Cool Cordillera weather

LA TRINIDAD–For a while, I thought I was in San Francisco or some other place where the weather is cool and breezy this time of year.

But last Saturday night, I had to pinch myself to the reality that I wasn’t abroad but in this Benguet capital where the mountain air is thin, chilly and a welcome respite to the simmering summer heat in Manila.

I joined the Cantada group in taking a coaster ride up north for the "Fistorama" TV coverage of a nine-fight card at the Cordillera Career Development College (CCDC) gym here.

Executive producer Edgardo (Boy) Cantada headed the delegation which included my co-TV panelist Dennis Prinsipe, subbing for regular anchorman Ed Picson. Cantada’s son Gerard, a well-known golf teaching pro, usually coordinates the staging of the "Fistorama" shows but didn’t make this trip. The night before, he flew to Los Angeles to hook up with Jennifer Rosales. Gerard was recently contracted by Rosales to be her coach in the pro women’s golf tour. He’ll be with Rosales for coming back-to-back tournaments in Palm Springs and Las Vegas.

The ring was set up in the middle of the basketball court in the CCDC gym.

CCDC chairman and president James Malaya and business education dean Abello Fernando welcomed the Cantada group as soon as we drove into the campus at 10:30 a.m. last Saturday after a 6 1/2 hour drive from Makati.

It wasn’t the first time that CCDC has hosted a boxing show for TV. "In This Corner" covered two previous cards. Malaya said the BIMAK (Benguet, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Apayao, Kalinga) provinces are known for producing top-class practitioners in combat sports and CCDC is at the forefront of promoting athletic events in the Cordillera Autonomous Region.

CCDC was established in 1993 as a non-stock, non-profit institution and is the youngest school of higher learning in the region. It has a student population of 2,500 in the elementary, high school, college and graduate school levels with a faculty of 120. CCDC is recognized by the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation and is reputed for its criminology, commerce and nursing courses.

Malaya, a former provincial board member in Benguet, took up education at the University of Baguio and earned his Master’s degree at the University of Sto. Tomas. He founded CCDC after working 25 years at the University of Baguio where he was an educational administrator. His wife Sofia is vice president for administration and dean of health education.

Malaya said the northern region is a bastion of quality schools, including the Benguet State University which is over 100 years old, the University of the Cordilleras (formerly Baguio Colleges Foundation), Baguio Central University, the University of Baguio, St. Louis University and of course, CCDC.

Two years ago, CCDC alumnus Dennis Butag topped the criminology board and is now a professor in the school. Another graduate Julius Luis was No. 2 in the 1998 board exams and was recently recruited by the Philippine National Police.

Malaya said Senate President Franklin Drilon, Ilocos Norte Gov. Bong-Bong Marcos, former senator Gringo Honasan and the late senator Raul Roco were among several national figures who have visited the CCDC campus.

By the way, Malaya said the BIMAK provinces were formed in 1966 with the breakup of the Mountain Province which was composed of Benguet, Ifugao, Bontoc, Apayao and Kalinga or BIBAK. Bontoc is now the Mountain Province component in BIMAK.

Malaya and several local government officials were at ringside for the boxing show that started at 7:30 p.m. and ended past midnight. The gym was packed with aficionados many of whom came wearing jackets, sweaters and flannel shirts because of the natural air-conditioning. One fan even wore a knee-length overcoat.

Before the fights began, I took the opportunity to interview local ring legend Rey Tam who fought Alexis Arguello for the World Boxing Council superfeatherweight title in Los Angeles in 1978. Tam, 55, lost the sight in his right eye due to an infection after a cataract operation in 1984 and now trains fighters in a downtown gym at the Beatrice Emporium. His three sons–Allan Rey, Aldrin and Alvin–are budding pros.

Tam’s life story will be the subject of a Star story soon in this section.

As for the fights Saturday night, hometowner Jack Asis pounded out a unanimous 10-round decision over Daniel Mansing of Ozamis City to retain his Philippine Boxing Federation featherweight crown in the main event. Asis, 22, raised his record to 13-5-2, with five KOs. Judge Carding Canlas scored it 97-94 while judge Sammy Bernabe saw it 97-95 and judge Tony Comia, 96-94.

In the other bouts, flyweight Ryan Maliteg outpointed Edwin Ubatay in a tenner, superbantamweight Charlie Angel suffered a cut over the right eye due to an accidental headbutt by Elpher Paganpan and their fight was declared a technical draw at 1:08 of the third, superflyweight Javier Malulan stopped veteran Ricky Manatad at 2:15 of the fifth, superfeatherweight Junel Alivio scored a six-round split verdict over Ericson Asilo, featherweight Genesis Mabalot halted Rodel Boncato at 1:32 of the second, bantamweight Joseph Dalayday stopped Allan Ray Tam at 1:23 of the third, superbantamweight Roderick Wakit decisioned William Naimes and lightflyweight John Naimes beat Jun-Jun Bulcio on points.

Malaya said he hopes to stage boxing events at the CCDC gym every month to showcase the skills of more Cordillera fighters aspiring to follow in Manny Pacquiao’s footsteps.