Wednesday, July 02, 2008 Limlingan: Champs By DP Limlingan The Advocate
TIME stood still last Sunday when our "pambansang kamao" Manny Pacquiao throwing a combination of a right then left jabs, knocked out Mexican "dangerous" David Diaz.
Even criminals who threw punches to the City of San Fernando's as well as the whole country's peace and order situation in the past few months.
Immediately after the fight not only goes the true Filipino display of pride and glory but also our nature of "riding in the wind" of popularity.
Governor Luis "Chavit" Singson was there at the ring who seemed to get a share of camera mileage as millions of Filipinos relish the victory of Pacman. I'm sure he's a million-dollar richer again, as a former gambling enthusiast he's well known to always put a bet of his finances to a boxing fight of our best pug in the land.
When in triumph, we always display our attitude of cohesion. We tend to stick up and unite. We become one.
As we jovially watched the conquest of the match, the families of the ill-fated ship in the Visayas are still in grief with a diminishing sliver of hope that their loved ones are still alive.
Our focus on one of the worst Philippine maritime disasters was eventually diverted, albeit temporarily, on a major sports event. Eyes were glued to the boob-tube. Sports fans even went to malls or watched at cable providers' pay-per-view channels notwithstanding a price to pay just to see their idol fight in a live telecast.
For those who cannot, they braved and survived a sports TV show peppered with commercial plugs where you can take a nap while waiting for the next round.
Going back to the personalities, I admire, aside our own, Diaz who, in a down-to-earth display of his mood, extolled Pacman. His statement of not expecting the blazing punches he received from Pacquiao's left and right iron fists during the fight earned compassion concocted with pity from televiewers.
The jabs impressed cuts on his nose bridge and on the right brow of the Mexican-born, American-raised WBC lightweight title holder.
I equally give praises to Pacman's deed of immediately trying to look after his opponent's condition after the latter kissed the canvas in his defeat just as a bloodied knockout ensued.
Not a stain was inflicted to our hero after a 12-rounder fight ended in the ninth.
Inside every Filipino household were the members of the family watching the match. Viewers were instantaneously transformed into sports commentators giving their outright observations of the pugilists' punches and moves.
To add some spice, some placed bets as to who will emerge as a victor in an informal "pustahan."
The old and the young, regardless of gender conscientiously observed each and every punch of that big event.
I am not a sportswriter but like millions of Filipinos who were made beholden by a boxing champ, I, too was captivated by match made in heaven for the winner and made somewhere else for the other. This is not either a sports analysis but the sidelights of what happened on D-day (Diaz day) for Manny.
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Another people's champ, this time in Pampanga, was in the limelight when she celebrated her 54th birthday last Saturday in different towns of the Second District.
Board Member Lina Bagasina expressed her thanks for what happened to her life after battling it out with many of her life's trials. In her meriendacena, she thanked the Almighty for pouring in a number of blessings, her family for being supportive, her friends for being there and her constituents for making her political career worthy.
Like Pacman, she endured many hardships and pains as she struggled an uphill battle that nestled her to where she is now.
A businesswoman and a public servant, she always know how to look back to her previous life. She had a colorful career in a forwarding company and in her three-term mayoralty stint in Sasmuan town.
A local legislator today, she may, in the coming years ahead, be a national figure. Not a rematch but to another level of political position, she is considered to run for a political office in another weight division.
Her stay in the Provincial Board is her wildcard gym. Can a woman be called a Cong instead of ate? Why not Cong Lina? Happy happy birthday Mam.
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Tuesday was the kickoff activity of the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS)' search for the best meat establishment, amenities and technology of the region. It's the annual selection of deserving meat processing plants, cold storages, poultry dressing plants, slaughterhouses and meat food products.
NMIS Regional Director Mildred Saligan must be proud for having consistent winners in the national search. This after careful evaluation and assessment of champs in the regional level, contenders vie again in the national evaluation.
The NMIS is not only adept in apprehending violators of meat quality laws, but also good in giving due recognition of meat establishment champs.
The eminence of meat we eat daily rely among others, on the regulations implemented by this government agency under the umbrella of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Dra. Yvette Soller, a vet, is the head of the selection committee. The Service is also a champ on our dining tables in terms of enforcement in consonance with its regulatory functions.
