Thursday, August 09, 2007 Sabaldan: ABAP-Davao is looking for donors By Romy Sabaldan Davao Beat
ENGELBERT Moralde has the looks of Erik Morales and the speed of a Manny Pacquiao.
But for the 12-year old lone gold medallist of the whole Davao City delegation to the recent 2007 Palarong Pambansa in Koronadal City, the ugly-hitting fists are more important now that he had made boxing his life and career early in life.
This is the same vision that more than a dozen others are bringing with them since they have decided to quit snipping rugby in the streets and had since found refuge at the small boxing gym at the back of the Almendras Gym.
Only a year older than his 11-year-old brother John Vincent, the Moralde brothers are luckier because they were sent to train boxing after having been introduced to marathon for a short time by their own parents.
Others, however, have to make do with what occasional supporters can give to sustain them in this rigid kind of life in and outside the boxing gym.
ABAP-Davao, on the other hand, is hard put in putting up a more sustainable program for the young boxers.
It doesn't even have a slice of the budget given by the Philippine Sports Commission to the duly recognized national sport association Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (Abap).
What can we do, they only have a handful also in Manila which is good only for the national training pool.
First, we may have to seek help from no less than the country's national boxing idol Manny Pacquiao. Then our very own corporate sponsors and private individuals who are interested in creating new sports heroes as part of their community involvement.
We hope to have a more well-rounded approach in training our boys so that they may not end up having to live a life in misery as do many of our world boxing champions in the past.
With Davao City Councilor Edgar Ibuyan at the helm of the amateur boxing program in Davao City, sponsors can be assured of the honesty and sincerity of the ABAP-Davao leadership in attaining our set goals for the city.
Boxing Beat: Panalo para sa ALA, pamilya at bayan.- Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista
