Cyn's Rabbit Hole

Thank you Rico! Was a great 4 years :)

2009-03-23T13:14:47Z

Maeirhofer leaves Archers, RP team
By Joey Villar Updated March 23, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Rico Maeirhofer, the lanky, high-leaping 6-6 La Salle forward, officially announced his decision to leave the Archers and steer clear of the national team to pursue a childhood dream of joining the pros.

“It is the most precious moment of my life the day I entered La Salle and the school taught me to be the best Christian I can be,” said Maeirhofer in an open letter.

“I’m proud and honored to be a La Salle Green Archer, it’s a dream come through and coach Franz (Pumaren) taught me the value of hard work and time management,” he added.

Maeirhofer said he decided to skip his fifth and final year of eligibility in Season 72 of the UAAP to pursue his dream of playing in the pros.

“I would like to send my apologies to the whole La Salle community, managers, coaches and supporters and thank them all for their understanding,” said Maeirhofer.

“I will always be here to support the team for I will remain a La Sallian and a Green Archer forever,” he added.

In his four seasons in the UAAP, Maeirhofer helped the Archers to two titles and the same number of runner-up finishes.

Dindo and Franz Pumaren reunite at La Salle

2009-03-17T12:05:20Z

Some interesting news from the frontlines! :D And I'm personally quite happy whenever a fellow LaSallite comes home. Welcome home, Coach Dindo!

from:http://www.greenarchers.ph/dindo-and-franz-pumaren-reunite-at-la-salle/

Two years after squaring off in the UAAP Finals, brothers Franz and Dindo are ready to rumble once again but this time side by side at the La Salle bench (Courtesy of businessmirror.com.ph - Roy Domingo 10-03-07)

From gmanews.tv

Former De La Salle Archer Dindo Pumaren will be coming back to his alma mater in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

Fr. Bernie Oca, the De La Salle board representative, on Monday confirmed that Dindo will suit up as assistant to his brother Franz, the Archers’ basketball head mentor. Dindo will replace Tyrone Bautista.

Neither of the two Pumarens was available for comment. Fr. Oca, however, revealed that Dindo will attend his first practice on Tuesday.

Dindo resigned as University of the East mentor last December and was replaced by Lawrence Chongson. During the 2007-2008 season, the Red Warriors posted a rare 14-0 sweep during the eliminations but Dindo and his Warriors eventually bowed to La Salle and his brother in the finals.

Despite the off-court tussle between the Pumaren brothers, UAAP fans, especially those from La Salle, are now excited over the prospect of seeing the reunion of Franz and Dindo in the Archers’ bench during the 2009-2010 season.

Dindo and Franz played together for La Salle during the 85-86 season. Franz left the Archers the following season.

-GMANews.TV

Right Now...

2009-02-02T16:21:29Z

Right now, my brain is fighting sleep though my eyes are falling shut.

Right now, I am hating Ortigas and all its congestion and complicated traffic. How can anyone survive 2 hours in the car.... half of the time you're not moving!?

Right now, I am missing my family who are half way around the world. I miss laughing at stupid things and eating lots and lots of food with them. I want to see my nephews and niece grow up and say silly things like "Tita Cyn, can I have a Chee... just one Chee" and "Zebra, I love you sooooooo much."

Right now, I want a hamburger and vanilla milkshake from the Shake Shack, New York. Why in the world did I order a hotdog last time. Why? WHY!?

Right now, my back is threatening to be in lots of pain, held back tenuously by lots of pain-killing drugs. Hah!

Right now, a Dogbert (evil Dogbert) doll is looking over my shoulder, from the bookshelf, making snide comments at the utterly inane things I'm writing. I love Dogbert. But he's scary to have as a doll sitting near your computer. amg.

Right now, I'm sitting in front of my pretty iMac. I tried using an old MacBook for a bit, but the screen made me miss my iMac soooooo bad.

Right now, behind my Firefox, my World of Warcraft avatar is fishing in the underbellies of Dalaran. If you understood that, then I hope you hear my smirk. >.<

Right now, I'm so tired and stressed with work that I can't see past the next two weeks.

Right now, I want to eat a Hostess Twinkie that Cris brought me from the US. Unfortunately, I left them at my mom's house, 25 minutes away... :(

Right now... my brain is shutting down. Good night!

Crime News... Ruining our Christmas, Disgracing the Philippines once again.

2008-12-29T15:24:28Z

I was having a perfect Christmas vacation until I heard about this. This just makes me so angry. Honestly, I've been harboring ill will towards our entire political system (i.e. corruption everywhere) for a long time. But this one just brings a new level of disgrace to our poor country.

Usually when you say you wish someone would drop dead, it's just a figure of speech. But this time, i truly and vehemently wish that these heartless and cruel men would die, with a thousand stinging needs for every punch they threw to a defenseless person, a hundred fiery pokers burning their skin for every peso they had ever stolen from the Filipino people, a dozen breaks to their bones for every person they had ever extorted.

I know we should turn the other cheek and all that, but honestly, letting injustice go is NOT turning the other cheek... it's allowing evil to do more evil. This evil has to stop.

If I could boycott Valley Golf Club, I would.
If I could boycott DAR, I would.
If I could reinstate death penalty for corruption and abuse of power, I would.

I cannot do these, but I refuse to be powerless. What I can do is ask that we all pass this story around so that other people know, and those who should feel the same outrage, do.

Hopefully someone who has the power to do something will feel the outrage, and get justice done.

And maybe this could be a powerful message of stopping corruption and abuse of power in our much-abused Philippines.

-------

Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 00:51:00 12/29/2008

Filed Under: Crime, Police, Government

THAT the son and namesake of Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman and his bodyguards viciously beat up a 56-year-old golfer and his 14-year-old son on a golf course, because of a misunderstanding about golf etiquette, is the sort of crime that strikes at the heart of the middle class—it captures the law-abiding citizen’s sense of vulnerability that has only grown during the Arroyo years.

That Pangandaman himself was on the scene and did nothing to stop the two beatings (apparently, his son was not content with just one) is the sort of criminal passivity that we have come to expect from the Arroyo administration.

Today, the police will file charges (including child abuse) against the young Pangandaman, Nasser Jr., who as it happens is mayor of Masiu, Lanao del Sur, and his goons, for assaulting Delfin de la Paz and son Bino on Friday, Dec. 26, at the Valley Golf Club. We will find out soon enough if President Macapagal-Arroyo shares the growing public outrage—or is maneuvering to help her Department of Agrarian Reform chief circle the wagons.

A post on the personal blog of De la Paz’s daughter Bambee, who was part of the golf flight that was attacked by the Pangandaman party, narrates the sometimes riveting details of the attacks.

“We leave. We walk to the clubhouse to file a complaint. My brother asks for a doctor. My dad could barely walk. Their group comes to the clubhouse, sees my brother. Once again my brother pleads, says sorry, and is crying. He was crying, for crissakes. But no. The relentless mayor still punches him in the face, and then sees my dad and goes after my dad again.” And then again: “I am pretty sure the Secretary of DAR did not take part in the fight, but he just watched all this happen.”

So at least we know that the largely invisible agrarian reform secretary is consistent. In the face of serious conflict (think Velez-Malaga, think Sumilao), he is passive.

Both Pangandamans will have their day in court, even if they apparently don’t believe in the rule of law that makes the very concept of day in court possible. But the De la Paz family and other outraged citizens are not without recourse even while the predictably slow wheels of justice grind. They can directly appeal to the President, a golfer herself who understands the underlying assumptions behind golfing etiquette, to ensure the minimum: an impartial investigation, a credible prosecution, a fair trial.

But not everything is up to the President’s discretion. Nothing prevents Secretary Pangandaman from going on indefinite leave, immediately, to avoid any perception of undue influence. This assumes, of course, that the man in charge of the government’s landmark social justice program understands that his son’s brutal behavior is a justice issue.

And nothing prevents the Department of Interior and Local Government from immediately beginning proceedings to place Mayor Pangandaman under preventive suspension. The abuse of power is self-evident. The victims and the witnesses all agree that the obscure, small-town mayor was motivated by an inflated sense of ego. “Hindi mo ba ako nakikilala? [Don’t you know me?],” he is reported to have kept saying, throughout the brutal attacks. Now we do.

A Wish List

2008-12-14T01:56:21Z

Let's jump on the bandwagon and make a Christmas WishList, shall we? The honest-to-goodness truth is that I don't really want anything I can buy. What do I really wish for?

1. I wish that someone would finally release a digitally-enhanced, cleaned-up, but "don't touch the original script or edit!" version of "Flight of Dragons". I know the animation is majorly old school, but wow, I still love that movie.

2. I wish for a hot 2009. Hot sells more Tang. More Tang means better business for Kraft. Better business for Kraft means better ratings for me. Better ratings for me means more money! :)

3. I wish that there were some way to reverse the semi-paralyzing effects of a stroke, the pain of arthritis, the difficulties of slipped spine-discs, and buhol-buhol insides (as K calls it).

4. I wish that it took less than 3 hours to get from Manila to San Francisco, or to New Jersey, or to New York, or to Toronto.

5. I wish I could watch,and could have watched, my niece and nephews grow up sloooowly rather than in bursts from around the world. I'd still skip the pooing and changing-of-diaper moments, but I wish I was there for it all.

6. I wish that Filipino politicians actually gave back more than they took. I wish that they'd put the Philippines first and everything else second. Sometimes I wish that they'd all just drop dead together with anyone else who's guilty of any government corruption, but right now I just wish they'd get their conscience in gear and work 200% for the common Filipino.

7. I wish we could clean up Pasig river and let it live as Jose Rizal saw it.

8. I wish we could have four-day work weeks.

9. I wish that all the ants in my house would pack up and GO. Honestly!

10. I wish I could afford to buy Vic a Porsche. A new one. With magically-enhanced safety features so that you'd be immune to the effects of other people's idiocy on the road, thus allowing you to go as fast the hell as you want. Vroooooooooooooom vrooooooom. If I bought it for him, you think he'd mind if I painted it pokemon yellow?

11. I wish Globe would just give me a dang iPhone already. Not that I need one. But sometimes... you just HAVE to own something, you know? It's like having cake and eating it too.

12. I wish I could make an above-average living doing casual photography. Or playing WoW. Haha.

13. I wish I could host a family dinner for my family for Christmas. Right now, the best it'll be is iChat and long IDD calls.

14. I wish I was singing with my home church's choir --- the old choir that was together in 1987 and was still pretty much together in 2007 --- this year.

15. I wish I would win the lotto. I promise I'll give a lot back to those who need it!

16. I wish someone would commission Vic to cover every F1 race from start to finish in one season. :)

17. I wish at least 3 of my friends would get their wishes granted this year. ;-)

Of Three Things, I Am Absolutely Positive....

2008-12-06T15:18:54Z

1. I thoroughly enjoyed the four books of the Twilight series. Even if they are absolutely a cross between Sweet Dreams and Interview the a Vampire, I truly enjoyed them. I couldn't put them down, and love Bella Swan and Edward Cullen, and the relationship that they have. Reading the book, you'd believe truly that people can fall in love at seventeen and know with absolute certainty what 'forever' means.

It doesn't hurt that I loved the TV mini-series "Dracula" when I was a teen, and so I can completely relate to the seduction of being a vampire. How much more now that we have 'vegetarians' to choose?!

By the way, Team Cullen, all the way. Down with Wolf boy! (and the movie wolf boy is even worse! hah!)

2. I absolutely detest Twilight, the movie. The feminist in me cries out in absolute horror. But I have to say it.   Don't let chicks direct semi-horror flicks. Sure, ultimately Twilight is a love story. But the sheer genius of the story is the fantasy/horror twist. If you don't get that right, then the whole thing can turn out to be a cheap soft-porn flick. Twilight the movie was... a cheap poorly made, shallow, "made for the sake of cashing in on a great new franchise" movie.

I did enjoy some of the scenes in the movie, and some of the one-liners (gave us a chance to use the kitchen!).   But by and large I was flinching with horror and at a few points I was honestly going to walk out. (Note: I've only wanted to walk out of THREE movies in my entire life. And yes, I did watch all three of the pre-quel Star Wars in the cinema. And they weren't THIS bad.) Anyway, what was up with
- the artificiality (oh my god, someone SHOOT the make-up artist ... err.. person. you can't call THAT an artist's work!) ... can't you even take the time to get the fake looking white powder all over their face and visible skin? Esme's forehead too big for you to paint all the way? Or did Edward threaten to bite you if you put powder too low on his neck?
- the neveau-riche use of certain camera treatments (okay, using that sweeping 360-degree shot of a dramatic moment can work ONCE, maybe twice tops, in any movie. Using it as many times as you do just makes it seem like "OhMyGOD I have a new toy, and like, I'm totally going to use it, like, totally all the time")
- ooh, how many times do we get the "slow mo with air blowing the hair" shot, too?
- the absolute amateur use of "cut to extreme closeup of eyes" ... Barf.
- the "vampire on alert" pose in the baseball field? Was that gay or what!? Wow. I was *really* scared that they were uber creatures were going to kil each other. (ok, enough sarcasm for now).

Oh and by the way, apparently anyone who is cast in the Harry Potter movies goes to the school of "How to Look like you're really trying hard to Act".   Or maybe it was the bad direction. Or maybe the make-up was just too distracting. Perhaps the cheesy screenplay that was designed-for-those-who've-read-the-book and therefore don't need to understand anything... Ugh. I have to stop. I could talk for two hours about what was wrong with a 1.5 hour movie.

3. After all is said and done, I'm probably going to be lining up to watch New Moon when it comes out. ... I just hope for the love of all that's holy that the Twilight producers get the same large BONK on the head that the Harry Potter dudes did... so they fix up their crap and fans a damn good flick next time!

[F1] Post-Race Analysis commentary from Autosport.com

2008-11-04T14:31:47Z

Analysis: The epic finale up close

By Adam Cooper

Tuesday, November 4th 2008, 12:01 GMT

From Autosport.com

After the dust had settled at Interlagos last Sunday night, no one could remember a more dramatic or closely contested season finale than the one that encapsulated the 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix.

So autosport.com asked Adam Cooper to relive the emotions in the pitlane in the immediate aftermath of Lewis Hamilton's breathtaking, and historic, title victory, and asked him the question: Was this the greatest season finale of all time?

There was a nice touch at Interlagos as I waited alongside ITV's Ted Kravitz and some other TV crews about an hour after the end of the Brazilian GP.

As rain continued to fall, Felipe Massa had been doing the rounds of the broadcasters, speaking to the Brazilians, Germans and the Italians. Naturally the whole process was taking time but he remained patient and courteous, coming up with astonishingly composed replies, bearing in mind the huge disappointment he'd just undergone.

He'd yet to have a chance to go back and see his team and family, and his wife decided she'd had enough of waiting. Instead she came down to the TV interview area and waited for her man to finish speaking to the Italian crews. When the two finally embraced, Felipe's eyes told their own story.

I don't think a word was said - it didn't have to be. It was also deeply affecting moment that the few of us who witnessed it will remember for a while, and it was far removed in tone from the craziness that was going on further down the paddock at McLaren.

And it had been an emotional day in many ways. For me one of the most touching cameos came in the Red Bull garage, when David Coulthard walked in just minutes before he was due to be strapped into the car. He got a round of applause from the whole crew as a lone bagpiper piped him in.

DC even did a little Scottish jig as he tried to make light of it all, but I'm sure that it was a tough few minutes for him as he forced himself to focus on the race ahead. One that turned sadly turned out to be rather short.

Meanwhile at neighbouring McLaren the tension was palpable before the race. Everything had been done that could possibly be done, so team members were standing around. There were a few nervous conversations, but mostly crew members just started across the track to the grandstands, from where a regular torrent of anti-McLaren feeling emerged.

With about 20 minutes to go before heading to the grid Lewis Hamilton emerged into the garage, and proceeded to walk around and shake the hands of everyone, including the crew of the sister car. He looked about the most relaxed person in the place. Impressive.

Ron Dennis didn't see this, but when he came into the pitlane I told him about it: 'That's what makes different,' he said. So how did the boss feel? 'We've done everything we can. There's no point in having any angst about it.'

A couple of hours later Lewis was back in the garage, and this time the atmosphere was rather different. It was total madness in fact, as half the world's media and many hangers on pushed their way in as the new champ began the celebrations with his guys.

Emotions were of course heightened by the way that extraordinary race ended. Everyone in the place, and not just the Ferrari and McLaren camps, experienced the amazing roller-coaster of fortunes over the last three laps, and for the Woking guys that made the last second victory all the sweeter. Throw in nearly a decade of what Ron jokingly called 'famine,' not to mention all the craziness of last season, and you had the ingredients for some serious celebrations as the pressure was finally relieved.

Nobody had experienced anything like it before. Well perhaps one man had, veteran sporting director Dave Ryan, who has been with the team since 1974. He was at Fuji in 1976 for an uncannily similar situation. In the closing laps a pit stop dropped James Hunt out of a title winning position, but he charged back into contention and got the third place that he needed. It wasn't quite the last corner like this time, but it wasn't far off in terms of sheer drama.

Not many other title showdowns have matched this cliff-hanger, certainly since I've been witnessing them first hand. My first was at Adelaide in 1994. Of course there was the drama of the Hill/Schumacher crash, but as soon as Damon retired, Michael was champion. The same thing happened in 1996, when Jacques Villeneuve retired at Suzuka, and Hill was instantly crowned champ.

It was a bit less clear cut at Jerez in 1997, the scene of another Michael-inspired collision, since Jacques still had to finish in order to secure the title. Ditto Mika Hakkinen in 1999, when Eddie Irvine led into the final race. That was certainly the one in which I had the most direct personal involvement, since Eddie was a pal with whom I'd spent a lot of time, and I knew quite a lot about the dramas going on behind the scenes.

There have been other final round conclusions, and perhaps the most tense was last year's, when three drivers were in the frame and again Kimi Raikkonen could not afford to put a wheel wrong in the closing laps.

But nothing has ever matched what we saw last weekend, and I struggle to think of a comparison in any other major series, never mind at the very pinnacle of the sport. Will we see anything like it again? Well, I wouldn't want to bet on another last corner title resolution happening in our life times.

Next year we'll be lucky to see the title go down to the last round, as the new world of KERS, slick tyres and reduced downforce ensures that there is no chance of the field being as closely bunched as it was this year. Five teams won races, four others earned podiums. The only one that missed out was Force India - and even there, a fourth place at Monaco went astray through no fault of Adrian Sutil.

What a race - what a year – what a champion. In fact two top blokes who, all things considered, both truly deserved to win the title. This post-Schumacher era isn't too bad after all, is it?

[F1] The Youngest Ever World Champion!!!

2008-11-02T19:06:17Z

Massa wins but Hamilton secures title

By Matt Beer (Autosport.com)

Lewis Hamilton became Formula One's youngest ever world champion by finishing fifth in an incredibly dramatic rain-affected Brazilian Grand Prix.

Felipe Massa won the race and looked set to take the title until Hamilton slipped past Timo Glock and into the crucial fifth place at the final corner of the very last lap.

Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen completed the podium finishers, ahead of Sebastian Vettel, whose penultimate lap pass on Hamilton had looked set to hand Massa the title, only for Glock's gamble of staying on dry tyres in a late race shower to fail, causing the Toyota to slip from fourth to sixth within sight of the flag and giving Hamilton the title after all.

...

Massa managed to pull out a comfortable gap over Alonso prior to his second stop, with Raikkonen steadily closing on the Renault and Hamilton driving cautiously in fourth.

But then the rain returned with just seven laps remaining, prompting everyone to pit bar the Toyotas, with Glock rising to fourth, ahead of Hamilton and Vettel.

Hamilton still looked set to cling on and take the title, until he ran wide at the final corner when Robert Kubica dived through to unlap himself with just three laps to go. That let Vettel through as well, and suddenly it appeared that the title had slipped away from Hamilton again.

But within sight of the flag his luck changed once more, with Glock losing 17 seconds on the last lap as the rain increased, allowing the McLaren to sweep through and back into fifth place. The Ferrari team had already started celebrating a potential Massa title, but the mood abruptly changed as it became clear that Hamilton had snatched the crown after all.

Kovalainen took seventh, with Trulli completing the points scorers in eighth, ahead of Mark Webber and Nick Heidfeld.


World Championship standings, round 18:                

Drivers:                    Constructors:             
 1.  Hamilton      98        1.  Ferrari               172
 2.  Massa         97        2.  McLaren-Mercedes      151
 3.  Raikkonen     75        3.  BMW Sauber            135
 4.  Kubica        75        4.  Renault                80
 5.  Alonso        61        5.  Toyota                 61
 6.  Heidfeld      60        6.  Toro Rosso-Ferrari     34
 7.  Kovalainen    53        7.  Red Bull-Renault       29
 8.  Trulli        31        8.  Williams-Toyota        26
 9.  Vettel        30        9.  Honda                  14
10.  Glock         30       
11.  Webber        21       
12.  Piquet        19       
13.  Rosberg       17       
14.  Barrichello   11       
15.  Nakajima       9       
16.  Coulthard      8       
17.  Bourdais       4       
18.  Button         3       
       
------------

A few thoughts from my over-loaded brain:

1.  What the HELL was Kubica thinking???
2.  Poor Timo.  My heart goes out to him... but then again, it all works out in the end!
3.  Poor Heiki.  At P7, he's exactly where he was in 2007.  I hope he can do better next year.  Go Heiki!
4.  Poor Felipe.  Already celebrating.  hahahahahahahaha ahahahahahaha hahahaha ... *ahem*  Just kidding. I don't really wish him ill, I just didn't support him for the World Championship.
5.  Good going Felipe, 3 Brazilian GPs in a row!  That's something else.
6.  But it's not a world championship..

7.  Woohoo!!! Lewis is finally world champion!!!

[UAAP] Ending the Controversy

2008-10-24T12:51:44Z

Ahh, the controversy is dying down now. And we all return to our real lives. I finally have a moment to take a breath and compose my thoughts...

I was surprised at how much response that one post received. Both sides - the angry, the sorry, and the lawyerly. I suppose I should "end" this controversy (at least on my site) with how I feel one month after this whole fiasco.

I agree with many people that one act should not be used to generalize what Ateneans are like. Honestly, neither should the responses in an angry moment be used to generalize what LaSallians are like.   However, I do believe that, while one test of character is how you behave when you lose (or are powerless), a bigger test of character is how you behave when you win (or wield power over others). It's just a game, but it ripples so widely in our real lives.

I also feel very strongly that, while one person's act does not define a community, how that community responds or reacts does reflect who or what the community is / stands for. Do we accept it, do we try to hide it away, do we make excuses, do we reprimand or hold people accountable, or do we condone?   Make no mistake, doing nothing is condoning. Giving no assurance that it will never again happen - nothing.

I believe that community leaders do not lose accountability for single person's acts. They have a responsibility to ensure that the very-public activities that they conduct, whether they are organized by a Freshman or by a Department Head -- they have a responsibility to ensure that these activities reflect the culture and values that they want to stand for. They can't hide behind a curtain and say it's not their fault, and gladly point the finger somewhere else and pretend that that is that. People need to get their just desserts - whether they are praise or punishment. And if the leadership does not punish, they are condoning.

Also, while this responsibility is with the leadership and organizations on the most part, every single individual does have the responsibility to actively protect their values. If not, then we misunderstand how important those values are to you. Or, then you agree with what you see.

Based on what I saw this year, if something like this ever happens again, then the ADMU community and leaders will shake their heads and say "Oops."      This is an Ateneo that I do not recognize.

The Ateneans I know are action-oriented, value-driven folk. On the night of the bonfire, the Ateneans I used to know would have tapped an organizer on the shoulder and said... That's going to far.   They would have continued tapping shoulders until something was done.

These are the Ateneans I know. These are the Ateneans I want to see in Araneta coliseum, and have silly Blue vs. Green asaran sessions with. The ones leading the way and helping their community become even stronger and more value-driven than ever.

I still hope that I see more of the old Ateneo. I still hope for a truly respectable rival this Season 72.

That's my two cents. I know that La Salle is not spotless in its record, but I've seen the effort to correct, and to prevent. I've seen the sincerity, not just through the act, but the public owning-up. After a mistake, you can only hold your head up high if you feel that you've sufficiently made up for it, with all sincerity and with every possible means available. That's why we held our head high when the Archers took the court to start our 2007 season.

[F1] Bourdais blames Massa... (and the world agrees, hehe)

2008-10-12T17:41:35Z

Bourdais blames Massa for collision

By Edd Straw and Matt Beer

Sunday, October 12th 2008, 08:38 GMT

Sebastien Bourdais believes Felipe Massa was completely to blame for their collision at Fuji - even though the stewards decided to penalise Bourdais for the crash.

The Toro Rosso driver was given a 25-second penalty after the race and fell from sixth to 10th, while Massa was consequently elevated from eighth to seventh.

The two cars had come together as Bourdais rejoined after his final pitstop. He pulled out alongside Massa, who tried to drive around the outside of the Toro Rosso at the first corner, only to spin after contact between them.

Bourdais was adamant that Massa was at fault for the incident.

"For me it's very clear. Yes, I exit the pits, yes I'm supposed to be careful and I was," he said. "I stayed inside and I didn't push him out, I didn't overshoot the corner.

"I did everything I could not to run into him and he just squeezed and turned and behaved like I didn't exist, like I wasn't there. What am I supposed to do?

"I've been in this position many, many times and I never had any incidents. It's just a little bit of respect, you give each other room and then everything goes right, but if you don't for sure it's going to be an incident."

The Frenchman added that he would have behaved differently to Massa had he been the one challenging for the title.

"I've been in this position many times, especially the position he is in fighting for championships and you just don't take unnecessary risks like this," said Bourdais.

"You've got everything to lose and nothing to gain. He was going to pit in three laps, I was ahead of him and he was going to finish behind us anyway. Why would you even think about doing something like that? I don't understand."

Despite feeling he was blameless in the incident, Bourdais wasn't surprised to receive a penalty.

"No, because every time I get called to the (stewards) meeting rooms, one way or the other it goes against me," he said.

"I don't know why, I don't know what I've done. I don't think I have done anything wrong on this one and unfortunately it ruins the weekend, takes away three points for the team and gives Felipe another point - I am really happy for him, obviously!

"I don't know what I was supposed to do basically. I could have unrolled the red carpet and given him the corner. That is the only thing I could have done."

[F1] Wow. Unbelievable. Seriously.

2008-10-12T08:36:11Z

Bourdais loses points over Massa clash

Toro Rosso’s Sebastien Bourdais has had 25 seconds added to his Japanese Grand Prix race time as penalty for making contact with Ferrari’s Felipe Massa. The stewards’ decision drops Bourdais from sixth to 10th in the results and elevates Massa to seventh.

Bourdais was rejoining the race after his second pit stop on lap 50 when Massa attempted to pass around the outside at Turn One. The pair made contact, tipping the Brazilian into a spin. Massa subsequently continued, finishing in eighth place.

The penalty means Bourdais’ team mate Sebastian Vettel moves up to sixth place ahead of Massa, while Red Bull’s Mark Webber picks up a point for eighth. It also means Lewis Hamilton’s championship lead over Massa is cut to just five points.

---------
You can also choose to read the headline as: Massa given additional points because he rammed his car in to Bourdais'... thus ensuring that Ferrari's hopes of getting a driver's championship this year are kept alive.

Wow.

[F1] Hope to see EXACTLY this again tomorrow!

2008-10-11T06:43:17Z

It's not just that it's been a while since we've had both McLarens on the podium. It's more that ... with each person in between Lewis and Massa, the title becomes more and more Lewis's to bring home!

I'll be cheering for these three tomorrow, and hope for McLaren 1-2!

Go Lewis!

[UAAP] Hats off to the King.

2008-10-04T06:48:54Z

Here's the link to Gang Green's tribute video to our out-going team captain, King Archer, Jvee Casio. Hope you enjoy. :)

[UAAP] Hats off to the King

Or download it here.

Photos and slideshow by Vic and Cyn Icasas
Thanks to Greenarchers.ph (Leslie and Boris) for the Jvee's final salute photo.

Feeling the Animo? Join Archerpride.com !

[F1] Join The Pact...

2008-10-04T02:51:37Z

I've signed the pact to never drink and drive! :)

Oh, and I was so stoked about the first Singapore F1 night race. It was such a thrill to see Formula 1 cars driving in a street that shone in the midst of a totally dark city. We didn't expect a lot of action, but BOY did F1 deliver! I'm actually happy for Alonso's win... his strategy with Nelsinho, timing the crash perfectly, was just... ingenious. ;-)

Kidding aside, I'm so happy that we had an eventful race sans-rain, since it was eventful but safe. I actually feel bad for Ferrari fans, am disappointed with Kimi... but all in all, I think it was a great weekend result for my team! Lewis jumped ahead to 7 points in the championship, while McLaren took the lead by one point!!! It's going to be an exciting next 3 races!

Go Lewis!

The only funny thing is that, after personally joining karting races for 24 hours and knowing the thrill of having to drive "in the dark" without the benefits of lights, it seemed so strange to see F1 cars in a "night race" driving on streets that looked like day time. Part of the thrill in karting is the poor visibility, and the beauty of the wet track reflecting the moonlight. Part of the fun is seeing how each team 'manages' to see and to be seen on the track... like flashing helmet lights. :)

Then again, karts can only go up to 60kph, not 222kph!

[UAAP] Numbers, updated again.

2008-10-03T01:46:36Z

Grabbed this from Archerpride.com, and edited for me:

We joined the UAAP league in 1986. Since then, DLSU's past UAAP Finals appearances:

Pre-Final Four Era: 4 out of 7 years, we were in the Finals. 3 of those, we won.
1986
1987
1988
1989 - we won
1990 - we won
1991 - we won ON THE HARDCOURT (FEU was awarded a "rematch" for a Technical Committee Error. ... Not an Archer error, mind you. A Technical Committee Error. Duh. Naturally, in the face of this idiotic decision, DLSU did not attend the rematch. The BAP upholds DLSU championship.)
1992

Final Four Era (1993 on): 13 /16 finals appearances, 6 wins.
1993 - UST swept elims and there was no finals that year.
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998 - we won
1999 - we won
2000 - we won
2001 - we won
2002
2003 - from fourth, forced play-off against top seeded team, but did not make it to finals. Funnily, that team did not win the championship either.
2004 - we won ON THE HARDCOURT but voluntarily returned trophy after we discovered some ineligible players.
2005
2006 - we did not play
2007 - we won
2008 - very strong opponent awarded the win after only one legitimate game.

I take a look at this, and I know that our team can come back from this year's heartbreaker. The Archers are more than just one or two star players who will come and go. The Archers are a real team that become stronger together, with a bench that rivals some team's starting five and guidance from a seasoned coaching staff. It's winning spirit and culture of excellence and teamwork (plus a Pumaren system!), that will all continue to span generations of LaSallians.

We can come back, and we can come back strong.

Let's Go Archers!

[UAAP] Post Season Blues

2008-10-02T13:50:28Z

I used to love the Ateneo - La Salle rivalry. Having an opponent that you could respect on and off the court, or at least (through our 13 years of winning ball) that you could respect off the court, was something special. That respect was what set the rivalry apart from our 7ish years of facing UST in the finals, set it apart from the on-court/off-court battles against FEU.

It was going to be really special this 2008, as well. For once, Ateneo had the better team on the court, and we would need to rely on our Heart and our Experience to get us through. I didn't realize that Ateneo alumni were so scared of our H & E that they would bring in their 6th, 7th and 8th men on to the court. And 9th in the commissioner's chair.

It was very acceptable and understandable and realistic to think that the Championship was truly theirs for the taking this 2008. But Game 2... Game 2 will never be a La Salle loss to me. Yes, Ateneo is clearly the champion this year, but 2008 will always have a large asterisk * and foot note in my book.

I was severely disappointed with Game 2. But ... nothing would have prepared me to see what happened at their bonfire...I am truly disappointed. And truth be told, I am disturbed by what I have seen and heard. I can assure you that these are actual photos from their bonfire. No one could make this up.

Friends in blue, I implore you. Please bring back the old Ateneo. I want a respectable rival.

------------------------------------
*stolen and paraphrased from various sources, with comments:

--------------------
Ateneans,
we understand that you need to have fun and to quell your pain to have another championship party because your last championship was 6 years ago so we're giving it to you. We've got no problem with that. Besides, there is always next year for all of the other teams to bounce back so go on, have your victory party.

But please don't take it too personal to a point that you will burn the names of our team's players, management and staff. We don't usually take it into offense that you refer to us in a playful way but if you are going to burn the names of the people who make up the De La Salle Green Archers, you might as well have the balls to burn our names.

------------------------
La Salle and Ateneo are the only schools I considered for my son, Thank God I decided on La Salle. The recent behavior of THE ATENEO only confirms that I made the right choice. I cannot imagine we La Sallians celebrating in that witchcraft manner. The Jesuit School may have won the UAAP this year but have failed badly in implementing the school's doctrine.
------------------------
The JESUITS should look deeper on the kind of values THE ATENEANS have. Keep passing this Email [message], hopefully to reach the Jesuits and hopefully awaken them off their perceived thrones and go back to the basics of right conduct and proper behavior
--------------------------
ANIMO LA SALLE. The true CHRISTIAN GENTLEMEN
--------------------------
First of all, we get it, you guys are champions.
Ateneo WAS the better team. (Inside the court that is)
This just shows who the true winners really are.
--------------------------
One championship.. after 6 years...pagbigyan ni'yo na.
--------------------------

Thank you, Captain.

2008-09-26T01:35:45Z

We couldn't have asked for more from you. What a wonderful season. What a memorable UAAP career. What an awesome run. What a thrilling ride to two Championships.

I would never asked for another championship FROM you. The only reason why I wanted us to win this year, was so that you would have had that third championship trophy and MVP trophy that I believe you truly deserve. (Well.. sige na nga, a third would have been nice, but .. you know :D )

Thank you thank you thank you. Hats off to you, Captain Casio. You will definitely be missed on the hardcourt!

Thank you Walsh.

2008-09-26T01:30:52Z

You played a helluva game yesterday.

[UAAP] Numbers ... Updated.

2008-09-25T11:08:47Z

1988
1989
2002
2008

Congratulations to the Blue Eagles for a well-deserved 2008 championship. :)

Thank you to the DLSU Green Archers for yet another heart-stopping season
and our 18th finals appearance. Animo La Salle!

[Movies] This ought to be funny...

2008-09-18T10:53:32Z

And if you don't get this... you're probably Gen Y. >.<

[UAAP] Numbers, numbers, numbers...

2008-09-16T16:57:18Z

Link
(from LesBo)

1988
1989
2003

VS

1990
1991
1992*
1993
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2004*
2007

Oh and this doesn't even count Finals Appearances. ;-)

11 Hardcourt-earned Championships in the 21 years we've competed in the league.

* 2 taken away by strange boardroom decisions
(the earlier of which was a UAAP Technical Committee error, no less!)

Gross or net? Try as you might with all the committees and referees on your side...
you can't deny DLSU's dominance.

-------

Now let's count how many of these WINS you've been to!
I think I count seven, starting in 1991. Whew!

[UAAP] DLSU vs. FEU Pics are up!

2008-09-16T01:19:20Z

I'm still cheering... and cheering ... and I can't wait to see our boys battle it out against AdMU on Sunday!

The full set of my photos are up at cokeycyn.multiply.com". Vic's photos are up at Vic's Multiply Site, too. Enjoy!

The last fast break...

The last defensive stop...

Oh and, err.. the last dance with FEU. :)

See you on Sunday! Animo La Salle!

[UAAP] Bro. Ceci to the rescue!!!

2008-09-15T15:41:15Z

Ever since I was fourth year high school, I think I've been adding and adding to the list of things I learn from, admire of, and ... err... owe (!) Bro. Ceci. I count myself lucky and thankful to know him!

Thank you soooooo much for last Sunday, Bro Ceci!!!! Love you!!!

And see you next Sunday :D

[UAAP] DLSU defeats FEU, for Solo Second!

2008-09-13T15:06:56Z

Full set on My Multiply (cokeycyn.multiply.com)

Animo La Salle!

Prayers Wanted

2008-09-13T11:44:20Z

Our prayers and sympathies go out to Coach Jack Santiago and his family, as we mourn with him for his father. Sonofrio Santiago died last Thursday afternoon, as his son helped coach DLSU to another victory.

Please pray for Coach Jack and his Dad.

Related Links: In Bound Pass editorial, write-up, Philippine Star news.