Brian Viloria wins in unanimous decision

By Mike Cherry

Honolulu (HawaiiNewsNow) – Despite sporting a 2-inch cut above his right eye that swelled by the second, Brian Viloria (29-3) couldn't have been happier Saturday night. The Waipahu native defeated Julio Cesar Miranda by unanimous decision for the WBO Flyweight championship in a fight that went the full 12 round distance.

Roughly 90-seconds into round one, Viloria struck the first resounding blow, sending Miranda to the canvas in what would be the fight's only knock down of the night. As it turned out, it set the tone for the "Hawaiian Punch" as well.

"That felt great," admitted Viloria.

"I didn't expect it to happen. But, you know, I didn't want to get myself overly confident. That's how you have to take a look at it, and be like, alright I got this and give yourself enough time to lay back just a little bit."

Viloria did anything but relax.

Unlike his last championship bout versus Carlos Tamara (a fight that saw Viloria unable to answer the 12th round bell, thus forfeiting his IBF light flyweight title, despite leading in the judge's score card), Viloria was determined to go the distance.

And he did with the help of a raucous crowd who chanted his name in every round.

"I needed to dig down deep in those last couple of rounds and just hearing everyone's chant took me over that. Those are the type of fights that just energizes you. The people out here...I love them."

When the final bell sounded Viloria's hand was raised in victory as he claimed the WBO flyweight championship, the 3rd title of his pro career. And maybe the best of them all.

"I think it was more proving to myself," said Viloria. "Proving to myself that I still belong on the world caliber stage. Losing the title the way I did in Manila, it sets you back a little bit. This is...I think....sweeter than my first two world titles."

Emma Watson Landing New Role

Having just wrapped up a modern day fantasy of epic proportions, Emma Watson is reportedly eyeing a more classic land of make believe for one of her next projects.

"Crazy, Stupid, Love.," producer Denise Di Novi told ComingSoon.net that Watson is lined up to star in director Guillermo Del Toro's new adaptation of "Beauty and the Beast," which Di Novi is developing. It'd be the first undisputed lead role for Watson; she's due to star in the ensemble of the teen drama adaptation, "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," and has a supporting role in the Michelle Williams-starring "My Week With Marilyn."

What it means for Brown's studies -- she plans on going to Oxford this fall -- remains to be seen.

Watson told Vogue in June that she identified so deeply with her Hermione Granger character that, "I'm literally rediscovering what it means to be an actress.


- Jordan Zakarin

Azkals travel to Kuwait reeling from two defeats

BY BONG PEDRALVEZ

THE Philippine Azkals left Bahrain yesterday for Kuwait and the opening leg of their Asian World Cup qualifiers on Saturday at the 20,000-capacity Mohammad Al Hamad Stadium in the commercial district of Hawally.

The Filipinos will go into the match smarting from two defeats inflicted by Bahrain’s Under-23 Olympic team, including a 1-3 loss in front of a capacity crowd at the Muharraq Club Stadium in Manama on Monday night, according to the Bahrain-based Gulf Daily News reported posted on its website yesterday.

In a related development, Philippine Football Federation chief Mariano Araneta Jr. said yesterday he was still hopeful the Asian Football Confederation would lift the suspension slapped on team captain and key defender Aly Borromeo and Fil-German midfielder Stefan Schrock, who were banned one game each for earning two yellow cards in the first-round series against Sri Lanka.

"We sent another formal letter to the AFC today appealing the suspensions of Borromeo and Schrock," Araneta said.

The International Football Federation, the sport’s world governing body, had earlier referred a PFF appeal on the issue back to the AFC, which had ruled the penalties of both players be carried into the next round.

Araneta added that Fil-Dutch midfielder Paul Mulders might still be able to play in Kuwait if his injured left foot heals on time.

"We hope Mulders would still be able to play since his presence will help greatly in our match against Kuwait in the away leg," Araneta said.

Although more comfortable as an attacking midfielder, Mulders was reverted to left back by national coach Michael Weiss in the series against Sri Lanka, but is expected to be back at his old post with Fil-Icelander Ray Jonsson.

As in their previous 1-2 loss to the Bahraini booters last Saturday, diminutive co-skipper Chieffy Caligdong scored the lone goal for the Azkals, a header that caught Bahraini goalie Ashraf Al Sebaie off guard, on a cross by Manuel Ott near the end of the first half, the report said.

Widow's Healing Center

By Desiree Caluza

Dom-an and her morning ritual at the the Kasiyana Peace and Healing Center in Sagada. (Photo by Mario Ignacio)

Sagada, Mt. Province —Morning has broken and the sun casts its rays on this northern highland village as a widow sings a song of peace for those whose hearts have been pained by turmoil and violence.

In Sitio Nadatngan in Barangay Madongo here, Florence "Dom-an" Macagne Manegdeg, who turns 39 today, greets the day facing the sun and accompanying its ascent in the horizon by playing her bamboo flute.

This has been a daily ritual: her first act of the day a prayer for peace and healing.

The mountains of Sagada have been a refuge for Manegdeg, whose husband was one of the hundreds of activists killed while Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was president. Jose "Pepe" Manegdeg, a father of two, was only 37 when unidentified men shot him by the roadside in San Esteban, Ilocos Sur on November 28, 2005. He was, at that time, the coordinator of the Rural Missionaries in the Philippines in the Cordillera and Ilocos. To this day, the case remains unsolved.

"I have gone through so much violence in my life, and I have already reached the tipping point and I cannot be the person who should go on life agonizing," Manegdeg said.

In 2010, Manegdeg turned her home in this farming village into a center for peace and healing, and called it "Kasiyana."

Kasiyana is a powerful word in the dialect of the Kankanaey, the one of the tribes that inhabit the Cordillera region, and to which Manegdeg belongs. It refers to the belief that in times of pain or uncertainty, a threefold process happens: a recognition of pain and difficulty followed by hope and finally by loving action.

Manegdeg's home is now known as the Kasiyana Peace and Healing Center, a respite for individuals who have experienced trauma and a center for those who are advocating and volunteering for peace and healing programs.

Manegdeg said the center is not a typical institution with rooms and facilities. The center is the house itself, which she and Pepe built for their family before he died.

The two-storey house is made of pinewood and is surrounded by vegetable and fruit gardens, set against the backdrop of the lush pine forest and rice terraces beyond.

"This place is a home where one can experience the serenity of nature. It is modeled after the concept of bahay kubo (nipa hut); it's all about finding happiness in simple living and appreciating the gifts of nature. Pepe envisioned this as a sanctuary," said Manegdeg.

Did Jennifer Lopez Cheat On Marc Anthony?

By: OfficialMagicPG

Did on on screen romance entice Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony to end their marriage? Some say that ‘J-Lo’ hit it off with ‘The Cuban Brad Pitt‘ William Levy on the shoot of her video ‘I’m Into You‘. Hmmm.. coincidence in the name of the song much?

Reps for William Levy told ‘TMZ‘

“The only relationship there was or is, is a professional relationship. That’s all there’s ever been.”

Take a look at the Video for Jennifer Lopez’s song ‘I’m Into You‘ and make your own assumption. Sometimes ‘things’ can happen when professionals tend to work with each other for awhile. Bonds are created, secrets are shared and sometimes romances do occur.

Telenovela star, William Levy separated from his wife shortly after the completion of the video as well. Did his wife think something was up? Did William confess to his wife? The world may never know. I’m sure everyone will be on the look out to see if ‘J-Lo‘ and Levy show up anywhere together.