MANILA?Every time I return to our nation?s capital, it just seems bigger, noisier and busier than ever. You get the impression that it?s in a constant state of disarray as they are: a.) always fixing something or b.) building a structure in place of another that has seen better days.
But I love coming here to visit. To me, Manila will always be an inglorious reminder of the life that I once lived, or maybe the one that I could have had. Intransigent in its ways, I am nonetheless seduced by its opulence and the myriad opportunities it offers.
In some ways, part of me will always be here. Or rather, Manila will always be a part of me.
I spent six precious and impressionable years of my youth here, and needless to say, I learned quite a lot. I took up Political Science in UP Diliman, and stayed at one of the campus dorms. After I finished my degree, I bummed around and found a job in Makati. But it didn?t take me long to figure out that I missed Cebu and I had to go back home.
Over the next few years, I would always come to visit it and every time, I just could not help but wonder what it would have been like if I stayed.
It?s like that old pair of jeans that you neatly tuck away in some comfy nook in your cabinet. Sometimes you bring it out and you wear it and it feels great. Then you forget about it again till you have need of it.
Take this journey with me while I am here for the next two days to cover ?Invasion: Philippines vs. The World?
April 5. 10:45 a.m.?We arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. With me is Cebu City Councilor Sylan Jakosalem and Sun.Star Superbalita?s Erwin Lirazan.
A Starex van whisks us away and very soon we are joined in the vehicle by AJ Banal?s mom, Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista?s parents, ALA Promotions Marketing Manager Chad Ca?ares, and my compa?ero, Atty. Aven Piramede.
And because Manila is a maze and time is its master, lunch hour was quite late as we had to check ourselves in first at the Richmond Hotel where we are billeted.
2:30 p.m. ?I am seated right on front of Mr. and Mrs. Bautista as we devour heaping servings of chicken barbecue. I ask him a few innocuous questions about their son and Alberto proudly recalls his son?s journey from his rustic town to his winning an amateur tournament in Cebu City and getting Antonio L. Aldeguer?s attention.
What strikes me most is that Boom-Boom has his mother?s eyes. Alberto is quite easy on the eyes and Rey obviously inherited his boyish looks from his father. Probably also his prodigious strength from those big hands.
But those fierce and determined eyes are definitely his mother?s.
On the ride back, AJ?s mom entertains us with some funny anecdotes about her children. She?s a riot. That infectious spirit would be nice to have around the day before a big fight and she definitely will have a calming, soothing effect on her son who is about to have the biggest match of his life.
AJ?s fight has the potential to steal the thunder from the main event. Gerry Pe?alosa has beaten Sor Vorapin before and unless he is inexplicably besieged by a sudden onset of amnesia, I?m quite confident Gerry will remember how to beat Vorapin again.
Banal, on the other hand, will be fighting undefeated Caril Herrera who has a record of 21-0 with 13 kayoes with the winner getting a shot at the IBF superfly belt.
4 p.m.?Back to the hotel for some rest. After I e-mail this column, several cold last rounds are a must.
6:30 p.m.?I meet up at the hotel lobby with AJ?s mom. She says his son can?t wait to jump all over his opponent.
LAST ROUND. It?s on my inaanak, Jomari Gorne who graduates from SHS-Jesuits. Cheers
