Bianca Vanessa Andreescu deserves the praise and adulation of a grateful Canadian nation.
At the age of 19, Bianca has achieved a feat no other Canadian professional tennis player had done since 1969, when Faye Urban won a major tournament.
She defeated tennis queen Serena Williams, who was out to fight for a 24th US Open title, on September 9. The victory earned for her a career-high singles ranking of No. 5.
She also became the first Canadian — and the first player born in the 2000s — to win a Grand Slam singles title.
Her hard and tireless work ethics to make her dream a reality has truly inspired fellow Canadians to go for gold.
Congratulations, Bianca! We pray that all the best will come your way.
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Many are asking: How will the National Basketball Association’s 2018-2019 Champion Toronto Raptors fare when Nick Nurse’s charges open the next regular pro hoop season against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Scotiabank Arena at 8 p.m. on October 22?
If I may put in my five cents worth: We started believing, we’ll always believe. WE THE NORTH!
In case this info serves you well, the Raptors will have pre-season games against the Houston Rockets on October 8 and 10; against the Chicago Bulls at the Scotiabank Arena on October 13 at 6 p.m.; and against the Brooklyn Nets on October 18 at the Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, New York.
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As long as there is a chance, Canadian basketball fans will go on rooting for The Road Warriors.
Team Canadal team’s had a quite unimpressive performance in the classification round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 that concluded on September 9 in China.
However, it landed 21st in a field of 32 national teams to secure a spot in one of four Olympic Qualifying Tournaments to be played next summer. Top teams in the qualifiers will head to the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan set from July 24 to August 9.
Miracles may yet happen … maybe, if and when talented Canadians playing in the NBA would come and play for their country.
Meantime, national coach Nick Nurse has to contend and work with what he’s got, a dedicated and committed line-up of Canadians who stand strong and proud to represent the True North.
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Manitoba’s elections are over.
Reports show that a total of 469,361 electors cast their ballots in the province’s 57 ridings on September 10.
Still euphoric winners declare: “Awesome!”; the outvoted cry out: “Unbelievable!” Same, same!
Nothing so dramatic has happened. Nothing much has changed in the political configuration.
Another democratic process has come and gone; and Manitobans will always hope and pray for the best.
Casablanca’s Sam may as well hit the piano and sing “… No matter what the future brings, as time goes by.”
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At a polling center many years ago, I overheard someone say: “If you do not vote, do not complain.”
The comment made me wonder: “Is that a reason why a donut has a hole … so that those who voted would have a place to blow their complaints through?”
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In a few weeks, on the day of the federal elections on October 21, the Canadian electorate is expected to seal a political decision and choose a preferred riding candidate from among those with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals, Andrew Scheer’s Conservatives, Jagmeet Singh’s New Democrats and Elizabeth May’s Greens.
There are 338 seats to be filled. A party needs to win at least 170 seats to form a majority government.
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Mang Kadyo: “Majority? Are those the uniformed baton twirlers marching ahead of a brass band?”
Ka Edong: “Mang Kadyo, can’t you really correctly pronounce majorette?”
Tatang Ambo: “Now I know why many politicians, like Mang Kadyo, are fond of donuts. Dahil ugali na nila ang magsabi ng “Baka lang makalusot” kapag may nasabi o nagawang mali.”
Ka Edong: “May problema, Tatang Ambo. Sa laki ba naman ng ulo at tiyan ng mga pulitikong pulpol, hindi kakasya.”
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The official federal poll campaign period began on September 11.
Ka Edong noted: “Seriously? They retroactively extended it before September 11?”
Tatang Ambo: “Ang butas na donut, parang butas na batas! Bow!”
*****
Hurricane Dorian may be history.
But the displacement, devastation and destruction it left behind – after sweeping through northwestern Bahamas, southeastern United States and Atlantic Canada from September 1 to 9 — was catastrophic.
It was a disaster that would long be imprinted on the minds of people who saw and felt how Mother Nature could unleash such force and fury.
Many people are in need of help to survive and struggle through Dorian’s aftermath.
If donating, please give only to credible organizations and agencies.
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It’s mid-September. Autumn is in the air; summer will soon be gone (or has it?).
Never waste what is left of the summer-on-your-mind. Go and have fun with family and friends while longer daylight lasts.
Explore the great outdoors. Camp out. Continue to delight in a backyard barbeque; or a picnic in a park.
Adore the beauty of Mother Nature’s rich landscape.
Respect and celebrate the vibrancy of life.
When summer officially and finally exits the calendar, you would have etched many amazing memories in your heart and mind worth remembering and recalling every now and then.
While at it, look forward to having another great summer that will fulfill your bucket list.
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Did you know that Philippine history chronicles not one but two martial law declarations on September 21?
According to Wikipedia, the first occurred on September 21, 1944, when President Jose P. Laurel of the Japanese-influenced wartime Second Philippine Republic placed the country under martial law through Proclamation No. 29. Martial law came into effect the next day.
On September 21, 1972, then President Ferdinand E. Marcos imposed Proclamation No. 1081 that declared martial law across the archipelago. Martial law was lifted on January 17, 1981.
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For four more times, martial law or a state of emergency held Filipinos in its grip.
In early September, 1896, Spanish Governor-General Ramon Blanco placed Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Pampanga, Tarlac, Laguna, Batangas, and Nueva Ecija under martial law to quell a brewing revolution.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Proclamation No. 1959 on December 4, 2009 placing Maguindanao province in Southern Philippines under martial law in the wake of the infamous Ampatuan Massacre. The politically-related violence claimed 57 lives. Among those killed were 31 media workers. The proclamation was lifted eight days later.
Macapagal-Arroyo also placed the Philippines in a state of emergency from February 24 to March 3, 2006. This was to crush a coup plot and to keep protesters at bay.
On May 23, 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte placed Mindanao and its nearby islands under martial law, saying that armed conflict was escalating in the region and the existence of rebellion in the country’s second largest island.
In all instances, martial law meant curfews, the suspension of civil law, civil rights, habeas corpus, and the application or extension of military law (court-martial) to civilians.
However, the Marcos-era martial law stood out as having earned infamy and notoriety. Much have been said and written about those times when Filipinos suffered under a dictatorship. On the other hand, Marcos loyalists still revere him as the greatest president the Philippines ever had to this day.
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Nope. I will not be greeting anyone anywhere Happy Martial Law Day on September 21 or on any other date.
Yet, I cannot help but think which one is harsher and nastier — martial law or marital law? #####
