Alisha Mendoza del Campo: Calauag Pride, Fearless PH Nat'l Football Striker
By REYNANTE DANSECO
Alisha Clare Mendoza del Campo (born September 20, 1999) is the only member of Philippine National Women's Football Team from the town of Calauag and province of Quezon.
She's a fearless striker who plays a major role in the National Team, also known as Malditas.
Alisha is a product of De La Salle Zobel and De La Salle University.
She's the UAAP Season 81 Women's Football Rookie of the Year.
Alisha aka "Shai" to her friends, was one of the three youngest members of the National Seniors team in 2017 Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers in Tajikistan.
Her strong performance in the Rizal Football Association (RIFA), Women’s National Collegiate Athletic Association (WNCAA) and as one of the top-scorers of Green Archers United FC made her a shoo-in in the National Team.
Del Campo also competed in 2019 Southeast Asian Games, 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup, and 2020 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Tajikistan.
Del Campo and the Malditas are competing in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup Qualifiers in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The 5-foot-4 Del Campo started as one of the forwards when the Malditas defeated Nepal, 2-1, in their Group F curtain raiser match last Saturday, Sept 18.
Malditas play again on September 24, 2021 against Hong Kong, at 6 p.m. Manila time. The Filipinos need at least a draw to top their group and advance to the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in India.
Hongkong drew their first game against Nepal, 0-0, and to get the lone berth to the Asian Cup, they must beat the Philippines.
Alisha managed at least 11 international goals since 2017 and hoping to make more goals on Friday.
She is the second child and only daughter in the family of Barangay Cinco, Calauag-native Donna Mendoza (Batch 1990, Saint Peter's School) and Adrian del Campo, a car dealer employee in Makati.
Mrs. Del Campo said, Shai was 11 years old when her younger brother Aloice Drich Del Campo influenced her to play. Shai has just turned 22 last Sept. 20.
"Oo nahawa siya (kay bunso)," Donna said. "Si bunso (pa lang) talaga ang nagpo-football (noon)."
Mrs. Del Campo remembers sending her youngest son everyday to train or play with Philippine Army-Victory Football Club at Army Support Command (Ascom) Football Field in Taguig City more than a decade ago.
"Kasama lang (namin nnoon) si Shai (kapag hinahatid si bunso sa games niya) pero ang nagtuloy-tuloy (sa paglalaro) si Shai," she said. "Gastos, pero worth it."
Shai, who got her prep education from Froebelian School of Calauag, is also a pride of San Juan City where her family lives since she was five years old.
Shai and Aloice Drich's kuya Al Dryant Jude Mendoza del Campo isn't inclined to football. He's in public service though his name derived from the late NBA superstar Kobe Bryant.
"Dryant, binago namin ang first letter dahil sa Donna (ang pangalan ko)," said Donna.
Dryant is elected Sangguniang Kabataan Kagawad of Barangay Pedro Cruz and has Hospitality Management degree from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in San Juan City.
Donna said, her children were born in the biggest public hospital in the 4th District of her native Quezon Province and raised in her hometown, Calauag and husband's place in San Juan.
Alisha Clare got her name from Alicia del Campo, her dad's mother, and Saint Clare.
"Hiniling ko (si Shai) kay St. Clare," Donna said.
Gerry Igos: Living Legend of Philippine cycling
By Barbrax Miramar
Gerardo Igos is remembered by many as one of the most aggressive rider of his era. At the peak of his powers, he tormented and tortured the peloton in the mid to late 80's.
He was your quintessential cyclist. Big name riders who pedals for top prize and grand classification standing would normally choose to ride safe and not to take unnecessary risks just to win stages.
The 1984 top rookie and perennial top contender of the fabled Marlboro Tour was different. Once he is in his element, the pride of Calauag, Quezon was always on attack mode.
Like a tiger on a prowl, he would be lurking and trying to pounce on every opportunity to launch his signature "tatlong angat " breakaway maneuver to win a lap.
Gerry was built like a brawler with big powerful legs. He could sprint and he could climb.
His name would always be mentioned once the Tour reaches Baguio, but he would be immortalized on descents as he was the best of his generation.
A certified Daredevil, he would always roll the dice at breakneck speeds just to gain on his rivals. At times registering speeds of 100 kph on downhill runs.
Even motorcycle marshals could not keep pace with him. The former Gintong Alay standout also had a flair for the dramatics. He would always try to put a show and win every time the Tour passes Quezon.
In 1987, he overcame a broken wheel and a nasty spill, by trying to avoid a child who crossed,
He flipped in the air and landed in a ditch. Gerry stood up gathered himself and carried on.
As, he brought thrill to his province mates when he crossed Lucena in stage 3 all alone. Equally notable was when he rode to the finish with a broken handle bar.
The 1989 Marlboro Tour Champion retired as the winningest cyclist in history with 23 stage victories.
George Earnshaw: Olympian With Sharp Eyes and Steely Nerves Shooter of Calauag
By REYNANTE DANSECO
George Earnshaw (born on 30 November 1953) is a late Filipino multi-medalist trap sports shooter who competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, USA.
Earnshaw, husband of Calauag native Cianne Pulgar-Earnshaw, finished 27th in men's double trap and 56th in men's trap in Atlanta.
Earnshaw also competed and snared medals in Asian Games, Southeast Asian Games, and other International competitions.
In 1974 7th Asian Games in Tehran, Iran, the 21-year old Earnshaw won the bronze behind Japanese Jitsuka Matsuoka and India's Karni Singh.
He won the Silver medal in men's trap in 17th SEA Games in Singapore in 1993 and then bagged two Gold medals (Individual and Team Double Trap) in the 1995 edition of biennial Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
He was also a three-time competitor in ISSF World Cup. He competed twice in the tournaments held in Barcelona, Spain and Lonato, Italy in 1990s.
Earnshaw and his family was a frequent "balik-bayan" during Mahal na Araw (Holy Week) and Araw ng mga Patay (Dia de los Muertos) in Calauag, where his favorite local dishes are boiled and then seasoned or sautéed katang (mud crab) and shrimp.
"Naghahanap ng alimango at hipon pag nasa Calauag," Cianne said.
"He brought his portable clay thrower then nagki-clay shooting kami sa (Barangay) Binutas with my cousin. Tapos nagbubuko (young coconut meat) kami dun."
Earnshaw trained young potential shooters in the last three years before he died.
"Yun ang advocacy n'ya," Cianne said.
In January 2014, the trap shooters in the country held a George Earnshaw Memorial Cup at Bucor (Bureau of Corrections) Shooting Range in memory of the Filipino shooting champion.
"My brother-in-law (Michael) and Brian my son participated," said Mrs. Earnshaw.
Earshaw died due to sudden cardiac arrest at the 2006 Goma Cup in Taytay, Rizal.
"Si Richard Gomez ang nagdala sa kanya sa hospital but sudden death," she said.
He was 52.
Ma Long 🇨🇳 vs Fan Zhendong 🇨🇳 | Men's Singles Table Tennis 🏓 Gold Medal Match | Tokyo
MA Long wins historic second straight Olympic gold in men's singles table tennis. The People's Republic of China's MA Long confirmed his status as one of the table tennis greats with back-to-back Olympic men's singles titles, beating compatriot FAN Zhendong 4-2 (11-4, 10-12, 11-8, 11-9, 3-11, 11-7). It is the fourth straight Olympics that PR China has claimed the two top steps on the podium in the men's singles event.
Chen Meng 🇨🇳 vs Yingsha Sun 🇨🇳 | Women's Singles Table Tennis 🏓 Gold Medal Match | Tokyo
The People’s Republic of China had already won women’s singles table tennis gold before the match had begun with two teammates winning a place in the final at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, but the eventual winner was Chen Meng. She beat her teammate Yingsha Sun on the score of (9-11, 11-6, 11-4, 5-11, 11-4, 11-9).