BEIJING—Mark Javier is the Philippines’ lone representative in the 2008 Beijing Olympics archery competitions, but he is not the only full-blooded Filipino here.

Canada has one—Crispin Duenas, a 22-year-old true-blue Filipino who was born in Canada to a father from Malabon and a mother from Bulacan.

“I have met him years ago, I think in the Madrid world championships in 2007 first and again in this year’s world championships in Leipzig [Germany],” said Jennifer Chan, Javier’s coach. “Mabait siya, Pilipino pa siya although accent niya eh puti [Canadian].”

Although it’s a “hi and hello” thing between Duenas and the Filipino archers every time they bump into each other overseas, Chan said Duenas always makes it a point to connect to his roots.

Duenas is currently Canada’s No. 1 male archer. He qualified in 16th place for Wednesday’s men’s individual finals, better than the 36th place a still-ailing Javier booked. The Filipino-Canadian also fared better than his full-blooded Canadian teammates—Jay Lion (47th) and John David Burnes.

Duenas’s girlfriend is also an archer who lost the fourth slot on the Canadian team to Mary Pier Beudet.

Duenas, a Science student majoring in Physics at the University of Toronto, takes on Sweden’s Magnus Petersson in the round-of-64 Wednesday, while Javier is paired against Chinese Taipei’s 29th-ranked Cheng Wei Kuo.

Duenas, very Filipino at five-foot-seven, is based in Ontario. He was a toddler when his parents migrated to Canada. He earned a trip to Beijing by topping the Olympic trials on June 2. He clinched silver in the 2007 Madrid worlds.

Besides being an archer, his web site says he is also a multititled musician and can play the piano, flute, trumpet, drums and guitar. Because he said “my parents are Filipinos,” he loves karaoke and American Idol.

Canada’s coach Robert Rusnov, a two-time Olympian, called Duenas “by far the best archer this country has ever produced.”

Still unwell

MARK JAVIER was told to train only for half-a-day Monday after he complained of weakness.

“I advised him to do that,” said Jennifer Chan. “Para daw kasing lumulutang pa ang pakiramdam niya.”

Javier had diarrhea when he competed in the rankings stage of the men’s individual competition Saturday. No less than President Arroyo watched Javier compete against the world’s best at the Olympic Green Archery Field.

“Perhaps mahina pa siya dahil sa diarrhea niya pero sabi naman ng duktor [Alejandro Pineda, Medical Team chief], okay naman siya,” added Chan.

Javier was no longer given medication for his ailment, according to Chan.

Bets hope to add gold to RP’s 9 Olympic medals

BEIJING—The 29th edition of the Olympics here marks the 19th time the Philippines has participated in the quadrennial Games. But since Paris in 1924, Filipino athletes could only bring home a total nine medals, none of them gold.

A Modest Goal

BEIJING—Miguel Molina competes in the men’s 200-meter breaststroke heats in the 2008 Beijing Olympics Tuesday night with a modest goal of breaking his own national record.

Canada’s best a Filipino

BEIJING—Mark Javier is the Philippines’ lone representative in the 2008 Beijing Olympics archery competitions, but he is not the only full-blooded Filipino here.

Harry hardly knows foe from Ghana

BEIJING—Harry Tañamor had his routine afternoon nap after his prelunch workout Monday, two days before he steps into the ring against a foe from Ghana he hardly knows.

GMA pledges $15m for wushu gold, too

BEIJING—President Arroyo proved true to her word and visited Team Philippines’ residential unit Sunday afternoon at the posh Olympic Village.

Age a plus for shooter Ang

BEIJING—All is not lost for Eric Ang, the country’s lone representative in shooting in the Beijing 2008 Olympics, who finished dead last in the men’s individual trap Sunday.

American massages Olympians’ pains away

BEIJING—Long-jumper Henry Dagmil grimaced as Todd Reiter worked on an old injury in the Filipino’s shoulder.

Todd who?

A Billion Do Care

BEIJING—Yao Ming hit a rare three-pointer Sunday to open the most watched basketball game in recorded history—East or West—and the earth moved.

Two real Olympic heroines

BEIJING—Someone ought to inform Michael Phelps that no matter how many gold medals he wins, no matter how many records he obliterates or primal screams he unleashes, he cannot emerge as the hero of the 2008 Olympics.

Tough Turf: IOC must set simple Olympics opening

THAT spectacular opening of the 2008 Beijing Olympics on August 8 really thrilled the whole world no end.

From the opening presentation up to the staging of the magnificent fireworks display, millions of viewers were kept hanging by the edge of their seats, waiting on what would come next.