Titans’ Amano to help raise funds for California youth

Tennessee Titans guard/center Eugene Amano, the NFL’s first Filipino American player, will raise funds for Filipino American charities and increase the interest and education in sports among youth in the Vallejo area at the Filipino Youth & Sports Football Clinic. The day-long event will be held April 17, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Corbus Field in Vallejo.

Amano will be joined by his brother and former San Diego State standout Fred Amano, as well as former Vanderbilt quarterback Edward DeMesa.

Amano enters his seventh NFL season. In 2008, Amano started all 16 games for the Titans.

The charity clinic is hosted by The Filipino Youth & Sports Foundation in association with HI Point Sports. Registration fees include a full day of instruction on skills and technique, lunch, T-shirts, prizes and an autograph session with the coaches and celebrities on hand. There will also be display booths for sponsors, sports equipment, apparel and food.

To sign up for the clinic, contact Junel De la Vega at (925) 818-4649 or Eric Gonzales at (707) 254-4606. De la Vega and Gonzales, clinic directors, are co-founders of Filipino Youth & Sports.

Controversy on Tim Tebow’s SB ad appearance

A controversy has surrounded Philippine born Tim Tebow’s decision to appear in an ad funded by Focus on the Family broadcasted during Super Bowl XLIV.  The ad includes Tebow’s personal story as part of an overall pro-life stance. The abortion issue was not specifically mentioned in the ad.

Tebow who was born in Makati to Bob and Pam Tebow who were serving as a Christian missionaries at the time. While pregnant, Pam suffered a life-threatening infection with a pathogenic amoeba. Because of the drugs used to rouse her from a coma and to treat her dysentery, the fetus experienced a severe placental abruption. Doctors expected a stillbirth and recommended an abortion to protect her life.

A national columnist for CBSSports.com, Gregg Doyel objected to the CBS decision to show the ad during Super Sunday. Jamelle Hill, an analyst for ESPN.com wrote that “I don’t care if you’re pro-choice or pro-life, conservative or liberal, God-fearing or atheist, you’ve got to admire Tebow for standing with conviction, even as he’s opening himself and his family up to criticism.”

Tim Tebow visits the Philippines regularly to continue his parents missionary work.

American style football to debut in Philippines

From Business Mirror

Four teams—Juggernauts, Wolves, Bandits and Barracudas—composed of 24 players each will play in the opening season of the league that will be using modified American football rules in four 15-minute quarters. Read Full Story >>>.

NFL stands for New Filipino Lineup

by Joseph Pimentel, Asian Journal

The National Football League (NFL) kicked off the opening of its season last month with several Filipino-American players suiting up every Sunday.

Chris Gocong of the Philadelphia Eagles, Jordan Dizon of the Detroit Lions, Steve Slaton of the Houston Texans, Aaron Francisco of the Indianapolis Colts and Eugene Amano of the Tennessee Titans all carry some Filipino heritage.

“Besides Manny Pacquiao, there haven’t been many Filipinos who have played in the professional major leagues or mainstream sports,” said Bo Navarro, Amano’s manager. “This just shows that Filipino youth are embracing the sport.” Read Complete Article>>>