SHORTLY AFTER Nonito Donaire Jr. won the IBF/IBO flyweight crown in July last year, I met up with him and his father Nonito Sr. or “Dodong.” Actually I had met both Nonitos several years back when Nonito the younger (Jun-Jun) and his brother Glenn were campaigning here in the Philippines back in 2001 and 2002.
It was a pleasant evening that I spent with champion and father in a watering hole along Roxas Blvd. and it was quite a sight to see them letting their hair hang down and celebrating their win with nary a care in the world.
The relationship between father and son is free and easy and observing them closely, they treat each other more like friends than anything else.
Yesterday, I met up with the older Donaire again as he arrived from Davao after helping train the fighters of Vice-Gov. Manny Pi?ol in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato.
Dodong and I have constantly communicated since that time in July and we spent an enjoyable couple of hours yesterday catching up with the latest.
We appropriately met in a Visayan restaurant in Makati and had a hearty lunch of fare that we are both familiar and comfortable with.
After the filling repast, we segued into boxing talk and he typically reminisced how it was when he was shepherding his two sons through the rigors of amateur and eventually professional boxing.
“It was tough when we were starting. I brought the two boys all around the States and we had to spend our own money and go our own way. But I had faith in Glenn and Jun-Jun and it was just a matter of time before all our efforts were rewarded.”
Now that Jun-Jun is already champion, some sort of redemption is being enjoyed by the Donaires because when they were starting out, even relatives and friends thumbed down their pleas for assistance. Now the very same people who were wary about supporting their boxing careers are falling all over themselves trying to get into the picture.
“I understand how it is, everybody loves a winner. But it really pains me to recall that almost all of them were against our boxing activities then. I?m glad they all understand now why I kept telling them the boys will prove me right someday,” says the former Philippine Army corporal who migrated to the States in 1990.
Jun-Jun, Glen followed in 1993.
It was especially difficult for Dodong as he tried to make ends meet providing for a family and financing two budding boxing careers. He was working as a welder in California and after work, he would attend to the training of his two sons. Weekends, he would accompany the boys to wherever their fights took them.
Now that Jun-Jun is champion, Dodong says that they are even more determined to work hard to keep the championship and reach greater heights. Glenn is also trying to revive his career.
The Donaires, although identified as Fil-Ams, have always worn their Filipinism on their sleeves. “Before the cameras and reporters followed us around, these boys already wore the Philippine flag on their trunks and their Filipino heritage with pride.”
Up to now, the champ speaks Visayan like a native and is comfortable with Filipino ways and traditions. He even prefers to train in Cebu at the famed ALA gym rather than in the States.
Donaire successfully defended his championship once against Luis Maldonado last December 1. He is scheduled to lay it on the line again against Hussein Hussein in a fight being hatched by Noli Eala in Dubai.
He may speak with an American accent, but champ Donaire is a Filipino champion we can all be proud of. His father says he was brought up as such and will always be a Filipino champion..
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I spoke with OIC Commissioner Sonny Barrios yesterday to ask if a decision has already been made by him and his family regarding his designation as permanent Commissioner of the PBA.
Barrios says he had spoken with some of his family members but needs to thresh out some more details regarding his commitment to their business in the States. He says he should be able to reach a decision by middle of this week.
Asked what effect Atty. Chito Salud?s withdrawal of his name from the selection process, Barrios said “I honestly don?t know, Ed.”
We were curious as to what the situation would be if Barrios decides to decline and if Salud?s withdrawal would leave only Lambert Ramos as the remaining nominee.
The question still stands.
