Decade of Dominance

This week marks Tiger Woods 10th year on the PGA Tour, and what a decade it has been. His latest (4th consecutive) victory was also the 10th year anniversary of the day he turned professional. I can't believe it has been ten years already. After all, in that span of time, he has accumulated an amazing 52 victories, 12 majors and $63 million in earnings. When he turned pro, he was the one who grabbed all the headlines. 10 years later, he continues to be THE golfer to watch.

A week earlier, Woods won the PGA Championship for his 12th major, only six behind Jack Nicklaus' 18, a feat that Tiger Woods had always dreamed of surpassing. And at this pace, it seems like it would be inevitable.

Woods tied for 60th at the Greater Milwaukee Open in his pro debut 10 years ago this week. His first paycheck was $2,544. This year, he is averaging $2,512 for every stroke.

As fellow golfer Davis Love III says, "He's had the best 10 years in the history of golf. You knew he was a guy you were going to have to beat the rest of your career." Love was Woods first victim, losing a playoff to him in the 1996 Las Vegas Invitational, and there have been 46 other players who have finished second to Woods on the PGA Tour.

So began a decade of dominance that is defined by any set of numbers -- 52 wins, 12 majors, 142 consecutive cuts, the No. 1 ranking for 406 weeks, official victories in 12 countries.

Woods holds the scoring record to par in all four majors, and he is the only player to win all four professional majors in a row. He went seven years without missing a cut (142 events), and he has won 26 percent of his PGA Tour starts.

What really impresses me is how Tiger Woods strives to become better. Considering that he already was the best, how could he get even better? Thus, he already changed his swing a couple of times in the past decade.

When Woods turned professional in 1996, his swing already was mature but undisciplined. His distance control was spotty, as was his accuracy, but he could generate otherworldly club-head speed with a wide arc and pure athleticism, most notably a rapid hip turn. His dominating ’97 Masters victory, when he won by 12 shots and set the tournament scoring record of 270, was mostly the product, he admits, of a serendipitous week of tempo and timing.

Hence, he seeked the help of swing guru Butch Harmon, the same coach who helped Greg Norman become No. 1 in the 1980s and early 1990s. Harmon’s refinements, which were incorporated fully in 1998 even though the two had commiserated since ’93, helped Woods achieve an efficiency that defied the difficulties inherent in the game. In 2000, Woods won nine times, including the final three majors, and he never shot over par in any of his 20 TOUR starts. He set or tied 27 TOUR records, including a 68.33 non-adjusted scoring average (67.79 adjusted) that broke Byron Nelson’s 1945 mark.

In spite of all these success, Woods departed the Harmon camp in favor of Hank Haney. The switch from Harmon to Haney didn’t appear to be all that good of an idea in 2004 when Woods won only one PGA TOUR event and saw Vijay Singh overtake him in the Official World Golf Ranking. But Tiger had his reasons for undertaking such a dramatic project in the prime of his career.

Woods thought that he could get even better. Haney was the longtime teacher of Mark O’Meara, Woods’ closest friend on the PGA. Haney believes that the best swingers of the golf club maintain symmetry from start to finish on one plane angle. The application of this theory to Woods’ swing made it more rounded and flat, and as Woods tried to incorporate this new method while fighting old habits, his accuracy and confidence waned, though he still continued to extend his record cuts streak through the alterations, a testament to his overall golf abilities and strength of will.

While the questions piled up in ’04, Woods maintained that he was satisfied with his decision. "Have I ever second-guessed it? No," he said in early ‘05. "I took some steps backward to go forward, to make some giant leaps forward."

Five wins and two majors last year vindicated the decision, and Woods has six more victories and two more Open and PGA titles to hang on his mantel in 2006, a year in which he missed his first cut as a pro in a major, at the U.S. Open, due almost entirely to the emotional trauma still tugging at him after his father’s death.

It’s the control, not his famed power game, that makes Woods so indomitable. And it’s control that drives Woods to continue to tinker with his swing, with Haney now his guiding influence.

In other words, Tiger Woods is still a work in progress. Scary...

Real Excitement

The Spanish Football League, the Primera Liga, had just begun its 2006-2007 season. As expected, I had been up to date with all the off-season transfers and other transactions by the clubs, especially those by Real Madrid, the team I have been following the past years.

The past three seasons have been very disappointing. Recently, Real Madrid was named the “Best Football Club of the Century” by FIFA. However, they haven’t won anything big in the last three seasons, in spite having superstars like Zidane, Ronaldo, Beckham, Owen, Figo, and Raul in their roster. Many good things did happen the past few months, hoping to change the losing trend.

The first thing was the stepping down of Florentino Perez as club president. Perez initially did a good job in building the team, with the signing of Figo, Zidane, and Ronaldo. However, it would seem that he was more contented in “selling” the team rather than winning. I believe he was more concerned with ticket and jersey sales. His belief was that the more superstars, the better the team would be. Not to take anything away from his achievements, but to be honest, the team was underperforming. They were more like a group of superstars and they never jelled as a team. People were there not to watch the team play, but simply to get a glimpse of the individual superstars.

Ramon Calderon is now the club’s president and the first thing he did was to bring in Fabio Capello as manager (coach). Capello is a known disciplinarian. He’s very precise and somewhat of a perfectionist. I liken him to Pat Riley of the NBA. Capello won wherever he had coached. Coming from Italian champs Juventus (who were stripped off their titles because of the match-fixing scandal), he also won at Roma and interestingly Real Madrid a decade ago. To me, he is perfect for the club because the players seem to be undisciplined. Capello likes players who work and train hard and he rewards them by letting them play on the pitch. Unlike the previous managers, there is no superstar treatment under Capello.

Fabio Capello believes in the importance of a strong defense, and proof to that is the acquisition of Italy’s World Cup-winning captain (and tournament’s best defender) Fabio Cannavaro and the Brazilian defensive midfielder Emerson from Capello’s previous club, Juventus. I like these two signings. I believe that the weakest aspect of Real Madrid was their defense. Ever since central defender Fernando Hierro and defensive midfielder Claude Makelele left the team three years ago, Real Madrid always had problems in defense. Hopeful, the seasoned veterans Cannavaro and Emerson would fill their shoes well.

Another advantage of these two signings was the fact that they already have the experience playing for Capello, and I see the two as the extensions of the manager on the pitch. Without a doubt, the other players would adjust better to Capello because of the assistance of Cannavaro and Emerson not only during games, but more importantly, during training.


Real Madrid also got forward Ruud Van Nistelrooy from Manchester United. I am not a big fan of this Dutch striker, but I have to admit he is a proven goal scorer. However, I do not think he is that needed since Real Madrid already has 3-time World Player of the Year Ronaldo as their main striker. The good thing is that he brings another aspect to the club. The Brazilian Ronaldo is more creative and can score on his own. Van Nistelrooy is more opportunistic, similar to Raul, another forward already on the club. I am afraid that one of these strikers would be similar to Michael Owen a few years ago. Owen was a world class striker but he had to come off the bench behind the likes of Ronaldo and Raul. Nevertheless, if somehow Capello manages to play Ronaldo, Raul, and Van Nistelrooy in a balanced rotation, then it will all work best for Real Madrid.

The next move was the signing of Mali defensive midfielder Mahamadou Diarra from French club Olympique Lyon. He would combine with Emerson to form what Real Madrid hopes would be a water-tight midfield. They would certainly win more possessions from the midfield for the club. I like this acquisition too. Some say Diarra and Emerson are too similar, but I believe Diarra can also attack and can move a bit forward.

Because of the arrival of Diarra and Emerson, there seemed to be an excess of defensive midfielders. Hence, Danish Tomas Graveson and Uruguayan Pablo Garcia were released to other clubs. Another Uruguay international, Carlos Diogo, a right-back was also loaned to another club since he was third in line behind more preferred right-backs Spanish Michel Salgado and Brazilian Cicinho.

There was also an excess of central defenders and so Real Madrid released English Jonathan Woodgate on loan for a year. Personally, I believe Woodgate shouldn’t have been released. He could be an excellent backup to Cannavaro and Ramos. I honestly don’t understand this move.

A better move was the swap deal between Real Madrid and English club Arsenal. The 1-year agreement sends Brazilian striker/midfielder Julio Baptista to Arsenal on loan while midfielder Jose Antonio Reyes goes home to his country also on loan. Reyes brings speed and youth to Real Madrid, similar to Robinho. Hopefully the two would combine well to outrun and outbreak opposing clubs on the pitch.

Aside from the lack of backup central defenders, my other worry is who would be the link between the defense and attack. It seems that Real Madrid already has a strong defense and an excellent attacking line. But the missing link seems to be in the midfield, the role that Zinedine Zidane used to play before he retired. Who would be the distributor or the playmaker? That was why I was hoping Real Madrid would have picked up someone like Kaka. Anyway, it seems like the only possible player who could fill that spot is Guti. He could be the playmaker but he is nowhere near the level of a Zidane or even a Kaka.

Another possible problem is how Cappello rotates his superstars. I could not think of a starting 11 because of the many options available. Since Cappello already has fixed a back line composing of 2 holding midfielders (Emerson and Diarra) and 4 defenders plus the goalkeeper, it would appear that Real Madrid have a lot of players for the remaining 4 spots. That means selecting the 4 in attack from Ronaldo, Raul, Van Nistelrooy, Cassano, Robinho, Beckham, Reyes, and Guti. Tough decision there.

Overall though, I look forward to the team. I think good things will happen this season, and I am pretty sure they would have success in at least one of the three competitions they will be participating in – the Primera Liga, Champions League, and the Copa del Rey. This is certainly a very much improved Real Madrid. Look out Barcelona!

This is the current first team line up with their jersey numbers:

1 – Iker Casillas (Spain) – GK
2 – Michel Salgado (Spain) – Def
3 – Roberto Carlos (Brazil) – Def
4 – Sergio Ramos (Spain) – Def
5 – Fabio Cannavaro (Italy) – Def
6 – Mahamadou Diarra (Mali) – Mid
7 – Raul Gonzales (Spain) – For
8 – Emerson (Brazil) – Mid
9 – Ronaldo (Brazil) – For
10 – Robinho (Brazil) – For
11 – Cicinho (Brazil) – Def
13 – Diego Lopez – GK
14 – Guti (Spain) – Mid
15 – Raul Bravo (Spain) – Def
17 – Ruud Van Nistelrooy (Netherlands) – For
18 – Antonio Cassano (Italy) – For
19 – Jose Antonio Reyes (Spain) – For
21 – Ivan Helguerra (Spain) – Def
22 – Paco Pavon (Spain) – Def
23 – David Beckham (England) – Mid
24 – Alvaro Mejia (Spain) – Def

Try picking your starting 11.

Political Plan(t)s

An article from a recent issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer did not surprise me at all. It was regarding the “Green Philippine Highway Program” project of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The reporter observed that the launching of the projects in different places was more like a political campaign. This is exactly what I thought when I saw a similar launching here in Negros Oriental on TV.

The project is a political gimmick. It’s not practical, it’s difficult to implement, and definitely there are many more important things the DENR should focus its attention on, such as the Guimaras Oil Spill. Planting trees a long the national highway that stretch 3,439 km. across the country is just a waste of time, money, and effort. Can’t they think of anything better? I’m really starting to believe that the GMA administration has really not one any good to our country.

Maybe there are indeed good intentions, and I don't mean to sound pessimistic, but I have serious doubts about the project. I believe there’s a bigger hidden (political) agenda here. What’s the real intention of the project? Mainly, it’s for exposure. Since the project covers major highways from north to south of the Philippines, I’m quite certain there will be billboards displaying the proponents and people behind the project, maybe even have a poster for every tree planted. I remember in 2004 when almost all electrical posts around Manila had banners with GMA’s image on it. Then there were those clean-up volunteers found along highways wearing vests with the letters GMA at the back. That is what they’re trying to do again. Think of it as an early electoral propaganda for people like Sec. Reyes.

It is quite possible that Sec. Reyes is planning to run for Senator next year. You should have seen him launching the project. As I mentioned already, it was like a political campaign. He even wore a vest like most politicians do during election period. He had this big program with a full-house audience that do not seem to care about the project. Even just in the way he talked, he was as smooth as the veteran politicians. And then he cracked jokes and even worse, sang a couple of songs. With regard to the project he was supposed to be launching, he did not really do a good job in elaborating its details. There was nothing concrete in what he said. Even when interviewed, he was vague and even seemed uncertain. In the end, he only spent a little time with the project and more time in politicking. And he did the same in all the places where the project was launched. Tsk tsk tsk… A very Gloria-esque way of doing stuff – spending our money for a disguised way of campaigning.

Baby Sasa

My newest kinugos (goddaughter) was Christened yesterday at the Immaculate Church. Her name is Sestina Anna, the second daughter of my first cousin Corinna. Welcome to the Christian world, Sasa! That brings my list of godchilds to a total of 7. This means I have even more gifts to give this Christmas... hmmm....

On the topic of family members, I'd also like to congratulate another first cousin, Dr. Benjamin Jose ("Benjo") Bautista, for passing the Medical Licensure Exam. Another doctor added to the family...

Since I'm on this topic, allow me also to greet the many relatives who celebrate their birthdays this week - my cousin, Bianca, on the 20th; another cousin, Jacinto, and Tito Nonong, on the 21st; my sister, Rica, on the 22nd; Tito Pempo, on the 25th; and Dr. Benjo, on the 29th. Happy Birthday to you all!

Ticking Time Bomb

The recent Guimaras oil spill really saddens me, and perhaps every environment-loving person not only here in the Philippines, but anywhere in the world. The white beaches in the Visayas islands are known to be one of the best ones in Asia. And the same group of islands has been considered the center of the world's richest marine life.

However, because of the sinking of Solar 1 somewhere near Guimaras, a major environmental disaster is threatening the area. Solar 1 was carrying 2 million liters of bunker fuel. When it sank, it leaked around 200,000 liters, which had gradually spread towards the nearby islands of Panay and Negros. This means that there is about 1.8 million liters still trapped inside the tanker at the bottom of the sea, and is slowly continuing to leak. Hence, this is why some refer to this looming catastrophy as an ecological "ticking time bomb." Sooner or later, the entire amount of fuel will completely leak out of the vessel and harm the rich marine resources in the area. Unless we do something about it, potentially the biggest oil spill in our country's history (there was a 300,000 liter oil spill off Semirara island last year) may even possibly reach the nearby Boracay island, famous for its white beach.

Greenpeace, an environmental organization, describes the area hit as a delicate ecosystem rich in marine life, mangroves and reefs. It is really too early to assess the damage caused by the oil spill. As of the past weekend, oil from the tanker has contaminated some 220 kilometers of coastline, destroyed 454 hectares of mangroves and 58 hectares of seaweed farms. The spill had also destroyed the livelihoods of thousands of people dependent on fishing for a living. It could also be disastrous to the tourism industry in the areas affected.

Just how could we prevent the oil spill from becoming worse? How can we stop the flow of oil leaking from the sunken vessel? The problem is we do not have the technology to "suck" all the oil from the tanker. We do not even know the exact location of the vessel. And if we do know where it really is, still our divers and marine equipment do not have the capabilities to go that deep underwater - about 3,000 feet.

The only thing we could do right now is to clean-up the seas in our own little ways. It is said that it would take years before we could totally clean the sea. The hundreds of villagers in the area are trying to mop up the slick with improvised tools such as bamboo poles, rice straw, dried grass, used sacks and even clothing. At sea and off beaches booms have been erected to contain the oil which is scooped out and taken away for disposal.

It's a good thing the government has already asked for foreign assistance. To me, that's the only chance we could still somehow contain the calamity. Let us remember that the environment is something we should all be responsible for because it doesn't only affect a country, but it affects the entire world as well. Hopefully, its not yet too late.

Midterm Madness

The midterm examination week is fast-approaching. That translates into a lot of sleepless nights, headaches, stress, and pressure - studying at home or in Dunkin Donuts or Chowking til 5 in the morning, getting a couple of hours of sleep, and then going to school haggard, and sitting in the library the whole day.

Exams in law school is like no other. In this two-week period, you feel all the pressure, you get tense, and ultimately the stress takes a toll on you. You have a lot of reading to do - hundreds and hundreds of pages of textbooks and cases. If you haven't been following the lectures of the professors for the past weeks, then it is the time to catch up on all the readings. And then people say that you have to undergo at least 3 readings before you could fully understand what you have read.

Midterms also is a time when you have to submit certain requirements for the different subjects, so you have to find a way to balance the doing of these projects and papers and the actual studying. In our case, we have to submit digests of around 146 cases in constitutional law, plus a 25-page minimum paper about the world's different legal systems.

One has to prepare for a tough stretch like this, not only mentally, but also physically. When I say this, I mean lots of food! The only way I could keep awake the whole night is by consuming all the goodies and sweets I could get my hands on - chocolates, chips, candies, and lots more. Just enough to make my brain last until breakfast.

Reading thick books, cross-referencing the stuff you read with codals, jurisprudence, and your "handy-dandy" legal dictionary. Doing all these while having something to eat or drink.

The only refuge I could think of is knowing that you're not along. All your classmates are probably just as busy and tense as you are.

In the end, when the brain-draining exams finally come, you just hope that you could remember even just a parcel of what you have read.

I guess I gotta start doing all the crazy stuff I just said... epekto ra nis pagtuon

Miss Silliman Website Launched

On it's diamond (60th) anniversary, Miss Silliman finally has a website. During the 2006 Miss Silliman Press Conference, the Miss Silliman Organization has launched the site www.misssilliman.com to feature the country's oldest pageant, even older than Miss Universe.

I was tasked by the organization to design and develop the site and finally I was able to finish it just hours before the launching. While waiting for the domain name to be active, the temporary URL is http://www.sillimanians.com/misssilliman.

The site contains profiles of the 6 candidates and a students' choice voting system wherein enrolled Sillimanians may vote for their bets. To vote, you just have to enter your family name and ID number. Only one vote is allowed per student. The one with the most votes will be awarded Miss Popularity. After all, Miss Silliman in 1946 started as a popularity contest.

The site also has some articles regarding the history of the contest as well as a list of the past Miss Silliman winners with their photos.

Before you criticize the site though, may I just tell y0u that I am not an artistic person. Besides, I wasn't paid to do this. So, please, just don't complain.