Feedback on Pacquiao, Ping

I got three feedback items. One was on the still controversial Pacquiao-Barrera fight, and two from the two sides of Ping Lacson's candidacy.

Wrote former OIC City Vice-Mayor Ramon Juan "Monju" Guanzon: "There are only three credible major and prestigious alphabet boxing organizations recognizing world champions, WBC, WBA, and IBF, none of these recognized Barrera as its champion. "What they fought for was the so-called people's champion, proclaimed by experts, sports writers, and fans, the uncrowned world featherweight champion," Monju wrote, adding that Pacquiao is the IBF world junior feather weight champion.

Earlier Raming Esteban e-mailed from California that it was a titled world championship fight. Just because a fight is for 12 rounds, Monju wrote, it does not automatically make it a title fight, especially if a prestigious boxing organization does not recognize it.

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Flash Elorde, wrote Monju, first gained world fame when he beat in a non-title fight in Manila featherweight and later Hall of Famer Sandy Saddler but lost to Saddler in a return match in the U.S. with Saddler's title at stake. It was a controversial 15 rounder which Elorde dominated.

But the referee stopped it on the 14th, despite Elorde's and the ring doctor's advice to continue the fight, according to Monju.

Elorde became the world first junior lightweight champion in 1960, that's 43 years ago, when he knocked out Harold Gomes on the seventh at the inaugural event in 1960 at the Araneta Coliseum. In the return bout in the U.S., I think at Madison Square Garden, Elorde knocked him out in the first round, Monju wrote.

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Elorde tried to wrest the lightweight title from Carlos Ortiz twice but got knocked out in the 15th, the only knockout in his whole career.

Who is the greatest? Monju, who knocked down a General, the Philippine Constabulary's regional director in a teenage rumble at Sea Breeze during Martial Law, would not venture an opinion, saying Pancho Villa and Elorde had different styles, Elorde used his fists in the ring and his brain outside, the latter Villa did not.

That's why Elorde lasted long, also because his manager was his father-in-law, Lope Sarreal. I hope, Monju said, Pacquiao learns the lessons because he has the potential to be the undisputed greatest Filipino boxer.

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Now on Ping Lacson's candidacy. Neil Honeyman wrote, "Wherever he goes, Lacson brings the 'baggage of his allegedly murky past' and wasting much of the Senate's time since he darkened their doors in 2001 when he came in."

"If elected, his presidency would be hampered by his endless machinations, necessary to contend with impeachment problems," Neill said. He added, "It is easy to appear decisive when you run a disciplined group like the PNP. But even a President cannot, with impunity, instruct the populace to have a maximum of 34-inch waistline."

Neil wrote he had not heard Ping articulate a vision.

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Now, the other side. Ms Marife P. Varela, our avid reader, faculty member of the political and social sciences department at La Salle wrote. "I totally agree with you about Sen. Ping Lacson. In Manila taxi drivers tell you that Ping eliminated the 'kotong cops' and travel at night was safe because they knew policemen were patrolling the area and if you had problems with the police, just report it to the chief and you got immediate action."

Ms Varela continues: "Some honest cops would tell you that before Ping, the spending ratio was 80 percent for Camp Crame and 20 percent for the provinces. But with Ping this was reversed. Police cars, even in the provinces had fuel and police carried reasonable firearms to combat fully armed criminal syndicates."

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"He refused the monthly payola from Chavit Singson," according to Marife, "or from other lords for that matter, and from the firearms division. No wonder he was not implicated by Singson."

His record of dismantling the drug syndicate in the country without so much funfare was recognized by former U.S. Drug Enforcement Agent in the Philippines, a Mr. Windling," according to Marife.

Yes, she wrote, Ping Lacson is the kind of leader we need today with a vision for the greater number of people and a political will to realize that vision.

Marife added, "I believe him when he said he will restore peace and order in 180 days within the frame work of what is just and reasonable."

She concluded, "I am willing to entrust the future of my children to President Ping Lacson."

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Marife also wrote, "When we met in La Salle several years ago which I did not expect you to remember, I told you that I am an avid fan of your column. You asked me then if I agree with what you have written, and I said, 'Not all the time but I still read you.' And you laughed."

Yes, Marife. I laughed because I knew you were honest. Ever since only one person never disagreed with my column, my late wife. It's because in a controversial issue, I consulted her first.

"When you wrote your thoughts on Davide's impeachment, I wanted to give you the assurance that you were not alone in your crusade but I know that your hands were already full of outpouring support from people who know also how to think and argue based on reason and not based on bias and prejudice," said Marife.

She added, "So I decided to support you in the forum where I can use some of your arguments… my classroom, quoting you and assigning my students to read your columns."

I am happy to hear from Ms Varela that she learned many things from Feedback and "will always be your student in your 'History Class, Feedback 101."

We are right, Marife. The latest survey showed Chief Justice Davide's rating dropped too low. Reason was his refusal to answer the questions on the JDF money. Had he answered all those questions on Justice Development Fund, he could have been a much greater man. Well, it's now water under the bridge.*

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