Yes, Dear!

My wife and I will be attending a binyag (baptism) on Sunday. Though I was not asked to be the ninong (godfather), I'm technically the baby's ninong since my wife was asked to be the official ninang. Of course, there'll be the usual reception lunch after the baptism. Fine food will be served in the company of good friends. It's going to be great and I'm sure it will be perfect. Riiiight...

I have one small problem though. Sunday morning, Manila time is Pacquiao-Dela Hoya fight night in Vegas! For sure, I'll be fidgety... and so will the other ninongs and male attendees. I bet the priest will be restless, too. The parish probably paid for pay-per-view in the church's multi-purpose hall.

Baptism ceremony is at 9am. Same time as the bell for round 1 will clang. I'm guessing husbands will either be late or not show up entirely.

I asked my wife: "Can I not go?" She looked at me expressionless. "You can bring the car", I continued, trying to be cute. She smiled at me. The kind of smile that only involved the lip and cheek muscles. I gave a nervous chuckle while she stared with her contrived smile. Awkward silence..."Just kidding", I said. "Have you bought our gift?" I laugh nervously. Then she gave me her sweetest most sincere hug...and smile.

I called my nephew and asked: "Can you record the fight?...And can I borrow your Phone with the TV?"

Things that make you go Hmmm 2

I watched the sports news on local TV during my lunch break. The Pacquiao and Dela Hoya fight is 10 days from now. Manny is still 6 pounds short of the weight class that he will fight in. On the other camp, Oscar is now maintaining his new yet much lighter weight.

As expected, both camps are already claiming premature victory. Freddie Roach seem really confident of Manny's heightened skills in spite of his elevated weight. While Oscar's shoulder portents to be a potential problem area, his camp is confident nonetheless.

Angelo Mirena a.k.a Angelo Dundee is Dela Hoya's new coach. He says Oscar can easily figure out Manny since Pacquiao has been a "one-sided fighter ever since".

Hmmm...One-sided? Did Morales, Marquez, Barrera, Ledwaba, Naseem, Velasquez, Larios, Diaz, etc etc etc. fought and lost against the same 'one-side'?

One sided....Rriiigght.

From Washington to Manila to Vegas, baby!

As far as Manila is concerned, the Obama fever and honeymoon period is over. While it is true that most Filipinos are happy for the historic win of the first African American President of the most powerful nation in the world, Pinoys are naturally shoulder shruggers and take the wait-and-see attitude hoping that the Change that came to America will come here as well.  In what size, shape, and form? The ridiculously corrupt Congressman's  guess is as good as the hilariously smart-ass manong barbero (barber). Wait-and-see.

We have, time and again, been criticized by the world and branded  a nation with VERY short memories and attention spans. In my opinion, that is totally untrue, unfounded, and unfair... Hey, did you hear about the possibility of Manny Pacquiao losing his title?! You haven't?! 

(from abs-cbnNEWS.com)

CHENG DU, CHINA- Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao must cough up $30,000 within the next 15 days or be stripped of his World Boxing Council lightweight title, the WBC said on Thursday.

The boxing body's governors, meeting in Cheng Du, are demanding the fighter pay sanctioning fees they say he owes, or they will take his belt.

"Manny Pacquiao is a great champion and the pride of the WBC. But he believes he is the ruler of the organization and that is not going to happen," WBC President Jose Sulaiman told Reuters.

"If he doesn't want to do it, he goes his way and we go our way. He has made a fortune with the WBC. He became famous fighting WBC Champions like Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales and now he's trying to kick us in the back and send us home. We cannot do that.

"I am very disappointed because he's a friend, he is the hero of President Arroyo and of the whole country of the Philippines, and I feel very bad because of the way that we've been treated. But the phone is there and the door is open."

The WBC is also insisting Pacquiao pay $100,000 within 15 days of his anticipated fight against Oscar de la Hoya or face the same punishment. That non-title fight is scheduled for Dec. 6.

It was not clear, however, if the WBC has received request from any party to stop the Pacquaio-de la Hoya bout.

Sanction fees?  Great idea, Mr. Sulaiman...found in the rule book or not, that's a brilliant moneymaker while protecting the interests of the WBC.  This is showbusiness. They'll understand. Besides, Manny can raise the moolah faster than he can say the word BUKSENG!  

Now, what was I writing about?...Forget it! ... Place your bets, hermanos!