VALCARCEL: ?THE SHOW MUST GO ON? (PHOTOS)
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 24 Oct 2017
Aboard Norwegian Sky ? ?The show must go on.?
That was what WBO president Francisco 'Paco' Valcarcel told the assembled delegates to the 30th WBO Convention here Monday night despite the tragedy suffered by Puerto Rico, the location of the boxing body's headquarters, due to two powerful hurricanes Irma and Maria that ravished the island last month that knocked out its electric power, water and other basic services which effectively halted the island's normal flow of daily life.
?We have to get back on our feet. And I thanked everyone for coming over especially those from far away countries like Japan and the Philippines for making the effort. We will do our work quickly because I want you to enjoy the ship and the islands,? Valcarcel said.
The WBO 30th convention, which will formally open Tuesday morning, is held aboard the luxury ship Norwegian Sky on a 4-day vacation tour that departed at Miami port Monday afternoon and will make its first stop in Havana, Cuba by 8:00 a.m. Tuesday. It will depart Havana by five in the afternoon the same day and head to the Great Stirrup Cay private island in the Bahamas where it is expected to arrive at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday. It will then depart at 11 a.m. Thursday where it is expected to arrive back in Miami at 7 a.m. Friday.
The ship, which carries 2,200 passengers in this voyage, has a pool deck, casino, restaurants, night club and bars, theater, art gallery and conference halls. It also offers a satellite Internet connection.
The Monday evening cocktail reception reestablished connection among boxing officials, promoters, managers, matchmakers and boxers. The Philippine delegation was well represented headed by GAB chairman Abraham Mitra and his wife Rossel, promoter Johnny Elorde and wife Liza, well-traveled referee Danrex Tapdasan and his wife Mary Joy. The Rontal family, boxing promoters based in Cagayan de Oro, headed by patriarch Florecio 'Florskie' Rontal, young promoter Kenneth Rontal and his lawyer wife Amabelle and their son, and Kenneth's New York based brother Van were in full force joining the convention. Boxing judge Salven Lagumbay and this writer rounded up the list.
WBO president Francisco 'Paco' Valcarcel speaks to the delegates during the cocktail reception Monday night.
Some of the delegates listen to Valcarcel.
The Philippine delegation. Seated (L-R): Mary Joy Tapdasan, Rossel Mitra, Danny Sandoval's wife, Liza Elorde, Atty Amabelle Rontal and Beboy Rontal; Standing (L-R): Johnny Elorde, Danrex Tapdasan, Danny Sandoval, Abraham Mitra, Van Rontal, Leon Panoncillo Jr, Florencio Rontal and Kenneth Rontal.
Referees all (L-R): Robert Hoyle, Kenny Bayless, Russell Mora, Benjy Esteves, Danrex Tapdasan and Mark Nelson.
Vacationers enjoy the pool on the top deck of the Norwegian Sky (below).
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
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