IT WAS a fight between a veteran and a neophyte. Because of experience, the veteran won. That’s how I described the 12-round fight between eight-division titleholder and Filipino boxing icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and unbeaten World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight Keith Thurman at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Pacman, 40 years old with 24 years in professional boxing experience won the fight via a split decision. He proved once again that he has the advantage because of his experience against Thurman, who is 30 years old. But not everybody agreed with the judges’ decision. Even sports commentators of Fox News, which carried the fight on pay-per-view, thought “the decision was ridiculous.” It could have been a unanimous decision in favor of Pacman.
Two judges, Tim Cheatham and David Moreti, scored 115-112 in favor of Pacman while Judge Glenn Feldman scored the fantastic fight for Thurman, 114-113. Pacman (72, 7, 2, with 39 knockouts) dominated most of the rounds. While Thurman (29, 1, 22 KOs, 1 no contest) rebounded in few rounds.
Manny sent Thurman to the canvass in the second round through a left- and right-hook combination. In the fifth round, Thurman suffered a nosebleed. Thuman was badly hit in the 10th round with the oozing punches released by the Pambansang Kamao. The American fighter also managed to retaliate and redeem himself in the seventh round when several of his punches hit Manny.
Thurman did not complain about the judges’ decision but asked for a rematch, considering the decision was too close. Pero ang uban wala gyud makontento sa away kay gusto gyud nila nga adunay knockout.
I watched the fight through pay-per-view at the residence of Tito Larrazabal in Lahug with some friends like North District Rep. Raul del Mar, businessman Raul Laurente and wife Betty, Barili Vice Mayor Julie Flores, Eddie Barrita and Joemar Poblete and Banat News editor-in-chief Lucky Malicay. Human sa away paniudto dayon ug unsa pa man diay, di celebration ug pabugnaw dayon. Congratulations, Pacman!
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Today, President Rodrigo Duterte will deliver his fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona) during the opening of the 18th Congress. Sona (talumpati sa kalagayan ng bansa) is an annual address by the President to a joint session of the Congress. Mandated by the 1987 Constitution, the speech is delivered every fourth Monday of July during the opening of Congress.
The Sona serve as a means to inform the nation about its present economic, political and social condition. It is also a vehicle for the President to summarize his accomplishments and plans of his/her programs of government both for a particular year until the end of their term office.
Article V1, Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution provides that Congress shall convene for its regular session every year beginning on the 4th Monday of July. A regular session can last until 30 days before opening of its next regular session in the succeeding year. The President may, however, call special sessions which are usually held between regular legislative sessions to handle emergencies or urgent matters.
What can we expect in today’s Sona? We can expect the President to highlight his accomplishments in the war on drugs and in the anti-corruption campaign. We can expect the President to tackle the promises he made on fighting criminality and rebellion. We can also expect the President to speak about other major issues, such as of the West Philippine Sea, his economic policies and his legislative agenda. The chief executive is also expected to lay down his plans for his remaining three years in office.