Thursday, September 13, 2007 Quijano: A typist’s masterpiece By Jingo Quijano Last Round
HE calls it “The Pacific Storm.
Dispatches on Pacquiao of the Philippines.” It is 179 pages from cover to cover, and the perfect bible for the hordes of religious Pacquiao fanatics.
If you fancy yourself a Pacman fan and you don’t have a copy of this book, shame on you.
Palanca awardee and veteran journalist Recah Trinidad has unveiled his brilliant masterpiece centering on the country’s premiere fighter.
It is obviously intended for an international audience—this much is evident from the title itself. Nevertheless, its accent and take on the subject matter is unmistakably and uniquely Recah’s and those of you who grew up reading the “Bare Eye” will know what I mean.
The poet in him shines through, as he captures the desired moment with an amazing economy of words, yet evoking and eliciting such powerful imagery. Consider the following line: “No wind in his hair, his eyes the calmest of oceans” Here’s my favorite part: “Tightly strung and ever eager to land a knockout punch, Pacquiao would launch shouting attacks.
He would scream with killer blows to stress a point. However, Morales, conversant, was always there where he was least expected, freely jamming the Filipino southpaw with a stun of jabs, shouting back with a counter of telling blows.”
DETAILS. It’s full of elaborate tales ranging from Manny’s humble origins, family background, to his unprecedented rise to the top.
It is also replete with testimonials from friends, business associates, and people that know Pacquiao very well.
Freddie Roach. Shelly Finkel. Mayor Lito Atienza. Rudy Salud. Rex “Wakee” Salud. And even a surprising revelation from Rod Nazario, former business manager, on Pacquiao’s “weakness.”
It even contains juicy details on Pacquiao’s alleged extramarital affair, complete with the affidavit-complaint and counter-affidavit filed in the criminal proceedings for violation of RA 9262. (Anti-violence Against Women And Children Act)
He also talks about other boxers (not just Pacquiao). To Recah, they are not just athletes, they are heroes. He enriches their impact on our society with remarkable metaphors and comparisons to historical figures. He thus shares the following observation:
“Odd, but as the events would tally in the consciousness of the masses, the boxer had had to call on the magic of the movie king to dispose of his foe. No wonder, sports fans started calling the limping Penalosa the FPJ of the boxing ring.”
POLITICS. Of course, no Recah Trinidad discourse would be complete without its political digs and the activist that he is, Recah doesn’t hesitate in throwing his own punches.
Recah blasts the First Gentleman Arroyo for jumping in the ring and riding in the adulation that followed Pacquiao’s sensational knockout of Morales in their second fight and confronts us with the intriguing possibility that Pacquiao’s popularity has become a political tool that can do or undo presidencies.
UP IDOL. When I was a skinny, impressionable college kid residing in my dormitory inside the UP Diliman campus, a good part of my allowance would go to my Philippine Daily Inquirer habit.
Conrado De Quiros was and will always be my favorite. But Recah Trinidad, and Al Mendoza had to be read first. Their irresistible prose demanded that they be read first.
I finally had the chance to meet Recah a few months ago in person. After introducing myself as a big fan, he immediately disarmed me with the following reclusive reply:
“Isa lang po tayong hamak na typist”.
Hey guys, I was wondering if anyone of you would want to trade my laptop for an old typewriter?
THE LAST ROUND. It’s on Nestor Abella of City Savings Bank, an expert boxing analyst and Pacquiao fan, who always reads the Last Round. Cheers!
