Category: Sports

Song suggestions for the SEAG closing ceremonies

Published by Ellen on December 6, 2019

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo was wrong when he said that there is no song that embodies the whole Philippines.

“Tama si Mayor Sara. We need to have a song that will reflect not only Manila but the entire Philippines. Wala pa eh,” he told reporters when asked about complaint of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio of the use of the song, “Manila, Manila” by the Hotdog band in the opening ceremonies of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games last Saturday.

For the information of Panelo there is a long list of Original Pilipino Music that embraces the Filipino people. Right off, there’s Yoyoy Villame’s playful “Philippine Geography”.

Enjoy the games, don’t forget issues that matter

Published by Ellen on December 1, 2019

Tribute to the Filipino people. Opening ceremonies. from SEAG2019 Facebook page.

I enjoyed watching the opening ceremonies of the 30th Southeast Asian Games. Salute to director Floy Quintos. Just enough dazzle to showcase the beauty of Philippine culture.

I liked the use of the iconic song, “Manila, Manila” by the 70’s band, Hotdog, as the athletes entered the arena. It set a happy and bouncy mood for the event.

Presidential daughter Sara Duterte Carpio exposed her parochial mind when she complained through her Instagram account, “Di po ba Philippine flag ang dala? Why would you play the song Manila? Did Lapu-Lapu die for Manila? Wag po natin gawing excuse ang upbeat danceable song. Kami nag-imbento ng budots. Kaloko man oi.'”

Dennis Garcia, the other half of the brothers who formed the band, explained in his Facebook post, “
Rene & I created ‘Manila’, not thinking of ourselves as Tagalogs, Bisayans or Ilokanos but as Filipinos missing the Philippines.”

La Salle’s class act

Published by Ellen on December 5, 2017

The Sports Section is one of my priority pages in reading newspapers even if I don’t play any sports. Nor do I understand the rules of any sports game.

But I love reading stories about triumph against odds of many athletes. I love reading about the values that sports nurture among athletes.

My collection of memorable quotes includes basketball great Michael Jordan’s “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

That’s why I was more enthralled with the photos of La Salle Taft turning blue after it lost the UAAP championship to Ateneo last Sunday than the final score (88-86) which indicated how heart-stopping the game was.

From Twitter account of Leonard Alquisola.

Pacquiao’s ‘abhorrent’ remarks could be blessing in disguise

Published by Ellen on February 18, 2016

Two days after boxing icon Manny Pacquiao rebuked same sex couples as worse than animals, shoe giant Nike dropped him as endorser.

That was fast.

Observers said that was an easy decision for Nike because Pacquiao, 37, is at the sunset of his career after losing in two major fights: the one against Floyd Mayweather in May 2015 and earlier, in December 2013, to Juan Manuel Marquez. He says his April 9 fight with Timothy Bradley would be his last, although he has said it before with his other fights and went on to do more.

Nike’s announcement: “We find Manny Pacquiao’s comments abhorrent. Nike strongly opposes discrimination of any kind and has a long history of supporting and standing up for the rights of the LGBT community. We no longer have a relationship with Manny Pacquiao.”
It’s a knockout punch for Pacquiao whose endorsements make up the bulk of his boxing earnings. His camp is worried, we are told, that other sponsors might follow Nike.

Social media comments more enjoyable than megafight

Published by Ellen on May 3, 2015

From where I confine myself every time there’s Pacquiao fight, I can tell if Manny is losing or winning by the shrieks and groans of those watching in the house and even among my neighbors.

Yesterday, everything was quiet. So I know who between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather won.

Mayweather won by unanimous decision affirming what he always brags about himself as the “undefeated champion.”

Alex Pal, a Dumaguete-based journalist related in Facebook that he was not able to see “The Fight of the Century” but he asked the taxi driver what was the result. The driver replied: “Natapos naman ang 12 rounds pero natalo si Pacquiao. Anonymous ang decision.”

Alex’s reaction: “Wahaha!”

I don’t watch boxing because I don’t enjoy watching two people hit each other but I follow stories about Pacquiao. I admire him for rising from poverty through hard work.

Dapat ayusin muna ni Pacquiao ang laban niya sa BIR at IRS

Published by Ellen on December 15, 2013

Understandable for Pacquaio to seek divine intervention with his tax problems.

Kawawa naman itong si Manny Pacquiao.

Kapag hindi niya malusutaan itong problema niya sa buwis, hindi lamang sa Pilipinas kung di sa America rin, magre-retire pa lang siyang libing sa utang.

Sa dami ng bugbug na natamo niya, utang lang ang bagsak niya. Kawawa naman.

The fall of Lance Armstrong: It’s not just about doping

Published by Ellen on January 20, 2013

It’s the lying. It’s the disappointment that the character that I once admired so much turned out to be dark and stained.

I’m always in awe of people who triumph over adversities.

I was an ardent admirer of Lance Armstrong.

I read and re-read his book, “It’s not about the Bike- My Journey Back to Life” which has been described as an “awe-inspiring tale of immense courage and will.”

What’s Pacquaio take on his men’s boorish actions?

Published by Ellen on December 13, 2012

Michael Koncz grabs photographer's shirt — Michael Koncz grabs photographer’s shirt

Manny Pacquiao should be asked what he should do with his confidante and assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez and adviser Michael Koncz who assaulted photojournalist Al Bello who was taking a picture of Pacquiao unconscious after he was knocked out by Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez.

The deplorable incident was captured on camera by Chris Cozzone and can be viewed at http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/boxing/manny-pacquiao-aides-allegedly-attacked-photographer-brutal-knockout-005405170–box.html

A Yahoo news report by Kevin Lole showed a picture of Koncz grabbing Bello by his shirt while the burly Fernandez kicked him.

Another picture showed an enraged Fernandez going down through the ropes running after Bello.

Paala-ala kay Pacquiao: hindi ka superman

Published by Ellen on December 11, 2012

pacquiao crumples — Pacquiao crumples to the floor

Akala ko ang leksyun na nakuha ni Manny Pacquiao sa kanyang pagkatalo niya sa Mexicanong si Juan Manuel Marquez ay hindi siya superman at dapat na siyang mag-retiro.

Hindi pala. Gusto pa niyang lumaban ulit. Kaya pinag-uusapan na ngayon ang panglimang Pacquiao-Marquez fight. Baka sa Abril daw.

“I am going to rest and come back to fight. I would go for a fifth,” sabi niya sa interview sa kanya sa Las Vegas isang araw bago siya pinatumba ni Marquez.

Naloko na. Gusto yata maging gulay. Anhin niya ang kanyang bilyunes kung gulay naman siya.

Sabi ni Ronnie Nathanielsz, sports analyst, na delikado sa edad ngayon ni Pacquiao (magiging 34 siya sa Disyembre 17) , ang magpapatuloy sa boksing, isang sports na talagang bugbog ang katawan.

Sabi ni Nathanielz kapag tinitingnan niya ang coach ni Pacquiao na si Freddie Roach na dati ring boksingero at ang dating heavyweight champion na si Muhammad Ali, parehong may Parkinson’s disease, natatakot siya para kay Pacquiao.

Pacquiao shines in defeat

Published by Ellen on December 9, 2012

Pacquiao flat on the floor — Pacquaio flat on the floor

While most were expressing their disappointment on Manny Pacquiao’s loss to Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez (many even ridiculed him), Ace Esmeralda of Security Matters Magazine made this discerning note:

“The first person I saw who smiled after the knockout was Pacman. How he conducts himself now defines his true relationship with his new found faith. How we treat his defeat defines our own.”

Agree.

In defeat, Pacquiao showed his greatness. He offered no excuses. All he said was :” “I never expected that punch. He got me with a good shot. That’s boxing.Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.”