Boxers, doctors and the Cebu Public Library
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 13 Feb 2009
I remember a scene in one of the Rocky movies where fictional heavyweight champ Rocky Balboa gets asked by reporters for his comment regarding the doctors? findings pertaining to brain injuries in boxing. Rocky's amusing reply was: ?Yes, I agree...absolutely. I don't think doctors should fight.?
Real life boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao will be receiving an honorary doctorate of humanities from Southwestern University of Cebu this coming February 18. The ceremony will be held at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City. He will be the first Filipino boxer to be bestowed with such an honor.
There are other prominent boxers with doctorates. Aside from lording over the heavyweight division, Ukrainians Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko have Ph. D.'s in sports science from the University of Kiev. The brothers are fluent in Russian, German and English. Wladimir once said in a 2002 Boxing Digest article that ?I really wanted to be a doctor. It's what I thought I would do in life. A fighter? No, never.?
The Greatest Muhammad Ali also has an honorary doctorate from Princeton University.
Pacquiao was on the cover of Reader's Digest Asia last December. In his interview with Digest Editor- in Chief Jim Flouffe he emphasized the importance of education. He said that he was still going to school, taking up Business management and that his favorite subject is philosophy.
It is refreshing to hear star athletes talk about the importance of education. Not every one is blessed with natural athletic ability like Pacquiao.
Since we are talking about education, I would like to take this opportunity to give my two cents worth regarding the rather disturbing news reports about the plan to close the Cebu City Public Library.
I had a public school education. I was one of those students who would frequent the library when it was still located along Magallanes St. during the 1980's. Sadly, we are not living in a land of opportunity. Not every Filipino child can grow up and be what he wants to be. Even those who make it have to join the diaspora.
Closing learning institutions like a public library will make this dire situation even worse. Please visit the library along Osmena Blvd and see what you can do to help. Even Pacquiao said that we need more doctors and lawyers in our lives.
That starts with books.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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