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Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Faces in the crowd
SAN DIEGO – It was 6:14 p.m. when Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista was officially introduced atop for his encounter with Gerardo Espinoza at the Showcase Theater of Sycuan Resort and Casino in El Cajon, California, some 30 miles east of San Deigo.
Given the thick Hispanic population out here, the Boholano sensation was greeted with a smattering of boos. But Boom-Boom got some cheers, too, thanks to several Pinoys who parted 50 precious dollars to see the fight.
The following are some of the prominent Filipinos who witnessed the fight ringside.
1) Lou Aldeguer – Quiet and impossibly shy, Mrs. Antonio L. Aldeguer is a rare sight at boxing arenas. Like most women, she recoils at the gore and violence in the ring. But nothing, not even the must-do Christmas shopping spree, would stop her from witnessing Boom-Boom’s acid test .
Lou Aldeguer, whose beauty and splendor inspired the Loalde brand name, was decked in Team ALA colors: Elegant in all black. Ageless and reeking with charm, Lou was easily the best-dressed in the crowd, looking every inch like a ramp model straight from a fashion magazine cover.
Like always, Lou was gracious and spoke to Sun.Star Cebu. She said she’s on vacation for a month now and that she’s so happy for Boom-Boom. If she’s still in the US, by then, she wouldn’t mind coming to see Bautista’s next outing.
2) Juvie Cabigon – Like Mrs. Aldeguer, this former Cebu City Sports Commission official simply refuses to age. Now based in LA, Juvie had quickly transformed himself from a sharp dresser to a fashion plate.
Casual in jeans and a bluish Calvin Klein shirt, Juvie cheered heartily for Bautista at the VIP section, a diamond earring shimmering against the bright lights on his left ear. After the fight, Juvie had a photo-op with both Boom-Boom and Freddie Roach at the Sycuan Resort’s all-you-can-eat buffet called The Oasis.
3) Grethel Tejano – Now living in West Covina, where she toils as a registered nurse, Grethel didn’t mind the two-hour plus drive to Sycuan Resort and Casino to cheer for Boom-Boom.
Grethel is a University of San Carlos alum and she once worked at Cebu Doctors Hospital. She was off last Dec. 23 and promptly made the trip. She also met Boom-Boom at The Oasis and she was thrilled beyond words.
4) Boy Mercado – Their family-owned Elite taxicabs, inarguably the most famous fleet of for-hire vehicles in the history of Cebu City. Cascading down Sycuan Casino’s steps after Bautista’s win, a jubilant Boy Mercado re-introduced himself to me.
As I now recall, he is a very good friend of my dad’s from years back. Boy now calls Phoenix, Arizona home. Boy was impressed with Bautista’s skills and watching the Bohol native eke a come-from-behind win made his six-hour drive from Arizona worth the trouble.
Well, if Boy’s ride to get to Sycuan was a challenge, I bet the drive home will be nice and easy.
5) The Olario clan – Inside the Showcase Theater, a burly man of hard, good looks introduced himself to me as a Boholano and avid fan of Bautista. The brother of retired general Alberto Olario, he asked me if his two kids could have a photo-op with Boom-Boom.
I relayed the request to Edito “Ala” Vilamor and Rey met with the Olarios on the way out of the arena.
Boom-Boom’s next fight is scheduled sometime in early February. And as his wins pile up and his popularity soars, he will attract more famous faces in the ringside crowd. (HDS)
(December 27, 2005 issue)
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