The Tagalog slang word deadma means “to treat with uncon-cern, disinterest, or with feigned ignorance” or “to act as if something or someone doesn’t exist.” In normal Tagalog the term for this is “patay malisya.” Hence, “dead” (in Tagalog patay) and ma (from malisya). Someone says to a friend being annoyed by someone or by something, “Huwag mong pansinin yan. Deadma lang yan. [Don’t mind it/him. It’s only to be deama-ed.]”
That is what the country’s sports officials—and political leaders, including those seeking to get our votes for the highest offices of the land—did to Cebuano boxer Z Celestino Oliveros Gorres when he arrived on Tuesday.
Granted, it was 5 a.m. when his flight from America arrived. But did these honorable and famous leaders of our world of sports not feel they had a duty to someone who in fact is Filipino boxing hero too—just like the adulated Manny Pacquiao with seven world titles and the new WBA super flyweight champion Nonito Donaire.
Z Gorres is as much a hero as every single overseas Filipino worker, as every single Filipino boxer who risks limb and life to win.
Z is the world’s No. 3 World Boxing Organization Bantamweight contender. He had vanquished the Colombian Luis Melendez, was declared the winner of that Las Vegas bout last November 13. Minutes afterward, still in the ring, he collapsed. He had to be operated on in the brain immediately—or he would have died.
Where were the head of the Philippine Olympic Committee and of the Philippine Sports Commission—or even their lowliest assistants—when Z Gorres arrived in a wheelchair? Why was there no bearer of garlands and congratulatory messages from these people? Did they want to give the message to our athletes that heroes who suffer a catastrophe must be shunned because they are bad luck?
The politicians may be excused—perhaps all of them felt sensitive enough to make themselves scarce because they correctly felt they should not milk Z Gorres for publicity.
Apparently, Z Gorres’ hospitalization ran up a bill of more than half a million US dollars. Manny Pacquiao has apparently helped him and his family. And Manny will help fund Z’s continuing rehabilitation in Cebu.
In the States, Nevada lawmakers and sports-industry people are pushing for a law that would insure all boxers, including visiting fighters, and have insurance proceeds finance the hospital expenses of those who meet a tragic fate like Z Gorres.
It seems that immediately after receiving news of what happened in November, President Arroyo made a certain amount available to help Z Gorres in his pitiful plight in Nevada.
It is a touching bit of family conversation that the Cebuano had with his wife when he woke up—after his operation and being comatose for days—at the University Medical Center in Las Vegas. He had no memory whatsoever of the bout with Melendez. And told that he had won, he asked his wife, Datches, ““Kung ako ang nanalo, e bakit ako nandito [sa ospital]? [If I won the fight, then why I am I here?]”
The boxer came home with his wife, Datches and his physician, Dr. Benito Calderon. In Filipino he said on arrival, “My sincerest thanks to all the Filipinos who gave me their support. I would also like to thank our Lord God for giving me another chance in life . . . I know he still has big plans for me.” He spoke most warmly of the help he had received from Manny Pacquiao.
Dr. Calderon said while Z may no longer be able to fight again, he will most likely be able to walk on his own.
The left half of Z’s body was paralyzed and he had to be carried and placed in his wheelchair. Then he was able to move his hands and knees and now he can walk using a walker.
Dr. Calderon is amazed with Z’s recovery. But he is afraid that Z’s dream of being able to climb up the ring again might not come true.
Who knows? Miracles do happen.
Comments from bloggers and sports obsevers
Most of these comments were in Filipino: When Gorres was still in the hospital in the US recuperating, not a single prominent sports official or politician visited him. But when Pacquiao was training for his fight against Miguel Cotto, guess who visited him in Baguio City and wanted a piece of the Filipino icon for photo-ops.
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Gorres reportedly has unpaid hospital bills amounting to $500,000 which sports leaders and presidentiables can help pay.
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When Pacquiao fights Joshua Clottey on March 13, expect a boatload of politicians going to Dallas to cheer him and watch him fight. And if Pacquiao wins, expect a few presidentiables to mob him as if the Filipino boxer could deliver a million votes.
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If Gorres remains “neglected,” it will only reveal what sports leaders and presidentiables are really made of.
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Not a single government or sports office welcomed Z. Haaay!
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S—t! When Manny fights again, hordes of politicians will raise his hand. But poor Z, who almost died and is now wheelchair-bound, not as single one of them went to his side.
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The Pinoy way is to make a big showbiz production of victories. But when it comes to “useless and crippled” athletes like Z Gorres everyone disappears.
