Clean Living
Get well, Angel
By Manolo Iñigo
Inquirer
First Posted 05:49:00 11/20/2007
MANILA, Philippines -- Soft-spoken and always affable Angel Nepomuceno, father-coach of bowling great Paeng Nepomuceno, has been in hospital due to a hip fracture he suffered at home a week ago.
“My 79-year-old dad was washing his face when he suddenly lost his balance and fell,” recalled four-time Bowling World Cup champion Paeng. “It was sad, a big shock, to the whole family.”
Angel was rushed to the Cardinal Santos Hospital, where he stayed at the Intensive Care Unit for some time. But according to Paeng, his dad is now out of the ICU although Angel is still unable to stand and move. “Even the slightest movement gives my dad unbearable pain.”
Worse, Paeng said, his dad caught pneumonia, slowing down his recovery after he underwent surgery to replace a bone socket in the hip. It will take several weeks of physical therapy and rehabilitation before Angel can resume normal daily activities.
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The average healing time for this kind of hip injury is six to eight weeks, according to Dr. H. Winter Griffith, author of the best-selling book “Sports Injuries.”
Healing is considered complete when there is no pain or motion at the fracture site and when X-rays show complete bone union. Thus, Angel can begin daily rehabilitation exercises when movement is comfortable.
Paeng was the guest of honor during last Friday’s well-attended Bulacan Court Employees Association (Bulcea) bowling tournament at the DJ Paradise Resort in Malolos City. The kegfest was sponsored by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Bulacan chapter headed by reelected president lawyer Pete Principe.
Highlights of the affair were the presentation of the Key to the City of Malolos to Nepomuceno by Mayor Danilo Domingo and the exhibition match between Judge Guillermo “Panky” Agloro and Nepomuceno wherein the multi-titled Paeng wowed the Bulakeños with his bowling skills and pleasant demeanor.
Bulcea president lawyer Rene Reyes led the welcomers from the province.
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Reader Isabelo Filomeno, writing all the way from Cagayan de Oro City, says: “All these years I’ve read your column with much interest because it’s done with sincerity, honesty and written with plenty of facts. I even read in your column sometime ago the name of our former coach at the Abellana High School in Cebu City, Pio Robillos, an Asian Games player in the late ’20s.
“Let me take this opportunity to request that you include in your column a list of basketball Olympians from 1936 up to the time we last played in the Olympics. I’m sure many of your readers would be interested to know them.
“When the MICAA disbanded and the PBA was formed, it started the downgrading of our Filipino players. Team owners gave more emphasis on imports at the expense of our local (homegrown) players. If we don’t change our system of developing athletes, attitude and love of country, we won’t stand much of a chance against foreign national teams.
So, how about it? I’ve been following basketball since 1948 -- the heydays of Lauro “The Fox” Mumar and company. They really played for love of country. I am now 72 but still active in reading and viewing (games on TV).
“Thanks, good health and more power.”
(In a future column, I will write about your request.—MRI)
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