Tough odds in the lotto and also for Margarito

This is a big weekend for the country and many have already cleared up their scheduled to make sure that they are either at home or somewhere else watching the Manny Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito bout.

There have been a lot of predictions about the bout and most of them are of course in favor of the Filipino boxing icon.

Maybe we are a bit biased as we want Pacman to win, but then the odds makers seem to also favor the Filipino over his Mexican opponent.

Margarito is no patsy for sure. But so were the many other opponents that have been put on the ring against Pacquiao.

The odds makers have picked Pacquiao as an odds-on favorite, in fact, if you bet $650 you win only $100 if the Pacman wins the bout.

If you want to win big money, put a bet on Margarito, but the odds, although so much better than winning the Philippine lottery, where the pot should be about P400 million, are still quite tough.

Many are betting on the lottery, not because they think they can do better there than putting their money on Margarito, but for that one shot at a cash bonanza that even some big politicians in the country are also hoping to win.

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The orientation for the 1st Security Practitioners Shootfest will be held this morning at the NS Outdoor Firing Range in Tawason, Mandaue City.

After writing about this a couple of times, it was only yesterday when I realized that I’ve never been to this place yet, so I had to ask directions from my cousin Lowell Belarmino, who is a range officer, but I guess he’d prefer to be called a shooting dad instead.

The competition, which is the first one to be organized by the Philippine Society for Industrial Security (PSIS)-7, is set on November 29 yet in the same range.

The reason for this orientation, which Bingen Mendezona of Aboitiz, is actively involved in, is to help those who are not very familiar with the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) format.

Bingen and I were classmates when we took the course that leads to being a Certified Security Professional and a member of the PSIS.

Entry fee for the event on the 29th is P500 and you also get a free lunch with it.

PSIS members, who want to join, or those who are simply curious about the event, can visit the NS Outdoor Firing Range this morning to learn more.

This event is also open to security practitioners in other private and government agencies.

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MILESTONES: The sportswriting family in Cebu welcomed its newest member the other day, Mark Christopher Noot-Magsumbol.

He is the baby of M. Lhuillier player Mark Magsumbol and The FREEMAN’s Caecent Noot-Magsumbol. Four more to go for your first five hehehe…

Happy birthday greetings go to Atty. Nilo/Olin Seno, Francis Benedict Cutiongco, DSWD’s Jaybee Binghay-Carillo, Buena Paz Montero, Stanley Villacin, Cha-cha Realiza-Rama, my Tao brother Leon Flores, and Vivian Regis, who all celebrate today.

Advance greetings go to Minchu Rebaya-Decena, Ronnie Quisido, and Ivonnie Beltran-Dumadag, who are turning a year older tomorrow.

More power to all of you!