THUNDERBIRD SPONSORS PACQUIAO - MARGARITO FIGHT

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DON'T BLAME THEM FOR WATCHING THE "FIGHT"

CARREO by Rolando S. Luzong

Peoples Tonight (November 14, 2009)

DON’T BLAME THEM FOR

WATCHING THE “FIGHT”

Please stop all these bickering about politicians going to Las Vegas to watch Manny Pacquaio fight. If I have the money, I will go too.

We should know that every single audience inside the MGM Grand during the fight will be an additional inspiration and encouragement for our hero, especially now that he’s fighting another country’s national hero.

As one cocker put it, “Iba kung nandoon ka mismo. Dito lahat tayo maka-Manny, eh dun pwedeng ang mga katabi mo dun naman kampi sa kalaban”.

And don’t be surprise if you see any of the many presidentiables jumping up and down and be the first to climb up the ring once Cotto is counted out. If any of you would-be-presidents is having second thoughts of going to Las Vegas, then GOOO!!! Rest assure, the Filipinos will understand, because if they have the money, I’m sure they will go too.

LET THE CHILDREN KNOW

As you and your family watch the Pacman-Cotto fight tomorrow, see to it that before the fisticuffs begin, you have explained to your wife, sons and daughters and all the others with you what this particular fight means not only for Manny, but also for the Filipinos and the world of boxing.

Tell them that if Manny wins, he will be the only boxer in the world that has ever won 7 championship titles in 7 different weights divisions. Tell them that once Manny achieved the feat, he will not only be the first boxer to have 7 titles, but maybe the only boxer forever to have done it.

Let them know that Pacquiao grew up without father; that only his mother Aling Dionisia who raised Manny and five other siblings; that Manny and his family was so poor before that there are days when they were only were to eat one meal; tell them that Manny started fighting at the age of 12 just to earn some cash so he can buy rice; that Manny had ambition and he gave and did everything to realize it; that there were times when he suffered defeats but that he stood up and fought again.

Don’t forget to tell them that they should be proud for being a Filipino because Manny Pacquiao is a Filipino, but most of all tell them that Manny has a big faith in God and that Manny said. “Don’t tell God that you have a big problem, but instead, tell your problem that you have a big God”.

SEE YOU AT THE BIG DOME TOMORROW

The first thing that my son asked after scrutinizing my Pacquiao-Cotto Araneta Coliseum tickets was “Papa, why is it that the Patron ticket is cheaper that the Upper A section?”.

I smiled because he had a point. Probably you are wandering too.

Anyway, the reason is, because due to the immense size of the screens, it will be hard for anyone to watch if he is too close. Imagine a 30-foot screen in front of you. Once you’re placed so near the huge screen, you’ll probably be bothered with a painful stiff neck after the fight. Pray that it will not go the distance.

JOB WELL DONE…NELBA

Let me congratulate the North Eastern Luzon Breeders Association with their entry NELBA, which won the UGBA 10-Stag Big Event Derby at the Makati Coliseum last Wednesday, November 11.

Leading the NELBA Team is Thunderbird Winning Team member Cong. Larry Wacnang of Kalinga and Engr. Moises Almuete of Nueva Vizcaya, with Reyton Castillo, Joven Banez, Nelson Uy, Raffy Julito ang Dr. Martin.

The specially prestigious derby has a one-day 10-stag format with an entry fee requirement of P88,000 each.

Sharing the honors as co-champion is the entry Pamaskong Handog Team Supreme owned by Allan Cong & Dalwin Yulangco.

RGBA AWARDS TODAY, CONGRATS TO THE WINNERS

Pros Antonio – 2009 Stag Breeder of the Year and the tandem of Joey & Ariel Alcantara will lead Rizal Gamefowl Breeders Association’s top members as the RGBA honors its best and finest in the RGBA Awarding Ceremony & party to be held at the East Ridge Gold Club from one to four in the afternoon.

Congratulations…to all the awardees.

PACQUIAO AT THE BIG DOME, MY CHOICE

CARREO by Rolando S. Luzong
Peoples Tonight (November 11, 2009)

PACQUIAO AT THE BIG DOME, MY CHOICE

By now, every Filipino who is thinking of watching the Pacquiao – Cotto fight on Sunday, November 15 is weighing all options on where he will watch the much talked about match.


For this writer, since the promoters of the Pacman fights decided not to sell pay-per-views to residences anymore, I have tried probably all places watching our very own Manny – the Great beat the hell out of his last several opponents. They are so many indeed that all of us have gotten use to see the Pacman raised his hands in victory every fight’s end.


First, in our kanto with the rest of the neighbors; second in a restaurant; third at the Aliw Theatre in the CCP Complex and last time was at the Araneta Coliseum, where I probably shouted to the top of my lungs when Manny treated us to the unexpected second round demolition of Ricky Hatton.

Of the four venues, my experience in Araneta was incomparable, despite the bout not going the distance. On my way to the Big Dome that day, I thought the big screen be put in one side, probably where the dugouts are located and the audience will all be facing in one direction. I was surprise to find out that there will be four big screens facing each side of east, west, north and south.


We were, I believe, no less than 15,000 that day and the feeling was as if you are really there where the bout was being held.


While the round girls in the screen are doing their thing in during the breaks, there were actual round girls in flesh acting as round girls on stage.


The sound is so crisp that one can hear even the breathing of the boxers.

I was jumping and punching the air after Hatton was floored and it felt like I have expelled every bad whatever inside my body, because it really felt good.

There are lots of choices for everyone who doesn’t want to wait for the snail-paced, commercial-infested broadcast, but for me, I will go back to Las Vegas, I mean…Araneta Coliseum.

AMAZING SAN JUAN COLISEUM

For the first time, I had the chance to get inside and see the new San Juan Coliseum during a meeting with its owner Mr. Bong Pineda. And the first thing I uttered was, “awesome”. Well, it was really the right word for me, knowing how San Juan Coliseum was before Pineda bought it and did the incredible.

I worked at SJC during the early ‘90s and I just can’t see any piece of the old edifice or even a semblance of it anymore.

The air-conditioning is the first thing that one who had not been in the new SJC, but have been in the old SJC will notice.

Every inch of the floor is clean and you won’t see even a speck of trash. The restaurant, the coffee shop and lounge will make you forget that you’re in a cockpit, but instead is inside a 5-star hotel.

There are cameras everywhere. So many in fact that I thought they were just part of the architecture or interior design, until I was invited by top man Ariel inside the control room where there are, three or four, huge LCD screens where everything happening inside the Coliseum is well-monitored.

Even a bettor who will deny his bet after the rooster to which he bet on loses, will not be able to get away because things can be replayed and reviewed that anyone who bet can be identified including to whom he bet against with.

BAKBAKAN MOVES TO ARANETA

The first of several national eliminations of the ongoing 2009 Bakbakan 10-Stag National Derby will begin at the Araneta Coliseum on Monday, November 17 wherein qualifiers from the October 26 – elims in Makati Coliseum and from the Rizal Gamefowl Breeders Association two preliminaries plus the ones who survived the first salvo of the Bulacan Gamefowl Breeders Association will lock horns for the right to advance to the finals and closer to the P15,000,000 champion’s prize from the P30 million total guaranteed cash prize.

Good luck, may the breeder with the best roosters win…

A ‘Sabungero’ in the Cover of Times Magazine!!!

CARREO by Rolando S. Luzong

Peoples Tonight (November 7,, 2009)

A ‘Sabungero’ in the Cover of Times Magazine!!!

Time Magazine’s latest issue has our very own Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao on its cover – the first time a Filipino is featured since 1986 when Cory Aquino landed in Time’s front page, right after Ferdinand Marcos was toppled.

Pacquiao is also only the 9^th boxer ever presented as the cover story of the highly-respected periodical in its long history. Boxers as top story are Patrick Dempsey – 1923; James Tunney – 1926; Max Schmelling – 1929; Primo Carnera – 1921; Joe Louis – 1941; Sugar Ray Robinson – 1951; Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) – 1953; Muhammad Ali & Joe Frazier – 1971; Muhammad Ali – 1979; Mike Tyson – 1988 and Manny Pacquiao – 2009. Ali being the most colorful boxer of all times, appeared three times.

As a Filipino, I am extremely proud, but as someone who belongs to the sabong community in the country, I am doubly delighted because of the fact that Manny is one of us. Manny being a sabungero is Manny’s nature being a true Filipino. Excuse the language, but that’s the truth. 1 out 10 Pinoys are either a cockfighter, have a job that is directly or indirectly related to cockfight or has a relative, friend, neighbor or acquaintance who is involved in cockfighting.

Every Filipino knows Manny Pacquiao and is aware about Manny’s fondness for sabong. In fact, when Manny won solo championship of the P550K-entry-fee Pacman Big Event Derby in San Juan Coliseum early this year, witnesses related that Manny was so happy and honored that he was even hugging and kissing the trophy that he received.

As a Filipino father, I patiently explain to my sons what Pacquiao has achieved, not only for himself, but also for our country and how much obstacles he had to overcome before he was able to achieve what he has accomplished.

Don’t look now, but it must be realized that the lone congressional seat of Saranggani province is looming to be a must-see political bout next year between Pacquiao – the boxer-cocker and the Chiongbians - a family of cockfighters with the late Congressman James Chiongbian being one of the most revered Filipino sabungero ever. I wonder who the sabungeros of Saranggani will vote.

When Manny was the cover story of Reader’s Digest, I bought two copies of the same issue of Digest for the first time. Now, I think I just have to have a copy of Time Magazine’s Pacman edition just to have a part of history.

Congratulations Manny, I just wish that the honor bestowed by Time Magazine adds more speed and power to your punches. Don’t deny us the prospect of watching silencing the blabber-boxer that is Floyd Mayweather, Jr., get Cotoo out of the way on November 14.

NFGB MEDICAL MISSION MOVED

The scheduled medical mission of the National Federation of Gamefowl Breeders on November 15 in the Malasique Coliseum in Malasique, Pangasinan has been moved earlier to Nov. 14 (Saturday), while the one set at the San Mateo Cockpit in San Mateo, Rizal on Sunday, Nov. 15 will be held on Nov. 22 also a Sunday.

If you are wondering why, just think what’s happening on November 15 and you’ll understance why. Anyway, it’s not because the NFGB people or the doctors can not be available because of the Pacquiao-Cotto fight, but because it is feared that the people that NFGB would like to help will not be able to come because they will be glued to their televisions watching the bout.

Unilab will be donating medicines, for and in behalf of the Univet Nutriton & Animal Healthcare Company – owner of Thunderbird Power Feeds and Thunderbird Power Vet.