WILLIE REVILLAME, JAN-JAN ESTRADA AND THE TRAGEDY OF IT ALL

The incident in Willie Revillame's show involving six-year old Jan-Jan Estrada is a grim reminder that people with money can and will exploit and manipulate those who are poor and uneducated. I am used to seeing people in Willing Willie act like fools just to generate a few laughs and get a few thousand bucks in return. But the incident with the young boy truly offends the sensibilities. No right thinking person will find a young boy in tears gyrating like a macho dancer funny at all.
What I truly find offensive and infuriating is the fact that the parents of Jan-Jan find nothing wrong with what happened. I even think that the parents of the young boy enjoy seeing their son being humiliated in front of millions of viewers. While other people and institutions are up in arms over the incident, the parents seem to enjoy their newly-acquired popularity and celebrity status. If only the parents of Jan-Jan are good providers, then I don't think there would have been a need for the boy to humiliate himself in front of the cameras.Truth of the matter is, it all boils down to money and how far people will go to get it.

LOVE WINS : IT IS GOD'S LOVE THAT WINS

Rob Bell, the author of the controversial book Love Wins, believes that God simply cannot and will not allow billions of people to suffer in hell for eternity. He believes that God is just so full of love that it is impossible for Him to allow people to go and stay in hell for eternity.
But the thing that Bell seems to forget is the fact that people choose to go to hell. People, through their actions, choose to walk right into eternal damnation. What people do with their lives will determine whether they will end up in heaven or hell. Heaven or hell is a matter of choice and not of fate or destiny.
Bell likewise conveniently forgets the fact that God's love is so great that He gave up His own Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life ( John 3:16 ). God did not create hell without a savior. God gave man His Son Jesus to lead the way to heaven. What is sad is that Bell goes to the extent of diminishing the importance and significance of Jesus' death on the cross by entertaining the thought that people can pull themselves out of hell through repentance.
Ultimately, it is not just love of any kind that wins. It is God's great love for mankind that truly makes a winner out of everyone. It is through Jesus Christ that everyone becomes a winner.

ARE THE AZKALS FOR REAL ?

I just heard and saw the news where Neil Etheridge and Phil Younghusband were saying that the Azkals are set to play next in a World Cup qualifying tournament. With the Azkals barely qualifying for the final 8 of the AFC Challenge Cup, I am stunned to hear the two set goals that are way too high for the team.
In the first place, the Azkals will have an extremely hard time to even qualify for the Asian Cup. The only way that the Azkals will qualify for the Asian Cup is for it to top the AFC Challenge Cup, which in itself is hard for the team to achieve. In the Asian Cup, world-class football teams like Japan, Australia and South Korea remain the undisputed top contenders. In the last Asian Cup held in Qatar last month, Japan emerged champion. Australia and South Korea placed second and third respectively. By virtue of the great performances of these countries in the Asian Cup as well as the 2010 World Cup, Japan, South Korea and Australia occupy the top spots in the Asian qualifiers. The Azkals are dead last at no. 43.
While I sincerely hope for the best for the Azkals, I choose to pin my hopes on reality. Sadly, the Azkals are in no way at par with Japan, South Korea and Australia. It is foolish to entertain thoughts for the Philippines to qualify for the World Cup with a team like the Azkals. The truth must be acknowledged no matter how painful it may be to enable the team to work harder and yield better results.

ARE YOU GOING TO BURN IN HELL ?

A book is now in the middle of controversy in the Christian community. Entitled Love Wins, it is a book by Pastor Rob Bell that dares to questions long-held beliefs of Christians about hell and salvation. The author claims that there is no hell in the afterlife. That people are not damned to hell if they do not know the name of Jesus.
The book is generating much interest and controversy because it challenges the self-righteousness of most Christians, especially the pastors and evangelists. For one, it attacks the notion that faith alone in Jesus remains the only requirement to achieve a place in heaven. Truth of the matter is, nowhere in the bible can one find that one must only have faith in Jesus to be saved from hell. What is in the bible is that belief in Jesus will assure one of everlasting life ( John 3:16). And belief in Jesus means following His commandments. Belief entails action and good works ( James 2:24 ). And belief goes beyond lip service ( Matthew 7:21 ).
As a Christian, I do not mind going to hell if God thinks that I deserve to go there. I love Jesus because of what He did and continues to do for me as I live my life here on earth. I do not love Jesus because I fear going to hell. I love Jesus because I choose to do so with all my heart and with no strings attached.

THE PHILIPPINE AZKALS : TIME TO SHINE

The Philippine Azkals defeated Bangladesh, 3-0, to enter the next stage of the AFC Challenge Cup. While I am happy that the Azkals have qualified for the next stage, I am not a bit impressed with their performance. The Azkals had to face a do-or-die match in a group where they are the highest ranked team. Luckily, the Azkals were able to pull through with a win.
Perhaps, it is time that people, most especially their fans, set higher standards for the Azkals. With all the money and publicity that they are getting, it should be expected for the team to deliver great performances and results. Screaming fans must learn to expect great performances from the Azkals in every game. Media must resist the temptation of always writing praises to the Azkals to force them to give their best in every game. It is time for everyone to demand brilliance from the Azkals.

WHY THE SUDDEN NON-LIVE COVERAGE OF THE AZKALS ?

First, ABS-CBN Sports claimed that Myanmar refused a live beam of the Myanmar-Philippine match. Then, ABS-CBN Sports now claims that Myanmar refuses to grant a live coverage of the matches in the AFC Challenge Cup without the necessary papers. Something just doesn't make sense here.
For one, why will FIFA Asia choose a host country which refuses to allow live coverage of the matches ? This is the first and only time that I have heard of a host country that refuses to allow other nations to cover the matches live. The president of FIFA Asia will surely come under fire should it be proven that he chose a country that imposes restrictions in covering FIFA events live. Surely, the FIFA Asia president has enough sense not to allow such a negative issue to haunt him as he is currently running for the presidency of the whole FIFA body.
Could it be that ABS-CBN Sports is lying as far as the live coverage of the AFC Challenge Cup is concerned ? Could it be that ABS-CBN Sports has decided not to air the matches of the Azkals to prevent conflict with the PBA ? Could it be that ABS-CBN Sports is afraid of getting into a legal battle with the PBA if it decides to air the FIFA matches instead of the PBA games ?
Your guess is as good as mine.

AFC CHALLENGE CUP : AZKALS A STEP CLOSER TO ELIMINATION

The Philippine Azkals drew with Palestine, 0-0, and now face a must-win situation with Bangladesh. No less than a 1-0 victory over Bangladesh is required to give the Azkals a glimmer of hope in the AFC Challenge Cup.
I have always maintained that the Azkals are a mediocre team that enjoys undue media mileage. With not a single top 2 finish in any tournament, the Azkals are portrayed as World Cup hopefuls by a manipulative media. Media feeds on the ignorance and stupidity of fans to create sports heroes out of the Azkals. The current AFC Challenge Cup clearly shows how unskilled and inept the Azkals are. In a group where the teams are at the bottom of world rankings, the Azkals are still finding it hard to earn its first victory.
I just hope that media and fans see the Azkals for what they truly are. Only then will the Azkals realize their weakness as a team. It is time for the Azkals to face reality and not believe what their publicists say. It is time for the Azkals to act like true sports heroes and not like entertainment personalities.

MYANMAR VS. AZKALS : A DRAW WITH TWO DIFFERENT STORIES

The Philippine Azkals drew with the Myanmar Blue Wolves to start hostilities in the group stage of the AFC Challenge Cup. The draw can be seen from two different points of view, depending on which team you are rooting for.
If you are an Azkals fan, The draw is a big letdown. After all, the Azkals are considered the team to beat. With a FIFA ranking of 152, the Azkals are the highest ranked team in the group. Following a 2-1 defeat from Mongolia, Azkals fans certainly have reasons to worry. The draw merely highlights the propensity of the Azkals to be complacent and inconsistent.
If you are a fan of the Blue Wolves, it certainly looks promising for the 162 ranked team in the world. A win in its last two matches will assure Myanmar a spot in the next stage. The draw is an upset of sorts as far as Myanmar is concerned. If Myanmar can ride on the momentum of its dramatic draw, it can certainly surprise the other teams.
The Philippines and Myanmar will part ways and play against the other teams in the group. The Azkals will go up against Palestine, a 2-0 winner over Bangladesh. Myanmar will play against Bangladesh. Fans can certainly expect more exciting matches as each team tries to secure its spot in the next stage.

FRANCE, GREAT BRITAIN AND THE U.S. GO INTO ACTION IN LIBYA

France, Great Britain and the U.S. has launched an offensive that seeks to remove Gaddafi from Libya. Despite earlier claims of Gaddafi of a ceasefire, pro-Gaddafi launched attacks in Benhazi. At a state address, Gaddafi even urged people to go against the UN resolution prompting nations to launch definite military action on Libya.

While I am sad of the inevitable loss of civilan lives in Libya, I see the offensive launched by France, Great Britain and the U.S. as a necessary evil. With a dictator like Gaddafi, drastic measures must be taken to free Libya from the dictatorship. While I do think that the offensive will be swift, it will still involve the loss of thousands of lives. The damage resulting from the offensive will likewise be great for Libya. But the price of freedom has never been cheap.

The whole turn of events in Libya in a way is comforting as it indicates the solidarity of nations against oppression and wholesale killing. France, Great Britain and the U.S. lead the way in reminding other nations that the wholesale killing of a particular group of people will not be tolerated. That help will come to a people whose only desire is to free themselves from a terrible ruler. With the care and concern of nations, it is possible for good to triumph over evil.

SANDRA BULLOCK : THE MILLION DOLLAR STAR

Sandra Bullock donated a million dollars to Japan to help its people recover from the great big earthquake and tsunami that left thousands dead and millions homeless. While other stars like Lady Gaga and Clint Eastwood also did their share to help Japan, Sandra Bullock stands out because she donated a huge sum of money out of her own pocket. Considering that she herself has recently gone through a personal crisis, Sandra Bullock had enough focus and compassion to act in such a big humanitarian way. Perhaps, she identifies with the loss and grief of the Japanese people. Perhaps, she knows all too well the need to make a difference when disaster strikes. Or perhaps, Sandra Bullock is one of the very few celebrity who refuses to just sit and stare at the events happening around her. Whatever the reason may be, Sandra Bullock is a star to be admired and emulated.

JOY IN THE MIDST OF THE GREAT DISASTER IN JAPAN

I caught a feature in NHK about a school conducting its graduation exercises after the disaster that struck Japan. The feature showed the principal handing out certificates to young students who were kept safe by their teachers when the tsunami struck. Despite the simple ceremonies, I felt the joy of the students and their parents during the graduation ceremonies. More than the completion of primary and secondary education, the young students were most happy for being alive and safe. Credit was rightfully given to the teachers who were smart enough to hold the students at the topmost floor of the school building. Parents of the graduating students thanked the teachers and principal profusely. Some shed tears as they thanked the school personnel. In deep gratitude, the parents promised the teachers and principal that they will make sure that the young students lead productive lives. Despite the tragedy that struck Japan, the feature showed that there is something left for Japan to be joyful about. The triumphant spirit of the Japanese people as seen in the feature makes me realize that the Japanese people have what it takes to overcome extremely difficult times. Japan will overcome because of the great human spirit that is within every Japanese.

AZKALS LOSE BUT ADVANCE TO THE NEXT STAGE

The Azkals lost 2-1 to the Mongolian Blue Wolves. But by virtue of having scored more goals in the series, the Philippine Azkals will advance to the next stage of the AFC Challenge Cup.The Philippines will meet Myanmar, Bangladesh and Palestine where the top two teams after a single round robin will advance to the 2012 Challenge Cup.
What the Azkals clearly showed in its defeat to the Blue Wolves is its vulnerability as a team. The Azkals lost to a team ranked 182 in the world. When it should have beaten the Blue Wolves handily, the Azkals looked so unskilled to go down in defeat in Ulan Bator. Luckily, the Azkals scored enough goals to enable them to advance to the next round.
For the longest time, I have been telling everyone to stop patronizing the Azkals for their mediocrity and obsession with the media. Perhaps, with the shameful defeat of the Azkals in Ulan Bator, media can now paint the Azkals as the true mediocre athletes that they are. Only then will the Azkals realize the need to improve and become better athletes. Hopefully, the Azkals will become less preoccupied with looking great in front of the camera and making numerous television guestings that make them appear and behave like movie stars. After all, they are football players and not showbiz personalities. They belong in the football field and not in the studios.

CCF AND ITS DISMISSED WORKERS

An anonymous reader of my blog wrote a comment that disturbed me. The reader revealed how CCF dismissed 8 of its workers, the reader himself included. According to the reader, he and his co-workers were told not to report for work anymore after complaining about CCF's unfair labor practices. Their working hours and overtime pay were cut as part of CCF's cost-cutting measures. The measures prompted the 8 workers to file a formal complaint. Little did they know that their complaint would trigger their dismissal from work.
I called up CCF to hear its side of the story. The administration personnel who I talked to confirmed that CCF indeed was cutting expenditures at that time. I just find it hard to believe that CCF can not afford to give the workers their due. With billions of pesos under its bank account, it is next to impossible for CCF not to be able to afford the salaries of 8 minimum wage earners. I just find it ridiculous that CCF had to cut the workers' working hours and overtime pay by Php 13.00 an hour just to stay afloat. And why the sudden dismissal of the workers all because of a formal complaint ? Workers have the right to air grievances under the labor code. But then again, CCF does not tolerate dissension. CCF merely wants its followers, and in this case, its workers, to follow and obey with no questions asked.
The main problem with CCF is that it prioritizes the construction of its Php 3B church building over the welfare of its workers. For the longest time, I have expressed my opposition to the construction of such a scandalously expensive structure. With CCF's burning desire to complete the structure, it has come to a point that CCF is willing to sacrifice the livelihood of some of its workers. Now, 8 individuals and their families are most probably starving while the construction of the 3 billion peso building proceeds as scheduled. The case with the 8 dismissed workers makes me wonder if CCF is truly a Christian church. I am pretty sure that if Jesus were alive today, He would take care of the 8 workers first before the construction of a building that is but a testament of the hypocrisy of certain individuals.

MY ULTIMATE TALENTADOS : JOSEPH THE ARTIST AND THE BELIEVERS

I stayed up all night to catch the battle of the champions of Talentadong Pinoy. And I am glad I did. All the 9 champions gave the performances of their lives in the hope of winning the one million peso cash prize and the right to represent the Philippines in the World Championships of the Performing Arts.
Personally, Joseph the Artist and The Believers moved me the most with their performances. While most of the champions were spectacular, Joseph the Artist and The Believers did more than to amaze me. They moved me with their intelligent, sensitive and polished performances. Joseph the Artist told a story with sand as his medium of expression. The Believers, on the other hand, performed Defying Gravity from the musical play Wicked like true seasoned stage actresses. But what I truly admire about the two champions is their courage to present performances that may not be so popular with the masses. They opted to elevate the viewers' taste and appreciation for true talent which was a huge risk for both them.
In the end, it was Joseph the Artist who won the greatest approval from the judges and text voters. I am just happy for Joseph the Artist for he truly deserved to win the title of Ultimate Talentado. Together with The Believers, Joseph the Artist truly represents the ultimate in Filipino talent.

JAPAN WILL PREVAIL IN THE MIDST OF A NATIONAL TRAGEDY

An 8.9 magnitude earthquake struck Japan early Friday afternoon. Hours later, a tsunami swept across Sendai. Houses, cars and big boats were swept away by ten meter waves like little toys .An oil refinery continues to burn while a nuclear plant is being monitored for radiation leaks. People continue to stay in safe, open grounds as aftershocks continue to rock Japan. The cost of the damage caused by the powerful earthquake and tsunami could easily run up to billions of dollars. Lives lost number around 300 as of last count.
While I truly feel sad for Japan, I also feel that the greatness of Japan as a nation will manifest itself in the midst of the tragedy. I know that the Japanese people will come together to overcome their personal and national crises. It is during times of great difficulty and tragedy that people can show their resiliency, compassion, solidarity and strength of character. And I certainly believe that the Japanese people have all these qualities to enable them to respond well to the challenge of rebuilding the nation.

EXCLUSIVE : HOWARD COHEN ASSESSES THIA MEGIA

For her Idol performance, Thia Megia did a cover of a lesser known Michael Jackson song. Smile, a song composed by comedy great Charlie Chaplin, was recorded by Michael Jackson in 1995. Thia started the song a capella where her brilliant voice simply stood out. But the second part of her rendition suddenly became jazzy which damaged her over-all performance. To compound Thia's woes, she cried during her after-performance interview. Sensing that she could be up for elimination come results night, I asked Howard Cohen about Thia's performance. Howard Cohen is a pop music critic and American Idol Watch blogger and columnist. He writes a regular column for the Miami Herald.

1. Did you find Thia Megia's rendition of the song Smile great ?
Cohen : No, Thia's singing wasn't great. She was fine on the ballad part. But wavered on uptempo and shouldn't have cried.

2. Do you think Thia will be eliminated come Thursday night ?
Cohen : No, I think she will be safe since Ashton and Karen are weaker. Thia must learn to not let the audience know that there are mistakes. She's young but she must learn.

3. What must she do to win in American Idol ?
Cohen : The trick is to never let the audience know of mistakes. When she cried, she let us know. And the fact is, she was not that bad at all.

4. What about the impression that she is boring ? Should she be singing Katy Perry songs instead ?
Cohen : No, she should be herself. Those that are top are all true to themselves. Thia is a pleasant ballad singer. That's her niche.

Readers can find Howard Cohen's American Idol Watch at http://miamiherald.typepad.com/idol_watch/.

THE TRUTH REVEALED : WHY RECORD-HOLDER DRAGON BOAT TEAM IS BEING PUNISHED

Despite being the world-record holder in the 200m. Premier Mixed event, the Philippine dragon boat team was not allowed to participate in the last Asian Games. The team would have won at least two gold medals had it been allowed to participate in the Asiad. The team, however, has managed to move on from the sad experience and continues to practice three times a day for the World Championships in Florida. Even without much support from the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the dragon boat team remains optimistic in bringing pride and honor to the country once again.
The main reason why the team does not get support from the POC and PSC is because its leaders do not belong to the Peping Cojuangco group. The dragon boat federation president and the team's coach and technical director do not see eye to eye with Peping Cojuangco and his men. In fact, one of Cojuangco's men advised the dragon boat team members to elect new leaders before the POC and PSC extend any form of support to the team.
With the meager pool of world-class athletes in the country, Peping Cojuangco and his men should be ashamed for not supporting the Philippine dragon boat team. In fact, they should consider harakiri for even proposing to abolish the team. But then again, shame is something that these politicians do not seem to possess. Is it any wonder then that Philippine sports is in turmoil and at a pitiful state ?

THE PBA IS DYING A PAINFUL DEATH

The PBA will die a natural death. It is not generating income much like it did in the 70's. In fact, Solar Sports dropped the PBA without much warning. The PBA had to look for a new network to air its games. Luckily, Studio 23 came to the rescue and saved the PBA from total embarrassment.
One reason why I think the PBA is suffering from poor patronage is that Philippine basketball has deteriorated through the years. During the 60's and early 70's, the Philippines would emerge champion in the ABC. Now, the Philippines is at 9th despite the presence of Fil-Ams. Who in his right mind would want to watch a bunch of mediocre basketball players play for four hours ? The NBA and European league provide a much better watch. Even the leagues in China and Korea are more enjoyable to watch.
I also blame the "Americanization" of the PBA as a factor as well in its deterioration. Players and officials hardly talk in Pilipino that tend to alienate the typical Filipino basketball fan. The few players who are fluent in Pilipino, on the other hand, can hardly talk of anything substantial.
Lastly, the principles and values that the PBA has grown to uphold have become suspect. The PBA has resorted to cheating with the influx of Fil-shams just to generate interest to the league. More recently, the PBA has virtually stamped its approval to a player's philandering ways and absolute greed as he demanded a large amount of money for his signature on his annulment papers. It does not help the PBA as well that it awards it MVP award to the more popular player than the more hardworking and deserving player. Personally, I have experienced how it is to be hunted by a PBA governor after writing an article that advised the good governor to be more accommodating to fans. Then there is the Red Bull case where the PBA did not attend to the problem of non-payment of salaries. The poor players and coaching staff were left with no recourse but to just remain silent for fear of reprisals when complaints are publicly aired. In all these instances, the PBA could have acted virtuously and exhibited proper human values. Sadly, it did not. Is it any wonder then why the PBA is dying ?

PHILPIINE DRAGON BOAT TEAM : A CALL FOR SUPPORT

The Philippine dragon boat team is busy preparing for the World Championship set in Florida this November 2011. The team boasts of the following records :

             9TH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DRAGON BOAT RACING 2009
                        Gold - 200m. Premier Mixed Event ( world record )
                                   200m. Premier Open Event
                        Silver - 500m. Premier Open

This is the team that POC and PSC officials did not allow to participate in the recent Asian Games in China. This is the team that POC and PSC officials want to dissolve. But with public support, we can allow the team to bring honor and glory once again to the country. It is but proper to support a team that can deliver the goods. It is time to support the Philippine dragon boat team !

TWITTER WAR BETWEEN ANGELICA PANGANIBAN AND PHIL YOUNGHUSBAND FAN : FAN MENTALITY AT ITS WORSE

The word war started when Angelica Panganiban tweeted a harmless observation on Phil Younghusband's entry into the entertainment world. All of a sudden, a fan entered the picture to defend her idol. The word war has turned ugly since as Angelica and the fan have exchanged bitter and sometimes foul statements to each other through tweeter.
The fan obviously is a rude and blind follower of Younghusband. She obviously does not know the difference between constructive and destructive criticism. The funny thing is, Angelica's tweet is probably the best advice that Younghusband can get from someone who really cares about his football career. But then again, I have always maintained that the Azkals are not that dead-serious with football. The Azkals are in it for the celebrity status more than anything else. This explains why they would rather appear in front of the camera than help the country achieve a higher world ranking in football. It also explains why they love to bask in the limelight like movie stars.

20 TELEVISION SHOWS THAT I WATCH REGULARLY

1. Aljazeera news

2. BBC news

3. American Idol season 10

4. Modern Family

5. Eat Bulaga

6. Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho

7. Pilipinas Got Talent

8. Imbestigador

9. Talentadong Pinoy

10. Show Me The Manny

11. Ellen

12. Simpsons

13. Outsourced

14. The Office

15. Paparazzi

16. Glee

17. WWE Superstars

18. Ang Dating Daan

19. Willing Willie

20. PBA

So how about you ? What shows do you watch without fail ?

THIA MEGIA NAILS IT WITH AN IRENE CARA SONG

While all the other female contestants in American Idol chose loud and flashy songs, Thia Megia chose to do a subdued yet felt rendition of Irene Cara's hit Out Here On My Own. Thia took a great risk by standing still, with only a beam of light shining on her. She bravely relied solely on her voice to captivate the audience. And captivate the audience she did. Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler were moved and impressed with her performance. But will she get the votes ? I have the funny feeling that Thia might just make it to the top ten with lots to spare.

THE SECRET BEHIND THE SUCCESS OF JAPAN'S BLUE SAMURAI

Japan, through the Blue Samurai, scored a major upset over Australia to win the last Asian Cup in Qatar. In an exclusive interview, Cesare Polenghi reveals interesting facts behind the success of the Blue Samurai. Cesare Polenghi is an Italian who writes for goal.com and is a much sought-after television commentator for Inter Channel Japan. He has been following Japan's national team and J-League since 1994.

1. To what do you attribute Japan's great success at the Asian Cup ?
With great performances at the World Cup and Asian Cup, the Japanese football came of age this season. It took 18 years of professional league and a lot of trial and error, but finally it seems as the Samurai Blue have found a perfect mix of tactical and technical skills. No doubts that Zaccheroni has done a great job with the players. So, hard work over the years...

2. How much financial support does Japan's football team get from the government and private sector ?
Limited compared to what clubs in Europe or pro-sport teams and players in the US get. A few multinationals and big conglomerate still sponsor the league and a few top clubs, but most teams in the J.League still live out of small local sponsors, tickets sales and merchandizing. To give you an example, a top-team coach, a former  captain at the 2002 World Cup, earns now about  $3,000/month.

3. Despite the team's young players, the Blue Samurai played extremely well and did not show signs of inexperience at the Asian Cup. Why do you think this was so ?
I'd call it the "Kagawa-effect." Japanese players have been good for at least a decade, they just needed to start believing it. Shinji Kagawa at Dortmund showed that a young Japanese player can excel in a top European league, and now everybody is believing it. In other words, there has been a huge increase in self-confidence, especially among young players.

4. How important is a good coach to a team like the Blue Samurai ?
It is crucial. Okada in the end did a good job, but having an Italian now coach adds confidence and unity. It brings the team to a completely different dimension. Zaccheroni's intelligence and expertise surely added a lot to the Samurai Blue, and I believe it was that "extra" that Japan was able to pull out results in the Asian Cup when all seemed lost.

5. Why do Japanese people love the Blue Samurai ?
With the country on an economic and cultural slump, the young players of Japan represent the young, clean and winning face of the country. It is very easy to love them...

6. Football has become popular in the Philippines because of the Azkals, the Philippine national football team. What do you think are the things that need to be done for the Azkals to become as successful as the Blue Samurai ?
To be realistic, you need the media to promote soccer. That will mean more children playing the sport, and more sponsors and experts coming to the Philippines.

7. How many players of the Blue Samurai play in leagues and tournaments outside Japan ? What is the advantage of having players playing abroad ?
There are about fifteen players in European leagues and many more around the rest of the world. Those playing in Europe of course get used to a higher level of soccer, and help the performance of the
Samurai Blue to improve. It is no surprise that the dominant national teams in Asia are Japan, South Korea and Australia, all featuring many Europe-based players.

8. Is Keisuke Honda still the most popular player in the Japanese team ?
Honestly, I believe that Nagatomo, now at Inter Milan has taken over the spot of Keisuke. Inter is the European and World Champion, so it is a honor for Japan to have a player in such a famous club. Everybody is happy, but also almost incredulous. Add the fact hat as much as Honda is cool, Nagatomo is entertaining. He is a very nice guy, everybody like him. he is definitely #1, at the moment.

9. In the latest FIFA World ranking, Japan is now 17th among the best in football. Do you expect Japan to further go up the world ranking before the year ends ?
Surely nobody thinks anymore that Japan is soccerly speaking a "third world" country. We'll see what happens this next summer when Japan goes to play in South America!