Efren Reyes Named Captain of Asia in King’s Cup

The most successful and decorated player in the history of Asia & possibly the world will lead the East vs Europe/USA on November 19- 21st. The Legend begins…

Manila, Philippines- The most successful and decorated player in the history of Asia, possibly the world, will lead the East against Europe/USA on November 19-21st. Efren “Bata” Reyes has been chosen as Captain of Team Asia and will lead them against the West in what surely will become the most epic rivalry in cue sports. The pool world is about to get rocked in a war that fans have been dreaming about for years. Dragon Promotions is pleased to announce the Kings Cup, a first time ever event pitting the men’s champions of Europe & USA versus the champions of Asia in a three day contest to declare which side is the strongest, the East or the West. On November 19th-21st the world, as well as the players themselves, will find out! Four players on each side will be selected to represent their continent. The Kings Cup will be hosted by the award winning Resorts World Manila Casino & Hotel and produced by Dragon Promotions.

“Who else could be better than the greatest player of all time? Efren Reyes has a big track record of success in team events. And he’s going to have an amazing supporting cast. The West will have their hands full”, said Charlie Williams, Dragon Promotions Executive Producer of the Kings Cup.

“Being named captain of Asia is a big responsibility. But I know our Asia team players are all really good, so it’s going to be a joint effort together”, said Reyes.

Efren Reyes has a pedigree that is unmatched by any player in Asia. He has won the World 9-Ball Championship, World Bank Pool, World One Pocket, US Open, and numerous Asian Games and SEA Games gold medals. He has also excelled in team play and won such events as the World Mixed Doubles and World Cup of Pool. He is widely regarded by other professionals as the biggest genius that the sport of billiards has ever seen.

“I’ve learned so much from Efren who has always been my idol. He has been a huge mentor and influence on me”, said Rubilen Amit, a 2x World Champion and twice winner of the World Mixed Doubles with Reyes. Amit also led Team Asia as captain earlier this year in the AM8.com Queens Cup, which she credited Reyes to be a great influence on leadership skills.

The Queens Cup was broadcast worldwide and exceeded ratings expectations. Many predict that the Kings Cup is going to be a gigantic hit as it touches upon the rivalry between the East and the West.

“The Kings Cup is a great concept. East and West are very closely matched in the world of pool, which is not common in other sports. It will be great to see how the hemispheres collide on the table. For sure the games will be very competitive”, says Bob Guerroro renowned football and billiards TV sports commentator and sports writer for Rappler.com.

“Kung lalaban ako sa pilipinas higit na mas mataas ang inaasahan sa sa amin / sa akin ng aking mga taga-hanga. Maraming pwedeng mangyari sa aking laro. Yung ibang mga lahi na aking makakalaban sigurado akong guston gusto nila akong talunin sa sarili kong bansa. Alam kong isa akong target sa kanilang lahat”, explained Reyes on what it’s like to be playing in front of his home crowd. “It’s always more pressure at home. The fans expect so much of me. Anything can happen because all the other players want to beat me in front of the world. I have a target on my back and I know it.”

The format of the Kings Cup will follow in the footsteps of the successful Queens Cup. Teams will play in versatile styles including singles, doubles, triples, and quadruples each of the 3 days of the men’s competition.

Follow the Kings Cup at www.facebook.com/kingscuppool and visit www.KingsCupPool.com for updates.

Fans and sponsors can e-mail dragonpromotionsnews1@ gmail.com.

 

GALA DINNER FOR GOLD EXHIBIT CELEBRATES RICH CULTURE AND HISTORYOF PRE-COLONIAL PHILIPPINES

WASHINGTON, DC—An exhibit of gold artifacts discovered in Butuan, Philippines kicked off with a Gala Benefit Dinner that celebrated the rich culture and history of pre-colonial Philippines.

The “Philippine Gold: Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms” Gala Benefit Dinner took place on 10 September at the Asia Society in New York City. Some 200 distinguished guests and dignitaries graced the gala event, including Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr., Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando M. Tetangco, Jr. and Philippine Consul General in New York Mario L. de Leon, Jr.

Also present were Asia Society Global Co-Chair Henrietta Fore; Don Jaime Zobel De Ayala and his wife Doña Bea, and sons Jaime Augusto and Fernando; Ambassador Nicholas Platt, who served as the US envoy to the Philippines and former president of Asia Society; former US Ambassador to the Philippines Thomas Hubbard; and Mr. Oscar Lopez of the Lopez Group of Companies.

The distinguished guests were welcomed by Asia Society President Josette Sheeran and Ms. Doris Magsaysay-Ho, Chairperson of Asia Society Philippines and one of the three co-chairs of the Philippine Gold Exhibit Committee. Ms. Loida Nicolas-Lewis and Ayala Corporation President Fernando Zobel De Ayala also chair the Committee.

In his remarks, Ambassador Cuisia talked about how the discovery of the gold items led to a greater sense of pride and a shift in how Philippine history is viewed.

“These treasures reveal the existence of thriving, diverse, and immensely creative societies during the pre-colonial era. We are presented with an exceptional cache of evidence pointing to rich and flourishing cultures, dynamic commerce, and complex social interactions among the Asian kingdoms of that time. For Filipinos, the knowledge that some of these prominent polities were located in the Philippines gives us greater reason to be proud of our ancestors and our heritage,” said Ambassador Cuisia.

The envoy also encouraged Filipinos and foreign friends to view the rare exhibit and learn more about a portion of Philippine history often overlooked.

“The ancients admonished us, ‘know thyself’ so that you may unlock true and lasting wisdom. Filipinos who come and view this glittering exhibit will increase their knowledge and develop greater appreciation of where Filipinos came from. Our American friends, on the other hand, will gain new insights into Philippine history and cultural heritage,” said Ambassador Cuisia.

The Gala Benefit Dinner marked the opening of the exhibit and launched a season of programming that highlights the richness and diversity of Philippine culture and current affairs, and explores Philippine cuisine, performing arts, film, design, and literature. “Philippine Gold: Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms” runs from 11 September 2015 to 3 January 2016 at the Asia Society.

The guests were unanimous in their praise for the collection, which consists of a selection of the most extraordinary objects from a 1981 discovery in Butuan. The exhibition also includes a few important loans from public and private collections including the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank of the Philippines).

Philippine Gold: Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms is organized by Asia Society, New York, and Ayala Museum, Philippines. The exhibition is co-curated by Florina H. Capistrano-Baker, Consulting Curator, Ayala Museum, and Adriana Proser, John H. Foster Senior Curator for Traditional Asian Art, Asia Society. ###

PH PARTICIPATES IN 3RD DUHOK INTERNATIONAL FILMFEST

DUHOK, Iraq—For the first time in decades, Philippine cinema made its presence felt in Iraq with the participation of an award-winning Filipino entry at the 3rd Duhok International Film Festival that is being held in the country’s northern autonomous Kurdistan region.

The Philippine Embassy in Baghdad said the Philippines made its debut in the Iraqi film festival with its entry, “Children’s Show”— the Grand Prize winner at the recent Gwangju International Film Festival in South Korea.

The only entry from Southeast Asia, “Children’s Show” is the story of two young brothers who are forced to take part in semi-legal boxing matches to support themselves and their grandmother.

Directed by Roderick Cabrido, the film is in contention for the Yilmaz Guney Award for Best International Feature-Length Film and for the New Talent Award for the Best First or Second International Feature Length Film.

The film previously won the Special Jury Prize, Grand Jury Award for Best Screenplay and Fantastic Cinema Emerging Filmmaker Award for Cabrido at the Fantastic Cinema Festival of the Film Society of Little Rock in Arkansas and the Special Jury Prize in the Orient Express Section at the 35th Oporto International Film Festival in Portugal.

“We hope that “Children’s Show” would open the door for the participation of more Filipino films in Duhok and in the other film festivals in Iraq in the future,” said Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Elmer G. Cato.

Chargé d’Affaires Cato joined producer Joseph Israel Laban during the opening ceremonies attended by Kurdistan Autonomous Region Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani and other officials on 9 September.

He also attended the first screening with members of the Filipino Community in Duhok at the Mazi Mall Plus on 10 September.###

DUHOK FILM FESTIVAL. Chargé d’Affaires Elmer G. Cato of the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad joins producer Joseph Israel Laban and members of the Filipino Community following the screening of “Children’s Show”—the sole Philippine entry in the 3rd Duhok International Film Festival in Iraq. The highly acclaimed movie, directed by Roderick Cabrido, is the first Filipino film to be screened in competition in Iraq in decades. It is also the only entry from Southeast Asia. (Philippine Embassy Photo)

 

USCIS to Welcome More Than 36,000 Citizens During Annual Constitution Day and Citizenship Day Celebrations Agency announces initiatives to highlight U.S. citizenship

WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is launching new efforts to highlight U.S. citizenship and immigrant civic integration to celebrate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. These initiatives will also improve customer service and support aspiring citizens on their path to naturalization.

The initiatives include:

Naturalization Ceremonies From Sept. 17-23, USCIS will welcome more than 36,000 new citizens during more than 200 naturalization ceremonies. During this time—also known as Constitution Week—museums, historic and public libraries, government landmarks and national park sites will provide the backdrop for our celebration of citizenship.

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is celebrated each year on Sept. 17 on the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution in 1787. Congress first highlighted the significance of U.S. citizenship in 1940 when it designated the third Sunday in May as “I Am an American Day.” In 1952, Congress shifted the date to Sept. 17 and renamed it “Citizenship Day.” Congress changed the designation of this day to “Constitution Day and Citizenship Day” in 2004.

USCIS invites new citizens and their families and friends to share their experiences from the ceremonies via social media using the hashtag #newUScitizen.