Of miracles, love, and hope

After boxing expert Hermie Rivera cried in pain over the woeful state of amateur boxing in the country, we thought of sending him this hollering knockout text message that went viral in the first week of the London Olympics:

“In yachting, Australia took the gold, UK took the silver, and Somalia took the boats!”

Hermie was in a disgusting mood on Monday. He was the happiest man on Earth yesterday.

He didn’t even have to see the first step in his dream direction from amateur boxing leaders.

“Lubos po kaming nagpapasalamat sa inyung dasal at tulong. Si Andy ay pinawalang sala ngayon and what a reunion tonite,” Hermie swooned via e-mail from his nest in Newark, California.

* * *

The man of the hour kept crying “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”

Hermie’s son Andy, a little over 30 now, was brought to the United States when he was a kid of eight. The boy, a born athlete, entered grade school, did well in class, more so in baseball and football. A few years on though, he fell into bad company, was booked for doing drugs but was later cleared. Soon enough, he fell in love, found a job, married and started to raise a family.

Everything was going normally fine. Until Andy was booked again, this time as an illegal immigrant.

From his father’s account, Andy got thrown behind bars somewhere in Arizona. The best Hermie could do was plead, pray, cry to the heavens, in a frantic bid to buy mercy for his son.

* * *

We had printed Hermie’s appeal to the Arizona hearing judge at least twice.

Maybe it was true they had also sent a letter to the White House.

Nothing came out of his efforts and Hermie was starting to lose hope.

He had all but given up when the miracle happened.

The hearing judge decided to clear Andy and restore his right to live freely in the United States.

The news felt grander than Hermie winning the grand lotto jackpot.

“TY big also and a reminder to the Abap, hoping MVP wakes up to the truth.”

What Rivera exactly meant was for amateur boxing leaders to realize that the Olympics is “not just another glory bid, but a shot at perfection and nobility, both of the body and the human spirit.”

* * *

Also from California, Sacramento to be exact:

“Pare you’re on target with your piece last week (Game of Love, the secret of success).

“There are societies that care more for pets than parents. Those who have dogs and cats for housemates. Countless aging moms and dads are put out to pasture in ‘homes’ not their own.”

That’s the gifted wordsmith Percy Della, veteran newsman and now Inquirer sports columnist.

“My Dad’s turning 91 in two months and his daily routine, mopping the hardwood floors of our ancestral home (in Cuyapo) with foot power at daybreak and then walking about town after breakfast, has worked wonders.”

What’s the secret?

“What makes him enjoy life day to day is the undivided love of his family and the memory of my late Mom, all his dear ones, who have passed on. In our household he is still the revered figure, still the boss, which we can’t say of old people here in the USA.”

Percy, hair sparse but strong as a horse, hopes to be able to go home again—soon!