ACM rules!

MILAN RULE SAN SIRO

Milan won the 259th derby, with a 1-0 victory over Inter to continue to match Juventus at the top of the Serie A table. The Rossoneri are now on 57 points, a good 14 ahead of the city rivals. The 'Scala of Calcio' which the San Siro is rightly known, was a sea of red and black at the final whistle as Milan ended the Nerazzurri’s unbeaten record this season thanks to a second-half goal from Kaka. The clock in the stadium was reading 74 minutes when Serginho curled a corner into the area and as the ball came out to the edge of the box, Rino Gattuso’s low effort was deflected home from close range by the young Brazilian who raced away to celebrate. As the Rossoneri fans sang: 'We are Milan,' the twin towers of Alessandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini along with the rest of Carlo Ancelotti's men repelled Inter’s desperate search for the equaliser.

J-Ro
Jennifer wins the SBS, although SI seems to put more importance to high school sophomore Michelle Wie who ends SBS in a tie at 2nd place. Still J-Ro rocks.

Wire-to-wire. Rosales wins season-opening SBS; Wie finishes 2nd
Rosales wins SBS. Rosales shot a 1-over-par 73 to pick up her second tour win.

Name Scores Under Par
Jennifer Rosales 66-69-72--207 9-under
Cristie Kerr 70-68-72--210 6-under
a-Michelle Wie 70-70-70--210 6-under
Gloria Park 73-70-68--211 5-under
Reilley Rankin 71-66-75--212 4-under
Heather Bowie 68-75-70--213 3-under
Hee-Won Han 70-70-73--213 3-under
Nicole Perrot 72-69-72--213 3-under
Tina Barrett 72-70-72--214 2-under
Rosie Jones 70-69-75--214 2-under
Carin Koch 70-72-72--214 2-under
Catriona Matthew 75-69-70--214 2-under
Sung Ah Yim 68-75-72--215 1-under
(a-amateur)

KAHUKU, Hawaii (AP) -- Jennifer Rosales knew Michelle Wie was close. Rosales could hear the 15-year-old closing in on the lead.

Forza Milan

The Rossoneri ties Juve for top spot at 54 points in Serie A play.
Here's from acmilan.com

SERGINHO ON THE SPOT

Serginho came off the bench to give Milan a last-gasp winner at home to Cagliari which takes the Rossoneri to top of the table alongside Juventus. It was a wonderful strike from the Brazilian who changed the complexion of a game that looked to be heading for stalemate despite all the pressure on the Sardinian side’s goal. Carlo Ancelotti’s players once again showed all their character and determination to keep going right to the end in search of victory. However, the evening of high drama at the San Siro was tempered somewhat by the news that Andriy Shevchenko suffered a cheekbone fracture which will sideline the striker for up to nearly two weeks.

Tsunami charity match

Ronaldinho's team drubs Shevchenko's 6-3 in tsunami charity match

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) -- International soccer stars played for Asian tsunami relief Tuesday with a team of non-Europeans led by Brazil's Ronaldinho beating Andriy Shevchenko's continental crew 6-3.

In a match dubbed "The Game of Hope,'' 35,000 spectators watched some sparkling offense despite near freezing temperatures and a polar wind. Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o, the African player of the year, led the way with two goals.

From the starting whistle, Ronaldinho, Eto'o and their teammates produced some dazzling play with heel flicks, dummy dribbles and goals galore.

The other side included Shevchenko, a Ukranian voted European player of the year, David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane.

"It's the first time in my 30 years with FIFA that there's been such an assembly of players of this stature,'' said president Sepp Blatter. "This is football, and it's football for the future.''

FIFA hopes to gather some $10 million for the tsunami victims, with a third coming from Tuesday's match.

The proceeds were to go to the Tsunami Solidarity Fund set up by FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation to help rebuild Asian soccer after the tsunami tragedy of Dec. 26 that caused 300,000 deaths.

El Presidente

One of my basketball idols, El Presidente, the franchise, Ramon Fernandez has been sued in court by his wife of 20-plus years for physical abuse and others. I met the the guy and his wife and kids personally in his home in Ayala Alabang in December 1987. I am saddened by this.

We all hope this will end up in a win-win.

Also on February 4, "Annika Sorenstam, the No. 1 player in women's golf and one of the most famous female athletes in the world, has filed for divorce from David Esch, her husband of eight years." (SI)

My, my, my beloved AC Milan is only two points from Serie A leader Juventus, with a 1-0 win over Reggio Calabria last Sunday. Also from acmilan.com: "Milan have stepped up to support the stars of football for the benefit match on Tuesday evening at the Nou Camp stadium in Barcelona to aid the vicitims of last December’s Asian tsunami. Through the Milan Foundation, the club are already involved in a wide-range of projects and chief executive Adriano Galliani put together an excellent array of Rossoneri players for the occasion. Kicking-off at 9pm CET and broadcast live to 150 countries, a European team, led by Andriy Shevchenko, will take on a non-European side captained by Ronaldinho. Sheva will be joined by Paolo Maldini, Manuel Rui Costa, Ricardo Kaka, Marcos Cafu, Nelson Dida and Kakhaber Kaladze. All proceeds from the match will be donated to the Fifa/Asian Football Confederation Tsunami Solidarity Fund."

Post-valentine blog

Many years ago, when I was yet in college, my professor in soci-anthropology told us in a class a couple of days before Valentine's Day that people who wear red on Valentine's Day are promdi (from the province!). The next time we met, on Valentine's Day, no one in class was in red. Fine. Just before the end of class, some students who were to use the room after us were converging at the hallway. Lo and behold, one of them was Kris A., who was in RED! Look Sir, guess who is in RED! With a grin, prof said,Oh, that's okay, it is her birthday today (it really is, Feb 14 is Kris A's birthday).

Happy Anniversary!

Happy 15th Anniversary to my school, CITE (cite.edu.ph). Fifteen years ago today, Italian and Philippine partners broke ground to start the construction of the buildings of CITE.

Yesterday, on my weekend walk around the city, at two different points I followed a man who missed a belt loop -- the same loop, left back loop. What is the probability of that happening?

Happy Birthday

Today is my birthday! I know five other friends celebrating their birth anniversaries today also -- Happy Birthday to you my friends.

Pedestrian-caused traffic

In Cebu City, the traffic in front of UC Banilad is getting worse. And again, the pedestrians who refuse to use the pedestrian lanes and the skywalk are causing much of the problem. Why can't they use the pedestrian lane or the skywalk? I think the students of Banilad Elementary School are better disciplined as they make use of the skywalk near their school.

The Chinese Catholics were dispensed from observing the fast and abstinence yesterday, so they can celebrate Chinese New Year. Their observance of the fast and abstinence has been moved to a latter date.

Ash Wednesday and Chinese New Year

This year these two happen on the same day. My Chinese Catholic friends have asked, what do we do? You have fasting and abstinence because of Ash Wednesday and celebrations because of the Chinese New Year. For those who asked yesterday, I told them that they could "binge" until 11:59 last night. For those who called today, I told them that celebrations did not always mean eating a lot. In any case, we are entitled to three meals today with only one full meal with the two other meals not to equal one full meal. Or of course, we can always have a more sober celebration of Chinese New Year just this year.

Not bad at all. My birthday on the 11th is a Friday of Lent, and so that means also abstinence day. But then it is also the feast of our Lady of Lourdes, so I celebrate with her.

Tough day

Today was a tough day. My management meeting focused on problems facing some students and some of our alumni. While we can say that all the problems point to upbringing and the effects of the communities where they live, still, I think we can and should do the best for our students. Of course, as my school gets more prestige, these issues and possible scandals could blow up in our faces with more intensity. Nevertheless, I think we can sleep well at night, any night (except when I am on my boat trips!), to know that what we are doing are good. FORZA!

Masha

Masha won in Tokyo, denying Lindsay her 5th Pan Pacific.
Juve lost two straight games in Serie A, while AC Milan won their matches this week to move within 2 points of leader Juventus
Here's from acmilan:

MILAN LEAVE IT LATE
2/6/2005 11:00:00 PM
Milan produced a memorable come-back to grab a late winner over Lazio and move to just two points behind Juventus at the top of the table. With the game heading deep into added-time and the score at 1-1, Hernan Crespo brought the San Siro to its feet with a close-range tap-in after a Kaka shot had come off the post. Against a Lazio side well-organised in defence, coach Carlo Ancelotti’s side showed character and determination to come from a goal behind, with Andriy Shevchenko coming off the bench to score a stunning free-kick to set-up the grandstand finale.

Pope John Paul II

The Holy Father was brought to the hospital 11pm Tuesday for a respiratory ailment. Like many Italians, he was suffering from the flu. He is much better now. We are praying still.

Mom was also in the hospital for hypertension. The rest was good for her. She'll undergo a full check-up.

Peso and Skywalk

The Philippine Peso has been getting stronger the past days. Is it for real? Yesterday it breached the PhP54:USD1 mark, to as low as P54.87.

The City Government is finally putting barriers between Northgate/UC and Country Mall. Pedestrians will now really have to use the skywalk or pedestrian lanes. There could still be a way these people will cause traffic. There is a left turn slot to Country Mall from the south. I bet people will squeeze themselves there, dodging vehicles instead of using the skywalk. Wanna bet?

VAT

The RP House of Representatives passed on third reading a bill that will increase VAT to 12%. I think this is laudable. Of course they cannot satisfy everyone, but the common good is what is considered here. Some have to take the bitter pill for sometime. I hope that the Senate version shall make improvements too, and not outrightly disregard it.

Unforgettable Sunday

MILAN FROZEN OUT
It was another Sunday for Milan to forget as the Rossoneri made it two defeats in a row after a 1-0 set-back to Bologna at a chilly San Siro. Coach Carlo Ancelotti’s side dominated possession for the whole game but fell to a Tomas Locatelli goal after 27 minutes in what was the visitor’s one clear-cut chance. The result also left Milan eight points behind Juventus who won at Atalanta. Milan had already seen a wonderful Vikash Dhorasoo volley disallowed before the Rossoblu scored and then lost Andriy Shevchenko to injury. The second half continued the one-way traffic and substitute Massimo Ambrosini had a header cleared off the line but at the end of the day there was little to warm the home support.

Marat Safin won the Aus Open, winning three straight sets after bungling with the first set 1-6.

Tiger's No. 1 again in earnings

Tiger ended his 16-month drought in PGA Tour stroke-play events by winning the Buick. And he did it without his "A" game, hitting just 25 fairways, the fifth-worst driving accuracy performance of his career. Luckily for Tiger, his putter was hot. He is No. 1 again in earnings.

Roddick lost to Hewitt in 4 sets. Hewitt plays the first ever night finals at the Australian Open. He could become the first Aussie since 1976 to win the Open if he beats giant-killer Marat Safin.

19 years

Today marks 19 years since I made the greatest decision in my life. I was ending my freshman year at university, marked by alternative classes because of political upheavals in the country then. I think that situation also helped me pray and think through this decision. I am happy.

Sports update

It's an All-American women's finals on Saturday, Serena disposing of Maria to battle Lindsay who beat Nathalie in their semis. Marat Safin beat Roger Federer in 5 sets to meet the Roddick-Hewitt winner in the men's finals on Sunday.

Watch out for this boy wonder: Brazilian phenom, 9 yr old Jean Carlos Chera is catching the attention of pro teams like Manchester United. As SI says: At this rate, sonograms will become a soccer recruiting tool pretty soon. Another Freddy Adu?

acmilan.com
THREE OF THE BEST
It was an exciting evening of Italian Cup action at the San Siro as Milan overcame Udinese 3-2 in their quarter-final first leg. It was also a special night for three Rossoneri stars in particular as Massimo Ambrosini grabbed two goals and hit the post, Serginho scored the winner, with a wonderful curling free-kick and Pippo Inzaghi made his long-awaited return from injury, coming on as a substitute in the second half. However, the popular striker injured his hand in a collision with goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis and x-rays on Thursday confirmed he had fractured and discolated his thumb. Hopefully, it will not mean another extended stay on the sidelines for Pippo. The Rossoneri will now take a precious lead into the return leg in Friuli, but just as importantly, it was the perfect way to overcome the disappointment of the Livorno game and prepare for the Serie A encounter with Bologna at the weekend.

A drop of blood

Cut myself shaving today. And with a Gillette Mach3, that meant three cuts in one go, bloody mess.
But nothing compared to all the blood spilled on the streets of Cebu City, where vigilantes (Hizzoner says he might have inspired them) have permanently disabled more than 20 "criminal elements" in less than two months.
Pros and cons. A lot. And a lot of talk. A lot of killings too.

Sports news

The Rossoneri (AC Milan) lost Sunday to Livorno (0-1) to fall back 5 points from Juventus (47-42) in Serie A play. Forza Milan!

Tiger Woods ended his stroke-play drought with final-round 68 in the Buick Invitational for a total 16-under 262 and earned $864,000, putting him atop the PGA Tour money list for the first time in 16 months. He last won in stroke-play 16 months ago in the American Express Championship in October 2003.

Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova will meet in the semis of the Australian Open with almost similar scores in their quartes. Serena beat Amelie Mauresmo 6-2, 6-2, while Maria lost the first set to Svetlana Kuznetsova 4-6 but took the next two 6-2 6-2. As they say, screeching Maria versus sexy Serena.

Agassi plays Roger Federer in their quarters later Tuesday.