In 1999, I-Witness exposed the world of boxing in the Philippines with KAMAO, revealing the problems assailing the sport and the predicament of boxers who were ruined by it.
Howie Severino pays homage to KAMAO with BOKSINGERA, this time turning the spotlight on Pinay boxers.
In Tayabas, Quezon Province , four teenage girls, ranging in age from thirteen to nineteen, are seriously training under the City Vice Mayor’s boxing-for-free-education program. All four reluctantly joined only for the free education it offers. But having had a taste of the sweet science, all four now dream of leaving their impoverished neighborhood for a spot in the Philippine team of women?s boxing.
The Philippine team has a current pool of 14 women boxers, culled from open calls throughout the country. Nearly all have the same story: dirt poor who saw boxing as a free meal ticket ? a scholarship to select universities and a steady allowance from the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines . They are aged between sixteen and twenty-eight, most have seen action in international competitions and have won several medals for the country.
Manny Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, seeing the women?s team train in Baguio a couple of years ago, was reported to have said, ?The women are better than the men”.
Professional boxing is also being invaded by the women: Filipino-American Ana Julaton popularized this division of the sport with her WBO and IBA super bantamweight titles. Locally, however, Gretchen Abaniel who is currently holding three minimum weight international belts reigns supreme.
But are we Pinoys truly ready to see women throwing and receiving punches inside the ring? The image of the beautiful Julaton beaten, bloodied and disfigured in one of her fights remains indelibly impressed in our minds and was enough to turn a lot of people off against women?s boxing.
In an undeniably macho society like ours, does women?s boxing stand a chance of getting legitimate attention and respect that we accord men?s boxing? Or will it continue to be an aberrant form of entertainment?
Join Howie Severino as he enters the arena of Pinay boxers in BOKSINGERA, an I-Witness anniversary special, airing on Monday, November 29.
