UNTV Cup 2 tosses ‘jump ball’ of charity at the Big Dome

QUEZON CITY, Philippines – Filipinos’ love for basketball is really undying. That is to the extent that survivors of a storm-hit village play ball on a flooded street. But this game, in the hands of UNTV CEO Daniel Razon, can transform into a long-term charitable giant.

Senate Defenders team (black jersey) goes toe-to-toe with House of Representatives Solon (white) during UNTV Cup Season 2’s opening match last Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014, at the jam-packed and crowded Big Dome. UNTV Cup 2 is a charity basketball league conceptualized by UNTV CEO Daniel Razon, with the support of MCGI presiding minister Bro. Eli Soriano. (Photo by Jeffrey Eugenio)

UNTV Cup, a basketball league for a cause, embodies this idea. Conceptualized by Razon under the mentorship of Members Church of God International (MCGI) presiding minister Eliseo Soriano, the league debuted in July 2013 and entered its second season last Tuesday, February 11, 2014, at Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

As described by preacher Soriano, also the host of the longest-running religious program, The Old Path, UNTV Cup is a selfless project likened to Christ’ deeds while He was on earth.

“Our primary model of inspiration – one who does good deeds not for Himself – is our Lord Jesus,” he said in vernacular during the league’s opening ceremony. “[Though] He needs nothing for Himself, He humbled himself. He worked and suffered not for Himself but for the others.”

Preacher Soriano, popularly know as Bro. Eli, refers to government agencies who geared up for UNTV Cup; that though most of them are plain employees, clerks, police officers, soldiers, traffic law enforcers and even elected officials like senators and congressmen, they jumped in the league and stretched their muscles all for the cause of charity.

On its first season, with some former pro players’ aid, eight government agencies participated in the league namely Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the combined Congress and local government units (Congress-LGU), Department of Justice (DOJ), Judiciary, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Philhealth, and Philippine National Police (PNP). Judiciary bagged the first championship title with quake and war victims in Cebu, Bohol and Zamboanga as the team’s beneficiary.

Season 2 then entered additional teams – the Senate and Malacañan. The former Congress-LGU split into two to form ten squads this second season.

Ten government agencies gear themselves up for UNTV Cup Season 2, a charity basketball league. They are the Judiciary Magis, DOJ Avengers, Malacañan Patriots, Senate Defenders, HOR Solons, LGU Vanguards, PNP Responders, Philhealth Advocates, AFP Cavaliers and MMDA Black Wolves. (Photo from UNTV Cup Facebook Page)

Razon, also known as Mr. Public Service, declared during the opening ceremony last Tuesday that every game day is people’s day.

“Every game day we have in UNTV Cup has an attached public service because we have opened  booths from ten participating agencies. That is why every game day is people’s day,” he explained. “You can go to the basketball game venue and see the booth of each team’s representatives. You can ask help for your problems and concerns.”

Examples of services offered, according to Razon, are issuance of membership IDs, attending to inquiries and many more.

Because of the first season’s success, league Commissioner Fortunato Co, Jr., better known as Atoy Co, expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support.

“I would like to thank all of our government agencies who joined in this game. With Asst. Commissioner Ed Cordero, we promise you a successful and fair league,” the “Fortune Cookie” commissioner uttered with excitement. “As early as now, we already set plans on what to do for Season 3. A lot of players from different government agencies want to join in and apply for UNTV Cup. That is how popular UNTV Cup is. This is my new game!”

Amateur and pro players from ten government agencies parade before the Big Dome crowd during the opening ceremony of UNTV Cup Season 2 last Tuesday. UNTV Cup will have a weekly regular game at the Ynares Sports Complex starting this Sunday at 2:30 p.m. (Photo by Jeffrey Eugenio)

During the opening of Season 2, Senate Defenders topped the House of Representatives (HOR) Solons in the first match in a score of 83-74. “Capt. Marvel” Kenneth Duremdes went unstoppable with 36 points, eight assists and three steals making him the Player of the Game.

“The [inspiration] right here now is the crowd,” Duremdes said in a post-game interview. “That is why we’re enjoying the game. We gained our energy though we already past our prime. But, I don’t feel tired because of the crowd. I hope they are here not only in the opening game because that is a very big factor for all of us players, not only me.”

Kenneth “Capt. Marvel” of team Senate is named the Player of the Game during the opening match in UNTV Cup Season 2 last Tuesday at the Big Dome. Together with Senator Sonny Angara and former PBA player Zaldy Realubit, Senate Defenders defeat the HOR Solons headed by Cong. Niel Tupas Jr. and ex-PBA star Arnold Gamboa. (Photo credit: Roy Cruz)

When asked how he describes Bro. Eli and Kuya Daniel’s tandem, he said, “Actually, this is a hit! This is a very, very good project. I still remember my first appearance in the exhibition games with the legends, you can feel the support from the crowd, which means that Kuya Daniel and Bro. Eli administer well, well-organized and well-supported. Especially, you can now see that many government agencies are eager to join.”

UNTV Cup Season 2’s next and weekly regular game will be held at the Ynares Sports Complex, Pasig City starting on February 16 this Sunday at 2:00 p.m. with live telecast on UNTV 37 and live simulcast at http://www.untvweb.com.

Gabriela: GMA 7’s news about Vhong Navarro-Deniece Cornejo case, misleading and malicious

MANILA, Philippines – In the long run of Vhong Navarro versus Deniece Cornejo-Cedric Lee case, GMA 7 earned a streak of strikes from netizens due to the network’s allegedly biased reporting in favor of Cornejo’s side. Now, Gabriela Women’s Party joins the slapping series when GMA 7’s news reports allegedly used the women’s right sectoral group’s statement in a “deliberately misleading and malicious” way.

Atty. Alnie G. Foja, Gabriela’s Director for Legal Affairs, brought to Facebook her disappointment over a January 30 GMA News report by Sandra Aguinaldo on 24 Oras (24 Hours) titled “Gabriela, nanawagan na unawain at huwag agad husgahan si Deniece Cornejo” (Gabriela pleaded [to the public] to understand Deniece Cornejo and suspend judgement first) and an online article published on GMA News Online, the network’s news portal site, titled “Gabriela Women’s Party expresses support for Cornejo.”

GMA 7′s 24 Oras reports that Gabriela Women’s Party expresses support to Deniece Cornejo, Vhong Navarro’s alleged rape victim. However, Atty. Alnie G. Foja, legal counsel of the women’s right sectoral group, vehemently denied the said claim saying the news was deliberately malicious and misleading. (Screen grab from 24 Oras YouTube video).

In the reports, GMA News purported that Gabriela expresses support to the starlet Cornejo who accused TV host Navarro of rape.

Here is the open letter of Atty. Foja posted on her Facebook personal account.

Gabriela Atty. Alnie G. Fojas airs her grievances over GMA News ‘malicious and misleading’ report purporting that Gabriela issued a statement of support for Deniece Cornejo. (Screen shot from Atty. Foja’s Facebook personal account)

Here is the allegedly malicious and misleading report of GMA 7’s 24 Oras.

Meanwhile, GMA News Online pulled out the online article written by Elizabeth Marcelo. In spite of that, the article can be retrieved from its caché and can be viewed here.

Rape angle

In a sworn statement made by Navarro to National Bureau of Investigation against Cornejo, businessman Cedric Lee, main suspect for Navarro’s mauling, and his cohorts, Navarro stated that Lee’s group blackmailed him saying that they will release a video of Navarro confessing rape to Cornejo, which video Lee’s group also took, and a police blotter incriminating the actor on a rape charge unless he will give Lee’s group an agreed amount of two million pesos. An alias Mike said, according to Navarro’s affidavit, “Walang video, walang blotter, walang media. Basta ibigay mo ang pera na hinihingi.” (No video, no blotter, no media – as long as you will give us the amount asked.)

An alias Mike promises Vhong Navarro that Cedric Lee’s group will forfeit releasing an obscene video of Navarro and a police blotter compromising the actor’s career should he gives the agreed P2M amount of money. (Photo credit: philstar.com)

Navarro failed to give Lee’s demand, which he instructed Navarro to deposit on a given bank account. Incidentally, GMA News, the first media outlet to do so, aired the alleged rape angle and police blotter against Navarro on January 26 which then sparked the ire of netizens, particularly Navarro’s supporters.

GMA News declining integrity?

This is not the first time that the ‘Kapuso’ network was bashed for being allegedly partisan in delivering news. On January 26, the hashtag #GMAPhilippinesWorstNetwork appeared in the Twitter trending topics, together with other related topics such as ‘Walang Kinikilingan’ (no inclination), Cedric Lee, and Denise Millet Cornejo due to the allegedly ‘biased reporting’ of the giant TV network.

The hashtag #GMAPhilippinesWorstNetwork becomes an overnight trending topic on Twitter, January 26, 2014, when a police blotter appeared on GMA emphasizing an alleged rape attempt by actor Vhong Navarro. Netizens cry foul over alleged ‘biased reporting.’ (Screen shot from Twitter)

Similarly, on January 28, netizens, particularly Navarro’s supporters, criticized GMA News executive Jessica Soho for allegedly undermining the significance of CCTV footage in the Forbeswood Heights condominium incident.

Another was morning show Unang Hirit host Arnold Clavio’s allegedly inclining with Cornejo-Lee’s lawyer over Navarro’s in an interview on January 31. Netizens reacted when, according to them, Clavio had been interrupting Navarro’s lawyer while explaining his case. The incident was apart from Clavio’s rude interview with the lawyer of suspected ‘pork scam mastermind’ Janette Lim Napoles,’ ‘racist remarks’ against Philippine football team Azkals and ‘irresponsible reporting’ against international preacher Eliseo Soriano in a 2009 Case Unclosed episode titled “Paninirang-Puri.”

GMA-7’s ‘Eat Bulaga,’ ‘The Borrowed Wife’ irk nurses group, call center agents for ‘degrading portrayals’

MANILA, Philippines – Within a span of two days this week, two GMA-7 Kapuso programs reaped immediate and serious complaints: first, from the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) for ‘Eat Bulaga’s’ (EB) allegedly offending dance number; and, second, from podcast program titled ‘The Call Center Show’ (TCCS) for GMA-7’s ‘The Borrowed Wife’s’ allegedly degrading statements towards call center agents.

The PNA, headed by President Roger Tong-an, has filed a complaint over EB before the Movie Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) last Monday. Meanwhile, TCCS program runner JM Cruz expressed shock and indignation towards TBW’s writers and producers portrayal of call center agents and published his dismay on FashionPulis.com and other social media platforms.

Sexualized dancing nurses?

(L-R) Ryza Cenon, Pauleen Luna and LJ
Reyes dance number in Eat Bulaga last January 18 earns criticism from the Philippine Nurses Association or PNA. PNA condemns the improper use of nurses uniform and cap during the dance segment. (Photo credit: Eat Bulaga’s Facebook Page)

The PNA’s complaints rooted from an opening dance segment performed on January 18 in the noontime show EB,  which featured actresses Pauleen Luna, LJ Reyes, and Ryza Cenon, together with their back up dancers, all dressed like nurses. President Tong-an condemned what he described as the ‘improper and inappropriate wearing of nurse uniform and cap’ in the said dance number. Below is a full copy of the complaint letter:

The Philippine Nurses Association or PNA calls on the attention of MTRCB for Eat Bulaga’s ‘improper and inappropriate wearing of nurse uniform and cap’ during an opening number last January 18, 2014. Eat Bulaga has yet to give its statement regarding this issue. (Photo from “Stop Making Nurses Work Without Salaries” Facebook Page)

According to the Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses, Article III, section 11, nurses are prohibited to engage in activities that might “demean the image of the profession like indecent exposure, violation of dress code, seductive behavior, among others.” This also coincides with the 2006 DILG Memorandum Circular signed by former DILG secretary Ronaldo V. Puno, who emphasized that “all City and Municipal Mayors are enjoined to prohibit the improper display or use of uniform should the practice demeans the image and integrity of the nursing profession.”

Former DILG secretary Ronaldo V. Puno announced in 2006 that all city and municipal mayors are enjoined to prohibit improper display or use of nurse uniform in such that it demeans the image and integrity of nursing profession. (Photo from “Stop Making Nurses Work Without Salaries” Facebook Page)

However, a day after the dance number, a Facebook page named “Stop Making Nurses Work Without Salaries” pointed out that “the three lead dancers are all dancing sexually and keep humping the air,” and that “they have skirts way above the knees,” and at one point shows the underneath of “Ryza Cenon’s skirt when she spins.” The page added that the dancers cap fell to the ground or were thrown away. A two-minute video of the said dance number can be watched here.

Netizen and nurses shared mixed reactions on Facebook after watching the said dance number.

Netizens, especially nurses, share their reaction about the dance number in Eat Bulaga aired last January 18, 2014. (Screen shots from “Stop Making Nurses Work Without Salaries” Facebook Page)

Belittling call center agents?

On the other hand, TCCS host and show creator JM Cruz had bad impression on the pilot episode of TBW aired on January 20, which stars Camille Prats, Rafael Rosell, TJ Trinidad and Pauleen Luna. In his letter published on entertainment blog FashionPulis.com, Cruz said, on behalf of his fellow agents, that the stars of the program made insulting reference to the call center agents with dialogues such as “hindi ako nag-aral para sumagot lang ng telepono (I did not study just to answer telephone calls),” and “pang-walang pinag-aralan lang yan (that is for uneducated only).”

“We strongly condemn this kind of mockery,” Cruz expressed. “[They have] the nerve of these supposed writers to discriminate against an industry they knew nothing about!”

Cruz added that he, together with other call center agents, felt enraged and violated by TBW’s writers and producers’ “gall to belittle an industry with billions in revenues, [which makes] it one of the chief economic drivers” in the Philippines.

“We will not take these things sitting down; we will pursue this unless mistakes are rectified,” he said.

Excerpts from the afternoon television series can be watched here: After watching, some call center agents also shared their dismay about how call center agents were portrayed in the said soap opera.

Upon watching the pilot episode of GMA’s new soap opera, The Borrowed Wife, some call center agents express dismay over the allegedly degrading statements portrayed in the program. (Screen shots from The Call Center Show Facebook Page)

As of now, MTRCB and GMA Network have yet to release official statement concerning these matters.