It is already past two weeks since we conducted the community risk assessment of the barangays here in Iloilo City. The office formed two teams to do the data gathering and we were part of the total of ten teams that the City Government deployed to cover the 180 barangays of Iloilo City. Yep, that is alot of barangays for such a regularly-sized city. This is in preparation for the seminar that will be conducted in Boracay starting this week. Also, this will be the basis of the info that will build the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Management Plan of each individual Barangay.

So far we have done around 15 barangays as of this posting in which the recent was Brgy. Javellana, Jaro which I conducted just this afternoon. There are 7 sets of questions or forms that will build up the CBRA, and each Barangay will have at least 15 participants including senior citizens, children and PWDs along with the barangay officials. 

I was in-charge of documenting and taking pictures and here are a few shots so far:

This is just some on-the-spot blog post about my personal life and somewhat of a break from my Magic: the Gathering deck brews. I started the day waking up and thinking if I will process my certified birth certificate from the NSO Regional office. I will be needing this document for my passport renewal appointment scheduled next week. I then remembered that I have a pending transaction at the Iloilo City hall at noontime and so I readied myself.

Checking the emails and the client’s websites were my next tasks, and so is getting updates from Facebook. Of course I would not miss a hot cup of coffee to start my morning. I was somewhat still recovering from my asthma so I needed to have breakfast so I could take my meds after that. The nearest carinderia is my go-to place solution. I also needed to update the reservation list for Rei’s Prerelease event this Saturday and get rid of those names who backed out. Another contribution for the community I guess. 

As of this posting I am currently here at the City Hall waiting for the contact person. Hopefully I will be able to finish this early so I could grab some cat food at the grocery before going home. Let us see how this goes.

I am sharing this schedule just in case you guys are in town this weekend. It will be a Magical one as it will be the first time that we will have two Prerelease events: first one by Rei and the second by Critical Hit: Comics and Games. Players have already placed their names on the reservation list though I still have to finalize it by Friday, removing those who were not able to pay for their PR slot. As per Critical Hit’s event, it is handled by Sir Johann Ong. Here below are the details of the two events:

***Aether Revolt Iloilo Prerelease Weekend***

January 14-15, 2017
Format: Sealed

Day 1 – January 14th
Rei’s Place Game Store
Venue: Robinsons Jaro (To be confirmed)
Time: 12:30pm
Reg. 1350php

Day 2 – January 15th
Venue: Critical Hit: Comics and Games at the Atria
Time: 1:00pm
Reg. 1350php

See you there!

The City of Iloilo, also known as Ciudad sang Iloilo, Dakbanwa sang Iloilo, City of Love, original Queen City of the South, and ‘La Muy Noble Cuidad’ (Most Commendable City), is a remarkably urbanized town in the Philippines and it is the main city of the province of Iloilo. It is additionally the regional centre of Western Visayas and moreover the middle of the Iloilo-Guimaras Metropolitan area. The city of Iloilo has an extremely prosperous history you would need to expect a lengthy novella than the usual short article post.

First and foremost, Iloilo City is decorated by restored structures, heritage sites, old churches, elaborately ornamented plazas, an extremely rich tradition, and that undeniable Hiligaynon language disturbingly similar to Spanish. Compared to the official Philippine language, Filipino, Hiligaynon may be the closest Philippine language to Spanish. Like utensils for example. In Hiligaynon, cutlery is termed kubyertos – and is cubiertos in Spanish. Add in abierto, cerrado, falda, abrelatas which are the traditional Hiligaynon counterparts for open, closed, skirt, and can opener. You can’t deny that ones own grandma or grandpa has mentioned these words a couple of times before.

Going back to history, Iloilo has already established much contact with Spaniards way back early 1800s. In 1855, Iloilo had become the second most important port of call with the colony due to transshipment of sugar received from Negros Islands. The little city was then given the title of ‘La Muy Noble Ciudad’ (The Best Noble City) by the Queen Regent of Spain. Towards the turn of the 20th century, Iloilo City was second to Manila – with a range of stores along side iconic Calle Real selling items from different parts of the world, telephone network system in 1894, agriculture experimental station in Lapaz at 1888, and an Arts and Trade school in 1891.

Moreover, American effect during the latter years delivered large universities including Central Philippine University, the first Baptist and 2nd private American university in Asia and in the country); Iloilo Mission Hospital, the first protestant hospital in the country; and Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches, the earliest Baptist organization body in the nation; and Jaro Evangelical Church, the very first Baptist church belonging to the Philippines.

Iloilo’s rich history is not just visible in the old books in the library – it displays on the intricately designed facades in buildings, existence, and restoration of heritage sites, as well as the undeniable Ilonggo attitude associated with a very ‘maluming’ (sweet) accent.

I’ve recently become part of a website project that will become the premier Iloilo Business Directory. The idea was not mine but I came up with the name and its called ePwesto. The website aims to list each one of the currently booming businesses into one group and to be Iloilo’s premier business directory where you’ll discover everything Ilonggo for the everyday Ilonggo and for people who wish to visit Iloilo. You can check the live site here as well as inquire more on how to sign up and add your business to our site listing here.

The Standard Pauper tournament was held at IBAM in Marymart once again to accommodate the new players as well as promote the store. I was expecting more attendees but then again the venue’s tables can only accommodate up to 8 players. Anyhow, we were able to gather 8 participants which means 3 rounds of gameplay with the first prize of an MtG Funko Pop figure.

I played a Red Green Aggro semi-stompy which I built at the last minute, earlier that day. I finished 2-1, losing to Allen’s Black Red Madness in Round 3 after I succumbed to his late-game gas of card draws and Madness value on discard.

After the Swiss, here are the Top 3 players:

1st, Allen (Black Red Madness)
2nd, Mark Ian (Red Green Stompy)
3rd, Jan Kristan (Mono Black Aggro)

8 players, 3 rounds of gameplay

Lastly, here are the pics I took during the tournament:

A week after the aftermath of the first World Magic Cup Qualifiers in Manila, it is back to the regular tournament schedule with Standard for the regulars and Standard Pauper for the beginners. I have set the latter to be held in IBAM in Marymart Mall as a focal point for access for the new players and those interested in learning the game. As for the Commander format, I have yet to talk with John Marcelo regarding which day they will hold the event on the weekend.So far, here are the scheduled Magic: the Gathering tournaments for this weekend:

June 24, 2016
Friday Night Magic
Standard Constructed format, 80php entry fee.
Top 4 get an exclusive FNM Promo foil card and Shadows over
Innistrad booster packs
Tourney starts 6:00 pm, Rei’s Place

June 25, 2016
Saturday Standard, 80php entry fee.
Shadows over Innistrad booster pack prizes
Tourney starts 3:00 pm, Rei’s Place

June 26, 2016
Sunday Standard Pauper
50php Registration
First Time tournament-goers get Free Entry
1:30 pm at IBAM, Marymart Mall

See you at the events!

Last Sunday held another Standard constructed tournament at Critical Hit: Comics and Games in Atria. I decided to join this time, as opposed before I was only the TO, to refresh myself of the gameplay of the current metagame. The deck I played was Eldrazi Red with old archetype back when Shadows over Innistrad has just entered the format. This time list was somewhat complete as we were able to buy Thought-knot Seers. The deck components somewhat looks like this:

4 x Hangarback Walker
4 x Hedron Crawler
3 x Pia and Kiran Nalaar
4 x Reality Smasher
4 x Thopter Engineer
3 x Thought-Knot Seer
4 x Vile Aggregate

4 x Chandra, Flamecaller
2 x Roast
3 x Spatial Contortion

There were 8 players present at that time so it was a 3-round tournament. Here is a short summary of the results of my matchups:

Round 1 vs Whine Weenie, won 2-0

Round 2 vs G/W Tokens, won 2-1

Round 3 vs R/G Ramp, won 2-0

All three matches were very close. For instance, I was down to one life against Mono White but as a result of correct blocks and combat tricks, she could not finish me off and ran out of gas. I was able to recover with TKS, Reality Smasher and Pia and Kiran Nalaar. Tokens was also a very hard match, with Avacyn clearly giving him advantage over combat blocks. Game 3 got me ahead as he mulligan to 5 and was somewhat stuck on 3 mana. It was still a close match but I was able to win the game with an activated Foundry of the Consuls to attack him on one life.

I finished in first place and got the first priority pick on the rares from the booster packs. Luckily I got Fortified Village as I badly needed that card for my Naya Planeswalkers deck which I am planning to build this week and also my deck of choice for the upcoming WMCQ I in June.

Anyhow, I hope this weekly Sunday Standard tourney will continue on the coming weeks as one way for the community to enjoy playing the format as well as tournament experience for those who are new of the game.

Until the next post.

This weekend’s Magic: the Gathering tournament schedule will be jam packed, as simultaneous events will be held on two separate locations this coming Saturday and Sunday. IBAM will be the new playplace this weekend as they will be accommodating the Standard Pauper tournament. As for Friday, it will be the usual FNM with Standard constructed as the format of gameplay.

Below are the tournament details:

***MtG Iloilo Tournament Schedule this Week***

++Friday, May 13++
Friday Night Magic
Standard constructed
80php entry fee. SOI booster prizes
Rei’s place, 6pm onwards

++Saturday, May 14++
Saturday Standard
80php entry fee. SOI booster prizes
Rei’s place, 3pm onwards

Standard Pauper
60php entry fee
1st Place: MtG Planeswalker Funko Pop
2nd-3rd: Anime Keychains
IBAM, Marymart mall. 2pm onwards

++Sunday, May 15++
Standard Constructed Tournament
100 reg/entry fee
SOI Booster prizes
Critical Hit, 1:30pm onwards

Duel Commander tournament
80php reg, SOI booster prizes
Hi-Gear, Marymart mall, 1:30pm onwards

Kitakits!

The tournament schedule for this week will be filled Shadows over Innistrad as the new became part of the Standard format. These two events will have this as the format of gameplay and prizes allotted will be SOI boosters as well as foil April FNM promo cards for Friday and maybe previous sets promo cards for Saturday.

Here the scheduled MtG Iloilo Tournaments for this weekend:

April 15, 2016
Friday Night Magic
Standard Constructed format, 80php entry fee.
Top 4 gets an exclusive FNM Promo foil card & SOI booster packs
Tourney starts 6:00pm at Rei’s Place

April 16, 2016
Saturday Standard, 80php entry fee.
Shadows over Innistrad booster pack prizes
Tourney starts 3:00pm at Rei’s Place

Just in case again that you are not familiar with our tournament location, here is a screenshot of the map.

We were planning to have a Shadows over Innistrad Prerelease pass for the next Saturday Standard tournament but then it would not be held this week because of the late announcement. The target date would be on the last Saturday of March. For this week’s MtG Iloilo schedule of tournaments, we have the following:

March 18, 2016
Friday Night Magic
Standard Constructed format, 80php entry fee.
Top 4 gets an exclusive FNM Promo foil card and Oath of the Gatewatch booster packs
Tourney starts 6:00pm, Rei’s Place, Iloilo City

March 19, 2016
Saturday Standard, 80php entry fee.
Oath of the Gatewatch booster pack prizes based on player attendance
Tourney starts 3:00pm, Rei’s Place, Iloilo City

For updates, just visit our community FB page https://www.facebook.com/magiciloilo

For this weekend’s Magic: the Gathering tournament schedule, we will be having part two of the Standard Pauper on Sunday at Hi-Gear in Marymart Mall. This time we will accommodate more players as the Beginner Benefits Program will be implemented.

The details of the events below:

February 19, 2016
Friday Night Magic
Standard Constructed format, 80php entry fee.
Top 4 gets an exclusive FNM Promo foil card and Oath of the Gatewatch booster packs
Tourney starts 6:00pm, Rei’s Place

February 20, 2016
Saturday Standard, 80php entry fee.
Oath of the Gatewatch booster pack prizes based on player attendance
Tourney starts 3:00pm, Rei’s Place

February 21, 2016
Sunday Standard Pauper (all-Commons)
40php entry fee, free for new players
Oath of the Gatewatch booster pack prizes (depending on player attendance)
One booster pack to be raffled if player count reaches 10 or more.
Tourney starts at 1:30pm
Hi-Gear, Marymart Mall

For updates, just check out our Magic The Gathering Iloilo Community Facebook page.

Coming this weekend, specifically on Saturday is the Oath of the Gatewatch Gameday event. This is the major tournament that the Magic: the Gathering Iloilo Community players anticipate to play and win the Gameday playmat along with booster pack prizes. Below is the details of the event along with the rest of the scheduled MtG tournaments for this week.

***MtG Iloilo Tourney Schedule for this Week***

February 12, 2016
Friday Night Magic
Standard Constructed format, 80php entry fee.
Top 4 gets an exclusive FNM Promo foil card and Oath of the Gatewatch booster packs
Tourney starts 6:00pm, Rei’s Place

February 13, 2016
Oath of the Gatewatch Gameday Iloilo
Standard Constructed format (Decklists required)
Entry fee: P300
Gameday Playmat and Oath of the Gatewatch booster pack prizes
Tourney starts 1:30pm, Rei’s Place