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Philippines, 20 Jun 2026 |
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Fight on Leyte, Samar and Cebu By Rich Mazon PhilBoxing.com Fri, 15 Nov 2013  It is so hard to concentrate on other matters of the world once news and images of Leyte, Samar and Cebu come parading before our very eyes. Suddenly everything takes a backseat, especially to us Filipinos. Our sport, despite the mega-fight next week in Macau and other boxing updates that sprout every day has naturally become so insignificant in the light of the saddening development in the Visayas region. Boxing, the sports that Filipino loves, has taken a backseat despite the fact that the nation?s sports icon is fighting an all-important fight next week. But in some way, we are witnessing the biggest fight that has been staged in our land, even bigger than ?Thrilla in Manila? and it involves our countrymen. Our countrymen in the regions affected by Yolanda / Haiyan are fighting a fight bigger than what will be staged in the bright lights of Macau. They are fighting for survival, for their lives. One week after the strongest storm on earth, our people are still trying all that they can to survive. The winds, rain and waves are gone but the bout against death, disease and despair is an ongoing everyday battle for them. They are faced not only with the massive destruction around them but also with frustration and helplessness from the very government who should be helping them since Day 1. But I hope that they would know, that beyond Tacloban, Samar and Cebu, their countrymen is praying for them, finding ways to help them in their darkest days. And that good-heartedness also comes from our brothers from foreign lands. They were swift to deploy their armies, their medical personnel and badly needed aid that will alleviate the suffering of our ?kababayans.? Everyone is helping, donating, praying for us. I witness it myself in the locker room and in my break room at work. When my kind co-workers learned that I am collecting for any amount that I am planning to bring home to the Philippine Red Cross in Manila this month after covering the Macau fights, they dug into their pockets and donated without any hesitation, even if it was money intended for their lunch, asking even, ?If that is enough?? We see the goodness in the hearts of everyone here and around the world with their willingness to help. We see it in the volunteers in various relief centers in the country. In Filipinos all around the globe that are helping in any way that they can think of. We see it in the two girls in Los Angeles who were selling lemonade to raise money for the victims of the typhoon. We see it in the preschooler from Japan who freely gave up his piggy bank for the benefit of our countrymen. These examples are reminders that the rest of the nation and the world is rooting for our brothers and sisters in Leyte, Samar and Cebu. You are like boxers, no, fighters in the ring of life, fighting a fight that none of us can even fathom and you have won every round of this battle in our eyes. You personify the spirit of resiliency, of strength and of courage, despite the harshest of surroundings and circumstances. And we cheer you on like an audience cheering for their favorite boxer. We will continue to root for you until the last round of this fight, no matter how long and hard it?ll take. We will never give up on you. We are here, we got your back. ?Laban Leyte, Samar at Cebu. Laban Pilipinas. ? (If you have not done so, you can channel your donations to the Philippine National Red Cross to this link.. http://www.redcross.org.ph/donate. Thank you so much.) You can reach the author at rrmaze24@aol.com and on Twitter @Freemazon910. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .  |
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