MOUTHGUARD ISSUES? ? NAH, NOT REALLY
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 19 Mar 2016
A funny thing happened yesterday. I decided to make a mouthguard that sported the logo of the United Nationalist Alliance Party, the political group that lists Manny Pacquiao as one of its senatorial candidate. Personally, I see nothing wrong about the mouthguard. In fact, I even posted it on the web with the following statement: ?Guess who gets to use this on April 9th?.
Today, the reaction came rushing in after the mouthguard was featured in a PhilStar issue as well as in the GMA News. The latter asking if it is a violation of the Comelec Rules. I heard even ANC 24/7 picked up the matter.
And, everyone made the wrong guess! Manny Pacquiao will not be using it. In fact, no one will.
I sure hope folks don?t rush to judgment. But I guess that?s how things work in our motherland.
The truth of the matter is as of today Friday, March 18th, Manny Pacquiao is not even aware of the mouthguard with the UNA logo. I have not even visited with Pacquiao since he came to LA due to my busy schedule. Besides, I have no plans to give it to him. Just for fun, I may show it to him. But I don?t have plans to give it to him. This is because I have one for his fight that has the MP logo up front. I plan to give that to him instead for his fight on April 9th. (See photos)
Much like in his previous fights with Tim Bradley, this mouthguard is designed differently from the ones he used against his other opponents, Floyd Mayweather Jr, included. The Pacquiao mouthguards for his Bradley fights are reinforced differently owing to the fact that sometimes Bradley lead with his head and he is known to be involved in many head butt situations. With the special design, a head butt, accidental or otherwise will not damage Pacquiao?s teeth. A special harden reinforcement assures that.
The one with the UNA logo is just for fun. I am hoping however that Pacquiao will sign it so that I can raffle it off with the proceeds going to a non-profit charitable entity called Dentistry for Every Village Foundation. This foundation builds and donates dental offices to responsible health care entities that can manage it and provide free dental care for undeserved Filipinos.
Here is a piece of advise: If there are folks out there who are not supporters of Pacquiao and plans to use the issue against him in the elections better think twice so you won?t look stupid making a big deal out of nothing.
Pacquiao maybe be controversial but he is not a newbie in the political game. He knows what a mouthguard with a UNA logo will cause if he uses one.
In so far as the Comelec folks are concerned, I say stand down guys. There are no political issues related to Pacquiao?s mouthguard. I know, because I fabricate them for him and I am not allowing anything related to my mouthguards to create negative issues against Pacquiao.
Pacquiao?s mouthguards are made with only one thing in mind- that is to protect him during combat. Knock on wood? so far we have been lucky and there are no reasons to feel differently every time he fights!
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
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