting.

Running Clinic… now at Casino Español

Same date/time: Sept. 19 (Saturday) from 2 to 4 p.m. but new location…

the Granada Room of the Casino Español de Cebu.