From Duoi Ampilan 9 February 2026 Alex Eala: Charting a New Course for Philippine Tennis Alex Eala’s young career is defined by a series of groundbreaking achievements, each one rewriting the record books for Philippine tennis. 🟣 BREAKING INTO THE ELITE ✅ Highest-ranked Filipino tennis player in history. She reached a career-high WTA ranking of No. 40 (as of 09 February 2026). ✅ First Filipino to break into the WTA Top 100 and the WTA Top 50, shattering long-standing barriers for the nation. 🟣 WTA TOUR PIONEER ✅ First Filipino to win a WTA title. Champion at the 2025 Guadalajara Open. ✅ First Filipino to reach a WTA final. Runner-up at the 2025 Lexus Eastbourne International. ✅ First Filipino to reach a WTA 1000 semifinal. A stunning run at the 2025 Miami Open, where she also became the first to qualify for a main draw at this elite level. 🟣 GRAND SLAM SUCCESS ✅ First Filipino to win a main draw match at a Grand Slam (2025 US Open). ✅ First Filipina to win any Grand Slam title. Juni...

From Inday Sara Duterte 7 February 2026   I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all who have expressed their sympathies and prayers for the passing of my uncle, Benjamin R. Duterte. We are deeply thankful for your compassion and remembrance.  Tiyo Bong was one of the strengths beneath our wings during the 2025 national and local campaign planning and operations. His quiet leadership will be deeply missed as we look ahead to the 2028 elections. We take comfort in our faith, knowing that we now have a campaign manager in heaven securing the success of the Filipino people. Before his passing, he expressed his wish that the wake and burial be limited to family and selected friends. May God grant eternal rest for his soul. ***

By Dick Gordon Alex Eala and the Filipino Diaspora: Excellence in the Struggle As Alex Eala competes on the world’s most demanding tennis courts, the public witnesses a young 20-year-old athlete still in the process of becoming—disciplined, hardworking, not yet perfect, yet fully committed to mastering her craft. It is this visible struggle for excellence that has drawn the admiration and respect of both the nation and the international community. Simultaneously, the global spotlight extends beyond the court. In the same tennis capitals where Eala competes, Filipinos are present not only as spectators, but as engineers, nurses, medical technologists, educators, caregivers, and professionals whose labor and integrity contribute meaningfully to the success of their host countries. As the world watches Eala, it also catches a powerful glimpse of the Filipino diaspora, individuals whose dedication and excellence help make the countries they serve stronger and more prosperous. In moments wh...

From Mexican Problem Many Mexicans are often mistaken for Filipinos, and many Filipinos for Mexicans. That’s not a coincidence. The answer lies in genetics, history, and a long journey across the Pacific Ocean. Mexicans and Filipinos often share features like straight dark hair, almond-shaped eyes, defined cheekbones, and similar skin tones. Why? Indigenous peoples of the Americas and those of Southeast Asia share very ancient ancestors from Asia who migrated thousands of years ago. On top of that, both regions experienced more than 300 years of Spanish influence, which added another shared layer of ancestry. The result: different faces, yet surprisingly similar. For over 250 years, the Manila Galleon connected Acapulco and the Philippines. It wasn’t just goods that traveled—people, traditions, words, and food crossed the ocean too. In fact, the Philippines was once governed from Mexico when both were part of New Spain. That’s why we still see similarities today: Filipino adobo, rice-b...

From Flow Tenni "My mother didn’t teach me how to hold a racket; she taught me how to SURVIVE when the air runs out."  In the deafening roar of Abu Dhabi, with the pressure closing in, Alex Eala froze for a second. Her eyes found one person: her mother, Rizza—a former SEA Games swimmer who once conquered the deep blue. At 2-5 down, when Alex felt she was finally "sinking," her mother’s old words surfaced like a lifeline: “When you feel like you’re drowning, that’s when you’re closest to the shore.” Alex wasn't just playing an opponent; she was fighting her own limits. She saw her mother in those old lanes—lonely, powerful, and relentless. That bloodline transformed a Match Point for her rival into a springboard for a historic comeback. She fought to repay the woman who stepped into the shadows so that Alex and her brother Miko could stand in the light. But what has the tennis world buzzing isn't the scoreboard. It happened after the final point. As Alex hugg...

By Tennis Universe  🔥 Last night, amid the cold forest of glass and steel, Mubadala Tower suddenly lit up. Waves of emerald, deep blue, and crimson light swept across its towering facade, slowly coming together to form a familiar face — Alexandra Eala. Somewhere on a quiet street below, on a late-night bus heading back to the workers’ district, Emilia — a Filipino mother who has spent 15 years abroad caring for other people’s children — suddenly broke down in tears. She looked up at the glowing sky and whispered, trembling: “Alex… you did it.” And Alex, standing silently by the window, the lights reflected across her young face. She no longer heard the match commentary. Instead, she felt the invisible weight of 110 million hearts reaching toward her — and in that moment, she sent more than ten words from her heart back to her beloved homeland. *** By Tennis Now Insight  💥 EMOTIONAL EXPLOSION IN ABU DHABI:  The director of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi tournament unexpectedl...