One hundred twelve years have marked your Independence

Your years, your splendor, your grace shone eminent

Let the whole nation rejoice and embrace your Prominence

Let the people weep for joy or pray so silent

Your flag of blue, red and white waves proud in the blue sky

As your stars and Sun shine throughout the islands

Like a noble eagle, thirsty of flight, you fly so high

As your hymn plays throughout the air; hear the March bands

You can barely recall from the scrolls of History

How men from the other lands maltreated your people

You long for the freedom as you tell us a story

Served as the symbol to be seen on the flagpole

Monstrosity of waves incinerate the dictators

By our zealous heroes who died for our nation

Their gallant efforts against the heathenish oppressors

Is the solid base of our emancipation

Behold! Purged from fear, the Filipino multitude cheers!

Mabuhay! Kalayaan ng ating bansa!

Like what our Katipuneros cried and broke into tears,

Viva la independencia Filipina!

in commemoration of June 12, 1898

Philippine Independence Day

though you are dead!

*

Things you may not know ’bout him:

Rizal spoke and wrote in 20 languages.

He traveled around the world three times.

Rizal is a bookworm having a collection of books tantamount to a library

He is 5’3 tall.

The firing squad, which is tasked to shoot Rizal, is composed of Filipinoes. Behind them are Spanish soldiers ready to shoot them dead if they resist shooting him.

**

Several things i have read ’bout him:

I have read Rizal Without the Overcoat by Ambeth Ocampo which made me realize a Jose Rizal way much different than those portrayed in our textbooks and peso coins.

I also read one article on a book saying that Rizal is an incarnation of Jesus! Well, it showed parallelism, but you’ll never know!

There are so many rumors about him such as: he fathered Adolf Hitler, his homosexual issues, his retraction and the list goes on.

I have read an essay that says if Jose Rizal still lives today, he will be shot again. And if he keeps on reviving, he will be shot over and over again.

***

I remember what my professor in my Rizal subject said. “Rizal surely prepared his heroism.” I asked why. She responded, “Look and take notice. He made sure his photographs were taken, daily accounts were written and things be truly preserved.”

I agreed to my prof having realizing that there are a vast collection of Rizaliana items out there while other heroes only have few.

****

I’m gonna speak about others saying Jose Rizal did not want the Philippines to be freed by the Spaniards. But, truly, he kept in mind a plan to get rid of those conquerors. First, he tried to buy Sandakan in a part of Borneo where he plans to establish a Philippine colony there. Second, is to form a secret organization, the La Liga Filipina. Last, is to observe Cuba, how to smuggle arms and to get foreign support. His novels say his views on revolution, don’t they? But all of that are being overcame by events. He was arrested in a trip to Cuba. He was mocked by false trial and executed in Bagumbayan.

And in talking about him being more of a reformist than a revolutionist.

The selection of was revealed on Saturday night by CNN’s Anderson Cooper at the conclusion of the third-annual “CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute” at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood.

As a child, Peñaflorida chose school over gang life in Cavite City and promised himself to build a way for underprivileged children to make the same choice.

He created a program that brings books to children in slums and on the streets, and the 10,000 members of his Dynamic Teen Co. have brought reading, writing and hygiene to 1,500 youngsters.

Peñaflorida, who will receive $100,000 to continue his work, was selected after seven weeks of online voting at CNN.com. More than 2.75 million votes were cast.

“Each person has a hidden hero within, you just have to look inside you and search it in your heart, and be the hero to the next one in need,” he said.

The top 10 CNN Heroes, chosen by a blue ribbon panel from an initial pool of more than 9,000 viewer nominations, were each honored with a documentary tribute and introduced by a celebrity presenter. Each of the top 10 Heroes received $25,000.

AP and CNN

Photo and news via Inquirer

Due to the overwhelming victory and also the epic seven-title hold, President Macapagal-Arroyo crowned Pacquiao’s homecoming by conferring on him the Order of Sikatuna, with the rank of Datu, one of the highest honors given by Malacañang to civilians and one usually awarded to statesmen.

Ms Arroyo even expanded on Pacquiao’s popular title of Pambansang Kamao (National Fist) by referring to him in a ceremony at the Quirino Grandstand at Manila’s Rizal Park as “Pangmundong Kamao (Fist of the World).”

It was five days after Pacquiao brought the country its biggest ring glory by destroying Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto in 12 rounds to win the World Boxing Organization welterweight title—his seventh world crown in seven boxing divisions.

Asked about the rumors that their marriage (with his wife Jinkee) was in trouble, the champ said that everything was fine in the Pacquiao family. “Walang problema (No problem),” he said in an interview over GMA 7.

Talking with the media, Pacquiao joked about a possible fight with former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. “If the time is right, the time is right. Weather-weather lang ’yan,” he said in a play on Mayweather’s name.

Pacquiao said he would pursue his plan to run for Congress, either as a representative of Sarangani province or through a party-list that would push for sports development. “Yes, definitely (I’m running),” he said.

They prayed at the historic Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene (Quiapo Church) in Manila, before attending a victory party in the Mall of Asia (MOA) later.

The Mall Atrium of MOA overflowed with jostling people with Pacquiao and Jinkee, in a long floral dress, walking on a red carpet up a stage, their hands locked together.. When Pacquiao began to sing, they jumped with joy. Most of them waved yellow, blue, and red flaglets.

He sang at least six songs, including his own “Lahing Pilipino” and the song “Born for You” dedicated for one woman—his wife Jinkee.

Photo and news via Inquirer

“If he wants to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr., all he has to do is step up to the plate,” said Mayweather, the undefeated 32-year-old, according to a CNN report.

It came after the statement of Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach, who said that the whole world now wants a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight after Pacman has annihilated Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto last Saturday in Las Vegas.

Mayweather expressed Pacquiao’s approach as one-dimensional but he agreed that the Filipino fighter would be a favorite with the crowd.

“The thing is with Pacquaio I don’t see any versatility as a fighter; he’s a good puncher but just one-dimensional,” he said.

“The world’s going to go ‘wow’ if Floyd Mayweather gets beaten. That’s what everyone is looking to see.

“If I beat Manny Pacquaio do you know what they are going to say? ‘You are supposed to beat him, you are Floyd Mayweather, you are the bigger man’. If I knock him out they’ll say ‘you’re supposed to knock him out he’s been knocked out before’.

“I’m in a no-win situation and when I beat him no one is going to be surprised because he’s been beaten before; whatever I do to Pacquiao has been done before – he’s been beaten on three occasions. And if I knock him out I don’t want the world shouting because he’s been knocked out twice before.”

The Pacquiao-Mayweather match, if it goes ahead, is expected to challenge the mark set by Oscar De La Hoya’s bout with Mayweather for the most profitable fight in history.

Mayweather, tagged as “Money,” said: “If I go out and make $60-75 million in one night; come on – I’m not losing.”

It is “Manny” versus “Money”.

Economy? Education?

Tourism? Technology?

Umm… I don’t think so…

Yes, we are with those developing countries but I don’t feel that our beloved country have enough recognition. Think again…

Philippines have shone its SUN and STARS and marked its map on the globe,

because of a name that created a new step for the whole Filipino in the world history.

Don’t think of Bonifacio, he’s dead.

Ask the Mexicans…

He’s the MAN from General Santos City, the world’s renowned pound-for-pound and most celebrated boxer,

he ’s Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquaio,

he is MANNY “PACMAN” PACQUIAO…

Reigning WBO Light Welterweight Champion
Reigning WBC Lightweight Champion
Reigning WBC Super Featherweight Champion
Reigning RING Super Featherweight Champion
People’s Featherweight Champion, 2003 – 2005
IBF Super Bantamweight Champion, 2001 – 2004
WBC Flyweight Champion, 1998 – 1999
52 Fights
49 Wins (37 by way of Knockout), 3 Loses, 2 Draws

He comes forward to FILIPINO existence, the time we seek for IDENTITY.

He gives all he got being booked in a bout as he steps in the ring.

His FATAL BLOWS represent each of the FILIPINO cry.

His UPPERCUTS symbolize the UPLIFT of his country’s PRIDE

Every BLACK EYES and SCARS in his body will be his LEGACY.

Every KNOCKDOWN he makes is VICTORY much sweeter in our hearts.

NOVEMBER 15, 2009

MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada

The MOMENTOUS day for every Filipino and for the Philippines.

Twelve rounds (no title to fight for) will surely set the boxing ring on fire, it will melt Nevada’s ice.

Miguel Cotto is indeed a great boxer, sure enough a BIG one. But he does not have a thing PACQUIAO have, a heart of a fighter, and the spirit of his own NATION.

You maybe not a FAN of BOXING or a SPORT endeavor, whether you’ll be on the side of PACQUIAO or COTTO, this is a fight which will make the world stop.

No matter what will happen in “FIREPOWER”, my heart, my admiration will always be on Pacquiao, will always be on FILIPINO PRIDE.

Once again, I see the flag of the PHILIPPINES flown in the heights of immensity.

The SUN and THREE STARS will shine more RADIANTLY…

CHRISTMAS will have another reason to be worth celebrating.

I’m PROUD to be a FILIPINO!

Pacquiao worked four rounds with the mitts then hitting the double-end and the speedball and skipping rope. He went crunches for cooling down.

But Cotto seems to have weight problems with plans  to move the time of the weigh-in two hours later to give the Puerto Rican more time to shed off excess pounds. Cotto spent his last training day in a high-temperature room, to help him get rid of excess weight according to some news. Team Cotto recently issued a moratorium on replying to questions about weight.

Pacquiao, who is expected to fight at 149 pounds, weighed 146 later in the evening, after he had eaten his dinner, Ariza, Pacquiao’s conditioning coach, revealed.

Pacquiao and Cotto will weigh in Saturday at the Garden Arena of the MGM Grand. The Filipino is expected to make the 145-pound catch weight easily, something that cannot be said—yet—of his Puerto Rican foe.

The fight contract includes a clause that a boxer will be penalized $1 million for every pound he registers above the catch weight.

Roach has said he will pull the plug on the fight if Cotto comes in more than two pounds over 145.

“It’s really not important to me what the boxing world wants to see,” Cotto said in sit-down interview with reporters. “I am not going home without winning this fight.”

Let’s just wait if Manny Pacquiao can grab a seventh title in a seventh division.

News and photo from Inquirer.net

“Miguel, good luck to you and your camp and we’ll see you Saturday night,” Roach said at the podium during the press conference. “We’re in great shape for the fight,” added Roach.

“Good luck Manny, you’re going to need it,” said Santiago.

Santiago was irked when Roach predicted Pacquiao’s knockout win in one round.

Roach answered back saying Santiago as someone “who doesn’t know what it takes to be in the ring.”

However, the both fighters tried to cool down the conference with exchange of words of respect to one another.

“I know Manny’s skill, that’s why I trained hard for this fight,” said Cotto.

“We have a game plan for this fight and it’s going to be a great night for boxing, especially for Latinos and Puerto Ricans.”

Pacquiao, as usual, was a model of humility during the conference.

“I respect Miguel Cotto and his team,” Pacquiao said. “They’re nice guys and they’re friendly. On Saturday, may the best man win.”

News via Inquirer.net

HOLLYWOOD— Pacquiao’s a one of a kind. That’s how Urbano Antillon finds it after serving as his sparring partner. “He’s one of the hardest workers in the sport,” said the California-based Mexican, currently the No. 1-ranked lightweight contender of the WBC who totes a record of 26-1 with 19 knockouts.

The 27-year-old fighter said that after months of trading leather with Pacquiao, he expects the rapid-punching, hard-hitting southpaw to dominate the match against Cotto using his vaunted speed.

“The speed has always been the key why Manny Pacquiao has been successful,” said Antillon, who, quite interestingly, lists Pacquiao’s brother Bobby as one of his victims.

“His speed is expected, but when you’re there (in the ring) with him, it’s really overwhelming,” he said.

Cotto is not worry about Pacquiao’s undefeatable speed, insisting that the game plan his corner has prepared is way more than countering the Filipino boxing ring icon.

“You know what? That’s why we prepare ourselves,” Cotto told Examiner.com. “He’s a fast fighter. We know he has speed. We know he has a style and we are prepared to beat it. You’ll find out on the 14th how I am going to deal with his speed. It’s not going to be a factor, even though everyone thinks it is.”

Pacquiao has said he will use his speed and his movement to counter Cotto’s size and strength, adding that he is confident about his chances in the coming match, where he hopes to take a seventh weight championship against Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14 for the Puerto Rican’s WBO welterweight title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“I’m always confident in every fight,” said Pacquiao on Saturday.

News from Inquirer.Net

“We all know they studied our fight against Marquez,” said Buboy Fernandez, who helps Freddie Roach, at the Wild Card Gym here Friday.

They noticed that in the fight, Pacquiao has his tendency to drop his left hand when he throws the jab, and leaves himself open. “They probably saw Manny’s weakness, which they could counter,” said Fernandez.

That’s the same mistake Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto wants to exploit, making his left hooks right through every opening, but, Pacquiao has already found ways to correct it. “That’s why we worked hard on that aspect. We studied what they studied against us. “We found the ways to counter this mistake now,” said Fernandez. “We should be wary of the left hook,” he added.

Fernandez said Pacquiao is now conditioned to fight anytime, considering all the hard training with around 150 sparring rounds over the last seven weeks.

“We’ve achieved the number of sparring rounds we wanted. We’re close to 150 now (144 in total) and that’s as many as we’ve had in the previous fights,” said Fernandez.

“I feel like I’m in perfect condition now — a hundred percent. I can already feel the power in my hands. It’s there. I’m ready,” said Pacquiao.

News via Philstar