Manila, Philippines (August 4, 2011) – 2014 Brazil World Cup is over for the Philippines but DotA 2 in 2011 Gamescon Germany is a possible feat. Team Asus-Mineski (Eysoos-Meeneski) has set its quest to get the gold and make the country proud in the DotA 2 Promotional Tournament at Gamescom 2011 on August 17-21 in Cologne, Germany. DotA (Defense of the Ancients) the most popular "free, non-supported game mod in the world" will be played by 16 teams from Europe, China, and Southeast Asia. Team Asus-Mineski is the lone representative of the Philippines. Representing the Asus-Mineski Team are: James Kenneth Valdez (Team Captain), Julius Sto. Domingo, John Jerick Roxas, Joshua Dela Serna, Jessie Cristy Cuyco. Team Manager Ronald Robins will also join the Philippine contingent.

Participating teams have to pass a groupstage, before entering a double elimination playoff bracket to determine the best of the game. The 16 international teams will vie for the bragging rights not to mention the 1,000,000 US Dollars prize sponsored by DotA 2 game developer Valve.

The said tournament will be broadcasted in four languages. The DotA 2 Tournament in Gamescon officially confirms the circulating rumors of a DotA 2 Gaming Tournament that will give a “first look at the new game” as stated by Gabe Newell, president and founder of Valve. GamesCom is the world’s largest trade fair and event highlight for interactive games and entertainment.

About ASUS

ASUS, the world’s top 3 consumer notebook vendor and the maker of the world’s best selling and most award winning motherboards, is a leading enterprise in the new digital era. ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today’s digital home, office and person, with a broad portfolio that includes motherboards, graphics cards, displays, desktop PCs, notebooks, netbooks, servers, multimedia, wireless solutions, networking devices and mobile phones. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS won 3,398 awards in 2010, and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with the Eee PC™. With a global staff of more than 10,000 and a world-class R&D team of 3,000 engineers, the company’s revenue for 2010 was around US$10.1 billion.

The Philippine Football Team, popularly known as the Azkals, made the country prouder earlier today when they beat the Sri Lanka Red Braves 4-0 during the 2nd Leg of the 2014 World Cup Brazil Qualifiers. The win will make the Philippines advance to the 2nd round of qualifying matches.

The Philippine Azkals showed the entire world the kind of football (soccer) we Filipinos are capable of — defensive yet attacking when there is a chance.

Since I was with my wife and son, I opted not to be at the grandstand as weather forecasts suggest that rain will ensue during the afternoon today. Instead, we stayed at the National Sports Grill in Greenbelt 3, Makati City — where the crowd is, if I may say so, even wilder than those who are watching it live at the Rizal Memorial Football Field in the City of Manila. Proof? Watch the video clip I captured when Chieffy Caligdong broke the ice and gave the Azkals their very first goal in the match:

The Azkals will be meeting the Kuwait national team later this month for two (02) legs as part of the next round qualifying matches.

Go Philippine Azkals! You made us Pinoy football fans realize that the FIFA World Cup is not just a dream anymore. WE BELIEVE!

To start with, parents should educate their children about the “beautiful game”. The media, most notably the commentators in TV coverages should be adept with the “proper terminologies” and not to just invent their own — remember the “banana kick ala-Maradona” uttered during the last out-of-town game by the Azkals? What in this world is that kind of kick (if there is such)?

If there are basketball half-courts in every street in the country now, why don’t we have more soccer fields in the parks? Good thing there’s the Legaspi Active Park at the heart of the Makati CBD.

Lastly, the government should help in promoting this sport.

My dream still lives on … one day, during our lifetime, we will see the Philippine flag raised during the World Cup Soccer. We believe.

Thanks to ANC & GMA7 for bringing this momentous event live via the internet!

• The exotic jeepney is a post-war creation inspired by the GI jeeps that the American soldiers brought to the country in the 1940s. Enterprising Filipinos salvaged the surplus engines and came out with unique vehicles or art.
• The world’s longest underground river system accessible to man can be found at the St. Paul National Park in the province of Palawan.
• The world’s second deepest spot underwater is in the Philippines. The Philippine Deep or Mindanao Trench is about 34.440 feet below sea level.
• The Basilica of San Sebastian is the only steel church in Asia and was the second building to be made out of steel, next to the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
• Of the 500 known coral species in the world, 488 are found in the Philippines.

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