The Boxing Taduran Brothers

Now that the election dust has settled and the controversy surrounding Navarrete-Suarez hangs in the balance, let us turn our attention to the forthcoming title defense of Pedro Taduran Jr.

Pedro Taduran Jr. initially dreamed of becoming a soldier. However, his elder brother Joel persuaded him to pursue a different path—to become a professional boxer, just like him. Joel Taduran made his professional boxing debut in 2013 and concluded his career in March 2023. After retiring from the ring, he moved to Macau where he trained top-tier Asian fighters and worked at the Macau Boxing House, a gym known for preparing elite boxers for prestigious competitions across Asia. Despite his success abroad, Joel returned to the Philippines to support his younger brother, Pedro Jr., who is currently the reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) mini-flyweight world champion.

On Saturday, May 24, in Osaka, Pedro Jr. will defend his title in a highly anticipated rematch against Japan’s Ginjiro Shigeoka. At 28 years old, Pedro aims to repeat his previous triumph over Shigeoka, whom he defeated via ninth-round technical knockout last year.

Meanwhile, their brother Jorge is also making waves as a boxing coach. He is currently preparing athletes for the 65th Palarong Pambansa, which will commence on May 24 in Laoag, Ilocos Norte. Among the young amateur boxers representing their region are 16-year-olds Jhan Jay Papa and Prince Gian Abogado.

Boxing runs deep in the Taduran bloodline. Their brother Joseph, a former amateur boxer, played a pivotal role in inspiring all three—Pedro, Joel, and Jorge—to pursue the sport. All four brothers have laced up gloves and stepped into the ring at some point in their lives. When asked via Messenger about the importance of Pedro's upcoming title defense, Joel replied, “This fight is extremely important to protect the title and to open doors for a unification bout. If fortune smiles on us again, an undisputed championship may be within reach.” Joel added that this fight is dedicated to the Filipino people, as well as to Pedro's manager, Madam Cucuy Elorde—the youngest daughter of the legendary Gabriel “Flash” Elorde—and head coach Carl Peñalosa.

Both Joel and Pedro Jr. were discovered and developed by the legendary promoter Art Monis. They began their careers as four-round fighters. However, it was Cucuy Elorde who gave the upcoming champion the opportunity to work in the United States. That path eventually led Pedro Jr. to a world title eliminator against Jake Amparo, ultimately making him a permanent fixture in the Elorde Boxing Stable.

Joel holds no resentment about his younger brother's rise to fame. Having officially retired from active competition, he now devotes all his time and energy to guiding Pedro Jr.’s boxing career. After all, it was Joel who introduced him to the sport in the first place.

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(Photo courtesy of Joel Taduran)

 

Of Boxing Sweets and Sugars

Sugar Shane Mosley and Sugar Ray Leonard only borrowed it from the "original" Sugar Ray Robinson AKA Walter Smith, Jr, who was born in Detroit on May 3, 1921. Boxing historians said that to beat the minimum age on his maiden fight, Smith borrowed the birth certificate of his friend, Ray Robinson, and hit the big time when he defeated Tommy Bell in December of 1946 for the welterweight division in a title fight and not unlike Manny Pacquiao, Sugar Ray bring sweetness to social, political and economic bitterness of many countries around the world and World War II’s acidic aftertaste that time.

Ray Robinson acquired this nickname after a journalist for a local newspaper named Jack Case told George Gainford (Robinson's manager) that he had a sweet fighter in Robinson, and his manager replied, "As sweet as sugar". Jack Case remembered this comment because in his newspaper article the next day, he named Ray "Sugar Ray Robinson", thus the ring name.

The statistic shows the sourness and sweetness of Sugar Ray Robinson’s career: In 202 professional fights he registered 109 KOs, won 66 on-point decisions, had 6 draws, lost 18 via scorecard, was knocked out once, and had 2 no contest. He died on April 12, 1989, at 67 due to Alzheimer's disease and, of all diseases, diabetes!

Robinson’s boxing career was a combination of bitter-sweet-sweet-bitter journey. Not unlike Pacquiao. Sugar Ray lost when he challenged Joey Maxim for the light-heavyweight title and opted to retire in 1952 but after 3 years, he once again climbed the ring and beat the middleweight title from Carl “Bobo” (Certainly, a Filipino would not choose it for a ring name!) Olson.

Sugar Ray’s career was a roller coaster ride until he lost the title for good to Paul Pender on January 22, 1960, exactly two years and one day before this scribe was born.

But why is boxing called a sweet science? British journalist named Pierce Egan in 1824, while he was covering the sport, referred to boxing as “the sweet science of bruising”. Since then, boxing has been referred to as the "sweet science."

It was the summer of 1947 when Sugar Ray Robinson slugged it out against Jimmy Doyle and Robinson beat him so badly that Doyle collapsed and died. Some days later, at the hearing into the death, the district attorney turned to Ray and asked accusingly, "Couldn't you see he was hurt?" Sugar Ray looked at him resentfully. "Sir," he told him, "it's my business to hurt people."

Even today, the statement is true. The business of boxing is still aimed at hurting the opponent. It is the unmatched gruesome business that we all love to watch. But it has no place for arrogance and conceit because boxing is a dignified sport.

Indeed, the sweet science of hurting people with full respect. Boxing is a paradox.

Of Bruce Lee and Manny Paquiao

There are two Asian fists that shook the world. One is that of Bruce Lee and the other belongs to Manny Pacquiao.

Bruce Lee was born November 27, 1940 in San Francisco, more than 8 decades ago today.

Manny Pacquiao is an avid fan of Bruce Lee no doubt. SenaPac (Yes, this is how I call him at times) told GMA news that Bruce Lee is his idol. Boxing’s only 8-division champ further said, “All of Bruce Lee’s movies, I watch it. The quickness of his hand speed – bop!” Pacquiao admitted that he formed his fighting style watching the martial arts legend’s flicks when he was still the Kid Kulafu of General Santos City.

In case you do not know, Leo Fong, former Bruce Lee student told EsNews Boxing in 2015 that Bruce Lee got his footwork from Muhammad Ali. Well, in this sense, Lee’s Jet Kune Do, in one way or another, has a root in boxing. In an interview in 2011, Jet Kune Do follower Teri Tom observed that Pacquiao throws his jab with his fist, turning his hip and putting the strong side forward, in a feinting movement that looks very similar to Lee’s technique. Tom further said, “There are people who have studied Bruce Lee for many, many decades and they can’t break it down and figure it out. Manny has done it,” Tom told GMA that year. “And I would assume he’s done it without an instructor. It seems like he absorbed a lot of what he saw Bruce Lee doing, he put the strong side up front,” Tom also said in 2011. 

Bruce Lee would have been 83-years-old today, had he not passed away at the young age of 33. His followers went towards different ways after his untimely demise at passed his legacy across generations influencing the only 8-division boxing champion Manny Pacquiao.

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Reference : https://www.scmp.com/sport/boxing/article/3016526/manny-pacquiao-channels-bruce-lee-keith-thurman-fight-his-actions-and

https://biography.yourdictionary.com/articles/how-did-bruce-lee-die.html

Photo: Twitter/Manny Pacquiao

Pacquiao-Margarito Remembered and the Slugfest in Mamburao

On November 13, 2022, the whole boxing world will commemorate the 12^th anniversary of Manny Pacquiao being declared an octuple champion. Also, on that day, in the event of the week-long 72^nd Founding Anniversary celebration of Occidental Mindoro, a punching festival will be held dubbed “Babakan ng Kamao sa Kapitolyo”. It will be a spectacular fistfight of our local amateur boxers and professional fights featuring aspiring professionals from all over. The amateur bouts are open to all fighters from Occidental Mindoro.

It is almost impossible that the feat of Pacquiao to win major world titles in eight different weight classes to be ever replicated. He is the octuple champion, and that is beyond repetition. Filipino living legend Manny Pacquiao is the only boxer in history to have won twelve major world titles in eight different weight divisions. Pacquiao achieved the feat when he defeated Antonio Margarito via a unanimous decision to win the WBC super welterweight title on, as I have mentioned above, November 13, 2010, at the Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas, USA.

The main event between two tyro professionals is promoted by Cecilio Alvarez of the Sablayan and Sta. Cruz-based JBoy Boxing Promotions was accredited by the Philippine Games and Amusement Board (GAB) in 2010, the same year when Pacquiao became the octuple champion. This event, at Capitol Plaza in the capital town of Mamburao, will feature budding and aspiring professionals like James Pacamalan and Henry Lumalan. The Pacamalan versus Lumalan will be the afternoon's main event next Sunday. Pacamalan last fought on June 18, 2022, in Kitaotao, Bukidnon, and TKOed Armando Literiano in a rather funny way. Click YouTube and see it for yourself.

Alvarez, now a police officer and was once a street boxer as a teenager, thinks of many untapped and unrecognized boxing potentials in the province, he said, “Nakikita ko po kasi maraming boxers natin na magagaling subalit hindi nabibigyan ng pansin.” The promoter has a boxing pedigree. He added that his maternal grandfather, Santos “Very Gooding” Abela was a known amateur puncher in Palawan. He also has an uncle who fought for Sablayan, Pol Abela, and was a regional star during the 80s.

On the upcoming slugfest at the Capitol on Sunday, under the tutelage of the legendary local great Joe Francisco, Sablayan will be parading two of its very best pugilists. They share the same first name: John Alcantara Bulan and John Paul Amores. Pabling Serrano Jr., secretary of the SAMARICA Alliance Boxing Association (SABA), the sanctioning body of the amateur side of the event, also informed this scribe that SABA’s prexy is San Jose Vice-Mayor Sonny Javier.

Aside from Bulan and Amores, the participating boxers include Darwin Laquihon, Eiron Bernardo, Johnson Remobus, and John Lorenz Dela Cruz. From Rizal, they will have Ronel Villanueva, Christian Talacero, Rodrigo Hermoso, and Jansel Edep. Dave Ulay Bautista is the lone representative from Calintaan. The host municipality will field in John Christian De Jesus, Arnel De Jesus, Ricardo Segundo, and John Delle Amar. On the other hand, the main event will be contested by Mark Justine Mendez, Kenvin Prado, Rio Rivero, Chris Talacero, and Ramil Salcedo.

Calling all boxing enthusiasts, come one come all. The mayhem will start at 1:00 PM and by the way, it’s admission is free!

After 72 years of defying the odds, political, economic, cultural, social, and even spiritual, under its new leadership, citizens like you and me must take part in history in our current roles and capacities. We must both fight in the range and ring of, so to speak, history-making wins as fighters and not just spectators.

Just like how Pacquiao laid a savage beating on Margarito even though the PacMan was outweighed by 17 pounds, we will battle them out in complete humility in the coming years.

Allow me to end by quoting Pacquaio after November 13, 2010 fight, “I fought a very good fight and the atmosphere at Cowboys Stadium was so memorable. I do think the fight should have been stopped. Margarito took a lot of punishment." But all boxing pundits know that after the Margarito fight, the PacMan passed his prime but in our case as a province, we are just starting to slug it out. To quote the fictitious Rocky Balboa, “It ain’t about how hard you can hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.”

Keep on punchin’, folks, and happy anniversary!

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Reference:

https://www.espn.ph/boxing/story/_/id/15132011/ranking-manny-pacquiao-eight-division-titles

Photo:

https://www.worldboxingnews.net/2010/11/14/manny-pacquiao-antonio-margartio/ 

Juxtaposing Occidental Mindoro Brownouts and the GGG-Canelo III

The Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (OMECO) absorbs all criticisms, insults, redicule, and hatred from its member-consumer-owners or MCO, especially during brownouts or power outages. Figuratively, as I have said before, the EC is our favorite punching bag. A punching bag, metaphorically speaking, is a person or an entity severely criticized or bashed and even punished as a way for others to express anger and heavy feelings.

In the literal sense, a punching bag is a bag filled with material or air, hung from a frame or attached to a stand and used by martial artists and boxers like Gennadiy “GGG” Golovkin and Saul “Canelo” Álvarez. The two fighters, a Kazakhstani and a Mexican, will be squaring it off for the third time on Sunday, September 18, 2022 (Philippine time), at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Since I am a boxing enthusiast, I will eagerly pray that my place is past the worst from brownout on the day of the most exciting fight of the year. Canelo will put his undisputed Super-Middleweight crown on the line against GGG.

The two rivals shared 24 electrifying rounds in 2017 and 2018, with Canelo prevailing via majority decision in the rematch after their initial match was a draw. Also, sometime in that period, the largest power provider in the province came into existence, replacing the supposed green energy source. It is supposedly geothermal.

The decades-long electricity deluge in Occidental Mindoro started even before GGG and Canelo hit the punching bag and helped them with their precision, defense and conditioning. That was even before the Cantarell oil field was established in the Gulf of Mexico and the mammoth protest Dos Kushim staged against the Russians in Kazakhstan. That’s how long the agony of the consumers in our electric power-forsaken province is.

If the GGG-Canelo III is dubbed "The Trilogy", the Occidental Mindoro electric power history can be called "The Tragedy".

While oil fuels electricity, protests are a natural consequence of its absence. According to the only biggest power generator in Western Mindoro, the present intermittent brownout is due to a lack of sufficient fuel because their finances could no longer afford its entire purchase. Over social media, the netizens protested. Without rational processes, though figuratively, they delivered the most brutal blows, wayward punches, and vicious kicks on their favorite punching bag: the OMECO.

Attacks even aimed only at the punching bag and not in an actual fight necessitate brain or education. Boxing is not just about power and speed. It also involves critical, informed, and rational action. Read about Pythagoras, the philosopher. He was also a boxer.

Netizens lambasted OMECO to no end, for they instantly believed it had a massive debt to the power producer, which is untrue. These people over the net didn’t bother to study and verify whether it was a fact. To set the record straight, our EC has no debt to the leading power producer. This is just a figment in the imagination of irresponsible social media personalities and users and the enablers of that corporation.

Instead of blaming OMECO for this debacle, we should have called for retracting the unjustified penalty imposed by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for the alleged bidding failure. How could there be a failure of bidding if the price is low and favorable to the MCOs?

We should have stood by OMECO by not passing the burden of payment to the consumers and we should have been pressuring the ERC to clarify its order at the soonest possible time.

Do your homework, and don’t punch the wrong bag!

But like the literal punching bag, OMECO is also fixed to something more powerful above. Laws, entities, personalities, bureaucracies, corruptions, politics, etc. But admittedly, it has its own internal little problems too.

In boxing, there is a “tale of the tape.” It refers to objectively comparing two fighters, where they are measured and weighed before a fight. The word “tape” here suggests that reach or height was the first measurement being referred to. Over time, the phrase has expanded, including weight and other semi-objective measurements like a fighter’s previous record, what championship belts they possess, and biographical information like where they are from. In this context, it combines making an objective comparison with simply describing the fighter.

Here is the Tale of the Tape in the GGG v. Canelo III:

ALVAREZ

Age: 32

Fights: 61

Wins: 57

Losses: 2

Draws: 2

Knock Out Wins: 39

Height: 5’8”

Weight: 168 lbs.

Stance: Orthodox

GOLOVKIN

Age: 40

Fights: 44

Wins: 42

Loss: 1

Draw: 1

Knock Out Wins: 37

Height: 5’10”

Stance: Orthodox

From “tale of the tape,” let us go to “red tape.” As we all know, red tape is an idiom referring to regulations or conformity to formal rules or standards claimed to be excessive, rigid, or redundant or to bureaucracy claimed to hinder or prevent action or decision-making.

There was a dialogue initiated by the Municipal Council of San Jose last September 12, 2022, and was exhaustively presided by Hon. Mercy Alvaran, we are informed that the bidding delay was caused not by OMECO but by power entities at the national level and its power provider itself. The lady lawmaker told this scribe that at least now, the municipal legislative board could craft resolutions in support of all those in the local power sector regarding brownout. 

Dr. Eleanor Sy-Costibolo, MD., the feisty president of the OMECO BOD, reiterated that the delay in the bidding was not their fault and what they did was following the law, blatantly declared: “This is all red tape!”.

"To summarize, the fund is the main problem from all sides of the fence. It's the poor consumers that are caught in the middle of this scarcity of money," laments Alvaran. But for me, the scarcity of understanding tops them all. And I would not care if I get the ire and being laughed at by simpletons upon posting this. 

GGG is always seeking his opponent’s shutdown. Canelo loves to counter, but they are heavy punchers, and if a fist landed in your mouth, a total blackout would eat your all being with a full tank of fuel. When this two clash for the third time, the night’s most intelligent boxer will win.

Attacking OMECO generally, at least at this particular juncture, is like boxing our own face.

It’s GGG by stoppage. Round 8.

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(Photo: Pinterest)

 

 

Pandan Island/Isla Puerta

Sablayan’s enchanting and historic Pandan Island was given a new name for cinematic purposes in the latest film by director Roman Perez, Jr. The movie which was finished early this year (2022) titled “Putahe” named Pandan Island as Isla Puerta. As far as I know, it was the only movie that was shot entirely in Occidental Mindoro. “Putahe” is a sexploitation film, an erotic thriller. Many scenes in Joey Gosiengfiao’s 1996 film “Nights of Serafina” belonging to the same genre was also filmed in Paluan, starring Georgia Ortega.

The island is called Isla Puerta, according to the narrator of the movie, because is it shaped like a vulva. “Putahe” was released on May 13, 2022, by Vivamax and I’ve seen it yesterday. To catch its trailer, click this.

The Pandan Island in the municipality of Sablayan in Occidental Mindoro Province is an island of 28 hectares, almost round in shape and almost flat which are far from the attributes of a normal vulva. A coral island with its shores is rocky with sharp coral rocks alternated with one lovely white sand beach of several hundreds of meters long. A larger part of the island is forested and a lot of trees grow there. A truly ideal location for a movie. The movie was taken only for a total of ten days. A quickie indeed (all pun intended!).

But way back in 1949, a post-war film called "Parola" was filmed in our province. It is a story about an innocent man who was tried for murder but while being transported by ship to prison sunk and luckily he escapes to an island inhabited by another man and his daughters and a sister who abandon city life and settles on a quiet island to ease the pain and hatred. Included in the cast are Jaime dela Rosa, Gil de Leon, among others. Film buffs of old say that Occidental Mindoro is never portrayed so blissfully perfect as this film. It was filmed on Lubang Island and directed by Jose Climaco. Watch the film's clip here.

Let us go back to Isla Puerta, I mean "Putahe".

 "Putahe” was told from the perspective of Jenny (Ayanna Misola) who lived with her fisherman father Abel (Ronnie Lazaro). Jenny worked for Isla Puerta’s woman barangay captain played by Shirley Fuentes as Pompa. The 16-year-old Jenny had a boyfriend named Ephraim (Massimo Scofield). The other main dwellers of the fictitious island barangay were Kagawad Betong (Mon Confiado) and his wife Lalaine (Carlene Aguilar), the village prostitute Elise (Hershey de Leon), and soldier Capitan Cain (Jiad Arroyo), among others. Some residents of Sablayan also played as extras.

During the shooting, it was reported that the production staff almost meted with a penalty by the municipal government after receiving reports that the group fished in the area. It is prohibited to catch fish and other marine species in the waters around the Pandan since it is a protected area. The problem was immediately settled, nonetheless.

A mysterious seductive woman named Euka (Janelle Tee) arrived one day on the island and established an eatery introducing her own exotic and innovative fish dishes. Euka does not only serve food. More than her delicious delicacies, she also bigheartedly serves the so-called “luto ng diyos” of which her customers primarily want to partake. I won’t tell you how the story ended and how the characters shared the menu. Watch it at your own risk.

And the only thing that I enjoyed most in the movie is its soundtrack from the the immortal Victor Wood titled "Malupit na Pag-Ibig". Listen to it, kids. It's a hit during our days.

Also, I do not do movie reviews so I will stop here but a certain film critic named Fred at Blogger pertinently said: The title of this latest Roman Perez Jr. film is playful as it literally denotes "viand," but also naughtily suggests "prostitute." It was too bad that there was more about whoring than it was about cooking.”

In short, we just hosted a movie about whoring.

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Photo: imdb.com

Jade Talampas: The Mindoro Jade

The Mindoro Jade, not unlike similar precious stones unearthed somewhere else, is purified in the hands of a seasoned, tested artisan. Confucius once noted that the wise have likened jade to a virtue. One’s master craftsman or life coach is usually his own father.  The boy was only 12 when he started playing the game invented by James A. Naismith of Springfield, Massachusetts.  

Jade C. Talampas, the 20-year old, 6”2 shooting guard of the Arellano University Chiefs in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) hails from Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro. But before that, he was also in the line-ups of the UST Growling Tigers and the San Beda Red Cubs.

Jade, like a gemstone, during his early days in basketball was moulded, formed and shaped by his father Raymond Talampas into a solid rock of a basketeer. Raymond, the father, is also a star cager in their place which is Barangay Tangkalan of said municipality in northern Occidental Mindoro, the province’s capital town.  They even played in a same team then as Jade Talampas recalled in his memoirs posted by Triple Junard in his blog “Im a Baller” at Facebook last June 28, 2020. In that blog entry, Jade also recalls, “Grabe talaga yung mga panahon na iyon, sobrang determinado kami ni papa sa pag-te-train sa basketball. Nagbunga din naman lahat nang paghihirap namin noong makuha ko yung rookie at MVP awards sa Barangay League.”

Jade Talampas started to pick his first basketball in a high school official game at the campus of Occidental Mindoro National High School (OMNHS) and his skills were polished there with Raymond always in the side line.  Mr. Kristent Leo Tuscano, Jade’s teacher and later his interim trainer recalls, “Nagulat na lang ang lahat sa 360 degrees turn around ng skill sets niya sa basketball.” Unknown to his coaches and trainers in school, Jade is sort of undergoing special training sessions at home under his father Raymond. Their neighbors and townfolks were used to seeing the father and son tandem doing their early morning jog from Tangkalan to the Provincial Capitol compound and vice-versa. Talampas at first was a Sepak Takraw player joining provincial and regional meets when he was in his elementary grades.

Tuscano was Jade’s teacher in Research who gave him some tips in terms of physical and mental preparations. But that was nothing compared to the inputs and lessons Jade gets from Raymond, his father. Tuscano added, “Raymond is hands on up to now in privately coaching his son.” The younger Talampas’s official trainer at OMNHS in the Provincial Meet that year was Jojo Magpantay and their coach was Kristian Orly Benitez.

Sometime in October 2018, in his last year for San Beda High School,  Talampas right from the opening buzzer controlled the game beating Mapua High School in a 84-71 victory in the NCAA 94 Men’s Basketball Tournament that year. Like a precious stone polished by fire, he pumped in 8 points in San Beda’s 15-2 start. At the final buzzer, Talampas scored 26 big points, 10 rebounds and it was a huge double-double in a crucial game.

Basketball is one of the many sports where ultimately things aren’t permanent. A time will come when a boy has to be on his or her own on the road to the pro league, the El Dorado of any sports. The people of Tamarawlandia must keep their fingers crossed for its fruition.

It is the time when the jade is already polished to near perfection by its first craft worker.

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 Photo: From Jade Talampas’ FB account

References: https://sports.abs-cbn.com/ncaa/news/2018/10/26/talampas-peaks-right-time-red-cubs-stay-alive-ncaa-94-48883

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=146152313730434&id=100310224981310

 

 

Chris Lalata, His Roots, His Rooster Dunk

The high-flying Chris Lalata of Bicol Volcanoes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) is gradually making name in the Philippine basketball scene. He had been in many dunking competitions in the last three years of his stint as a ball player.

Seeing him play for the first time in television for the Olivares College and Technological Institute of the Philippines in the season three of the Universities and Colleges Basketball League (UCBL) in 2018, I immediately browsed Facebook to initiate a contact with him. And we did.

Lalata is known for his power plays. I call his leaper Rooster Dunk. If basketball is a cockfight, he is our manok na llamado, so to speak. Incidentally, he is lovingly called “Manok” by his close friends and bosom buddies in the loop house. He was born and raised in Barangay Mangarin here in San Jose in January 9, 1995. He practically grew in a breeding farm for fighting cocks in their community.

Chris is the son of my classmate Baltazar (or Balting) way back in 1977 or 1978 who was a basketball player himself. He played in various teams in San Jose Summer Basketball League (SJSBL). Like his father before him, Chris, at 6’5, also plays the center position. He roots for San Antonio Spurs in the NBA and a solid Barangay Ginebra fan. In the PBA, he idolizes Japeth Aguilar, Mark Yee and Calvin Abueva.

Lalata’s recent feather on his cap is when he represented the country as member of the MPBL-All Star in Calgary, Canada and that was in December 27 to 28 only last year (2019). Also seen action in the All-Star games are Bacoor's Gab Banal; Davao Occidental's Mark Yee; Manila's Aris Dionisio and Chris Bitoon; Valenzuela's Paulo Hubalde and Val Acuna; Pampanga's Michael Juico; Batangas' Jeff Viernes and Jhaymo Eguilos; Imus' Anderson; and Sarangani City's Spencer Eman. Lalata represented the Bicol Volcanoes in said basketball tour abroad and he is youngest member of the squad.

Chris Lalata was featured in a Facebook personal blog called “Im a Baller” today, July 16, 2020. Recalling his early days as a student and a ball player, he said, “Nahasa din ako nang nahasa sa TRIZJJAM [his former team during his youthful days]. Hanggang sa kinuha din ako ng Pedro T. Mendiola na school ko noong high school para maglaro sa MIMAROPA. 4th year ako that time at in-invite din kami ni Coach Boy Cortado maglaro sa inter-town ng Sablayan.” To those who are willing to know the basketball journey of Chris Lalata, from the old court of Mangarin to Juan G. Santos Memorial Gym, as cager for the St. Francis of Assisi College, to Olivarez College, to Muntinlupa and the Bicol Volcanoes of the MPBL, you may read it directly from Im a Baller. It’s worth reading if you are from the locality, I tell you.

Local basketball player and now Sablayan councilor Jaebee Dawates, who once tried out for the University of the East (UE) Warriors, is greatly amazed how Lalata was able to fine tune his craft since his San Jose days and reached this far. Dawates was a member of the champion team SK-Barangay III way back in 2011 when Lalata was still awkward in his dribbling and shooting. The latter has no match with the former then, defense and offense-wise.

But with Lalata’s big heart for the game and perseverance to succeed, he already jumpstarted his basketball career. Incidentally, Dawates, for one reason or another, did not make it to the UE varsity team. Unlike Chris Lalata who qualified at once to play under the banner of his school, the St. Francis of Assisi College.

Be in the Big League, big man. Make your town mates proud.

Be the next great basketball player born in San Jose. Next to the great Caloy Loyzaga.

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References:

https://rappler.com/sports/mpbl-all-star-squads-take-act-calgary-edmonton-canada

https://www.facebook.com/Im-a-Baller-100310224981310

 

 

Double Entendre: Ang Bomba, si Pikoy at si Boy Sullivan

Sa panahon na tinatawag na Bomba Films noong time ni Marcos, karaniwan na ang mga double entendre sa mga titulo ng sine. Ilan lang sa halimbawa ay ang mga pelikula noong 1970 hanggang 1971 na pinagbidahan ni Rosanna Ortiz gaya ng "Patigasan", "Saging ni Pacing" (na later ang pinalitan ng "Ang Magsasaging ni Pacing"), "Batuta ni Drakula"  (na isang horror-sexy film with Eddie Garcia), "Bukid ay Basa" (1971) na ang tawag dati ng movie scribe na si Nestor U. Torre ay “sexcessively suggestive” movie titles. Mga pelikulang sa Gem Theater malimit ipalabas.

Si Lito Anzures ay si Pikoy sa "Ang Alamat" ni Fernando Poe, Jr. Kanang-kamay siya ng mersenaryong si Adonis (Romy Diaz) na ni-recruit ni Don Joaquin (Nello Nayo) para maghasik ng lagim sa Rio Piedra upang mapagharian niya ang buong bayan na nabubuhay sa pagsasaka. Well, kagaya ng ibang sine ni FPJ, sa paghupa ng umaatikabong barilan natapos ang pelikula, gamit ang kanyang gintong kalibre 45 baril. Mala-Rambo ang istorya ng pelikula, kagaya ng ibang sine ni Da King.

Galit na galit si Don Joaquin sa eksena dahil hindi nila napatay si Igmidio (Pempe Padilla) na lider ng mga nag-aaklas na mamamayan at ito ay nakapagtago. Habang may kaniig na babae sa kanyang kandungan ay binigkas ni Pikoy:

“Ang tapang ng tao’y kadalasang walang silbi

Kapag ginagamit ng wala sa kukote

Ang maghimagsik sa aming ginawa

Iyong tungkulin sa balat ng lupa,

Ang lungga ng ahas ay dapat na hanapin

Pero bawat lungga ay dapat na salaksakin.”

Nang akmang papasukin ni Don Joaquin si Adonis sa silid habang ito ay may katalik ding babae ay bumulalas muli si Pikoy ng patula:

"Lahat ng gawai’y pwedeng abalahin

Ngunit importante inyong sasabihin

Pero kapag ang tandang ay gustong lumimlim

Ay huwag itong abalahin, pati ang inahin."

Nangako si Don Joaquin na kapag napatay nila si Diego (Fernando Poe, Jr) ay babayaran sila ng mas malaki. Si Pikoy na mas ganid sa laman kaysa sa salapi ay bumigkas ng:

“Totoong sa bawat kagat ng tinapay

Yaring aking dila’y talagang naglalaway

Pero kung pandesal ang sa aki’y ibibigay

Huwag naman Don Joaquin, ang gusto ko’y monay.”

Imagine, 10 years old pa lang ako nung una kong mapanood ang "Ang Alamat" sa Levi Rama pero nang panoorin ko lang ito uli kagabi sa YouTube, saka ko pa lang nalaman ang sexual undertones o double entendre ng mga tula dito ni Pikoy. Si Fred Navarro ang screenplay writer nito.

Mula pelikula, punta tayo sa musika. Bago pa man ang "Nilunok Kong Lahat" ni Selina Sevilla at "Jumbo Hotdog" ng Maskulados, isang Pinoy music legend ang sumulat at umawit ng mga kantang may double entendre tulad ng "Ang Mahiwagang Hiwa," "Itlog Ko at Mani Mo" at "O-Tin-Dera". Siya si Boy Sullivan na tambok, este tampok, sa kanyang "Haring Solomon (May Alagang Pagong)" album na lumabas noong 1972.

Si Boy Sullivan, Pedro G. Santos sa tunay na buhay, ay namatay sa edad na 83 noon lamang Hunyo 29, 2020. Siya ay taga-Hagonoy at bago niya isinulat ang mga kanta sa Haring Solomon, siya ay isa sa mga original members of The Big 3 Sullivans kasama si Mar Lopez at Apeng Daldal hanggang siya ay mag-solo. Siya ang kinilalang king of parody and naughty songs noong araw.

Hanggang ang double entendre ay isang literary device, walang makakapigil sa mga manunulat na isingit ito sa anumang likhang-sining na di naman sagarang erotiko.

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(Photo: Amazon.com)

Si Flash Elorde at ang mga Suntok ni FPJ

Kung tutuusin, hindi naman talaga boxing movie ang 1964 film Mano-Mano pero bida dito ang Filipino all-time boxing great Gabriel “Flash” Elorde at si Fernando Poe, Jr., ang King of Philippine Movies directed by Efren Reyes (Hindi si Bata Reyes ha. Ibang tao ‘yun.) Kasama dito sina Paquito Diaz, Lito Anzures, Pablo Virtuoso, Dencio Padilla, Victor Bravo, Vic Varrion, Larry Silva, Johnny Montiero with Rebecca at Mila Montanez.

Ang Mano-Mano ay isang action-comedy film at ang ikaapat na pelikula ni Flash Elorde. Sa kanyang entire movie career, si Elorde ay lumabas sa anim na pelikula bago siya bawian ng buhay dahil sa kanser sa baga noong January 2, 1985.

Ito ay umiikot sa kuwento ng apat na mag-kaibigan, sina Nanding (Poe) at Dencio (Padilla) na mga jobless na nakatira sa Tondo hanggang sa makatagpo nila ang mga bagong salta na sina Bay (Elorde) at Pablo (Virtuoso) na mula naman sa Bogo, Cebu. Sa tunay na buhay, si Elorde ay totoong ipinanganak sa nasabing lugar noong Marso 25, 1935. Siya ay mula sa isang mahirap na pamilya at bunso sa 15 magkakapatid.

Isa lang ang napanpansin ko sa mga sine dati kapag pinapanood ko ang mga ito sa YouTube: natural na natural and akting ng mga gumaganap. Hindi kagaya ngayon na pulos OA na ang pag-arte ng mga artista. Kahit atrasado sa mga aspetong teknikal, ang paag-arte noon ay totoong sining at hindi para lamang kumita, sa tingin ko. Dangan kasi naman, ang hahaba ng mga linya o dialogue noon pero despite of this, yakang-yaka itong i-deliver ng mga artista.

Maraming eksena ng buntalan ang pelikula. Tipikal na sangkap ng mga sine noong kamusmusan ko ang rambulan, suntukang grupo-grupo, walang kawawaang boksingan na matatapos lamang at magpupulasan ang mga nag-aaway kung may paparating na sumisilbatong pulis na may dalang batuta. Walang patalim, walang baril, walang gaanong dugo, basta sumbagan lang at upakan gamit lang ang kamao. Black and white pa noon ang sine.

Nakakatawa rin ang batuhan ng linya nina Virtuoso at Padilla bilang mga sidekick nina Elorde at Poe. Si Pablo sa kanyang Cebuanong diksyon at Batangenyo naman ang kay Dencio. Ipinakita din dito ang galing sa gitara ni Virtuoso at ang kaalaman ni Padilla sa nakatatawang pag-awit. Ito ay sa isang eksena ng harana, isang tradisyong Pinoy na katulad ng itinatampok nating pelikula ngayon ay limot na rin ng panahon.

Sa mga bakbakang kalye sa Mano-Mano ay makikita mo ang ilang galaw na boxing fundamentals, wika nga. Kung napanood mo lang ang mga lumang laban noon ni Flash Elorde at ikaw ay totoong boxing enthusiast, madali mong makita na master na master niya ang distansiya. Magaling siya sa step back habang nagka-counter punch. Signature din niya ang angular in and out movement upang malagay siya sa dominant position para umatake. Mga galaw at kilos na in-improve lang ni Manny Pacquiao nang lumaon, sabi.

Pero si Flash Elorde, hindi kagaya ni Pacquiao, kailanman ay hindi nasilaw sa pulitika. Si FPJ naman, nanalo sana kung hindi lang dinaya.

Pero nauna sa pelikulang Mano-Mano, noong 1962, pinagbidahan ni FPJ ang pelikulang Apollo Robles (Oo, naunang gumamit si FPJ ng karakter na pinangalanang “Apollo” sa isang boxing movie kaysa kay Apollo Creed sa Rocky movie franchise.) na istorya ng isang aspiring boxer na iniwan ang kanyang pagiging medical student at umibig sa isang dalagang itinatakwil ang boksing. Ang Apollo Robles ay tumabo noon sa takilya at isa sa mga kauna-unahang boxing movie sa bansa kabilang ang The Flash Elorde Story (1961) na bio-flick ng Pinoy world boxing champ.  

Ayon sa ulat, kinunsulta umano ng mga production staff at ni Gerardo “Gerry” de Leon na direktor nito si Flash Elorde para sa mga boxing and fight scenes ng Apollo Robles. Sinulat ni Simon Santos sa kanyang blog entry noong June 2008 na, “Those pointers became very crucial later in many fight scenes the actor made in his movies. He integrated part of Elorde’s styles and techniques to his own styles and came up with a unique “FPJ rapid and lightning punches” we all know.” So, iyon pala ang umpisa ng cinematic punching style ni Da King na nadala niya hanggang sa Durugin si Totoy Bato (1979) in the coming years.

1950s nang makilala sa mundo ng boksing si Flash Elorde. Sabi nga ng sikat na boxing journalist na si Nigel Collins, “[Flash Elorde] galvanized the nation and carried boxing to greater heights than ever before.”

Noong 1993, si Elorde ang kauna-unahang Asyano na na-induct sa New York-based International Boxing Hall of Fame. Kahit matagal na siyang yumao, mababasa pa rin ang kanyang istorya sa mga text book sa mga paaralan sa buong bansa.

Halos lahat ng pelikula ni FPJ ay kakakitaan ng kanyang rapidong suntok (Gaya sa Roman Rapido), suntok sa mukha pababa sa bodega ng goon na may grand finale na pompyang o kaya ay matitinding wind mill uppercuts. Sa lahat ng sine ni Da King ay may mapapanood kang signature rolling punch.

Bagay na hindi kinayang gawin kailanman ni Flash Elorde sa buong buhay niya.

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(Photo; Advocacine’s Blog)

http://fpj-daking.blogspot.com/2008/06/da-king-meets-da-flash.html

https://www.kcet.org/history-society/from-villa-to-pacquiao-filipino-boxing-in-la-and-the-power-of-a-transnational-punch

The San Jose Summer Basketball League, c. 70s and 80s.

(Foreword: Again, if you can relate to this, please comment anything you remember about this topic or comment, pass or tag this to your friends that can well relate in this story. Photo commenting, photos from the past on this subject is welcome. As I have said, make them miss home while in quarantine in reminiscence especially this time when our town fiesta is near. You may share this but please do not copy paste.- NAN)

The heydays of local basketball in this lowly town was in the mid part of 70s to early part of the 80s. We all watch “flesh-and-bone” or live games in San Jose Summer Basketball League or SJSBL at the old roofless San Jose Municipal Gymnasium. Our fiesta then is not complete without summer basketball. If we turn back the hand of time exactly at this very moment, it is basketball time in San Jose!

This basketball tradition started in 1964 when Tirso Abeleda was the town mayor. Before the construction of the old gym, the tournaments were held at the present site of San Jose Town Plaza. Well, this narrative only covers circa 70s and 80s as I have emphasized in its title.

Before we enter the gymnasium, eateries, snack parlors are all over. They serve beer, too. This was San Jose by night. Three of the most prominent diners and bars then are owned by Deling Cruz, Helen Briones and Remy Zubiri.

At the gates of the gymnasium, the keepers were two old women. They are Flaviana Rayton and Pacencia Zubiri and we call them Lola Bianang and Lola Pacing, respectively.

The sportscasters, gymnasium barkers (we call them “announcers” before.) consist of the veteran (war veteran and public speaking veteran) Apolinar “Popoy” Valverde, famous for his favorite expression, “Tingnan natin”. Nathan Cruz, in case you already forgot was a gymnasium barker/sportscaster first before he became radio announcer and politician. Sam Pimentel and Benjie Villaceran also joined the fray later.

The use of English language in sportscasting, ala-Joe Cantada and Penggoy Pengson, was pioneered by Lito Malubag (when he is not serving as umpire or referee), a P.E. teacher at Divine Word College of San Jose (DWCSJ), his students, Rey Morales, Robert Asignacion, Rommel San Diego, and Lot Bagatsolon, came later. This batch brought to us the blow-by-blow account of the games using the foreign tongue.

Loyzaga Lumber Mill is a team owned by Norma Loyzaga, wife of Agustin Loyzaga, brother of basketball great Caloy Loyzaga. The Loyzaga Lumberjacks top local cagers are Emy Mariano, Arthur De Jesus, Boyet Loyzaga, Arthur Cariño, Francing Callanga, Nante Dela Cruz, Uly Javier, Boy Masangkay, Tony Quirante and Inso Malibiran. The Loyzaga Lumber Mill is the winningest team in town in the senior’s division. Loyzaga also has a junior team where future PBA player Joey Loyzaga also did play.

But later, the National Grains Authority (NGA) became the Lumberjacks’ closest rival. The Grainers, later renamed NFA, paraded great players from all over the province. Nanding Cordova, Elvis Leyto, Boy Liboro, Toto Agustin, Boy Balleza and Rudy Alindato, Ding Balleza, among others, coached by Boy Jimenez, who himself played for the Borromeo Bulldogs and Eastern Venture before he finally ended as a coach.

There are brothers who played for the same team. The Celestre’s from Bagong Sikat. The Mosquera brothers, Emer, Romy, and Harmony, along with Edgar Tabasa, played in 7-D, a team owned by Juanito Dimaano.

The MBM Mendenilla Fish Dealer is managed by Aling Orang Mendenilla who sought the help of certain players surnamed Torres and Mogul backed-up by Lito “Manok” Mendenilla and other locals. 

The Capitol Tamaraws, a led by Nelson Asaytono, whose name still unfamiliar in the basketball world, was also in contention that time.

The most unforgotten “imports” are Fred Demetrio of the Loyzaga Lumberjacks who played for ER Squibb in the PBA before that teamed up with original Crispa Redmanizer Billy Abarrientos. Agpacon’s (or the Aguilos Pablo Construction) Chito Plaza former forward of the Cosmos Bottlers in MICAA played in the Junior A Division. The MBM Mendenilla fielded in Ben Obrique of the CDCP-Galleon Shippers also in the PBA. The future Ginebra star Pido Jarencio played for the PC-INP that time. The legendary Lawrence Mumar was in the line-up of Nicolas Dimaano Warehouse Basketball Team. Ace guard Jerome Cueto was hired by the Department of Agriculture. Cueto also played Masagana-99 in the old Philippine Amateur Basketball League (PABL) but never been played in the professional league. Also Benjie Paras for a time played here for the local Shell team courtesy of his friend Dennis Sy. 

The Street Brothers was a household name. Coached by Doms Bagatsolon, it was composed of June Palmares, Allan Fordan, Ardee Dula, Jojie Sarmiento, Gary Calitang, Egay Salvacion, Noel Sano, Jess Echevarri, Elmo Legayada, to name just few. (My friend, Edward Bagatsolon, is currently writing a separate and comprehensive story about the Street Brothers.)

The Divine Word College of San Jose been the hub of finest local basketeers of the era. It produces the likes of Pio Mabalot, Boy Zausa, Romy Ruiz, Bing and Romy Mataba, and the Baltazar brothers, Aldrich, Piper and Fort and that was in the early 70s.

The rivalry between Adgripina Dula Store (ADS) and Panaderia De Oro in the Junior B Division was also memorable. It was a clash of DWC high school students in the loop house that time. The ADS was commanded by Olly Ralleta, Noli Lim and several others. The Tan brothers, Allen, Tony and Bobby teamed up with Bubog boys,- Nonie Novio, Santos Abad and Dong Asenjo, all Diviners.

The “imports” who wed a local lady: Leny Ducut of Magtoto Fish Dealer, Boying Lizardo of the Department of Agriculture, Saling Melocoton also of the DA, Jojo Mangahas of Sam-Pris Studio and Enteng Mansilungan.

As for now, these are the only things that can be accommodated by this space.

Undeniably, summer basketball league was a tradition in Pandurucan before. Lest we forget, Caloy Loyzage, the greatest Filipino basketball player ever lived was born here in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.

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(Photo: of Caloy and Chito Loyzaga from Pinterest)

Engr. Leto Nicanor, COVID-19, Chess and Parenting

This bespectacled senior usually rides on his old-fashioned mountain bike donning a black short-brimmed cap and his colored polo meticulously tucked into his checkered walking shorts complete with black leather belt. There are also days when you see him playing chess under the talisay tree near the San Jose Water District Office adjacent to the town plaza.

But that was before COVID-19 contaminated the whole of humanity.

The coronavirus epidemic is not going to have its swansong any time soon. Just like everybody else, this grandpa stayed home either watching television, keeping himself busy with his smartphone, reading pocket books or solving crossword puzzles. He lives with his daughter Marites, granddaughter Thea, 8, and Mikmik, his adopted daughter, in a prominent subdivision in town.

“Mikmik” is Mae Ancheta Corpuz who is not in any way related to their blood line but he financed her schooling since her 2^nd year in high school and eventually took up her Caregiver Course at CINI, San Jose. The ole good fellow says, “I take pride in having extended her the assistance she needed with the end view of helping her family and siblings without expecting anything in return.” He stressed further that, “Mikmik’s being compassionate earned my respect and will hopefully continue to be of help to her to attain her aspirations in life.”

Our guy loves mental exercises since he was a boy. He believes that if you exercise your brain, you enhance connective tissue between the neurons in your brain to help them function better and faster.

“I started playing chess since my college days. I was the Third Board of MIT chess team joining inter-collegiate tournaments then,” says the old man in reminiscence. Nostalgically he told me too that in their varsity team, the top gun was Rolando Magno, a long- time friend who eventually went to the US upon graduation from Mapua Institute of Technology (MIT) as a reward for topping the chess tournament sponsored by the Manila Times that time.

His childhood buddy, Medardo Tan Cardoso is the younger brother of Rodolfo Tan Cardoso. The elder Cardoso is the first Filipino and Asian to earn an International Master title in chess. Rodolfo is to be remembered as the only Filipino to have beaten American wizard Bobby Fischer, Leto’s all-time favorite, via 1957 chess face-off sponsored by Pepsi-Cola. Fischer was 14 then and Cardoso, 19. Cardoso won one game and drew two games against Fischer. Chess for our man of the hour is the ultimate mental exercise.

Retired engineer Leto E. Nicanor, now 81 years old, came to San Jose in February 25, 1965 barely a year after he finished his course at MIT and landed on the top three in the board examination for electrical engineers that year (1964). He worked for 14 years at the Salt Industry of the Philippines and moved as power plant superintendent for the Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (OMECO), as facilities engineer at Filipinas Aquaculture Corporation and later joined the then newly-established Island Power Corporation (IPC) as plant manager. In 1996, he was hired by the AA Aqua Agri Corporation in Ormoc City as consultant.

Engineer Nicanor was born in Manila on December 13, 1939 and had his schooling thereat since his 4th grade in Mabini Elementary School in Quiapo and he has the pedigree of military officers. His father Pedro was an army major during World War-II while his uncle Antonino Nicanor was ranked lieutenant colonel also in the army.

Leto’s mother, the former Trinidad Evangelista- Español is niece of Lt. Col. Jose N. Evangelista, erstwhile superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and proprietor of the now-defunct Zig-Zag Hotel also in Baguio City.

Leto’s son, Col. Eric E. Nicanor, is with Philippine Marine Corps and member of PMA Class ‘91 now hopefully waiting to earn his star rank before his retirement at age 56. Engineer Nicanor’s youngest, Ms. Marites Nicanor-Francisco, is a teacher like her mother assigned in San Jose Pilot Elementary School (SJPES), the same school where her mother was formerly posted.

Leto wed a public school teacher named Milagros Espinas, daughter of Bindoy and Maric Espinas, on November 5, 1965. Milagros was then a classroom teacher at San Jose Pilot School. Mila (or Lagring) was born June 6, 1941. My Tito Caloy (Novio) and my Uncle Tito (Ernesto Zausa) were among his groomsmen when he exchanged vows with his young and beautiful bride, Lagring. She, who already a retired teacher then, succumbed to heart attack in July 25, 2010. “Nang pumanaw ang aking asawa ay nag-lie low ako sa paglalaro (ng chess) dahil sa pag-aalaga ko sa aking apo,” he told this blogger.

Thea, unlike many young girls of her age, must be so grateful and thankful having her brainy lolo near her in this anxious epoch of a fracas in a pandemonium…

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References:

Stories of 100 Families; Rodolfo M. Acebes; pp. 448-452; 2010

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?tid=82158

Photo: From the Facebook account of Leto Nicanor showing him, Mikmik and Thea.