|
Post by cjeagle on Mar 15, 2020 17:10:56 GMT 8
Senate bill seeks naturalization of 2 Ceres-Negros booters Two bills seeking to grant citizenship to Ceres-Negros football players Bienvenido Maranon and Robert Lopez Mendy were filed at the Senate recently. A check with the Senate website revealed the bills were filed last March 3 in order for the two strikers to get a chance to represent the Philippine Azkals in future international competitions. Senator Miguel Zubiri initiated Bills 1390 and 1391 in order to make Maranon and Lopez-Mendy as naturalized citizens. www.senate.gov.ph/lis/bill_res.aspx?congress=18&q=SBN-1391Maranon, who hails from Spain, has been in the country since 2015 when he was signed by Ceres. He has led the Busmen to four domestic league titles, including the last three Philippines Football League trophies and multiple AFC Cup appearances. The 33-year-old recently became the all-time leading scorer in the history of the AFC Cup when he found the back of the net twice in Ceres’ 4-0 win over Indonesia’s Bali United last Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. “He dreams of building a family in this country, and raising his children surrounded by the kindness, humility, and hospitality that Filipinos are known for,” Zubiri said in his explanatory note. “He also aspires to represent the Philippines as part of the national team vying in international competitions, and make the country known as one of the top teams in the world of football,” he added. The 33-year-old Lopez-Mendy, born in Dakar, Senegal, played for Forza, Green Archers United and Kaya in the United Football League and PFL before becoming part of Ceres’ title runs in last year’s PFL and Copa Paulino Alcantara. He’s also married to Filipina Maebel “Ameera” Ybera Lacastesantos since 2016. “Mr. Mendy envisions a Philippines that is known not only in the worlds of basketball and boxing,” said Zubiri. “It is his desire to play an integral part in developing football in the country and helping mold the youth to become competitive and at the same time teach them to uphold the ideals of sportsmanship and fair play. sports.mb.com.ph/2020/03/15/senate-bill-seeks-naturalization-of-2-ceres-negros-booters/Maranon is a prolific goalscorer in every league he has played in here in Asia and now holds the record for the most goals scored in AFC Cup history. He would be a great asset for the Azkals. A Patino/Maranon pairing at forward would make us a contender at the Asian level. Hopefully this pushes through before we face China and Syria at WC qualifying.
|
|
|
Post by cjeagle on Mar 15, 2020 17:42:33 GMT 8
Ceres-Negros star Bienvenido Maranon becomes all-time leading goalscorer in AFC Cup history Ceres-Negros FC attacker Bienvenido Maranon achieved a prestigious milestone in the AFC Cup this week becoming the continental competition’s all-time leading goalscorer. The Spanish winger reached the feat when he struck a brace for the 2019 Philippines Football League champions in their 4-0 thrashing of Indonesia’s Bali United in the AFC Cup 2020 group stage match at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila on Wednesday. It was 33-year-old Maranon’s fifth goal of AFC Cup 2020 and the 35th overall making him the all-time top scorer in Asia’s second-tier club tournament. Last season, Maranon was the top scorer in AFC Cup 2019 scoring 10 goals as the Busmen made it to the ASEAN Zonal Semifinals where they were beaten by Vietnamese outfit Hanoi FC. Having joined Ceres from Spanish lower division outfit UD Socuellamos in 2015, Maranon’s first taste of AFC Cup came in 2016 when he scored twice in the group stages of the competition. In 2017, the Spaniard scored eight times for the Filipino club as they fast became a force to reckon with in Southeast Asian football. He also netted 10 times in the 2018 edition, but finished second in the goalscoring charts behind 4.25 SC’s An Il-bom who scored two more for his North Korean club in their run to the Inter-Zone Play-Off Final. “Wow! I can’t explain how happy I’m with this! Just to say that the hard work pays off as we can see here,” Maranon reacted to the news on Twitter. www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/afc-cup/1240833/ceres-negros-star-bienvenido-maranon-becomes-all-time-leading-goalscorer-in-afc-cup-history/
|
|
|
Post by cjeagle on Mar 15, 2020 17:44:27 GMT 8
A bill at the Senate has been filed seeking naturalization for Bienvenido Maranon allowing him to play for the Azkals. sports.mb.com.ph/2020/03/15/senate-bill-seeks-naturalization-of-2-ceres-negros-booters/"Senator Miguel Zubiri initiated Bills 1390 and 1391 in order to make Maranon and Lopez-Mendy as naturalized citizens. Maranon, who hails from Spain, has been in the country since 2015 when he was signed by Ceres. He has led the Busmen to four domestic league titles, including the last three Philippines Football League trophies and multiple AFC Cup appearances."
|
|
|
Post by cjeagle on Mar 15, 2020 17:52:30 GMT 8
Bienvenido Maranon loving life with Ceres but still dreams of one final adventure Ceres-Negros star Bienvenido Maranon is ready to fire the Philippine outfit to more glory in 2019 but harbours hopes of one final adventure before hanging up his boots. Since joining Ceres in 2015, the Spaniard has been an absolute success and netted 57 goals in all competition in the last couple of seasons alone to emerge as one of the most-prolific marksmen in Southeast Asian football. His free-scoring ways have been a key reason behind the Busmen winning the past two Philippine Football League (PFL) titles, as well as being crowned ASEAN Zone champions of the AFC Cup in 2017. As football in Philippines continues to grow, it is only natural that the PFL has seen a plethora of big names – both local and foreign – depart for greener pastures, including current Kedah striker Fernando Rodriguez, Romania-based left-back Daisuke Sato, and winger Iain Ramsay of Thailand’s Sukhothai to name but a few. It should come as no surprise that Maranon has had his fair share of offers from around the region, with teams from Thailand, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Singapore all rumoured to have been interested in his services. Considering how much he is enjoying life with Ceres, however, the skilful forward with the knack of scoring brilliants goals remains content to extend his stay at the Panaad Stadium for the right offer once his current deal comes to an end in 2020. “I’m so happy in Ceres,” Maranon told FOX Sports Asia in an exclusive interview. “In these four years, I did receive many good offers to leave – especially in the last window – but it wasn’t possible because I have a signed contract and I respect that. “But, that’s okay as – like I said – I’m very happy in Ceres and the boss LRY [owner Leo Rey Yanson] is a really good person. “So I hope to be able to sit down with them and improve my contract to possibly extend my time here.” Nonetheless, Maranon, who turns 33 in May but continues to remain in excellent shape and shows no signs of slowing down just yet, is also open to writing one more chapter in an already storied career. “I like to play in different countries to enjoy different atmosphere of football and the experience,” he added. “I’m in the best years of my career, I feel physical really good and I’m feeling happy in training. “When I play, I still feel ambitious and full of energy to play for at least three more years at this level of performance. “Again, I’m so happy at Ceres but – in the future – I would like to play in Malaysia, Indonesia or Thailand. “I’ve seen the footballing atmosphere there and I believe it would be the dream of any footballer to play in those countries.” For now, though, Maranon’s immediate attention is focused on the start of a new campaign with Ceres. Already, they have gotten their AFC Cup campaign off to a winning start after beating Shan United of Myanmar 3-2 and play their second Group G game on Tuesday against Vietnam’s Becamex Binh Duong. Then, there is also the start of inaugural Philippine Premier League season, which has succeeded the PFL, on March 30. “My target with Ceres this season is to get to the ASEAN Zone final of the AFC Cup, as we achieved that in the past two years, and also to win the league,” Maranon explained. “Personally, I want to help the team play good football and continue scoring goals.” www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/afc-cup/1052326/bienvenido-maranon-loving-life-with-ceres-but-still-dreams-of-one-final-adventure/
|
|
|
Post by cjeagle on Sept 7, 2020 13:16:46 GMT 8
|
|
|
Post by Caz on Oct 9, 2020 11:03:13 GMT 8
Bills granting Filipino citizenship to football player Bienvenido Marañón Morejón filed mb.com.ph/2020/09/06/bills-granting-filipino-citizenship-to-football-player-bienvenido-maranon-morejon-filed/Leaders of the House of Representatives are seeking the passage of a bill granting Filipino citizenship to Bienvenido Marañón Morejón, one of the country’s leading football players. TINGOG Sinirangan partylist Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez and House Majority Leader, Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez and Manila 1st District Rep. Manuel Luis Lopez separately filed measures seeking to grant Marañon all the rights and privileges as well as the duties and obligations of a Filipino under the Constitution. “In the five years that he has been playing football in the Philippines, Bienvenido Marañón Morejón has come to love the country and its people. He engages himself in community work, collaborating with local football clubs in Sagay and Bacolod in Negros Occidental, Boracay in Aklan and in Metro Manila. He wants to inspire and encourage the Filipino youth to play the sport that saved him from drugs, alcohol and other bad habits,” the Romualdez couple said in the explanatory note of their House Bill No. 7284. Marañón was born on May 15, 1986, and started playing football as a young boy in the streets of Cadiz, Spain, they said. His special talent in the sport became apparent early in his life, earning his first paycheck as a professional football player at the young age of 16, they said. “He came to the Philippines on May 17, 2015, to play for Ceres Negros Football Club (FC) in the Philippine Football League (PFL) where he was named the top scorer of the league in 2017 and 2019, and the best import player in 2017, 2018, and 2019,” the Romualdezes cited. They said Marañón was also the top scorer of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup in 2019, an annual continental club football competition, organized by the AFC and participated in by 36 teams from all across Asia. “He dreams of building a family in this country and raising his children surrounded by the kindness, humility, and hospitality that Filipinos are known for. He also aspires to represent the Philippines as part of the national team vying in international competitions, and make the country known as one of the top teams in the world of football,” they said. In filing House Bill No. 7427, Lopez, chairperson of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development, cited that in Marañon’s five-year football career in the country, he has shown exceptional skills complemented by commendable work ethics, serving as one of the most prolific scorers in Southeast Asia. He said currently, Marañón is the leading goal scorer of the Philippine Football League and the all-time top scorer in the AFC Cup after scoring his 35th goal in Ceres-Negros’s 4-0 win against Bali United on March 11, 2020. Marañón is credited as the catalyst for the Philippines’ growing reputation as a football powerhouse in Southeast Asia, he noted. “If granted the opportunity to play for the Philippines, Marañón will undoubtedly be an invaluable asset to the national football team, the Azkals, and bring pride and honor to our country. This will also be an opportunity on the part of Congress to contribute to the Philippines’ success in the global football arena,” Lopez said. The bills provide that upon taking the Oath of Allegiance before a duly authorized officer and his registration with the Bureau of Immigration, Marañón shall enter upon full enjoyment of his Philippine citizenship. Upon registration of the Oath of Allegiance, the BI shall issue Marañón his Certificate of Naturalization.
|
|
|
Post by cjeagle on Dec 3, 2020 3:38:52 GMT 8
In the same meeting, the committee also approved the citizenship bid of football player Bienvenido Maranon who has been playing in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League.
“In his five-year football career in the Philippines, Maranon has shown exceptional skills complemented by commendable work ethics. He is known as one of the most prolific scorers in Southeast Asia,” Rep. Manuel Luis Lopez, who filed the bill for Maranon’s citizenship, said. “If granted the opportunity to play for the Philippines, Maranon will undoubtedly be an invaluable asset to the national football team, the Azkals, and brin pride and honor to our country,” Lopez added. sports.inquirer.net/410004/ateneos-angelo-kouame-nears-filipino-citizenship?utm_source=vuukle&utm_medium=talk_of_town
|
|
|
Post by cjeagle on Dec 3, 2020 3:44:54 GMT 8
Striker Maranon's naturalization bid gains approval of House committee UNITED City FC striker Bienvenido Maranon is taking his first big step toward becoming a Filipino citizen. The Justice Committee of the House of Representatives unanimously approved on Wednesday House Bill No. 7427, which iseeks to grant Filipino citizenship to the Spanish striker. The bill, authored by Manila first district Rep. Manny Lopez and filed back in August 19, is looking to make Maranon a naturalized player to he can suit up for the Philippine Azkals in international competition. "In his five-year football career in the Philippines, Maranon has shown exceptional skills complemented by commendable work ethic. He is known as one of the most prolific scorers in Southeast Asia," Lopez said. "If granted the opportunity to play for the Philippines, Maranon will undoubtedly be an invaluable asset to the national football team, the Azkals, and bring pride and honor to our country. This will also be an opportunity on the part of Congress to contribute to the Philippines’ success in the global football arena." Maranon, 34, has been a staple for Filipino club Ceres-Negros since he arrived back in 2015, steering the club to great lengths as it reached the ASEAN Zonal Final of the AFC Cup in 2017 and 2018. He is also the all-time top goalscorer in the AFC Cup with 35 goals to boot. Locally, Maranon's impact has been undeniable, helping Ceres-Negros claim the Philippines Football League crown from 2017 to 2019, while also continuing to show his prowess for United City FC this past 2020 PFL season, leading it to the championship as well as winninng the Golden Boot awardee. "I would like to become a Filipino because I love the country and I love the people," he said in his testimonial. "I feel too much love from them and I would like to give them the love I've received. I would love to play for the Azkals national team cause I feel like I've been a Filipino since arrived here. I want to help them reach the World Cup, play in the Asia Cup, and win the Suzuki Cup." Maranon, who was born in El Puerto, Spain, played for third and fourth-division clubs in his home country before testing the waters abroad. That led him to Ceres-Negros. "Since I arrived here six years ago, I feel too much love from the people that I want to be a part of them and let my family grow here in the Philippines, build a house, and try to have my kids have a better life and a better future through football here. I want to build an academy for the kids and try to give them a better life," he said. With the bill advancing in the committee level, Maranon will now have to wait for the rest of the congressmen to vote on his motion. Sen. Miguel Zubiri also filed a similar Senate Bill No. 1391 in the upper house last March 3, but the status remains pending. Once both bills get approved, Maranon will have to wait for the signature of the president to formally grant his Filipino citizenship. www.spin.ph/football/fifa/bienvenido-maranon-a-step-closer-in-achieving-filipino-citizenship-a2437-20201202
|
|
|
Post by cjeagle on Dec 3, 2020 4:10:51 GMT 8
|
|
|
Post by cjeagle on Mar 19, 2021 16:44:38 GMT 8
The Philippine Senate on Monday approved on the third and final reading the bills granting Filipino citizenship to athletes Ange Kouame of basketball and Bienvenido Marañon of football. House Bill No. 8631, which granted Filipino citizenship to the 34-year-old Marañon, received the approval of all 23 senators. HB 8632, granting Filipino citizenship to Kouame, was also unanimously approved on Monday's session They will now be transmitted to President Rodrigo Duterte for his signature. Once the measures are passed into law, both Kouame and Marañon will be eligible to represent the Philippines in international competitions. Marañon, who plays for United City Football Club, has made no secret of his desire to play for the Philippine Azkals as well as to establish a football academy in the country. Marañon, who was born in Spain, should be eligible to suit up for the Azkals when they return to action in June for the FIFA World Cup 2022 Asian qualifiers. news.abs-cbn.com/sports/03/15/21/senate-approves-citizenship-bids-of-ange-kouame-bienvenido-maraon
|
|
|
Post by cjeagle on May 18, 2021 22:13:39 GMT 8
With the Philippine Pres still having to sign the bill and the Official Gazette needing to publish the details officially and then registering the player to the AFC and FIFA, I am not sure there is enough time to add Maranon to the Azkals for the WC qualifiers in June.
|
|
|
Post by cjeagle on May 19, 2021 2:08:55 GMT 8
tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/what-happened-to-bienve-maranons-naturalization/208330The House Bill no. 8631 that seeks the naturalization of Maranon was authored by Rep. Manny Lopez. The House Committee on Justice and Human Rights approved it on December 2, 2020. On February 16, 2021, HB no. 8631 was approved by the House. Eight days later, the Senate’s Committee on Justice and Human Rights approved Senate Bill no. 1391, which seeks to naturalize Maranon. On March 15, 2021, SB no. 1391 was unanimously passed by the Senate on the third reading. So what happened? According to the legislative history of SB no. 1391, it returned to the House of Representatives on March 15 for concurrence with the Senate’s amendments. The only amendment was for Section 4, which changed the effectivity date from fifteen (15) days after to “immediately upon” its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. However, the enrolled copy (final copy of a bill) for Kouame’s naturalization was transmitted to Malacañang which was signed last Monday. Marañon’s, on the other hand, has yet to reach the Palace. It’s an unfortunate string of events for Philippine football, as the Philippine Football Federation is racing against time with the World Cup Qualifiers beginning on June 3. The Azkals will also be leaving the country for a training camp in Doha in a few days. But unless a miracle happens, Marañon playing for the Azkals next month has become close to impossible.
|
|
|
Post by cjeagle on May 19, 2021 2:10:09 GMT 8
Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Mariano Araneta said the naturalization process of Marañon has yet to be approved as it was not transmitted by the Congress to President Rodrigo Duterte. “We have been facing challenges in preparing the men’s national team and we were hoping that the urgency of our situation would have made the process of Bienve’s naturalization faster,” Araneta said on Tuesday night. “But with the current situation, we are facing the prospect of not having Bienve in the team for the remaining matches, considering the numerous requirements he has to comply with before he can suit up for the country,” he added. Araneta, however, said that the PFF is still looking forward to having the United City Football Club striker represent the national men’s football team in their future tournaments. “We understand the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic in the process which may have stalled Bienve’s papers in Congress. We remain patient and hopeful that Bienvenido Marañon can join the national team in the future,” Araneta said. fastbreak.com.ph/pff-bienvenido-maranon-unlikely-to-play-for-azkals-yet/
|
|
|
Post by cjeagle on Jul 8, 2021 3:41:00 GMT 8
Bienve Maranon finally granted Filipino citizenship BIENVENIDO Maranon is officially a Filipino. The Spanish-born striker has finally been granted Filipino citizenship after President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11570 into law last Friday. It's a longtime coming for the United City FC striker, who is looking to bolster the Philippine Azkals in its numerous international campaigns. Maranon even sung the Philippine national anthem Lupang Hinirang before the senators in one of the plenary sessions discussing House Bill No. 8631. The 34-year-old has brought glory to the country in club competitions, leading Ceres-Negros to as far as the ASEAN Zonal Final of the AFC Cup in 2017 and 2018. He is also the all-time top goalscorer in the AFC Cup with 35 goals to boot, on top of him winning the Golden Boot in the 2020 season of the Philippines Football League (PFL). www.spin.ph/football/bienve-maranon-finally-granted-filipino-citizenship-a2437-20210707?ref=article_next_featured
|
|
|
Post by cjeagle on Jul 8, 2021 3:42:38 GMT 8
BIENVE Marañon is glad that his dream finally came true as he officially became a Filipino citizen on Wednesday. President Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11570 which grants Filipino citizenship to Marañon, who will be taking an oath of allegiance to the Philippines, after which the Bureau of Immigration will issue a Certificate of Naturalization. The Spanish striker is now eligible to play for the Philippine Azkals, and could play for the national squad as early as this year’s AFF Suzuki Cup. Marañon said he fell in love with the country during his second year in the Philippines because of how Filipinos treated him. “I’m the happiest guy in the world right now,” said Marañon through the United City FC socials. “To be Filipino citizen is a dream that I have since my second year in the country due the love and respect they show me along the way.” www.spin.ph/football/mara-on-is-happiest-guy-in-the-world-after-ph-naturalization-a795-20210707?ref=article_feed_2
|
|