No offense meant - SPORTING CHANCE by Joaquin M. Henson

Reacting to my column "Why the apathy?" the other day, Games and Amusements Board (GAB) Chairman Dominador Cepeda faxed a letter insisting that he asked permission from Mrs. Laura Elorde before leaving the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel in the middle of last Sunday’s first Gabriel (Flash) Elorde Boxing Awards Night "to attend to another commitment."

Cepeda took exception to what he called my "diatribe" against the GAB and my "adverse interpretation of our early departure." In Webster’s 9th New Collegiate Dictionary, a "diatribe" is defined as "a bitter or abusive speech of writing." Ouch.

In his letter, Cepeda said there was no offense meant to the Elordes, who hosted the affair, and to the honorees – mostly fighters who are licensed by the GAB – by his "early departure." There was also no offense meant on my part in wondering why the GAB officials exited before the major awards were given.

"Maybe, the GAB officials had other appointments or something better to do elsewhere," I wrote. Cepeda said they did.

Here are excerpts from Cepeda’s letter:

"As I remember it, GAB Commissioner Ashley Arayata and the undersigned paid our respects to and requested permission to leave from Mrs. Laura Elorde. With her usual grace, Mrs. Elorde thanked us for our attendance and granted our request to attend to another commitment that same night.

"While indeed we were given places at the Presidential table, we nevertheless were invited as mere guests with no role to perform. When we left, the audio and video tribute to Flash Elorde was over and major awards had already been given. Also, without prior warning or notice, Commissioner Arayata was called on stage to accept the Plaque of Appreciation awarded to the PABA (Pan Asia Boxing Association), GAB Boxing Inspector Virgilio de los Reyes accepted the posthumous award for the late ring announcer Maning Soriano, and the undersigned, also without prior notice, was called on stage to accept the posthumous award for the late Pancho Villa.

"While it is true that some of the GAB officials left before the ceremonies ended, as mere guests without specific roles to perform and with pre-scheduled commitments to comply with, it is our position that we did not treat the Elorde Boxing Awards with apathy much less snub the same."

Reading between the lines, you get the feeling that Cepeda was piqued because despite the GAB’s role as guardian of Philippine pro boxing, the government agency wasn’t honored by an award or citation that night. In his letter, he mentioned twice that GAB officials were "mere guests" that night and called on stage to receive awards for others as stand-ins "without prior notice."

Cepeda also took up the cudgels for President Arroyo whose representative – supposedly, senatorial candidate Roberto Pagdanganan – failed to show up. The day before the event, a certain Me-An Espejo from Pagdanganan’s office called the Elordes’ secretary Yoly to find out how many people would attend. The estimate was 250 to 300. Maybe, Pagdanganan thought the audience was too small to take the trouble of attending. What Pagdanganan’s staffer wasn’t told was that the affair would be televised nationwide to millions of viewers.

Cepeda continued:

"With respect to the non-appearance of Her Excellency, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the undersigned does not hereby propose to extend excuses but I am more than certain that Her Excellency had very justifiable reasons for missing the event, considering the volume of executive and official functions and duties that the President has been burdened with since her assumption into office."

Did Cepeda feel slighted that he wasn’t cited by the Elordes? Cepeda, after all, is a World Boxing Council Vice President, a former Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation President, and an outspoken lobbyist for Filipino fighters in international boxing conventions. He said:

"You have known me for quite sometime now and you know that I am not one to expect awards or rewards for any of my official or unofficial undertakings. If it were not due to our very cordial relationship with the Elordes who originally came from Bogo, Cebu – incidentally, the Cepedas are also from Bogo, Cebu – I could have given more weight (attention) to my other commitment that night. But I chose to attend the Awards Night because of what they meant to me personally, the Awards having been conducted in the name of our hero from Bogo."

Cepeda signed the letter, "Your friend, Domeng."

Thanks for the explanation, Chairman. I’m sure it reassured the fighters, guests, and others who like me, were in the dark as to why the GAB officials made an early exit last Sunday. Maybe, at the second Awards Night next year, GAB officials will stay until the end – if the GAB receives a citation.