Things I Think I Think:

1. It's wonderful what Pacquiao does. All he does is fight & the whole country unites even for just a day. Or not (more on this at the second item). When he fought, would you believe, the Armed Forces declared a ceasefire with all rebel groups; the ZTE scandal got buried; the crime fell to zero. Why can't this guy fight 365 times a year? Makes me wonder.
2. They say sour grapes are that, sour. ABS-CBN, are being themselves again. Classless & full of crass. They are predictably demeaning Pacquiao's recent win. Get over it folks. You had your chance when Pacquiao was still a "Kapamilya".
3. Summer is indeed here. Notice the heat these days?
4. And what about Easter Sunday? I can't ever recall waking up so early for a mass. Chabs & I woke up at around 3:30 AM to witness the "Salubong" in Bocaue. Couldn't they, at least, make this at around 7 AM? Just wondering. But it's still a good experience though.
5. On Tita Cory having colon cancer: She had a full life. I bet she wouldn't live it any other way.
6. On Pope Benedict XVI during his annual "Urbi et Orbi" Easter message greeting the Filipino faithful in Tagalog: Work on it. They say practice makes perfect. But the gesture is appreciated and kinda cute.
7. Boy, the people who walked to Antipolo on Maundy Thursday were numerous! They occupied three-fourths of Ortigas Avenue. And did they start early too. The road was jampacked with people at 8 PM. I still recall the days when only half of Ortigas was filled during the Alay Lakad & started at around 12 midnight.

Unfinished Business Still

The deed is done. With last Sunday's win, Pacquiao validated his title as Mexico's "Republica Enemy no. 1". Pacquiao dethroned Juan Manual Marquez via split decision to be the new WBC Super Featherweight champion. Judge Duane Ford favored Pacquiao 115-112 and Jerry Roth called it 115-112 for Marquez, while Tom Miller gave a 114-113 edge to Pacquiao.

In a scintillating display of will & boxing ability, both fighters showed the world how a fight should be fought. The whole bout kept everybody at the edge of their seats as both boxers fought gallantly with each having their moments. Marquez with his vast array of counters & often varying his style in between rounds to befuddle Pacquiao, and with Pacquiao displaying his usual frenetic pace & unmatched speed and power. It was so close it could've gone the other way. And when Michael Buffer uttered the words "And new....", jubilation, pandemonium followed all over the archipelago. You don't need to hear the words after that to know Pacquiao won. It turned out that the 3rd round knockdown of Marquez was the difference.

It took four years to make, and boy, was it worth the wait. When Ciara Sotto sang the Lupang Hinirang, it was one of those moments that the National Anthem was that, the National Anthem. I felt a surge of Filipino pride in my veins. I wanted to shout "Pinoy Ako!" But boy, what about those earrings Ciara wore? Those are big rocks aren't they? And it's quite distracting. But in fairness, she sang the Anthem well. And as Pacquiao made his way to the ring with the Black Eyed Peas' "Bebot" in the background, I can feel the hair rise at the back of my legs. This is it! The moment has arrived.

As Chabs know it, my favorite part of a fight is the fighter introduction. And no one can do it better than Michael Buffer. When Pacquiao was introduced, everybody who has Filipino blood on them in the Thomas & Mack Center shouted their lungs out. And so did the Mexicans when their bet was introduced.

After the fighters were introduced, they touched gloves and the fight is on. Marquez controlled the opening two rounds with his pinpoint counterpunching & Manny probing & trying to find his distance. I was getting sad already as the first two rounds confimed my biggest fear, that Marquez will bore Manny to death with this waiting game & Manny getting impatient & barreling recklessly. But before I sink to further depression, in the 3rd round, Pacquiao drops Marquez like a bad habit with a short, compact left. It awakened me from my stupor. With a blink of an eye, Marquez was on his back, sprawled on the canvas & Pacquiao's back in the game. Marquez got right back up trying to shake the cobwebs and surprisingly traded, with him getting the worst of it. In fact, he almost went down again if not for the ropes & the round ending. The round ended with some comic relief as Marquez, visibly still out of it, staggers towards Manny's corner perhaps thinking it was his corner. Haha

In the fourth round, much to my dismay, Marquez was able to recover some of his wits and managed not to get knocked down again. But he's never the same again as Manny has that newfound confidence & starting to dart in and out with his flurries.

I thought the fight was in the bag when suddenly, a cut opened on Manny's right eye on the 8th round. Or was it the 7th? I swear, I heard every Filipino worth his salt shrieked in horror as Manny repeatedly got tagged by Marquez's accurate straights. So when the round ended, as a testament to his reputation as the world's best cutman, Joe Chavez, weaved his magic & closed the cut. And lo and behold, the cut never bothered Manny again.

The fight ended like it began. With Marquez countering every Pacquiao punch. And when the final bell sounded, both men raised their arms in triumph. They deserved to. They fought an even fight & there was no clear winner. While the scorecards were being tallied, in a display of class, Manny approached Marquez to congratulate him for the good fight while Marquez will have none of it as he dismissed him. At this point in time, I was preparing myself for the verdict. I feared for the worst while expecting a draw. The conspiracy theorist in me can't shake this thought that the powers that be will finally reward Marquez. And when Michael Buffer proclaimed Pacquiao the victor, I couldn't believe it. Wow! That was a pleasant surprise. A visibly surprised Pacquiao was in near tears and celebrated like he never did before. All that hard work & sacrifice has bore fruit as he became a champion again & made history as the first Asian to ever become world champion in three weight divisions.

Predictably, during the post-fight presser, Marquez thought he was robbed. And so did his trainier, Nacho Beristain, and his promoter Golden Boy Promotions. While Bob Arum, Pacquiao's trainer vehemently fought off their accusations. And so a war of words ensued. Pacquiao & Freddie Roach, his trainer, were their usual conciliatory selves & were one to declare that there will be no third fight in the near future. It was revealed that Manny will move up in weight & fight WBC Lightweight champion David Diaz (who won earlier over Ramon Montano) at the same venue on June 28 if he heals on time.

Whew! This sure is a long post. I'm glad Manny won. In a country lacking real heroes, we sure need one. And a former "panadero" from Gen. Santos City is up to the task. Till the next fight. Goodnight & good fight.

Unfinished Business

On Sunday, the fistic debate on who is the best will finally be settled when World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez defends his title against three-division world champion Manny Pacquiao. The bout is a rematch of their May 8, 2004 epic battle that ended in a controversial split draw.

After annihilating the best fighters Mexico has to offer including icons Marco Antonio Barrera & Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez is the last Mexican standing. And if their last fight gives you any indication, this promises to be another slam-bang affair. Not only the futures & the respective reputations of both fighters are on the line but also the hopes of their countries rest heavily on their shoulders. The entire Mexican & Filipino nation will literally stop to watch them pummel each other for fame & glory.

Dubbed "Republica Enemy No. 1", Pacquiao is in for a hard fight. Of all the fighters out there, Marquez stylistically is the most difficult fighter for him to figure out. Marquez is known as a wily counterpuncher that will throw anyone offbalance with his repertoire of counters that comes from unusual angles. Although on his recent fights, Marquez was observed to deviate from his usual self & showed willingness to move forward & engage in exchanges in the middle of the ring. This new version of Marquez will prove to be a boon for Pacquiao who excels in blitzing his opponents with a relentless two-fisted attack. We can also note that Pacquiao is lightyears away from the man who fought in their first fight. He now brings to the table improved head & foot movement & a right hook that complements his left. Add these to his widely known left, blazing speed & unmatched stamina and one can see why Pacquiao is widely considered as the second best pound for pound fighter in the world over.

For one day, Filipinos will get a respite from politics & what not & be proud to be a Filipino again. Go Manny!

Fearless Forecast:

Pacquiao wins. What did you expect? We don't care if he wins via KO or unanimous decision. What matters most is that Pacquiao wins. Period.

25 Random Facts About Me

* I'm very quiet but can get noisy when with the right people.
* My favorite subject in school was history.
* My least favorite subject was math.
* They say I like to debate. I say I like to communicate.
* My favorite basketball team is the Los Angeles Lakers.
* I collect coins.
* My star sign is Cancer.
* I am a telemarketer.
* I am very much addicted to Fantasy Sports.
* Of all movie genres, I like war movies best.
* I'm a big fan of Linkin Park.
* I have a sweet tooth.
* I don't know how to swim.
* I was a sportswriter & a songleader in high school.
* I have never placed a bet on the lottery.
* I have never gone to a casino.
* I have never gone (and never will) to a gay bar.
* I have size 7 shoes.
* I have a fetish for jackets and shoes.
* I was the 2000 AB Brainmaster's Cup Champ.
* I still have a huge crush on Jolina Magdangal.
* I know how to make donuts.
* I'm a kapamilya.
* I'm a proud Thomasian.
* I'm an Ytawit.

Questions and Answers of a Troubled Mind

What do you when you are confronted by a bully?

• Stand up to them. They say bullies are the way they are because they always have their way. They are so used to people cowering on them that when someone actually stands up to them, they get flummoxed & back down. Wouldn't it feel great to bully the bully? Now that's role reversal for you.

What do you do if someone steals from you?

• Kill them or better yet, torture them before you kill them. hehe Seriously, avoid them like the plague. You will never know what that person will steal next. Hey, it may be your pen or your lighter or your ideas. If he/she can do it once, what makes you think he/she can't do it again?

How do you deal with haters or people who talk smack against you?

• Ignore them. Fact of the matter is, you can't please everybody. If you think you can, then you should have a reality check. Haters are usually people who envy you. So even if they hate you, it's really a compliment that they do. It only shows that you must be doing something right. So don't waste your precious time on them & just keep doing what you're doing.

When is the right time really the right time?

• This is one of life's biggest mysteries. And you know what, you'll never know it when it happens. That's the beauty of it. Otherwise, if you know it's the right time, then all the fun & the joy associated with it is not as meaningful as when you didn't know it coming. I think, you'll only know it's the right time when you look back at it some months or years it happened.

What do you do when in doubt?

• They say, when in doubt, ask. Don't be afraid to admit you're unsure or don't know the answer to a question. It'll just get you in deeper trouble. And besides, nobody's perfect. So be honest & say I don't know or I'm not sure.

What am I doing asking questions to myself and answering it myself?

• Hmm. Good question. And I have an answer. Maybe because I have a troubled mind? hehe Really, this is just me during one of my monologues.

Things I Think I Think:

1. My wife (aka The Pocket Bombshell) told me that I should be writing more. I think so too. But the lazy part of me got the better of me these past few months. And so, I haven't written any meaningful post recently. With The Pocket Bombshell recently giving me an oratory about the merits of writing again, here I am. And just like cheesy movies, I'm back for a sequel.
2. Money changes everything. Well, almost everything. If you know what I mean.
3. The Democrat Presidential Primary is exciting isn't it? Whoever wins make history. If Sen. Hillary Clinton wins, she'll be the first American woman presidential candidate. And if Sen. Barack Obama gets the nod, he'll be the first African-American presidential nominee. Signs of the times people. Looks like America's catching up with the rest of the world.
4. On the local front, I think Jun Lozada's a liar and a hypocrite. All the things he's said so far are mere hearsay and can't be backed up with evidence. He may be telling the truth but I have this strange feeling in the gut that tells me that what he's saying are half-truths. I also think he's a hypocrite. How can a government official like him on a meager salary afford to send his son to La Salle Greenhills, or buy luxury cars, or be a member on golf club or shocker of all shockers, support two families at the same time? I don't know. You tell me.
5. They say, politics make strange bedfellows. The recent Interfaith rally in Makati calling for GMA's resignation saw Tita Cory Aquino sitting beside Erap. If that's tame for you. How about former Veep Tito Guingona of "I accuse!" fame sitting beside Erap? As they say, onli in da Pilipins. hehe
6. It's only 2008 and it smells like election fever already. This ZTE scandal is all about that.
7. After 18 years in the PBA, Sta. Lucia Realty finally won the All Filipino Cup. That, folks, is a very long time to wait for the championship. Congrats to them. They deserve it.
8. I know what GMA's thinking right now. I think she couldn't wait for March 16. That's the day Pacman will fight Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas. As you know, the whole country stops when Pacman fights. Heck, even the criminals stop to watch. And I bet, she's praying for Pacman to win.

He Said / She Said:

"We're biased for the truth." - Sen. Panfilo Lacson to Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile during the Senate hearing on the ZTE scandal when JPE implied Lacson's bias against GMA.

Whatever.