Dedicated Server Hosting at Web Hosting Geeks!

A billiards buddy of mine sent a short email asking for help in finding a dedicated server website. My pool player friend wants to determine the best web hosting providers serving the Internet community. You see, he is planning to put up an online business and knowing his options with regards to dedicated server opportunities would really help him – both in the short and long term.

I quickly activated my ever-dependable online search tools from the United States. My software highlighted a number of interesting dedicated server sites, including that of Web Hosting Geeks.

Web Hosting Geeks features independent reviews of the best web hosting providers, which include cheap professional web hosting services. Some of the sites mentioned at Web Hosting Geeks feature an under $10 a month fee! And get this, such integrate webhosting plans with at least one free domain name registration and a 30 day money back guarantee! Wow! It doesn’t get any better than this, friends!

Moreover, Web Hosting Geeks ranks each site according to a criteria, e.g., best price-value ratio, host reliability, uptime, key features, bonus features, customer support, past and current customer feedbacks, user-friendliness, and hosting awards! You definitely couldn’t go wrong with finding the best dedicated server sites on the planet! And I kid you not!

For those looking for dedicated server sites and reviews, do try Web Hosting Geeks! And realize countless opportunities for your niche markets – now!

Puyat Sports 9-Ball Cup: 9-Ball Excitement in the Pool Capital of the World!

Billiards buddies and pool players, come and join the Makati Pool Players Association's (MAPPA) Puyat Sports 9-Ball Cup this coming August 21-22, 28-29, and 31, 2009!

Led by its president, Jesse (Gonzales) Cambosa, and its set of officers for 2009, the MAPPA Puyat Sports 9-Ball Cup is geared toward promoting camaraderie and sportsmanship among all pool players. Open to all amateurs, the competition is red hot with sponsors and all! Prizes and surprises await the winners and participants!

Food galore and overflowing drinks are the order of the day come tournament play! TV crews will dot the landscape of the AMF-Puyat Superbowl, Makati Cinema Square, while lovely usherettes will assist anyone, and everyone, entering the tour! And yes, some of the country's top pool players will also be there, too! And I kid you not!

Fun! Excitement! And more! Come one! Come all! Experience 9-ball competition like you never did before at the MAPPA Puyat Sports 9-Ball Cup!

Mabuhay ang MAPPA!
Mabuhay ang bilyar!
Mabuhay ang manlalarong bilyarista!

"MAPPA, Puyat Sports & The AnitoKid - Awesome!"

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Efren Bata Reyes on Probe Profiles! Part 4!

Efren Reyes Interview on Probe Profiles
Part 4
Video Link Here

CHE-CHE:
When did you realize that you’re already famous? That every one knows you.

EFREN:
It all changed for me in 1999. It wasn’t that way before. Yes, I always won but when I was just starting out to play, my fans were those from the rice fields, mostly kids - way before I joined tournaments! But 1999 changed everything! Now, the whole world knows – even where I will play! There are also countless who want my autographs!

CHE-CHE:
Have you ever thought that you have been instrumental in uplifting the image of the Filipino?

EFREN:
I don’t know if that is the case.

CHE-CHE:
Would you still be joining tournaments? That you still hold the title of being the best pool player in the world?

EFREN:
I don’t ever think of myself being the best or holding such a title.

CHE-CHE: (@1:00)
Nobody could have prepared Efren, particularly with what he was about to see when he arrived in the Philippines – fresh from his World Pool Championship win in Cardiff in 1999.

EFREN:
I cried when I saw the thousands of people of greeted me at the airport.

CHE-CHE:
Why did you cry?

EFREN:
Of course! I was very surprised!

CHE-CHE:
You cried?

EFREN:
Yes, I cried!

CHE-CHE:
What were you thinking then?

EFREN:
What is this? Why? Suddenly, I felt afraid to speak. It wasn’t like this before! Why all this shower of affection for me? It’s too much! I thought, “Maybe my countrymen loves me?”

Efren in Monitor (crying):
Of course, I am very happy.

Announcer in monitor:
Efren has indeed gone far…

CHE-CHE:
What did you feel when you saw the thousands of well-wishers at the airport? people greeting you? Calling and chanting your name?

EFREN:
I become nervous, of course. Thus, I don’t know what to say, especially during interviews. I don’t know what to do anymore.

CHE-CHE:
Since then, the people worshipped Efren.

PUTCH PUYAT:
After he won the World Championship, we played at Senator Manny Villar’s Star Mall (in Alabang, Muntinlupa). It was attended by 10,000 people – probably the most number of attendees in a pool event!

In the match between Django Bustamante and Efren Reyes, people would booo Bustamante every time he comes to the table to shoot – not wanting him to play at all! I said, “They should stop it. Django fill fight it out.” And that’s how the people love Efren!

EFREN:
This is what I won – the World Japan Championship.

CHE-CHE:
Countless accolades, awards and recognitions were bestowed upon Efren since then. Presidential Legion of Honor (2000), Billiards Congress of America Hall of Fame (2001), and inclusion in Time Magazine’s 60 Asian Heroes (2006), which included Cory Aquino, Lee Kwan Yu, Mahatma Gandhi, and Mother Teresa.

What did you feel when you were included in Time Magazine’s 60 Asian Heroes?

EFREN:
Why was I included in this? There are so many others, much better than me and more accomplished, like Flash Elorde. Such should be the one in the list! And Paeng Nepomuceno, he was 4x World Champion then! Heck, these were famous and accomplished athletes even before I entered the scene!

PUTCH PUYAT:
I asked the chief editor of Time Magazine of why Efren Reyes was chosen to be in the list. He answered, “All of our junior editors – they unanimously chose him. They are his fans!”

I said, “But billiards is not a popular sport in Hong Kong!”

And the editor answered, “But we see him on TV. He is the unanimous choice.”


CHE-CHE:
Puyat will never forget the speech Efren gave when he received the recognition from Time Magazine.

PUTCH PUYAT:
And he said, “Asian hero? Why me?” “I haven’t done anything to change Asian life!”

CHE-CHE:
Efren said that?

PUTCH PUYAT:
Yes, he said that. He gave his speech In Filipino. His speech was translated by Ronnie Nathanielsz. I was even supposed to read the English translation – my opportunity to speak to the distinguished guests at the event. However, Time Magazine’s senior editor approached me and requested that if he could have the privilege of reading the translation.

I said, “Sure! Go ahead! It’s ok.” But could I do, right?

CHE-CHE:
And what did Efren say in his speech?

PUTCH PUYAT:
Why is he being branded as a hero? That he is no hero. That if he was chosen because of the upsurge in the popularity of the sport, then they got it all wrong. It is not his doing. It is because of, and said thanks to, the promoters, fellow pool players, and sponsors who continue to promote billiards to where it Is today.

CHE-CHE:
So, he has remained humble? He has remained humble?

PUTCH PUYAT:
Yes!

RONNIE NATHANIELSZ:
His humility is is is unbelievable!

CHE-CHE:
Is he, among all the athletes that you have met, Filipino athletes, does he stand out?

RONNIE NATHANIELSZ:
Well, in terms of achievements, I supposed Pacquiao stands out. But in terms of humanity, the human dimensions of an athlete, Bata Reyes and Elorde are way ahead of Pacquiao in my estimation.

CHE-CHE:
In 2006, Efren surprised Nathanielsz even more! Efren entered and won the $500,000 prize in the International Pool Tour of multimillionaire Kevin Trudeau.

RONNIE NATHANIELSZ:
Bata won that but didn’t get paid! The Americans threatened to sue Trudeau. Bata said “No!” Django said, “No!” Efren’s reasoning was: In my first match there, I won $100,000, and was paid right away. This time, I know he (Trudeau) has problems and things like that. We’ll wait. Give him time. And Trudeau did pay in installment! And Bata was very happy about that!

And you know, to him (Bata), money is not a prime consideration. His attitude is to make the Filipino fans in the audience happy! That’s all!

CHE-CHE: (@6:05)
Efren gives more than joy to his countrymen. And to his fellow pool players! He gives much more than that!

PUTCH PUYAT:
He gives honor to our country, the Philippines! And personally, the biggest thing he has done is that whenever he plays abroad, he brings smiles and joys to the country’s newfound heroes, our overseas foreign workers (OFW). Our OFWs would watch him and would be given the chance to wave the Philippine flag – a display of patriotic fervor!

RONNIE NATHANIELSZ:
Remember the little girl who won the Women’s World 10 Ball Championship – Rubilen Amit? She is a tremendous player! She beat some of the men! This is what you like about people like Efren and Django! They spend hours playing with her so she’ll improve her skills, which is the perfect example of the nature of these men who are legends in their time.

CHE-CHE:
Hmmm. Is that why they are champions?

RONNIE NATHANIELSZ:
I think so! Because it’s not the winning or the losing. It’s the way they play the game. And the attitude they show. Their demeanor – at the table and off the table.
Bata! Reyes! Among all the players in the world, they always have a vote to who is their hero. Ninety percent voted for Bata Reyes! And they are his opponents! Ninety percent says he is the nicest man to play the game!

CHE-CHE:
At 54, Efren admits that his game, his speed, is changing - slowly.

EFREN:
No more! My hand can’t do the shots I used to do. My eyes even hurt – especially when I take a long time for a particular shot.

CHE-CHE:
He now misses some shots that he used to execute flawlessly and effortlessly when he was younger.

EFREN:
My neck is now like stiff – can’t seem to bend it well like I used to. That is the reason why I now fail to execute some trickshots. You see, in trickshots, there are different body positions, line of sight, aiming, etc.

CHE-CHE:
And because he is a true champion, Efren is ready to accept losses. Accept defeats.
You said that you can’t win every time. You’ll no longer be a winner all the time, right?

EFREN:
Yes, you are right.

CHE-CHE:
Who is the world’s number one in billiards?

EFREN:
His name is, ranked number one today, Dennis Orcollo.

CHE-CHE:
Is he Filipino?

EFREN:
Yes, he is. He is the one who frequents tournaments nowadays.

CHE-CHE:
I see! Are you happy with that?

EFREN:
And why not? We have so many good Filipino players here! It’s like a challenge for us!

CHE-CHE:
You’re happy – even for other pool players?

EFREN:
Of course! I want more players to improve! Thus, I’ll have more opponents!

CHE-CHE:
It’s been another episode of Profle. You can watch the final parts of our interview on www.ProbeTV.com.

"It is just awesome with The AnitoKid!"

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Efren Bata Reyes on Probe Profiles! Part 3!

Efren Reyes Interview on Probe Profiles
Part 3
Video Link Here

CHE-CHE:
With regards to your winnings, what did you do with it?

EFREN:
I first bought a house, of course. Money prizes in billiards are not that big, in comparison to those won by our boxing idol, i.e., Manny Pacquiao. Imagine, our winnings in the sport pale in comparison to his! Not even 1% of Manny’s earnings from a single fight! I’ve been playing for 30 years, but the earnings I’ve earned from all those years doesn’t even compare to that earned by Manny Pacquiao in a single fight – not even 1%!

RUFINO REYES:
That is the first car that Efren bought.

CHE-CHE:
In Angeles City, Pampanga, one can see the fruits of Efren’s labor. Cars, real estate properties, e.g., apartments. According to Rufino, even when Efren was just starting to play, his younger brother would give away all his winnings, not ever thinking about himself.

RUFINO:
Efren will give all his winnings to our father. All of it! He doesn’t keep anything for himself. And when Efren needs money, he asks from our father. For example, our father would always give Efren money whenever one of my uncles fetches Efren for a money game match.

CHE-CHE:
Ronnie Nathanielsz is all praises for Efren in this regard.


RONNIE NATHANIELSZ:
He looks after all his relatives. He doesn’t give them money. He frowns at giving them money! He sends them to school. He helps them in their housing and food. But he never gives them money. He doesn’t like giving them money because for him that is spoiling. His thinking is, “You work for what you want, but I will help you.”

RUFINO REYES:
He asked us what we want to do with our lives, e.g., business. He gave all of us starting capital to put up our own respective businesses. With regards to my siblings, I don’t know, I guess they used it as a business capital. However, the businesses went bankrupt. I used mine to build a house for my kid.

CHE-CHE:
Besides his winnings from billiards tournaments and money-game matches, Efren’s fame and stardom has allowed him to also earn from commercials and motion pictures.

EFREN:
In 2003, I starred in the motion picture, “Pakners” with Fernando Poe Jr., the king of Filipino movies. I have received many offers to do a movie even before that, e.g., about six offers – the sixth was from Fernando Poe Jr.! I declined them all, saying that I am too shy to appear in such, thus, I cannot do it. Fernando Poe Jr is my idol, and that’s the only reason why I agreed to do a movie with him.

CHE-CHE:
All of Efren’s earnings go straight to his wife, Susan.

SUSAN REYES:
We have successfully acquired a number of properties, including real estate like apartments in Diamond – about eight properties. We also bought a farm – a farm in Porac, Pampanga.

CHE-CHE:
This used to be Susan’s role in Efren’s life when they were still childhood friends.

SUSAN REYES:
I was the one who initially suggested to him that he put his money in the bank, instead of letting it go to waste. You see, Efren just gives all his money away. That’s how he is. I suggested to him that I put his money in the bank for him. I put his money in the bank – starting with an initial deposit of, if I remember correctly, Php40,000.

CHE-CHE:
Susan and Efren first met at the Lucky 13 pool hall in Manila, the pool hall where Efren started playing billiards.

SUSAN REYES:
I was a waitress then. On the 2nd floor of that building was the pool hall owned by his uncle. Efren doesn’t know how to court. He courts using his eyes – he just glances at me. He writes letters. He doesn’t even speak to me. He courts me through letters.

EFREN:
The pool hall was owned by one of my cousins. My cousin had a brother, who is the fiancée of Susan’s sister. We used to be their chaperone on dates.

CHE-CHE:
What happened then?

EFREN:
What happened was, it was Susan and I who successfully ended up with one another. The two we used to chaperone broke up in the end.

CHE-CHE:
Susan and Efren lived together and had two kids. They were living together for almost 10 years when Efren decided to surprise Susan.

SUSAN REYES:
Three days after arriving from the US, Efren said, “Please accompany me. We are going somewhere - a Christening in Pasay City.”

We waited at the 2nd floor of the Pasay City Hall. And waited, still. I thought it was strange. Efren said it was a Christening but nobody was there.

Then the godfathers and godmothers started to arrive, as well as the guests. There was like 10 of us altogether there. Then, the one in charge of the ceremony also arrived. He said, “Shall we start with the wedding?”

I was dumbfounded! Was very much surprised! You see, it was like unthinkable because I was a single mother – I have two children from the first – and Efren was very much single. The thought that Efren would marry me never crossed my mind! I was really surprised! All I could do then was cry.

CHE-CHE (@5:00):
Efren and Susan have 3 kids and 3 grandchildren. Did anyone follow your footsteps?

EFREN:
None. My eldest – my son here.


CHE-CHE:
Oh! He’s here?

EFREN:
He is here. But all he knows is lose on the pool table!

CHE-CHE:
You didn’t teach him?

EFREN:
He doesn’t want me to teach him. I tried to, but he doesn’t want me to do so.

FRENNIE REYES:
People might think that I’m good as my father. But no. I become nervous on the pool table! He tried teaching me, of course. However, he thinks that I should have started young if I really wanted to be good in billiards. I’m 26 years old now, and will have a difficult time becoming good in the sport.

CHE-CHE:
In his heyday, Efren was usually out of the house when the kids were growing up, e.g., tournaments, matches, commitments, and travels. Thus, Efren would miss a number of important events in the kids’ lives. This deeply saddened Efren’s youngest – Cielo.

CIELO REYES:
There were times, e.g., events, that he wasn’t there, which I would have very much liked to have him. He was always busy with his work. Like simple events in school wherein I would perform, it would have been great if he had been there. To watch us. To be with us. However, he could not make it.

SUSAN REYES:
I used to say to him, “You’re kids don’t know you. I’m the only one with them. You’re always out of the house.” The kids weren’t that close to Efren when they were still little, unlike now.

CHE-CHE:
Efren understands this. He understands them.


EFREN:
My family knows that my life – billiards - it’s all about tournaments. My son here always accompanies me whenever I play. Why so? He is always waiting for something. :)

CHE-CHE:
Susan is nervous whenever Efren plays. Always. That is why she seldom accompanies Efren in his matches. According to Efren, he feels his wife’s nervousness whenever he plays.

For Susan, Efren’s win in 1999 in Cardiff, Wales, was the most unforgettable – the most memorable - of all.

SUSAN REYES:
That is where he became famous! We were all very happy! We are all jumping with glee!

CHE-CHE:
This is the very first billiards tournament to be broadcast all over the world.

RONNIE NATHANIELSZ:
Filipinos stayed up till 3 to 4 in the morning to watch him play. We covered it here. But he just mauled the Chinese-Taipei guy! He just played with him!

CHE-CHE:
According to Nathanielsz, Efren’s win in Cardiff changed Efren’s life and the image of billiards in the Philippines forever.


NATHANIELSZ:
He won the championship in 1999. And that’s when pool or billiards caught a boom in the Philippines. Within weeks, billiards halls were sprouting up all over Tomas Morato - all over the country – like the basketball courts in every street corner.

SUSUNOD: CONTINUATION

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