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From The Commissioner's Office

By Alex A. Paglumotan, GAB Commissioner


Amateur Boxing, A Prelude to Pro Boxing

PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 02 Dec 2005

Kudos to the Filipino athletes competing in the 23rd SEA Games! For they bring honor not just for themselves, but for the fame and glory of our dear republic.

Specifically, our amateur boxers who are now fighting against the best from ten (10) other Asean-member countries of the region should be put on a very high pedestal. Aside from their adequate and scientific advance trainings the last three (3) years and the resources poured out by the country for them, they have the full backing of the ever-supportive and generous First Gentleman Mike T. Arroyo.

The truth is, I am one of those Filipinos who are more than proud, because if not all, most of the amateur boxers now representing our flag are coming from the wonderful City of Bago, Negros Occidental. And take note, the once popular Olympic silver medalist Onyok Velasco is Bago's pride and wonder boy. Had the great "Onyok" turned pro after his Olympic conquest, he may have had a different life today. But no regrets, he may have some good reasons to quit boxing.

Worth mentioning, as a token of appreciation for a job well done, I salute the energetic Congressman of the Lone District of Bacolod City, Monico O. Puentevella for bringing four ( 4) significant sports event of the 23rd SeaGames to the City of Smiles as one of the country's satellite venues. And while millions of Filipinos are enjoying the laurels of our gold winnings, as we are shouting in unison, cheering with honor and dignity as we value the greatest achievements of our athletes, we from the GAB Board are entertaining the idea that someday somehow, these amateur athletes would go professional.

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Yes... Its like an inevitable chain of career evolution. Though the GAB now is not directly commissioned nor involved in the conduct of this regional sports competition hosted by the country, however we are happy to see the performance as well as the delivery of result in terms of medal standing that we have earned thus far. But our interest is really their professional journey after life in the amateur world. There is a big future after the amateur ranks. So our primodial concern now is more on encouraging the young boxing stars to be more competent and ready as soon as they reach that level of age maturity.

As our main focus is centered on boxing, just today, while in Congress waiting for our turn to be called for the budget hearing of our Agency, this writer and Chairman Eric R.Buhain had a brief agency-related conversation. I offered to him the idea of writing an article, on how to encourage and give a potential clue to the young and aspiring amateur boxers of the country now to turn to pro after years of fighting as simonpures. Chairman Buhain replied in the affirmative, saying, "That is why, we should give more emphasis and priority to realize our dreamed annual boxing convention next year... for the best interest not only of the pro boxing community but also, to extend our open arms to the future of boxing."

To be honest about it, we are not only envisioning it for mileage. But of course, we are banking on reality here. We know fully well that in order to sustain the government agenda of producing more and more quality professional boxers in the future that would carry the name and banner of this nation, is to have a concerted program anchored on creating synchronized mechanisms . For example, the Philippine Sports Commission as the country's bastion of grass-roots level pool of national talents and potential, should go hand in hand with the Games and Amusements Board, in furtherance of the governmental initiative to maintain sustainability in sports. From amateur level up to professional undertakings either by individual or a group sports. This way, we can pump prime to the best interest of our nation the promotion of sports and eventually foster goodwill and unity among us. We hope this idea will generate more positive rather than negative reactions.

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What we have in mind is not meant for us to be remembered in the pages of sports legacy. This is our job and mindful of the fact that, the Philippines with eighty-four (84) million Filipinos more or less, has the tools and capability to do this. If we get our acts together, greatness is within our reach. Let us set aside too much politicking, re-package our desire and focus for true and genuine development that would include sports as one of our main basic agenda. With this in mind, the GAB is confident that this nation will be great and moving towards its real direction.

Again , VIVA the athletes !!!!



Click here for a complete listing of columns by this author.

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