Meet Bert Bravo, a rarity from millionaire’s row By Al S. Mendoza   I also have some bosom buddies who are rich. That’s life. You aren’t rich but you can still maintain friendship with the rich. That’s life, too. Now, if that rich is a filthy bastard, leave him. You’d…

Azkals make history; Beermen chasing it By Al S. Mendoza   HOLY Tuesday produced history in Philippine football. And can San Miguel Beer follow suit, proceeding to outlast Magnolia to win a record fourth straight PBA Philippine Cup? But first, football. Our Azkals, after years of trying, finally made it to the…

Are the Canadians that stupid, indeed? By Al S. Mendoza   YOU get the goat of President Duterte, you are doomed. Said Mr. Duterte on the planned purchase of Canadian helicopters that has a Canada-designed rider deemed inimical to Philippine interest: “The Canadians are very stupid!” That was his reaction…

Bacolod beckons, as always By Al S. Mendoza   I’M back from Bacolod where I had fond memories again. I’ve been there a thousand and one times, I guess; still, each time, it felt like heaven. Never did I lose the itch to be Bacolod-bound. Always, it’d be a thrill…

Eaglets win; PAL Interclub trivia By Al S. Mendoza   ATENEO just won the UAAP junior basketball crown over National University (NU) but not after Kai Sotto imposed his 7-foot-1 frame and SJ Belangel uncorked his patented finishing kick. With the score tied at 58-58 time down to 25.3 seconds,…

Reminiscing on my PAL win—and more By Al S. Mendoza   THE recent victories of Ricky Vargas and Donnie Nietes call for a boisterous celebration. In dethroning Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr., Vargas ended 14 years of mostly misrule in the Philippine Olympic Committee. Under Cojuangco, Philippine sports suffered terribly. We…

PAL Interclub Golf on in Bacolod By Al S. Mendoza   THE sporting nation pauses anew to give way to the PAL (Philippine Airlines) Interclub Golf Championship teeing off this week in Bacolod City. No less than Jaime J. Bautista, the soft-spoken and extremely amiable PAL president, will hit the…

Our endless romance with rice By Al S. Mendoza   RICE is now the hottest barbershop talk.  Again. It happens all the time. Each time there’s scarcity of rice, chaos erupts—almost. Sen. Cynthia Villar, the Senate’s chair of the agriculture committee, called it as mere “tsismis” (gossip). Agriculture secretary Manny Pinol…

Ancajas is Pacquiao’s worthy replacement By Al S. Mendoza   THE Sunday punch came this time from Jerwin Ancajas. He is no Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao but the way Ancajas delivered his blows was something to be thrilled about, too. There was no razzle-dazzle a la Pacquiao, yes, but Ancajas is still truly…

The PBA’s comedy of errors By Al S. Mendoza    SAN Miguel Beer battles Magnolia Hotshots today (Feb. 4) in Antipolo City. The winner will hold solo leadership as both teams from the San Miguel Corp. conglomerate are tied for the PBA Philippine Cup lead with identical 5-1, win-loss cards….