Wednesday, January 03, 2007 Bacolod City gives Tipon Dungganon nga Banwahanon By Henry C. Villalva
THE Bacolod City Government gave Joan Tipon, the 15th Asian Games bantamweight boxing gold medalist, the Dungganon nga Banwahanon award last Friday, following a motorcade given in his honor.
Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia gave the award at his office.
Together with Tipon and Leonardia during the motorcade were Vice Mayor Renecito Novero, 2006 World Amateur Women's Boxing Championship bronze medalist Mitchel Martinez and 1994 Hiroshima, Japan Asian Games gold medalist Elias Recaido Jr., who is now a member of the RP boxing team coaching staff.
On top of the P100,000 financial incentive, 24-year-old Tipon was also given a Medal of Excellence by Leonardia during the ceremonies witnessed by his parents, Vicente and Fe, wife Marshalow and two kids.
Last Thursday, Tipon spent time with officers of the Negros Amateur Boxing Association (Naba) led by its president and former Bacolod Councilor Juan Ramon 'Monju' Guanzon, vice president Oscar 'Dodong' Bascon and treasurer Vic Tan.
Guanzon later handed him a certificate of ownership to a 100-square-meter residential lot in Barangay Mansilingan, which Tipon said he wanted to use for building his retirement house later.
"Joan represents the fulfillment of our dreams in Naba and it is only fitting that we give him something he will be able to use for the future of his family," Guanzon told Sun.Star Bacolod in an interview Friday.
Tipon, together with Recaido and Martinez, had lunch with the Guanzons at their residence. It was at that time that he had the opportunity to recall his days as a gangling nine-year old boxer who stayed at the Guanzon home as a member of the Naba pool of young boxers, then just starting to learn the basics of amateur boxing.
He spent time with Mrs. Teresa Guanzon, mother of the Naba president, and even the kitchen staff who used to prepare food for him after the training.
Last Sunday, after attending the worship service with his family at the Sibucao Fellowship Baptist Church in Barangay Banago, he made a courtesy call on Negros Occidental Governor Joseph Marañon at the Capitol accompanied by his long-time former coach Ernesto Aguirre.
The Christmas day meeting with the governor was arranged by Bascon who was also present along with Naba treasurer Vic Tan and some members of sports media.
Tipon left for Manila yesterday afternoon together with his family.
"I expect training for the World Cup Championship in November and the December Southeast Asian Games to start next week plus there maybe other international tournaments in between. But I'm very thankful for everyone's support and I know that a lot of people are praying for me including you," he told Sun.Star Bacolod yesterday.
