Wednesday, November 22, 2006 Nalzaro: Death on Manny’s victory By Bobby Nalzaro Saksi
WHILE most of our countrymen here and abroad rejoiced and celebrated the victory of Manny ‘The Pacman’ Pacquiao over Mexican boxing legend Erik ‘El Terible’ Morales via a third round knockout in their scheduled 12 rounds last Sunday, it also brought sorrow to the family of one of the millions of fans of the People’s Champion.
George Bugna, 47, was watching with his family the Pacquiao-Morales fight on a delayed telecast inside their house in Sitio Dakit, Barangay Cabitoonan, Toledo City when he suffered a heart attack. According to the wife, Lydia, her husband was very enthusiastic from the start of the fight. He kept on shouting and clapping his hands everytime Pacman hit Morales with a series of punches.
When Morales was first knocked down in round two, George stood up from his seat and jumped in jubilation. It was repeated when Morales finally staggered and fell to the canvass after he was hit by a strong straight jab by Pacman. When Pacman was finally proclaimed winner by the referee, George collapsed. Thinking that their father was only joking, one of the children even commented, ‘ah mora mag si Morales natumba’. But George never regained consciousness, prompting his family to rush him to the city’s hospital. However, doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.
In my radio interview with Lydia over DYSS Super Radyo, she said she did not expect the incident to happen. She knew her husband had a high blood pressure, but she did not know he had a heart problem. Had she known it, she could have advised him not to watch the fight or to just keep cool while watching.
George, a truck driver of a construction company, was a Pacquiao fanatic. He never missed Manny’s fights. He was also an amatuer boxer in his younger days in La Carlota, Negros Occidental. The only request of the Bugna family is to relay their fate to the Peoples’ Champion and they hoped he can extend some assistance to them. Well, I also hope that through this column, I can relay the family’s request to Pacman. Mrs. Bugna’s cellular phone number is 09197115739.
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I received various reactions to my column last Monday where I discussed the intention of Jonkie Ouano to suceed his father Teddy as mayor of Mandaue City. Some agreed with my opinion that Jonkie is not yet ripe to be the next mayor of a highly industrialized city. He could just be a figure head if he wins.
Teddy will still be the one running the affairs at City Hall. Sa laktod nga pagkasulti, magpasilong lang si Jonkie sa landong sa iyang amahan.
But others disagree. They claimed that among the new generation, no other Ouano can effective lead the city. Teddy will not give way to his brothers and sisters especially Joy Ouano Mangubat. They are not in good terms. Teddy is now the one calling the political shots in Mandaue. Not even his father, former Mayor Pedong Ouano, can dictate or influence him. After all, Ading is already their political ally.
Diay ba? I didn’t know that. But if not another Ouano, why not give a chance to Vice Mayor Amadeo ‘Ading’ Seno? He is more experienced and qualified.
