Unity after a fight

The Filipino Pacman knocked out the Mexican Terrible on the 10th round at Las Vegas yesterday.

Filipinos and Mexican were glued to their television sets watching the fight. You can read other details and the analysis in the news pages today.

We are just happy we have two victories in a row. We won the championship in the SEA Games and now Manny Pacquiao redeeming the loss he had last year. Manny made us proud to be Filipinos.

Politics cannot unite us because, by its nature, it is divisive. But sports will be our uniting force. Let's develop sports.

***

The Negros Press Club elected its new set of officers Saturday.

Our vice-president Amado Villacarlos won the presidency by four votes over our auditor Cyrus Garde in a very hotly contested but friendly fight.

What are we media men for if we do not know how to fight for something we believe in?

That is why the NPC social hall was fully packed, everybody coming not only to vote but also to see the fireworks. The six tonner air conditioning units donated by the Sunshine boys were a good help bringing the temperature to a comfortable level.

***

Because of the many conflicts, there were pre-election suggestions of no election, postponement or status quo. I put my foot down.

We are not short of leaders. If there's none, we make one and train him. I serve only for one year and fade away. This is now Amado's ball game but as promised, I will help him.

In filling up of his slate, he asked me. I told him, choose people you canl work with.

And just three days after the election, on Wednesday, Negros Press Club under the direction of Amado Villacarlos will already hold a celebrity night sponsored by Casino Hotel.

***

Election fights in the Press Club have always been very interesting. I should know. I have been president four times. But after the hotly contested election, we unite and forget the past fights.

That's why when media men fight, don't join. You might get caught in the cross fire. After their fight, they are friends. But, you will always be an enemy.

Amado and Cyrus are both close to me. But, I told Cyrus I was committed to Amado. I told Cyrus to just work hard. This is everybody's game. And Cyrus really worked hard. He nearly beat Amado.

But he will help Amado for the sake of the NPC.

After the counting, Cyrus sent me a congratulations text. I texted him back thanking him and added, "We fight and after it, we unite."

***

I was criticized by the body for my imposing a deadline on the payment of annual dues and not allowing those who didn't pay on the date set on Dec. 15 to vote. The there were those who said it was not ratified by the general assembly. I know in corporations, board resolutions need not be ratified. But, then the mood was for allowing those who did not pay on time to vote.

Because they could not avail of the amnesty on past dues, they had to pay and voted. I was right. Somebody paid for many of them.

But, what I got was many of them did not vote for the candidate who paid for them. In short, give it to the members of NPC. They cannot be bought.

But the general assembly passed a resolution that starting this year, dues for 2007 will be paid not later than Nov. 30, 2006.

***

I wanted to take up other matters like electing members of the membership committee but the members were very eager to hold the election already. So, I turned over the chair to Comelec Chairman Rex Remitio and members Rolly Espina and Pert Toga.

We will ask Amado to call for a mid-year general assembly.

***

I was asked by my friends why on the Sunshine Channel did not carry the Pacquiao-Morales fight? When I told the Sunshine Boys at breakfast yesterday, they said, the next fight of Pacquiao will be carried live on Sunshine Channel. They will help look for sponsors.

And I would like to acknowledge the call of another former student Johnny Armas in Sidney, Australia. Johnny asked, "If your former students can be members of the Sunshine Channel, why not your former student in Sidney?" I said, yes.

And, like Romy Niere in Austin, Texas, Johnny promised to also be a correspondent and representative in Australia.

As soon as we are through preparing the profile of Sunshine Channel, I will e-mail to them the details. I got an e-mail last night from Romy.

***

Since I attended a conference at L'Fisher Hotel on call centers by Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, I was interested in it. And Anthony Visitacion gave me some ideas.

But, I asked Councilor Jocelle to give me facts. And let us promote it. It will provide employment here.

I also got a letter and a sample from former Congresswoman Hortensia L. Starke of her Virgin Coconut Oil, believed to be good for the health. Get in touch with Mrs. Starke. She'll tell you what is good with virgin coconut oil.*

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