Arquiza: A different Pacquiao-Bradley recap

Jigs Arquiza
Eat's my life

JUNE 10 was another big day for most Pinoys, or so we thought. It was the date of the Pacquiao-Bradley fight. No, Eat’s My Life hasn’t turned into a sports column, but this particular one has something to do with the boxing match that day.

I was invited by Parklane’s Food and Beverage Manager Joward Tongco to watch the fight at the hotel’s Victoria Hall, and the price of the ticket included brunch. I arrived a few minutes before the main event, and having found a seat, I got some food and made my way back to the table. And the punches started flying.

Rounds 1-3

As Bradley was wildly throwing punches at the PacMan, I was eating a green salad with tomatoes, onions, boiled eggs and ham, slathered with lots of Thousand Island dressing. I followed it up with a very nice potato and leek cream soup, which warmed up my tummy. At the same time, PacMan was warming up his game.

Rounds 4-8

By this time, Pacman was pummeling Bradley, giving him something to think about. I myself was going through a plate filled with Hokkien noodles, fish fillet smothered with Tartar sauce, and beef strips with mushroom. As Pacman was working on Bradley, I was slowly demolishing the contents of my plate. Little by little, my noodles slowly disappeared, along with the beef strips and fish. Deciding to let my tummy settle for a bit, I sat back and tried to regain my second wind. Little did I know that this was a portent of not-so-nice things to come.

Rounds 9-10

I regained my second wind during the ninth round of the match, and it seemed Bradley had found his, too. He slowly moved on the Pacman, and started hitting back really hard. I found myself devouring a second helping of Hokkien noodles and fish, and as I watched the fight, it seemed to me that my premonition was coming true. The PacMan wasn’t doing as well as he should have been. The crowd watching with me had become very quiet by then, and it appeared everyone was holding their breath.

Rounds 11-12

Coming into the final rounds of the match, and the final round of my meal, I found myself having a small plate of mocha cake. Eating a few slices, I gave up, already full. It seemed to me that the PacMan had also surrendered, throwing a few lackluster punches here and there, and I knew he had lost the fight. It turned out to be bad day for us Pinoys, but a great day for my tummy, and this food column.

My favorite in the buffet were the Hokkien noodles, but what of the fight? I think the highlight of the Pacquiao-Bradley match wasn’t the fight itself, but rather, the so-called “Pambansang Tinig” or “Pambansang Boses” (National Voice), Jessica Sanchez. She dazzled everyone at Parklane’s Victoria Hall with her rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner”, showing us how truly Pinoy she is.