There’s going to be a fight on March 14, 2010 (Manila Time).  Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao will stand at one corner.  The question is, who will stand at the other corner?  Will it be Ghanaian Joshua Clottey  or Floyd Mayweather Jr.?  After weeks of negotiation circus, Top Rank’s Bob Arum finally decided to set the WBO welterweight title fight against Clottey.  The negotiation fizzled out between the two dominant American boxing promotional companies when Mayweather Jr’s camp demanded for a rigorous drug testing procedure –random examination like the Olympics that can be really close to the fight night.  

The boxing commission only requires urine testing but the stringent drug testing will call for random blood and urine sampling prior to and after the proposed fight.  Team Pacquiao couldn’t agree to the blood testing 30 days before the match concerned that this might affect Pacman’s performance.  Pacquiao filed a lawsuit against Mayweather’s camp last month, claiming several members had defamed him by intimating he uses performance-enhancing drugs.

The Pacquiao-Mayweather fight was supposed to be one of boxing’s biggest revenue-generating fights.  There’s still time before March to reopen talks but Arum has closed his doors to Mayweather for March, more especially that he feels Mayweather will start the nonsense media talk again about the testing and regulations.

Pacquiao’s new opponent in Clottey is a strong, aggressive African that beat Zab Judah of the United States for the IBF Welterweight title in August 2008 and lost a split decision to Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto last June.

–

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum made a trip to the Philippines to talk to Manny Pacquiao, who broke records of being the only champion with 7 world boxing titles under his belt.  After Pacquiao’s clear welterweight win over Miguel Cotto last November, everyone is slating Floyd Mayweather Jr. as the next in line to face the formidable Filipino boxer.

March 13, 2010 is the date they are eyeing.  This can be the biggest boxing event of next year since people have been anticipating this match-up.  Pacquiao is the top pound-for-pound fighter while Mayweather is currently No.2 –although the No.1 position is not new to Mayweather since he was No.1 before he retired in June 2008.

The public has been clamoring for this fight to happen but according to Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s coach, March 13 is too fast a turnaround.  Remember that Pacquiao suffered a broken eardrum during his duel with Cotto.  Roach wants Pacquiao to be in his best possible shape before he steps again in the ring.  Roach is looking into a May 2010 bout but that will coincide with the election month.  Pacquiao already filed his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) this week to run for Congress.

Ticket for the live fight is expected to cost around $2,500 (P117,500) while the cheapest seats at around $500 (P25,000).

Will Schaefer and Arum get this deal done and set a fight date before the 2^nd half of next year?  The public will have to wait and see.

–

The Pacman still has the hand and foot speed and the left big swing to grab another belt –his seventh world title across several weight classes.  He proves once again that he is the best pound for pound fighter of his time.

The MGM Grand was packed to the roof, with seats all sold-out; the anticipating crowd inside the arena watched one of the best matches of Pacquiao as of late (Pacquiao supposedly got a 13 million dollar purse.  Add the endorsements to that and you have the richest Filipino boxer of all time…). 

Round 1 appeared to be Cotto’s round throwing more punches and with them landing on Pacman’s head and body. 

Round 2 was clearly Pacquiao’s round scoring a knockdown from Cotto.  Cotto showed ferocious counterpunches.  The Pacman was too quick to sustain serious damage.  When Pacquiao unleashed a leftie, Cotto fell to the floor, dazed.  Since then Cotto didn’t look like he was the same fighter that stepped in the ring barely 5 minutes that passed.

Rounds 3-7 were all in Pacquiao’s favor marking another knockdown from Cotto in Round 4.  Everyone held their breath predicting that the bout will end soon with Pacquiao unleashing the deadliest that will bring Cotto down for the third time –and for good.

However, the 29-year old underdog from Puerto Rico didn’t relent so easily.  He got pumped up with his second wind and worked the ring, letting Pacquiao run after him.  He released a few jabs and body shots that connected.  It seems like he was back on his strategy of attacking Pacquiao’s body.

Judging from Pacquiao’s cauliflower ear and minor cuts under his eyes along with some bruises, Cotto did land some heavy shots of his own.  It was definitely a toe-to-toe match than Pacquiao versus Hatton or Dela Hoya.  You definitely got your money’s worth watching the fight.

Despite a puffed and brutally bruised face and spitting blood, Cotto stayed in the game, unyielding, hanging on to every round, surviving.  He earned my respect with his athleticism -I heard he’s also loved like Pacquiao because he’s really a very nice guy outside the ring.  Rounds 9 and 10, he looked hopeful to land a devastating left hook that can knock Pacquiao out.  But Pacquiao just wouldn’t have it –and he also didn’t want the fight to go to scorecards even if it was clearly his arm the referee would raise at the end of the day.  He wanted a knockout that his coach, Freddie Roach predicted.

Referee Kenny Bayless stepped in for the boxer’s safety and waved his hands to put an end to the fight after Cotto received a big left to the head and looked like he couldn’t defend himself intelligently. The end came in the 55-second mark of the final round.

Pacquiao has successfully stripped off Cotto his WBO welterweight belt.  Pacquiao’s speed coupled with throwing many punches from different angles is a firepower that is tough to extinguish -plus the fact that he has the unwavering heart of a champion.

–

I missed the opening night of the Philippine reality hit TV show, PBB.  This newest season dubbed as PBB Double Up launched last Sunday with 10 housemates and 2 pairs of male twins.  The housemates were chosen from 57,824 applicants who personally went to the 18 audition sites located worldwide. 

Princess, the Sassy Vamp ng Cebu

Tom, the Romantic Stud ng Samar

Delio, the Simpatikong Kusinero ng Batangas

Paul Jake, the Negosyante Prince ng Cebu

Jason, the Boy Astig ng Mindoro

Melissa, the Inday Kengkay ng Gen San

Yuri, the Multilingual Hottie ng Japan

Carol, the Conservative Pharmacist ng Tondo

Mariel, the Struggling Mom ng Davao –is she the one who looks a bit like Wendy Valdez from PBB Season 2?

Yhel, the Young Widow ng Pampanga

Toffi, the Basket Bolero ng Rizal, and his twin brother Kenny, the Joker Jock ng Rizal

JP, the Jetsetter Dad ng Quezon City,and his twin brother JM, the Delightful Dad ng Quezon City.

Paul Jake, Kenny, Yuri, Princess and Tom are the ones emerging to have interesting personalities.

The housemates are billeted separately in two houses and right after the opening night, the twin pair were put to a challenge.  Inside the confession room that adjoins the two houses, Big Brother instructed the two sets of twins—JP and JM as well as Toffi and Kenny not to inform the other housemates about the other twin. 

Image Source: PBB Multiply Site

The twins went to separate houses and spent some time there when Big Brother called them again to instruct them to exchange places.  If they failed in this task, they will incur the penalty of forced eviction.  Last night’s first official EP showed that the house where most of the girls are staying suspect that something is up, particularly Carol, the conservative pharmacist and instructor from Tondo.  Melissa, the supposedly funny one from the group noticed the difference in weight and facial features when the other pair substituted.

Tune in to know if the big double secret will be busted before the actual reveal.  This ABS-CBN show airs every weeknight, right after Dahil May Isang Ikaw.

The Big Winner of PBB Double Up will get P1 million cash, a house and lot worth P2.5 million, a water business franchise, and an Asian tour. Aside from that, the Final Four will get to choose charitable institutions that will receive cash amounts equivalent to what they would be taking home.

PBB Steaming is available on SKY Cable.  Call 631-0000 for more information.

 –

Taylor Swift, the cutest American country pop singer, won Best Female Video in MTV’s Video Music Awards and bested out Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Beyonce. 

She took the stage to accept the award and deliver her thanks when Kanye West suddenly jumped on stage and grabbed her microphone to declare that Beyonce should have won because she had the best videos of all time. 

The crowd booed the Kanye interruption and Kanye stormed off stage.  Swift was left on stage flabbergasted looking at the floor before she was ushered off stage.  Beyonce was as stunned as Taylor Swift.

Watch what happened

**UPDATE**

Beyonce won Best Video of the Year, the biggest award of the VMA show, and generously shared the spotlight with Taylor Swift.  Beyonce danced her way to the stage, with the Single Ladies playing on the background.  “Wow, this is amazing.  I remember being 17 years old, up for my 1^st MTV award with Destiny’s Child and it was one of the most exciting moments of my life. I’d like Taylor to come out and have her moment…”

She then calls Taylor to the stage, “where are you?”  The crowd cheered in uproar.  Taylor comes out in a red ensemble as well, different from her silver backless gown she wore earlier during her acceptance speech, approaches Beyonce and gives her a hug.

“Maybe we could do this again,” Swift opened her statement.  Like any grateful kid, she thanked the director of the video, including the fans who followed her on MySpace and Twitter and her brother’s high school for the video venue.

–

Manila News Today: 09-09-09

Restoring Hope for the Nation

Sen. Benigno Aquino III, known to many as “NoyNoy”, the only son of former President Cory Aquino and national hero, Ninoy Aquino, officially announced this morning his acceptance of the people’s call for him to run for president in 2010.

Sen. Aquino made the announcement of his candidacy at the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City –the very same site where former President Aquino took her oath as president in 1986.  It was also the same venue where Sen. Mar Roxas held a press conference to announce that he is making the ultimate sacrifice to give way to Sen. Aquino. September 9, 2009, is also the 40^th day after the death of his late mother, the icon of faith and democracy.

Sen. Aquino, who looked calm and strong-willed, declared that he is accepting the voice of the people and will continue his parents’ fight to restore “real” democracy in the country.  He accepts the challenge to lead in this fight by running in the coming elections.

NoyNoy’s sisters, Ballsy, Pinky, Viel and Kris along with their families were present during the announcement, a strong sign of their full pledge support for NoyNoy’s decision.  

Liberal Party members Senators Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, Francis Pangilinan, former Sen. Franklin Drilon, Quezon Representative Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada III, former congressmen Florencio “Butch” Abad and Nereus Acosta, former Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz and Leah Navarro of the Black and White Movement were also present.

Sen. Aquino generously welcomed a few questions from the media, to which he answered fearlessly and with conviction.  He also mentioned that he has offered Sen. Roxas to be his vice-presidential running mate and is only awaiting the latter’s decision on the matter.  Other items he mentioned that he will look at is education and the repetitive traditional books we feed the youth, re-establishing the justice system across all classes (poking at the current justice structure for the rich and well-connected) and restoring hope for the nation.

–

Miss Venezuela won the 2009 Miss Universe crown giving a back-to-back title to their country.  It is also Venezuela’s sixth time bagging the coveted beauty crown since the pageant’s creation.  Very young at 18, Stefania Fernandez, dressed in a flowing tiered red evening gown, jumped in joy (rather not so gracefully) with fellow Miss Venezuela 2008 winner.  As the crown was passed from one Venezuelan beauty to the next, the two cheered and teetered in elation that made the crown briefly fell to the floor. 

Personal bet Dominican Republic Ada Aimee de la Cruz was the first runner up.  Dominican Republic had the toughest question being asked whether or not HIV test should be mandatory.  Another personal bet in the top 15 didn’t make it to the next cut, Miss South Africa.  Our Filipina bet didn’t also make it to the Top 15 cut.

The other finalists were Miss Kosovo, Droga Ganusha; Miss Australia, Rachael Finch; and Miss Puerto Rico, Mayra Matos Perez.  Miss China, Wang Jingyao, was named Miss Congeniality and Miss Thailand, Chutima Durongdej, won Miss Photogenic.

The new Miss Universe is from the city of Merida in the west of a beauty-obsessed South American country where hard-fought pageants are something of a national sport, with contestants widely dissected by the public and the media.

If there was one gripe about the whole worldwide-televised event, it’s the production.  The prestigious pageant included musical performances by Flo Rida (whose music I listen to and like but it felt inappropriate to have him sing in the pageant with a background of “glamorous/model” women clad in bikinis jump in Hip Hop music), Heidi Montag, David Guetta and Kelly Rowland.

Related Post

Miss Universe LIVE on ABS-CBN

–

What’s so juicy you just can’t keep your mouth shut?

Tune in to my show, Good Times with Mo, at Magic 89.9 from 6 to 9 AM, Mondays to Thursdays and if Mo likes what you say, you’ll get a chance to win FREE Delifrance French Dip Roast Beef Sandwiches for your entire office, school, or organization! What are you waiting for? Trade with Mo something Juicy for Juicy Roast Beef!

Call 6310899 or SMS Magic<space>899<space><Your Message> to 2968.

Email at goodtimeswithmo@yahoo.com  

–

It was a Thursday, which means a workday.  I remember that I almost begged off joining because I’ve already max-ed out my leaves because I took a 1-month leave for the study tour in Japan.

I was with someone else (SE) in 2006.  He said that I should take the opportunity to meet her because “it’s not everyday that we get invited to a trip like this.”

We arrived at her house in Times Street, Quezon City early in the morning.

I think it was Tita Ballsy who welcomed us initially and directed us to the kitchen where she was.

I see a yellow figure turn to greet us.  I am nervous.  I am awkward.  I am excited.

She first turns her attention to Tita (SE’s mom).   Then she greets SE fondly.  Tita introduces me.  I nervously return her bright smile.

It was the first time I met former President Aquino. 

She seemed to be always formal on TV. 

Serious. 

Tackling national issues are considerable matters after all. 

But that morning, she was like any ordinary person, simply offering us breakfast on the table and welcoming us to their home.

Genuine.

Her earnest personality transcends beyond television.  You can feel the sincerity in her eyes and smile.

She made cream cheese with caviar, a concoction she made herself.  We had it with some bread and it was really luscious.

She was cheerful and as sunny as her yellow ensemble.  I was feeling really timid being in the same presence of such prominence.  But the atmosphere around her was very light and easy.  With all that she has been through, it was an aura I didn’t expect.

Soon all of us load inside the van and we begin our travel.

She, Tita and Tita Ballsy talk all the way to the province of Tarlac.  Once a while, she turns to SE or me.  She asks me where I was working and I fumble in my answer.  Incredibly, I stammer even with the word, “Yes.”  She has that calming presence but I felt really humbled to be face to face with a democracy stalwart. 

As we reach the town proper, they familiarize us with the surroundings.  We had a quick stopover for lunch at Max’s.  Her being there equally astounded the wait staff but anyone can spot the Filipino pride in their eyes as they look at her.  She relentsto a reporter’s request for a short interview and some photos while SE and I look around.

We arrived at Hacienda Luisita and was greeted by Noy Noy, who personally toured us around the Ninoy Aquino museum.

At the end of the tour, we went to the mini-theater and watched in full screen a documentary about Ninoy Aquino and the hardships the family and the country had gone through to restore democracy.  The Aquino family’s sacrifice alongside the country’s support and unity rekindled my nationalistic pride and instilled appreciation for being a free country.  At the end of the short film were words of Teodoro Benigno (SE’s dad), former Press Secretary of President Aquino.  Tears fell remembering Tito.

I took a lot from that day –a monumental piece of Philippine history was left implanted in my mind while the national unity displayed was left valued in my heart.  How inspiring that despite what she has gone through, Tita Cory remained very simple and sensible.  At any given day, she can pass like any ordinary loving mother or Tita or lola.  When the country is in crisis, she was also our go-to-person for moral ascendance.  She was a source of strength for every Filipino.

August 1, 2009

Corazon Aquino, the Philippine’s first woman president who led the Filipino people toward democracy, died in the quite morning of August 1, 2009.  She succumbed to colon cancer at the age of 76.

I mourn not only for the loss of someone I was privileged to meet once in my life but my heart deeply cries for losing the woman who symbolizes hope for this country.  She was an icon of democracy, nationalism and motherhood.

She was a woman of courage and faith. 

It’s now time for every Filipino to carry the cross of the country for her.  It is in each one of us.

There’s still a good fight ahead. 

A Day with the President Album

Related Post

Manila News Today

False Reports on Cory Aquino

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents and LAPD detectives searched the residence and office of Conrad Murray, each location a week apart.  Murray is Michael Jackson’s doctor who is believed to have given Jackson a lethal dose of anesthetic Propofol.

Propofol is used to induce unconsciousness in patients ahead of major surgery.  In hospitals, only a trained anesthesiologist is allowed to administer the drug under strict monitoring conditions.

TMZ.com reported that Murray had told police in an interview he gave Jackson Propofol via an intravenous drip.  The website reported police believe Murray may have fallen asleep while the drug was being administered, and awoke to find the singer already dead.

If Murray did inject Jackson with Propofol negligently, he can be charged with homicide.

The federal agents and police came to his office a week earlier with a search warrant seeking evidence for the “offense of manslaughter”

The LA Coroner’s office reported that the toxicology result is due by the end of this week.

Related Post

Michael Jackson Movie

Michael Jackson Memorial Most Touching Moment

Michael Jackson Public Memorial Live on CNN

Returning to Neverland

The Man in the Mirror

A Very Touching Story of Michael Jackson while in the Philippines

Michael Jackson Memorial Coverage on SKY Cable

The Battle for Michael Jackson’s Estate Continues