Wuth two of our amateur boxers having qualified for the Rio De Janeiro Olympics in August, Philippine Olympic Committee president Peping Cojuango and Philippine Sports Commission chair Ritchie Garcia are hopeful the country would at last win its elusive first gold.
Cojuangco and Garcia expressed their optimism over national television last Friday.
And Manny Pacquiao still has the chance to be included in the Olympic equation, they said, with the International Olympic Committee recently opening its doors to professional boxers.
“If Manny decides to represent the country, we have another hope for a gold, in addition to Filipino Olympic finalists Charly Suarez and Rogen Ladon.”
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According to Abap executive director Ed Picson, it’s now all up to the 8-division world champion.
“Manny keeps saying he’s interested to fight in the Olympics, but he gives no commitment.”
Ed said he plans to get back to Manny after the elections to get a definite answer.
Manny himself said the only thing missing in his portfolio is a stint in the Olympics.
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The first time we got wind of Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to run for Philippine president was about a year ago when we covered a boxing event organized by ALA Promotions in Davao.
It was former Tempo colleague who later became North Cotabato governor Manny Pinol who broke the news to us.
Manny said they were still trying to convince Duterte to run and once plans are in place he will be there to support and play an active role in the campaign.
Not a political person, I wasn’t interested in Pinol’s information. In the first place, I didn’t think he was serious. I thought it was only a big joke.
I just wanted to have a chat with a former colleague, a fellow-sportswriter in the boxing beat who I hadn’t seen for the longest time.
Duterte for president? The man had a reputation for ruling his domain with an iron fist. Everyone was scared of him.
The media boys were supposed to meet with Duterte in a sing-along bar later that night arranged by Manny where the mayor had promised to sing a few romantic ditties for them.
Just the boys’ luck they had to leave before the mayor arrived because a photographer got drunk and rowdy.
The boys never met Duterte, never heard the man who may be president sing.