Iloilo

I was in Iloilo City the other week to stand as ”ninong” at my niece Krista’s wedding.  Of course it would not be complete if Elvisaya doesn’t perform at the reception held at the Casa Real in the Old Provincial Capitol.  We wanted to go to Sicogon Island, the newest alternative to the chaotic and over-crowded Boracay but we have to bond with other relatives who came all the way from California.  If you recall, Sicogon was the location of the movie “Ang Pinakamagandang Hayop sa Balat ng Lupa” staring Gloria Diaz who then won the Miss Universe contest in 1969.  It also started the trend of the “wet look” and the see-through “camison”.  Panay Island is excited with many sporting activities on tap.  In Antique,the 2017 Palarong Pambansa with over 10,000 athletes competing.  Sports officials will honor former Sea Games shot put medalist Dorie Cortejo.  Dorie was my teammate in the 1996 Asian Masters Athletics championship in Seoul, Korea.  Meanwhile in Guimaras, the Manggahan Festival fires off early next month and will include a trail run and mountain bike competition.   Guimaras is the birthplace of 2012 London Olympian Rene Herrera (steeplechase)

Newhero

Ilonggos are proud of its sports heritage.  The list includes boxing greats Pancho Villa, Onyok Velasco, Leopoldo Serantes, swimmers Haide Coloso and Nancy Deano, tracksters Herman Suizo, Jimmy Dela Torre, Inocencio Solis, world shooter Nelson Uygongco.  Asia’s first grandmaster Eugene Torre, golfer Golem Silverio, hoopsters Jimmy Noblezada , Francis Arnaiz, Yves Dignadice, Paeng Hechanova and Ramoncito Campos.  But recently, another Ilonggo star is on the rise. Enter Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) newest sensation Jenel Lausa who is from Concepcion, Iloilo. Lausa was in the spotlight lately when he challenged Margomen Bibulatov of Russia in the UFC 210 in Keybank Center in New York City.  Lausa however lost to the still undefeated Russian via a 7-3 unanimous decision.  It was only the second fight for Lausa after winning against Chinese Yao Zhikui last November.   On the other hand, Bibulatov has racked up 13 consecutive wins, seven coming via stoppage since he started in 2013.

Did you know?

The Cavs’ three point specialist KYLE KORVER’s mother Laine, played basketball at Montezuma High (Iowa) where she once scored 73 points in a game.  She averaged 41.6 as a senior in 1975-76 Kyle’s father Kevin, also played basketball in Pella, Ohio where she met Laine.

Korchinoi versus Petrosian

In 1977 former Chess World champion Viktor Korchnoi played with another Russian great Tigran Petrosian.  The two players were notable enemies and what started as simple “chessboard knocking” to put each other off, degenerated as Viktor and Tigran lashed out at each other under the table.  The only way tournament organizers could get the players to stop was by separating their feet and legs by a large wooden board.  In 1992,  I had the honor of meeting Korchnoi when the Philippines hosted the World Chess Olympics in Manila.

Caitlyn Jenner

The former decathlon Olympic champion Bruce Jenner (now Caitlyn) undergone genital surgery, two years after she announced she has become a woman.  Caitlyn added that having a penis had “no special gifts or use for me”.  I just want to have all the right parts and I am also tired of tucking the damn thing in, all the time.