THE THREE STARS AND THE SUN WILL RISE IN NEW YORK
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 14 Apr 2013
NEW YORK -- Reading or watching news coming from the Philippines can bring me down. The Philippine media is loaded with news of political instability, corruption, tragedies, calamities and nonsensical show business reports of Kris Aquino and other ?showbiz? personalities. The only section that can alleviate my frown and disgust is when I go to the sports section of any paper, site or news show from the homeland. It is the one spot that can make me smile after reading or watching it.
And boxing has led the way. No. it is not basketball which has been our number one sport and past time in the last half century. No, it is not the heartthrob-like members of the Azkals soccer team that millions of Filipinos around the world know by name. It is diminutive athletes from the Sweet Science like Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire and Brian Viloria that has placed the country in the sports map.
Their win is the country?s victory, their triumphs - their countrymen?s joy and their defeat is the nation?s sorrow.
Nonito Donaire remains one of three world champions that we have left. Gone are Pacquiao, Viloria, Sonny Boy Jaro and Filipina boxer Ana Julaton?s belts. And lately, our other contenders have failed in their pursuit of boxing glory. Philippine boxing is on the ropes, getting pummeled by defeats and disappointments. Donaire is the last superstar that Pinoy hardcore boxing fans and casual fans cling to for pride and glory. They are heartbroken after recent disappointments to their favorite Filipino fighters.
I relayed their concerns to Donaire during fight week and he promised to keep his Super bantamweight belt in his possession and maybe add another one as well.
?I am blessed that the whole nation, the Philippines is supporting me and all I can do is give my best. I assure you that I will be a hundred percent coming to this fight,? Donaire uttered.
Tonight in New York, Sunday morning in the Philippines, the mettle of Filipino boxing fans will once again be put in the test.
Four months after the knockout of Pacquiao, a week after the defeat of Viloria, they will be nervous spectators when Donaire squares off against the toughest test in the last two years of his career in Guillermo Rigondeaux.
And tonight in the streets of the biggest city on earth, in the halls of one of its iconic landmarks, in millions watching in their homes in the US, Europe, Middle East, the Philippines and the rest of Asia, they will be there cheering their ?kababayan.?
They will be in their ?Pinoy? designed shirts, they will be waving mini flags, and they will be beaming ?Pinoy Pride? as one of their own take the center stage of Radio City and the boxing world.
?Sa lahat ng mga fans, sa lahat ng mga Pilipino na na excited sa laban na ito, I?ll ask po, sana po, you guys are praying for me. Nagpapasalamat ako sa lahat ng support ninyo at gagawin ko ang lahat ng makakaya ko to win this fight. Alam ko na nag train ako ng husto sa laban na ito at ang faith ko sa Panginoon nandun, na tutulungan po Niya ako,? Donaire addressed his Filipino fans.
(To all fans, to all the Filipinos that are excited about this fight. I?ll ask, I hope that you guys are praying for me. I thank you for all your support and I will do all that I can to win this fight. I know that I have trained really hard for this fight and my faith in God will always be there, that He will help me in this fight.)
Yes, they will be watching, supporting and cheering you on Nonito. Take away that taste of defeat that has been plaguing them lately. Make them proud, once again and wave the ?three stars and the sun? from New York and beyond.
You can reach the author at rrmaze24@aol.com and follow him on Twitter @Freemazon910.
Photo: The flag at the Philippine embassy in New York.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
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