Sports Eye
“Hurricane” hits Pangasinan
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
TYPHOON Basyang unexpectedly hit Metro Manila directly with much fury, destroying establishments and taking the life of 37 people with 44 still missing. Victims of this ‘beast’ don’t call it just a mere typhoon. They call it “hurricane.” Luckily, we here in Pangasinan were spared. Thanks to God.
But another “hurricane” also visited Pangasinan a day after Basyang. She came in flesh and was not here to tear us down but to lift us up by bringing honor and dignity to the province. And that hurricane is no other than the female boxer Ana Julaton. Nicknamed “The Hurricane” in the boxing world, she just recaptured the World Boxing Organization (WBO) super bantamweight crown last June 30 from Mexican Maria Ellena Villalobos in a fight held in Ontario, Canada.
I was at the Capitol building on July 14 with other media people and provincial government employees when the beautiful morena world champ paid a courtesy call on Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. She brought with her the three world belts she has so far achieved as a prizefighter and proudly showed it to the governor and the audience present and allowed us plenty of photo ops with her. It was really a very warm welcome for her tendered by the father of the province and his staff led by provincial administrator Raffy Baraan, executive assistant Ramon Morden, provincial sports coordinator Modesto Operana and public information officer Butch Velasco. Of course, there was a lunch for her and her entourage and other guests where she was served with pancit, sinigang na malaga, bangus and shrimps, which I am told is her favorite. While she dined, she was entertained with Ilocano, Pangasinan, Tagalog and English songs plus a birthday ditty. Julaton, the first and the only Filipino female world boxing champ so far, just turned 30 last July 5.
After lunch, a press conference was held. In her speech, Julaton said that despite being born in the United States she’s proud to be Filipina and very proud to be a Pangasinense as her parents, Cesario Julaton and Amelia Bonifacio, are from barangay Villegas in Pozorrubio.
I asked Julaton, standing 5’5”, if she has any plan (in the near future) to go to a heavier division like in the featherweight (126 lbs), super featherweight (130 lbs.), or even in the lightweight (135 lbs.) divisions. She said she’s comfortable in the super bantamweight division (122 lbs.) and has no plan at all to go higher and her only main plan in boxing is to unify the super bantamweight title and if possible to hold at least two fights here in the country. She said GMA 7 is now working it out and there’s a big possibility that it will happen. If the plan pushes through, I will definitely try to watch her fight in person. Hopefully it will not be against a Mexican.
Curios about her single status, I asked her the personal question of whether she has a boyfriend and has any plan in the near future to get married. She politely quipped that she will obediently follow the advice of her mom to never talk about sex, politics and religion and will just concentrate on her chosen career.
After the affair, she and her entourage went straight to her hometown to visit her relatives for the first time, particularly her grandfather Pedring, the only living Julaton in the area.
We should be proud of her because she’s a Filipino and a Pangasinense who brought honors to our country. Hopefully she will prolong her reign as a world champ and fulfill her desire to unify the super bantamweight division in her favor.
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For the first time since the birth of PRISAA-UCAAP caging, a press conference pertaining to the opening of the 2010 season set to start on July 22 was held last July 13 at the Jurassic Ark owned by Pangasinan Press Club president Allan Sison. Three of the four organizers, Seato Gonimil, Art Tangco and league commissioner Angel Gumarang showed up and fielded all questions, including some intriguing queries about conduct of basketball tournaments. Referees from BARECOM headed by Region 1 commissioner Manny Gatchalian and NARECOM officials led by Jun Amado were also there. It was an affable affair.
See you at the astrodome.
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