ODDS were so overwhelmingly in favor of Manny Pacquiao that it made little sense to lay bets on the outcome of Sunday?s fight. Still, those who bet on a victory for Chololo Larios must have salivated just a bit at the prospect of a windfall when, in the third round, Pacquiao appeared to be in trouble, trapped against the ropes and trying to fight off a barrage from the Mexican.
But once he managed to slip away from this tight spot, Pacquiao had the rest of the 12-rounder sewed up. Twice, local fans thought the fight was finished, but Larios showed that, despite his underdog status he still had a lot of heart in him, getting on his feet again and even grinning widely, as if to taunt his opponent.
Still, the duel at Araneta Coliseum lacked some of the edge and sparkle of the Pacquiao-Morales fight in Las Vegas, where the outcome was far more uncertain than in Sunday?s match. Maybe we?ve just gotten used to seeing the Pacman bring down his opponents, or perhaps the relentless promotions had numbed our excitement.
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IT DIDN?T help, either, that Pacquiao himself seemed distracted, with concerns other than prevailing in the ring perhaps stirring in his mind.
He had not just his reputation and his health on the line, after all, but even a considerable monetary interest, since he had also helped promote the fight. Then, too, in the months since the Las Vegas victory, Pacquiao has become a one-man endorsement conglomerate, his face and even that of his wife and boys used to sell products as diverse as gin and beer, to fast food chicken and even a muscle relaxant.
His commercial activities and undoubtedly vastly improved material circumstances may have taken some of the bloom off Pacquiao?s image, and yet, there?s no denying that in Manny Pacquiao Filipinos have found a hero after their own heart.
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IF YOU?RE a serious fan of science fiction and fantasy classics, like ?Lord of the Ring,? ?Star Wars,? ?Star Trek? and even ?Harry Potter,? you might want to take part in ?New Worlds 4: A Broken Time Machine,? the fourth Philippine Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention that kicks off on July 16 at the Rockwell Tent, under the auspices of the New World Alliance.
New Worlds 4, what members of fandom call their ?con,? features booths and displays of the various fan groups as well as the ever-popular ?Cosplay Contest? where fans dress up as their favorite science fiction and fantasy characters, with crowds coming just to ogle blue- or green-skinned creatures, androids, Jedi, Sith, Federation officers and even futuristic vehicles!
Another feature of this year?s ?con? is the New Worlds Amazing Race, where teams compete against each other to complete a series of challenges. Organizers promise that this year the challenges will be ?more outrageous, the race more exciting, and the finale a bigger surprise than ever.? Teams planning to join the Amazing Race are encouraged to brush up on their knowledge of science fiction and fantasy.
An exciting addition to this year?s convention is the New Worlds Auction, which will feature fan memorabilia, collectibles, and general merchandise at great prices. The New Worlds Alliance counts hundreds of dedicated science-fiction and fantasy fans among its ranks, so expect a wide and colorful selection of items.
This will be a silent auction. Participants will be able to keep track of the auction by watching large bulletin boards set up at the auction booth and at various places in the convention area.
This year, too, marks the return of the ?Stormballs,? a group of young men who walk around with Storm Trooper helmets and tight pants (hence the name) who were sorely missed last year.
Another feature of this year?s ?Con? are Neil Gaiman?s First Philippine Graphic/Fiction Awards on July 15, where the best of locally created graphic novels and works of fiction and fantasy will be honored with a cash prize of up to P100,000.
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THE New Worlds Alliance (NWA) was founded in 2003 by seven local science fiction and fantasy fan groups: Via Astris — The Star Trek Club of the Philippines, Star Wars Philippines, The Philippine Tolkien Society, Pinoy Harry Potter, Pinoy X-Philes, Pinoy Slayers, and The Alliance of Eclectic Gamers and Interactive Storytellers. Its aim was to provide a venue for Filipino science fiction and fantasy fans to interact, hold activities, and express themselves and their love for their respective fandoms. In March of that same year, Via Astris hosted ?New Worlds: The First Philippine Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention,? at the Premiere Cinema Complex to celebrate the release of ?Star Trek: Nemesis.?
In January 2004, it was The Philippine Tolkien Society?s turn to host ?A Long Expected Party: The Second Philippine Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention,? to mark the end of the ?Lord of the Rings? movie saga and the release of ?The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.? The original seven Alliance members groups were joined by The Matrix Philippines, Arkham Philippines, Pinoy Fremen, The Talon, and the Philippine Highlander Society in the two-day event at the Powerplant Mall Parking Quad.
With the advent of ?Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith,? Star Wars Philippines organized ?New Worlds Episode III: The Third Philippine Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention? in May 2005 at the Glorietta Activity Center. Four new groups were welcomed into the Alliance this year: Mechapinoy, Sci-fi Philippines, The Philippine Order of Narnians, and CharmedPinoy. Wheel of Time Philippines also participated as a guest group.
This year, the New Worlds Alliance and Fully Booked present ?New Worlds 4: A Broken Time Machine,? with a new member-group, Battlestar Galactica-Philippines.
