MAFIA

Unbelievable loss!

I may not be able to express it the way Chino Trinidad has been mouthing it off. But last sunday, the whole nation was united. In support of a living national treasure. It has all been widely known that through Pacquiao, the Philippines is on the map again. Given an identity, not a haven of terrorists, but a land of champions, with Pacman representing us. Maybe even the better ex-Spanish port, but that's the indio stubborness in me talking. When Lani Misalucha sang the national anthem live, it was goosebumps all over.

The nation needed this moral victory! The nation needed Pacquiao to win! I know that this is too much to ask from the guy. I never even understood what that meant, that the nation needed the win, until he lost. Somebody would just say that the braodcaster mouths off too much nationalistic sentiments. But take a look at the common man and you will understand that a Pacquiao victory is a victory of every common Filipino. (Hard to explain but true).

Analysts said that Pacquiao was of the caliber of Muhammad Ali, Marvin Hagler, Tommy Hearns. Our fighter can knock out the hell of that Morales phony. It is a sure win. Betting is in odds of Pacman.

What happens?

Pacquiao, arriving at the MGM grand, was walking nonchantly then suddenly the camera sees him smile.

Start of the fight. Instead of hunting the guy's head which he did in the past for an early knockout, he starts in cruise control. He raises his arms several as if saying hit me. Pac got hit and hit and hit.

Then in the middle of fight, Morales gives Pacquiao a headbutt. Pac suffers a 1-inch cut above the right eye. It seems Pac wanted to quit. But didn't. He maybe ate his pride, but not that much.

Morales feels he owns Pac. Shifts to southpaw to knock Pac out. This angered Manny, finally hunted El Terrible's head in the last round. Morales is another punch away from dreamland, 45 seconds to go. Yes, Manny could have done this in the first round. Guess what? Manny returns to cruise control, as if saying "You will win, but you won't KO me, you braggart SOB. Ano ka sineswerte?"

Great Ending. Unanimous decision for Morales. Pacquiao never quitted despite fighting with one eye and blood all over his face. Pac never loses face to his countrymen.



Manny took a beating. Literally. At expense of every common Filipino's hopes and dreams that would somehow erase the hardship he is suffering from right now.

But did Manny have choice? I don't think so.

After he KO'd Marco Antonio Barrera and floored Juan Manuel Marquez 3 times, Pacman should get another immediately. But didn't. He panicked.

Morales lost to Barrera in the hate fest last November 2004. If Morales loses again, he may not be able to sell fights again. He needed to win against the best to restore his damaged profile. He needed to win in his 10th Pay-Per-View or else no more MONEY will come in his bosses' purses.

My guess is Manny succumbed to pressure.

Can we blame him?

Maybe I'm just numbing myself. I will say NOW that we couldn't. Can Manny risk his life or his family's to that kind of pressure? But ask that to the common man. He can and will never accept that.

My Dad said he thought the MAFIA only works on the Heavyweight Fights. During the heydays of Muhammad Ali. Or even only in movies. He never thought it would go down to the lower weight class division. He was wrong.

DARNA!!!

Guess who the next Darna is?

All fans are surely delighted to know that the girl we all adore and love is the next poor little girl Narda who transforms to the Pinoy superheroine Darna.

She doesn't only goes by a heavenly name, or fly in the sky as a Mulawin. She now dons the costume.

How sweet it is!

see related article here

One-stop shop

I got 3 comic books this weekend. To divert some attention really.

Astonishing X-men #8 - Buffy creator Joss Whedon pulls out great dialogue as always BUT what is an old, beat-up, crawling because of a chopped off leg, Sentinel doing again in the X-world? After Morrison introduced those guerilla sentinels from scrap and nano-sentinels, bringing back an old life form will always be a concept, huh? I just think the editors really want to go back to Claremont-style stories with less but beautiful dialogue (thanks to Buffy guy), and to PLEASE the fans. C'mon after resurrecting Colossus, the flashbacks of Shadowcat, fastball special of Rasputin throwing Wolvie, all reminiscing the good times to handfeed the fanboys. Great story but not cutting edge. Maybe the ending will do it (Whedon was supposedly to write on until issue #12 but he will be onboard again for a second year).

Shining Knight #1 (of 4) - Grant Morrison's First of his Seven Soldiers is introduced. Dig this plot: Laser Blasters vs Swords and Shields, which will win? Trying to salvage his home land, Sir Justin tries to fight the invaders and restore Camelot.

Vimanarama #2 (of 3) - Morrison is at again. The giant, Hindu demigods strut their stuff here. But at the forefront of the plot is an unlikely love triangle. Can't wait for the last issue.

Lastly, there were funny and valid points discussed on an Instant Messenger interview of Joe Quesada (Marvel Comics EIC) to Kevin Smith, the Silent Bob guy. Kevin Smith is writer-director of Mallrats, Dogma and every indie film Ben Affleck does like Jersey Girl, Chasing Amy. Hehe. Smith was also on the forefront on making the comics subculture prevalent on screen (circa 1995).

They discuss this situation wherein a guy tells his fiancee a secret that he should tell her before they get married. You know what secret is this? The guy IS a comics collector! HEHE. Honestly, you should tell your future wife AND compromise. Or else, say goodbye to your collection.

Manila Ice

Manny Pacquiao fights against Erik Morales on March 20 (Manila time). Expect the whole Philippines to stay glued in front of their TV sets, amdist the lengthy commercials, waiting for every jab, lightning-quick refelexes and the notorious left axe-like KO-punch of Pac Man. But expect "El Terrible" to stick his sturdy chin out, fight a brawl, and counter Pacquiao's left. Remember, Morales has NEVER been knocked out. But if our superhero's secret weapon comes through, aptly named, Manila Ice, expect an early stoppage.



My prediction: TKO win for Pacquiao after the 7th round.

What is the Manila Ice secret technique? (I'm beginning to sound like a Dragonball Z analyst or WWE fan. hehe.) Remember that Manny is southpaw, right? Just translate this and you'll get it: "Kanan na Kawit"

P.S. Photo of Pac Man with the lovely lady photojournalist taken here.

Closer and closer

I'm seeing billboards of Closer along the streets of the Metro and boy, you would be sure that I will be first in line to watch that film.

Even though I told myself I would never watch a Julia Roberts ( I just don't like her, yeah I know, it's kind of dumb to hate an actress you don't really watch, but I just hate the fake smile...Grrr...), the notion of seeing Natalie Portman's coming-out-as-an-adult film SHOULDN'T be missed! I've seen the trailer and I think it's fantastic. Natalie is playing a role, based on the trailer, of a girl who is undecipherable, a conundrum, an enigma to boys. Yes, she plays a stripper. Shoot me now for mentioning this, but she had full frontal nudity in this film, but ordered director Mike Nichols to edit it out and he agreed. Nevertheless, this film IS interesting!

My apologies but I may not be able to post in this blog for the rest of March. Or to better coin it, I will try my very best to behave and stop lurking around the Internet to fully prepare for my multiple choice exam this coming first week of April. It seems like I'm not in panic mode. Maybe kinda, but not really. On second thought, maybe I am. Hehe. My future depends on this. I will hate myself if I won't push through with this. I am and will be optimistic. Turning and fine tuning the sharpness and focus knob. Be sure that I will maximize Bisita Inglesia this Lenten Season.

So what's with the post title? Closer opens on April 6. That's the last day of my exam. So expect me to be in the nearest theater afterwards. Hehe. See you in the summer! :)