Jiu-Jitsu Warriors rule world

MANILA, Philippines —  After dominating Southeast Asia and Asia, jiu-jitsu warrior Annie Ramirez conquered the world in 2025.

Ramirez struck hard at the JJIF World Championships in Bangkok, delivering a rare double-gold for the Philippines in ruling the adult -57kg Gi division and the No-Gi event of the same weight class.

It’s a full-circle moment for the former UST judoka, who previously won the mints in the SEA Games, the Asiad, the Asian Championships, the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games and the Asian Beach Games.

As Ramirez achieved the feat, compatriot Kimberly Anne Custodio shone bright as well and captured her third world title in the adult female -45kg division. Not long after, Custodio returned to the Thai capital for her SEAG debut and reigned supreme in the ne-waza 48kg class to contribute to Team Philippines’ 50-gold haul.

Pinoys strike in Winter Games

It’s not impossible for a tropical country to excel in winter sports.

The Philippine men’s curling team proved this when it won a historic gold medal at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China.

Composed of a crack crew based in Switzerland, the Filipinos posted a 3-1 win-loss card in the group stage then dropped the axe on three fancied rivals, Japan in the qualification, 10-4, host China in the semifinals, 7-6, and elims tormentor Korea in the finals, 5-3, to meet their date with destiny.

The crew of Marc Angelo Pfister, Alan Beat Frei, Christian Patrick Haller, Enrico Gabriel Pfister, and Benjo Delarmente delivered the country’s first-ever medal in the winter edition of the Continental joust and pulled off the highest achievement to date for a Southeast Asian bet in the Games’ history.

Philippines sports New Chief

 The Philippine Sports Commission, the country’s government arm taking care of elite athletes and mass-based sports, underwent a leadership change halfway into 2025.

Rowing association chief Patrick “Pato” Gregorio was sworn in as PSC’s new chairman in place of Richard Bachmann, who served from December 2022 to July 2025.

Upon assuming office, Gregorio said his key priorities would be the welfare of athletes, enhancement of sports facilities, and the promotion of a healthy citizenry.

With a strong background in tourism, hotel management and business, Gregorio set out to boost sports tourism through more international competitions in the country, such as the WTA 125 the PSC is setting up in January on the heels of  world-level events in volleyball, gymnastics and futsal held on Philippine soil.

A week into his tenure, Gregorio’s board approved and announced a P5,000 increase in the monthly allowances of athletes and coaches.

In collaboration with the Philippine Olympic Committee, the PSC supported a big delegation of more than 1,200 athletes in the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, which, Gregorio stressed, is part of the long-term goal of preparing these bets for future Olympic campaigns.