Of Sebastian Fundora and other Boxing Goliaths

Sebastian Fundora, 6’5″, is not the tallest boxer in boxing history. Based on records, it was shared by Gogea Mitu and John Rankin who both stood at 7’4” according to internet site Spartacus.

Well, Fundora (20-1-1), will be facing the 5’9″ WBO junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu (24-0-0) on March 30^th (31^st, Philippine time) at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The 8-inch advantage of the “Towering Inferno” reportedlyescalates worries for Tszyu’s camp.

The Giant of Marsani

Mitu, with a 2-0, W-L record and whose real name was Dumitru Stefanescu was born in Romania in 1914, and due to gigantism, he grew to that shocking height of 7 foot 4 inches. His story revolves around athletic talent, bodily abnormality, and a meteor-like boxing career: brief but memorable. Mitu, known as the “Giant of Marsani” started in showbiz but ended in the so-called lonely sport of boxing.

Utilizing his height advantage, Mitu, then 25 years old defeated Savero Grizzo on June 7, 1935, and Dumitru Pavalescu on October 27, 1935. In all of his two bouts, Mitu bombastically finished them both with first-round knockouts.

His wins are brief but very dominating like lightning. But the most important thing is Mitu proved as early as the 30s that even in boxing, height is might.

Ranking In

John Rankin, also 7’4”, fought just once. He plummeted Willie Lee (11-28-1) and won via UD in the November 13, 1967 bout in a match held at Municipal Auditorium in New Orleans.  Like Mitu, his persona is also considered a combination of significant height and reach advantage they had over their opponents.

Browsing BoxRec, we could only find one entry about Rankin’s fight and that is the fight against Lee. But his performance in that fight, according to experts, suggested that he was an experienced fighter who knew how to leverage his towering physique to his benefit.

John Rankin had previously been working as a doorman in New Orleans before becoming a heavyweight boxer.

Tall Order

With Sebastian Fundora’s height and reach advantage, the camp of Tim Tszyu has a reason to worry. It is indeed a tough assignment for them how to overcome those. This height advantage coupled with the punching power of Fundora (which was doubted by Tszyu) are essential elements in his fighting style, allowing him to control the pace and distance of his attacks effectively as he has shown in his previous fights with Jose Cardenas to Carlos Ocampo.

Reach and height play a significant role in a boxer’s defensive strategy. Fighters like Mitu and Rankin can keep opponents at bay, minimizing the risk of close-range strikes. They can use their reach to land punches while staying out of their opponent’s striking range, making it harder for the opponent to land effective hits.

In short, it’s an uphill battle for the team. But the Australian boxer declares with full confidence, “I am not afraid of anybody!” Brian Mendoza (22-3-0) who said that Fondura is a pillow puncher was KOed by Fundora but defeated by Tszyu via UD.

Not Just Spectacle?

The stories of Mitu, Rankin, Fundora, and the rest of the figurative giants in the world of boxing are a manifestation that such an attribute adds spice and color, drama, and narrative to the sport. It is a testament that such extraordinary physical feature is not just a spectacle but can be converted into greatness in the sport.

The Fundora-Tszyu fight with such glaring differences in height and other diversities in the narrative makes this historic clash truly seriously spectacular.

A Basketball Imaginary Duel

Basketball can be a good metaphor for the current power situation in Occidental Mindoro. Take it from Engr. Omar Costibolo. He accurately utilized that analogy to describe how the dreaded Emergency Power Supply Agreement (EPSA) came into our existence with the alleged collusion between the National Electrification Administration (NEA), the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), and the National Power Corporation (NPC).

Basketball, like any other game, is at times riddled with anomalies and scandals.

Sports as Simile

Basketball requires skill and determination but sometimes they are ruined by evil, vested, and suspicious interests. In every sports competition, history can attest that there can be anomalies and scandals that are too many to mention here that require another blog entry.

Together with my esteemed buddy, Rey San Jose, Costibolo posted a video on his Facebook Account last March 4, 2024, criticizing the EPSA telling their viewers that the Agreement has been dubious, questionable, and illegal since its inception. He compares it to a basketball match where Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (OMECO) and the Occidental Mindoro Consolidated Power Corporation (OMCPC) as opponents and rivals. The game itself, according to them, is rigged with irregularities.

In such a fantasy game, the ERC instead of truthfully refereeing the match, changed the rules in midgame and was biased favoring OMCPC. OMECO’s coach, the NEA headed by its Administrator, instead of helping the team and guiding them to victory, according to Costibolo, made a treacherous move telling the team to withdraw and give the game on the silver platter to OMCPC and breaking all the rules,- hook, line and sinker. Therefore, the electric cooperative and its Consumers (MCOs) are sacrificed on the altar of capitalistic greed, and lies are fried in their own oil.

A Game fixed

Lest we forget that on July 13, 2023, Administrator Antonio Mariano "Nani" C. Almeda issued a directive to OMECO BOD to withdraw its Joint Application with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for the approval of the SAMARICA Power Supply Agreement (PSA) and instead enter into a negotiated Emergency Power Supply Agreement (EPSA) a pass-on scheme payment without subsidy from the government. This is how our coach fixed our game against the lone power provider in the province, so to speak.

And the leaders and their lapdogs along with the power provider hailed to high heavens this suspicious move of the coach. Those who insisted the illegal EPSA was praised like a messiah.

Under that illegal EPSA, the electricity coming from OMCPC's SAMARICA plant is presently paid by MCOs at its total cost or the unreasonably ridiculous True Cost Generation Rate (TCGR) reaching P16.67 to P20.70 per kilowatt hour (kWh) based on the P53.57 cost of crude oil. The EPSA squelched our hard-earned money as our coaching staff betrayed the whole team.

What followed was a metaphorically game-fixing galore!

Known Basketball Scandals

First is the scandal involving the NBA referee Tim Donaghy which was considered as the league’s most shameful tale on how the referee was involved in organized crime, just like the power regulator we have mentioned above. Donaghy swung games, including playoff series, where he bet on games that he officiated during his last two seasons and he made calls that affected the point spread in those games.

Donaghy alleged in a statement through his lawyers that several series in the NBA Playoffs had been improperly refereed according to the NBA's instructions. He alluded specifically to a playoff game where personal fouls were ignored even when they occurred in full view of the referees because it was in the NBA's interest to add another game to the series.

Hearing Costibolo and San Jose, this scandal came to mind. This is somewhat similar to how the ref errs in such EPSA and PSA handling.

What a shame!

Here's another:

In 1997, at a Golden State Warriors practice, Latrell Sprewell, known around the league for his volatile play and incidents off the court, got into it with his head coach PJ Carlesimo, and violently strangled him out.

If we are constantly sold out by our very coach to our opponents or rival team, isn’t it honorable to do a Latrell Sprewell? At least, in an analogical and subtle way.

A Cagefest?

So to this day, we are still in the quagmire of basic supply problems and high electrical rates. While other countries in Asia are already responding to the technological increase in the level and the increase in the quality of electrical service, here in the Philippines we are still trapped in the matter of price and uncertainty in our power industry.

Many of the team owners are even lambasting our team members and the team as a whole favoring the opposing squad by taking sides with the disloyal coach and even wanting to disband the team, calling each star player to walk out of the game or letting the other rival team win by default or for the MCOs to generally surrender. Such a call is idiotic and self-destructive. Unless of course one has a vested business interest and wants to capitalize on such a lasting chaos.

Again, we must launch discussions and public actions for the examination of the matter. Brownouts and unfair electric costs are both scandalous and evil putting the MCOs in hellish situations.

Until then we shall be caged in this allegorical basketball league? Until when will we believe the false hope that their lackeys are feeding us?

Eternal Ball Game

On February 27, 2024, the ERC issued an Order on Case No. 2023-045 RC. Cited in it is the Petition to Intervene with Comment filed by Costibolo.

The instruction brought temporary relief for it will lessen the cost of electricity from P16.67 to P20.70 per kilowatt hour (kWh) based on the P53.57 cost of crude oil, it will go down to 6.9520 Subsidized Approved Generation Rate (SAGR). Under the Order, the OMCPC will also get the Universal Charge for Missionary Electrification (UCME) subsidy billing. This is the move that the OMCPC has aimed for from the start. 

The SAGR will not be enjoyed immediately. The expensive charging under EPSA is until May 2024. The excess charges put on to MCOs cannot be refunded at once and it may take until next year.

The ERC is still dribbling the issue between the dubious and illegal EPSA and the SAMARICA-PSA which is more valid and legal. In this regard, there is no reason to celebrate.

ERC’s latest Order [Case No. 045-RC] gives us, MCOs no reason to rejoice. This is just a band-aid solution.

ERC should have declared EPSA illegal from the start and ordered a refund of all the amount unjustly collected from us.

The MCOs are still on the losing end. What about if OMCPC files a protest against the very low ERC-approved True Cost Generation Rate or TCGR which is very likely? The MCOs will again be threatened by brown-outs until the ERC reconsiders their Order for sure. It’s a case of history repeating itself. We already have seen this before.

Joe Cantada, the late PBA legendary sportscaster, classic line says it all: An eternity of basketball is [still]ahead of us.

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References:

https://www.ranker.com/list/biggest-nba-scandals-all-time/patrick-alexander

https://www.facebook.com/omar.costibolo/videos/1186095079466486/?_rdc=1&_rdr

Photo: IndyStar

Balik-Tanaw sa Balintataw (Sa Ika-33 Anibersaryo ng DZVT )

May isang kaibigan na nagpaalala sa akin na ika-33 anibersaryo raw ng DZVT sa Miyerkules, Marso 6, 2024, kaya sinubukan kong magnilay at magbalik-tanaw. Sa kanya ko lang nalaman na nag-eere na pala itong muli. Kamakailan ko lang ito nalaman.

Limitado ang sulating ito sa mga panahong naroroon lamang ako, ayon lamang sa aking naaalala at nais na isiwalat.

Ngayon ko lang napagtanto, and it’s the irony of all ironies, una palang napakinggan sa ere ang DZVT sa loob na observance ng Fire Prevention Month at ngayong taon ay nasa loob rin ng Kuwaresma.

Pero hindi maikakaila na malayo at masalimuot ang sinuong ng himpilan ng radyo. Mula sa kanyang mga abo, kumbaga, kagaya ng mito ng ibong phoenix, muling nabuhay at suma-himpapawid ang radyo totoo. Sa Lumang Tipan, ang abo ay isang panlabas na pagpapahayag ng ating pangangailangang magsisi at magsimulang muli.

Ang Salita ay Naging Tinig, Alingawngaw

Nang maitalaga bilang kauna-unahang Obispo ng Kanlurang Mindoro si Lubhang Kagalang-galang Vicente Credo-Manuel, SVD, DD na ipinanganak at lumaki sa nasabi ring lalawigan sa bagong likha ring Simbahang Lokal, layon na niyang magtatag ng isang himpilan ng radyo upang maisabuhay ang pananaw nito na maging, “Isang Pamayanang Kristiyano na Sama-samang Sumasamba, Naglilingkod at Nagpapatotoo kay Kristo.” Ang Pamayanang Kristiyano sa pinaikling katawagan ay PAKRIS.

Sa pamamagitan ni Papa Juan Pablo II, nilikha sa pagiging Bikaryato Apostoliko ng San Jose ang dating Parokya ni San Jose, ang Manggagawa, noong ika-27 ng Enero, 1983. Makalipas lamang ang pitong taon, isinilang ang kauna-unahang Katolikong himpilan ng radyo sa buong isla ng Mindoro at pangalawa lamang sa lalawigan. Ika-6 ng Marso, 1991 nang basbasan at pinasinayaan ng Arsobispo ng Cebu, Lkgg. Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, DD, at nagsimula itong mag-broadcast sa Labangan Poblacion, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. Ang DZVT ay tinawag na “Tinig ng Pamayanang Kristiyano sa Occidental Mindoro.”

Ang mga letrang “VT” sa call sign ng DZVT ay mula sa motto ng Obispo na sa wikang Latin na “In Verbo Tuo” (Sa Iyong Salita). Nang lumaon, naging kasapi ng Catholic Media Network (CMN) ang himpilan.

Propetikong Misyon

Sa pangunguna ni Obispo Manuel at ng mga naunang namahala nito, sa panig ng pagpu-programa gayundin sa teknikal na aspeto, nagsa-himpapawid sila ng mga programang nagtatampok ng mga Programang Pastoral ng Bikaryato tulad ng sa mga katekista, mga katutubo, mga lay minister, human development, kilusang kabuhayan, mga Pamayanang Kristiyano (BEC) at iba pa.

Una sa lahat, direkta sa Katedral ni San Jose, nagsasahimpapawid din ito ng pagdiriwang ng Banal na Misa tuwing araw ng Linggo lalo na sa umaga, at mga live broadcasts sa mga espesyal na okasyong pan-Simbahan kabilang ang mga vicarial assemblies at iba pa, lalung-lalo na kung may mga bisitang puno ng Partikular na Simbahan.

Para sa akin, isinabuhay ng Obispo na ang panlipunang pakikisangkot ay isang propetikong misyon ng Simbahan.

Nagtampok din ito ng mga tugtugin at awiting sekular na ayon sa mga doktrinang Katoliko at hindi salungat pero ayon sa mga katuruan nito maging pagbabasa ng mga teksto mula sa bibliya at mga pagninilay. Kabilang na ang mga kalalabas ng Palibot-Liham ng mga nakatataas, lalung-lalo na mula sa Kapulungan ng mga Obispo sa Pilipinas (CBCP) at iba pang mga dokumento at sulatin mula sa Simbahan. Kinagiliwan ng mga tagapakinig ang patimpalak na tinawag na “Awitan sa Pamayanan”. Ito ay umabot na isinagawa maging sa kalapit na bayan ng Mansalay at Bulalacao sa Oriental Mindoro at maging sa Coron at Concepcion sa Palawan. Ngunit mayor na inilulunsad ito sa mga Pamayanang Kristiyano sa ibang mga barangay sa lalawigan na sila mismo ang nagtataguyod at mula sa kanila ang sumasaling kalahok at rekurso.

Sa mga unang taon ng Radio Ministry ng AVSJ, tunay na naging mouthpiece (o tinig) ng mga mananampalaya, lalung-lalo na ng mga batayang sektor ang DZVT. Naging daluyan ito ng mga impormasyon at kaalaman, katekismo, pa-anunsiyong pastoral ng mga BEC at ng mga Pastoral Offices mismo. Naging alingawngaw ang marubdob na pagtututol nito sa mga panlipunang isyu noong 1990’s kagaya nang pagtuligsa nito sa talamak na jueteng, illegal logging, korupsyon, mga paglabag sa karapatang tao kapwa ng mga sundalo at rebelde, at pagtataguyod ng pantribu at kultural na kagalingan ng mga Mangyan.

Sa panahon ni Bishop Manuel, nakita, nadama at naging saksi ang mga Pamayanang Kristiyano kung papaano ginampanan ng DZVT ang propetikong papel ng Simbahan.

Naging daluyan din ito, hindi lamang sa mga espiritwal na pangangailangan ng mga mananampalataya, kundi maging ng mga aktibo ngunit hindi marahas na kilos-bayan laban sa mga tinatawag na social evils na nabanggit sa itaas. Katulad ng kilos-masa laban sa pagtatayo ng Petron Bulk Plant sa Aroma Beach sa San Jose, na magdudulot ng pang-kalikasang kasiraan at peligro sa makasaysayan at pamosong baybayin ng bayan.

Mga naging tagapamahala ng himpilan ang mga layko na sina Perry Fernandez, Rudy Candelario, at Perlito Villador at mga diyosisang pari na sina Padre Ruben Villanueva, Ronilo Omanio at Giovanni Gatdula.

Ang mga naging anchor ng Pintig ng Bayan bago kami nina Daisy Del Valle Leano at Rey San Jose ay sina Rod Agas at Fr. Jun Villanueva.

Sa aking pagkakabatid, lahat ng mga istasyong kasapi ng Catholic Media Network (CMN) ay batid na sa bawat Katolikong brodkaster, and lahat ng mga pangayayari sa araw-araw, wika nga, ay God’s agenda for action. Hindi lamang sa salita nakikilala ang tunay propeta (basahin: saksi) kundi sa kanyang aksyon o pagkilos.

Sa pahina ng 307 ng kanyang aklat na “Communicating in Community: An Introduction to Social Communication” tumapakang isinulat na Fr.Franz-Josef Ailers, SVD : “Prophetic communication serves truth and challenge falsehood. Prophetic communication stimulates critical awareness of the reality constructed by the media and helps people to distinguish truth from falsehood, discern the subjectivity of the journalist, and disassociate that which is ephemeral and trivial from that which is lasting and valuable. Often it is necessary to develop alternative communication so that prophetic words and deeds can be realized.”

Hanggang Kalaliman

Taong 2000 nang bumaba sa katungkulan si Obispo Manuel. Hinalilihan siya bilang Apostolikong Tagapangasiwa ni Obispo Antonio Pepito-Palang, SVD, DD. Noong ika-26 ng Hunyo, 2000 hanggang sa tuluyan na siyang ordenan at italaga bilang ikalawang Punong Pastol ng Bikaryato noong Mayo 31, 2002.

Sinubaybayan at ibinalita ng DZVT ang kaso ng walang awang panggagahasa at pagpatay sa isang second year highschool student na si Elizabeth Albacino, 16, sa Sitio B-1, Barangay Central, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. Ang mga suspek ay pinalalaya umanong mga bilanggo sa Magbay Provincial Jail. Naganap ang krimen noong Agosto 14, 2003.

Sa panahon ni Obispo Palang, tumuon at naging malalim ang panlipunang pakikisangkot ng DZVT lalo na sa mahipit na pakikipag-ugnayan nito sa Commission on Elections (COMELEC), PPCRV, NAMFREL at iba pa tuwing panahon ng halalan sa mga aktibidad gaya ng voters’ and political education, media quick-count at candidates’ fora.

Teka, naalala ko rin nga pala, sa pagtalakay namin ng walang humpay sa tungkol sa problema noon sa kuryente at gusot sa loob ng OMECO, ako kabilang ang dalawa kong co-hosts sa Pintig ng Bayan ay inireklamo sa Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) noong November 7, 2008. Pero wala rin kinahinatnan ang reklamo dahil alam namin na hindi naman kami lumalampas etiketa ng pamamahayag sa pagbabalita namin ng katotohanan.

Naging tampok din ang mga diyalogo sa pagitan ng mga opisyal ng sundalo at Mangyan sa usapin ng kapayapaan at kaunlaran. Matapos ang karumal-dumal na pagpatay sa isang pamilyang Mangyan ng mga sundalo sa tinawag noong “Talayob Massacre” sa bayan ng Magsaysay, sa pakikipag-ugnayan sa Parokya ng Mabuting Pastol, Mangyan Mission ng AVSJ, at ng Pantribung Samahan sa Kanlurang Mindoro o PASAKAMI, naisa-madla ang pangyayari hanggang sa umabot ito sa mga kinauukulang tanggapan ng pambansang pamahalaan at nalagdaan at mapinalisa ng ng Kasunduan ng Kasundaluhan at mga Mangyan para sa kapayapaan.

Ang malagim na pangyayari ay naganap noong Hulyo 21, 2003 sa Sitio Talayob, sa Barangay Nicolas, Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro. Pinapurihan ng Sulong Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law or Sulong (CARHRIHL) Network ang DZVT sa naging papel nito sa paglulunsad at pagpapatibay ng nasabing Peace Covenant.

Patuloy na naging tambuli ng pananampalataya ang DZVT sa mga pagkilos laban sa pagmimina. Mismong si Obispo Palang, kasama ang kanyang mga pari, mga madre at lider ng PARKIS ang nanguna sa halos 5,000 kalahok sa rally laban sa Mindoro Nickel Project noong Mayo 27, 2009 na lumundo sa pamamagitan ng mga edukasyong mulat-malay na ini-ere halos araw-araw noon sa DZVT na hindi ko na maalala.

Ang motto naman ni Obispo Palang ay “Duc in Altum” o “Ihulog sa Kalaliman.” Sa kanyang panunungkulan, ipinailalim sa Diocesan Human Development Commission/Social Action Center (DHDC-SAC) ang DZVT hanggang mula sa Seminary Compound ay inilipat sa AVSJLM Warehouse Compound sa Labangan ang broadcast studio nito mula sa Chancery Building sa Seminary Compound.

Maliban sa patok na Dial 1369 ni Vic Barrios, isang song and live dedication program, may mga family oriented din at magazine type programs na kinagisnan namin noon.

Ang dati nitong tagline na “Ang Tinig ng Pamayanang Kristiyano sa Occidental Mindoro” ay naging “Radyo Totoo sa Kanlurang Mindoro”. 

Misteryosong Apoy

Oktubre 26, 2011 nang ang pagsasa-himpapawid ng pahintuin ng isang misteryosong sunog. Maliban sa sunog sa himpilan at transmitter ng radyo, may sunog ding naganap sa Records Section sa Chancery Building sa Seminaryo, mga tatlong kilometro ang layo sa isa’t-isa.

Nunit bago ito, noong Oktubre 21 nang nasabi ring taon ay pinagtangkaan nang sunugin pero naapula ng mga kapit-bahayan ang apoy. Kaaagad na ipinaalam sa mga kinauukulan ang pagtatangka ngunit walang naging desisyon dito ang mga nabanggit.

Nilamon ng apoy ang radio transmitter na donasyon dati pa ng Archdiocese of San Francisco at ilan pa ng donor. Nasa labas nang lalawigan noon ang mga kaparian para sa iba’t-ibang mga aktibidad nang mangyari ang sunog.

Hanggang sa kasalukuyan ay misteryong maituturing ang naganap na sunog.

Naging mitsa din ito ng hidwaan at hindi pagkakaunawaan hindi lamang sa hanay ng mga pari kundi maging sa mga Pamayananang Kristiyano noon. Aminin man nila o hindi.

Sa aking pagninilay ay nasagi ito sa aking isipan: Ang ministeryo ng mga pari na pinasimulan ni Kristo mismo ay tunay na dinalisay ng apoy, apoy ng pananampalataya at hindi ang apoy ng pamiminsala. Ang una ay apoy ng pagka-dalisay habang ang huli ay apoy ng pagkawasak, apoy na misteryosong umahon mula sa Impyerno. Ang apoy na gumupo sa istasyon ay ang huli.

Naganap na

Ilang taon din ako noong naging co-anchor ng maka-Kristiyano at sumusunod sa diwa ng social communication principles na public affairs program na “Pintig ng Bayan”.

Iyan ang mukha ng apostoladong pang-radyo na aking natatandaan ngayon. Sa loob nang 25 taon na inilagi ko sa Bikaryato bilang Social Advocacy Program Coordinator ng DHDC/SAC, at sa pagiging personalidad ng radyo ang nagturo sa akin sa doktrinang panlipunan ng Simbahang Katolika lalo na ang malasakit sa buong sambayanan, lalo na para sa mahihina't mahihirap, at paggalang sa layà ng tao, kasama rito ang karapatan sa pribadong pag-aari.

Pinuna ang mga tiwali, tinutulan ang mga mali at hindi makatao, makabayan, maka-kalikasan at maka-Diyos na patakaran at kalalagayan. Marami ang natigatig, mga pulitiko at negosyante, kabilang na ang ilang pari.

Tunay na matatag ang Simbahan laban sa banta mula sa labas nang kanyang bakuran ngunit mahina ito laban sa banta mula mismo sa kanyang sinapupunan.Nang magisnan ko na lamang ang aking sarili na nasa ibang gawain sa labas ng programang pastoral nito ay saka ko napagtantong tama ako.

Naganap na ang dapat maganap, masakit sa loob kong iniwan ang aking nakagisnang gawain na itinuring kong bokasyon, hanggang sa mapadpad ako sa laot ng serbisyo publiko at patuloy na naglalayag bilang lingkod-bayan hanggang ngayon.

Muling Nabuhay

Nabigla na lang ako kamakailan sa isang kaibigan na nagsabing isang araw nang muling nabuhay sa talapihitan ng aming radyo ang DZVT. Hindi ko na matandaan marahil ay dahil iba na ito ngayon. O dahil wala na ako doon. Baka naman nalimutan (o kinalimutan) ko na lang.

Itinuro sa amin noon na ang tunay layon ng anomang istasyon ng radyo, maging ito ay sekular o hindi, ay upang ipamandila ang katotohanan.

Kapag tayo ay inaaliw lang at napapako sa mga tribyal na bagay at umiiwas sa mga panlipunang isyung kinasasangkutan ng pamayanan at mga mananampalataya. Hangga’t hindi tayo tumutugon sa mga panaghoy, hinaing at pitig ng bayan, wala pa tayong sapat na dahilan upang magdiwang sa ating pag-iral.

Ipanalangin natin na ang DZVT ay patuloy na sumulong at maging tagapagsalita ng Simbahan sa pagpapahayag at pagkilos para sa pagbabandilyo sa mga kagyat na problema tungo sa kalutasan nito, at mga isyung panlipunan at pampulitika na naka-ayon sa Kanyang Salita at kalaliman ng ating pananampalataya. At maging Tinig ng Pamayanang Kristiyano na kapanalig nila laban sa mga kasamaan sa lipunang nagpapahirap sa kanila.

Sa diwang ito ay magpapatuloy bilang mahalagang dimensyon ng ang DZVT ng Simbahang Naglalakbay.

Pagbati sa lahat at sa mga kasalukuyang namumuno nito!

Killer Quotes from Three Female Boxers

The 2024 National Women’s Month Celebration in the country aims to get the most out of the recurring theme “WE for gender equality and inclusive society,” introduced in 2023 to last until 2028.

The capitalized word “WE” is short for “Women and Everyone”. Truly it is necessary to put men into the equation and the part they play in accomplishing what women have achieved in their lives and careers.

As a trying-hard boxing blogger-chronicler and a fan of the sport, and as we enter the second day of Women’s Month today, I am featuring later a glimpse of kayoing quotes from the two well-known boxing Filipinas of today, the Olympian Nesty Petecio and Rica Aquino-Uy from the professional rank to be concluded by that of boxers’ rights advocate Marian Trimiar, a pioneer in the field and fought between 1976 and 1985.

Before that, as known to boxing communities all over the globe, the first official female bout in the world happened as early as 1876 when Nel Saunders defeated Rose Harland at the Hill’s Theater in New York.

To borrow from David Diamante, “The fight starts now!"

The assigned female at birth Nesthy Alcayde Petecio, a native of Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur was born on April 11, 1992, and won a silver medal in the inaugural women's featherweight event at the 2020 Summer Olympics, becoming the first Filipino woman to win an Olympic medal in boxing.

“Sobrang proud po ako bilang member ng LGBTI+. Kahit anong gender po natin basta may pangarap po tayo, laban po!” (Eng. Trans. :”I am very proud as a member of LGBTI+. No matter what gender we are, as long as we have a dream, fight!’), says s/he on the interview over GMA’s Unang Hirit morning program on August 4, 2021.

Rica Aquino-Uy AKA Baby Dynamite is a boxing commentator, sportscaster analyst, and musician (violinist). She hailed from Besao and Sagada in the Mountain Province, a half-Igorot who was so proud of the warrior tradition of her indigenous people’s lineage and ethnic roots. She may not be as popular as Petecio but she is famous in her own right (Well, I follow her coverage of the events with Mr. Alvin S. Go, her godfather, over Elorde TV Sports).

“As a boxer, I strive to be the champion, but there is more to the profession than just fighting. People reach out to me on social media, and young kids exist in my community who want to learn boxing. I have a social responsibility to give back,” says Baby Dynamite in a piece by George Buid and published at Orato World on August 17, 2022.

The story of these brave women warriors like the seasoned Fil-Am Sarah Rama-Goodson, and the rest of their kind is a continuing tale of perseverance and insistence that they belong or once belonged in the ring and, through their achievements, provide for the betterment of the sport as a whole no doubt.

But this is the undisputed killer quote of all time for me and it’s from Marian “Lady Tyger” Trimiar mentioned when she staged a month-long hunger strike in April 1987 advocating for better conditions, pay, and recognition for women boxers in the US and it reads, “It's my heart, it's my love. Unless women get more recognition, we will be fighting just as a novelty for the rest of our lives. There will be no future." (Source: Houston Chronicle News Services 04/27/1987)

Also, for the struggling women in the world, regardless of their ideology and political beliefs, love, passion, responsibility, and conviction have transformative powers.

Happy Women’s Month to all boxing Pinays, the empowered women of the ring in its true, literal sense.