IN MURCIA: DONNIE NIETES?ALA GYM OPENS
By Jerome S. Galunan Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 23 Feb 2015
Aimed at providing a venue to enhance the boxing skills of future Filipino champions from Murcia, the Donnie Nietes-ALA Boxing gym officially opened last Saturday, February 21.
The simple opening ceremony turned outstanding with no less than the reigning WBO junior flyweight titlist and longest Filipino boxing champion Nietes gracing the event.
Speaking before the Murciahanons and their municipal officials witnessing the event, Nietes stressed that he never expected that this dream soon happened. ?I hope this gym will help the young boxers improve their talents and achieve their dreams. Though this facility isn?t fully complete but, I think this is a good start,? he said. ?I also appeal to those who will be using this facility and the equipment, please take good care of it for the next generation will still be able to use it,? he added.
Meanwhile, Antonio ?Tony? Aldeguer, ALA gym founder, acknowledged the efforts made by the municipal officials led by Mayor Andrew Montelibano and sports coordinator Elro Villarosa in realizing the creation of this boxing facility.
?I?ve been looking for place to put up a gym for underprivileged children. And, when Elro approached me to help them build a gym, we found this former stockroom. I told them to clean this place and that?s the time we will talk again. A week later, he sent me some photos. And, I was surprised. They didn?t just clean it but, they even painted it. So I brought some equipment for them to begin with,? Aldeguer said.
However, the ALA founder reminded government officials not to use the facility to push their interests instead, use as a venue to develop boxers so they get livelihood later on.
Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes interviewed by ABS-CBN Bacolod.
Inside the Donnie Nietes-ALA Boxing gym in Murcia.
PHOTOS BY ARCHIE ALIPALO.
?I also encourage parents to bring their children into sports ? particularly in boxing. No one knows, your children would be the next boxing champion like Nietes,? he said.
Moreover, Aldeguer also asked the municipality officials if they can also build a monument for Nietes at the public plaza. ?Nietes is an inspiration not only to the Murciahanons but, to the Filipinos. It?s hard to be a champion. But, it?s more difficult to defend your title. But, Nietes has the determination and the discipline ? and, now even surpassed the record of the late Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde being a champion for more than seven years,? he added.
Montelibano, earlier, said that the facility is not only limited for Murcia but, open to everyone who wish to use it. ?It?s a blessing to us and we will share it. Because, when a champion soon to rise from this gym, it will not only be a pride of Murcia but, the pride of Negros province and our country.?(WATCHMEN DAILY JOURNAL)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Jerome S. Galunan Jr..
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