IT?S THE FOURTH WEEK OF TRAINING AT THE WILD CARD GYM
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 25 Mar 2009
Manila, Philippines:- It?s Wednesday again and as usual I was supposed to be reporting and posting photos from the Wildcard Gym with regards to the activities at the Pacquiao training camp.
But there would no report from that famous sweatshop today.
Oh no, it nothing about any drastic changes that would not allow us to do our usual stuff from the famed gym like being barred or something.
To be precise, we are in Manila for a short four-day trip at the invitation of the Elorde family to attend and be a part of the Annual Elorde Boxing Awards at the Tent City at the Manila Hotel tonight.
The trip however could not be more exciting!
As luck have it, last Sunday (Monday Manila time) an hour before the Japan Airline Flight 61 I was on was to land at Narita airport for a technical stop, the pilot came on the PA system and announced that there was a fatal crash at Narita airport and we were diverted to northern Japan at Sapporro, in the island of Hokkaido.
Thus, begun the nightmare.
All JAL flights from the US were diverted there. Being a very small airport, it was overwhelmed. It took us 4 hours in line just to get a flight to Tokyo International Airport, more than an hour away. From there we took an hour and a half bus ride to Narita and got there at 11:30 PM Japan time. The flight going to Manila would not take off in another 10 hours so we slept at the Narita Airport benches and waited for the flight time. To make matters worse, all the eating places were closed so we starved as well. And, it was cold as its still winter up there.
We did not get to Manila until Tuesday at 6PM Manila time, almost 20 hours delayed. But we are here and that?s what counts.
Feed from the grapevine indicates that this year?s Elorde Awards will feature as usual, the ?who is who? in Philippine Boxing. Thus, I look forward to a fun night.
And, just like in the past, the event is co-sponsored by some of the ?big players? in the country like PAGCOR, Smart, Alaxan, Tanduay, Family Alcohol, Lonsdale, and the Manila Hotel. But of course, the main sponsors are the originators of the event, the Elorde Family through the Elorde Family Foundation.
Being back in Manila is always nice particularly being in events where I will have the opportunity to see and renew friendships with people who share my interests and passion for the sweet science.
I look forward to see folks like Dong Secuya, the site administrator of PhilBoxing as well as some of the top sports writers in the country, notably Roy Luarca of the Inquirer, Nick Giongco of the Manila Bulletin, Abac Cordero of the PhilStar and of course, a great friend the un-retired grand old man of sports-writing, Recah Trinidad.
It will also be nice to be exchanging ?hello and how are you? with people from GAB like boxing chief, Dr. Nasser Cruz, Commissioner Angel Bautista and of course head GAB honcho, Eric Buhain.
I can?t wait to see and talk with numerous boxers of note who will be in attendance. Guys like Nonito Donaire who is in training for his fight at the Araneta on April 19th , Donnie Nietes, the WBO minimum weight champ from the ALA Gym, his teammates, Z Gorres , AJ Banal and Boom Boom Bautista as well as my buddy, Coach Edito Villamor
Filipino great, Pancho Villa will be inducted in the Hall of Fame. Donaire, Nietes and Penalosa, as Boxers of the Year.
Manny Pacquiao will be honored as the World?s Best pound-4-pound boxer. But Pacquiao from what I heard will not be coming to Manila to accept the Award personally. He is too pre-occupied with his training back at Wildcard Gym in Hollywood for his gigantic and epic battle against the British firebomb, Ricky Hatton on May 2nd at the MGM in Las Vegas.
Part of the event is a mixed boxing card that will feature some of the up and coming amateurs and professionals in the country.
It will be fulfilling to see Juan Manuel Elorde, Migs, for short, the grandson of the great Flash Elorde who is included in the card. Finally, I get to see him in action wearing the mouthguard I humbly made for him when he visited my office at Canoga Park with his dad Johnny Elorde last year.
My usual Wednesday reports from the Wildcard will resume next week.
Stay tuned.
Top photo: A Fexed cargo plane lies burned at the Narita after it crashed Monday resulting in the closing of the Narita airport and the diverting of flights to other places in Japan.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
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