Of Angel, Phil and Volcanoes

If I didn’t know him any better, I’d say my scribe friend who hides behind the tag “The Inquisitor” has become a big showbiz fan .
To start with, it appears that of late, he has been closely monitoring the romantic liaison behind movie actress Angel Locsin and Filipino-Briton Azkal Phil Younghusband.
It was the Inquisitor who told me that Angel had rushed back to the Rizal Football Stadium last Sunday after the Philippines-Sri Lanka game upon learning that Phil had been injured. She left again after being assured that Phil was only suffering from cramps.
It was also the scribe who relayed what he heard on the entertainment news: Angel had brought Phil home recently to met her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Angel Colmenares.
Angel’s father, who is her namesake, used to be a national swimmer in the 50’s, according to the Inquisitor. He was a long distance specialist.
“Angel has two brothers much older than she is—Jimmy and Greg, who are also swimmers.
“So you see, it’s not only Phil who has sports in his DNA, Angel also does.”
The Inquisitor also revealed that Angel, who is now 26 years old, was a high school swimmer at the University of Santo Tomas
“She swam briefly in high school under the tutelage of coach Artemio Salamat Jr.,” he informed me.
* * *
At first I suspected that maybe the billboards showing the image of provocative, scantily clad rugby players called the Philippine Volcanoes were put up by design to attract attention like the Philippine Azkals.
But I was wrong.
A colleague who covers football said the Volcanoes were formed way ahead of the Azkals.
“And if the Azkals are good looking, the Volcanoes are beter looking. Most of them are Filipinos boran and/or raised abroad too.
My colleague, who is definitely straight, opposes the dismantling of the sexy Volcanoes billboard which incidentally included one Azkal, Aly Borromeo.
“Let’s not be prudes. This is the 21st century. And let’s not be sexists. They allow the billboards of practically nude women. Why not men?”
Aye aye, I say to that.
* * *
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum sees five more fights for Manny Pacquiao, including the Trilogy with Juan Manuel Marquez this November, before he retires two years from now.
“Manny must retire from boxing no later than 2013, ” Arum said, stating no reason.
Well, the first eight-division world champion who has won 10 world titles should definitely quit while the quitting is good. He turns 33 this December, has all the money he can spend until he dies if he spends it wisely, and probably could not ask anything more from boxing.
Except probably a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr., which is not likely to happen this year or early in 2012.
* * *
With the Trilogy scheduled in November and Mayweather’s comeback fight against Victor Ortiz in September, plus all that “Manny you’re next!” challenge hurled by Floyd Jr. in the websites, everybody thought the dream fight the whole world had been awaiting would at last happen in early 2012.
But it looks like this fight is headed for another delay.
The latest word in the websites is that a Mayweather-Amir Khan fight is under negotiation and is likely to be held in mid-2012. That is if Khan wins his WBA super lightweight title defense against challenger Zab Judah this July.
Khan faces Erik Morales next this December before he can climb up to the welterweight division, to challenge Mayweather.