Onyok says facelift good for ABAP

Ex-boxer Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco, the last Filipino to win a medal in the Olympics, is hoping for the best now that the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines is under a new set of leaders.

“As long as it’s for the good of the sport then we’ll have no problem with that,” Velasco, silver medal winner in the light-flyweight class (48 kgs) of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic, told The STAR yesterday.

Velasco, now 34 and a father or four, said the ABAP undergoing a major facelift should provide fresh hope for the country, boxing in particular, as it continues its search for the elusive Olympic gold.

Manny Lopez, who decided to step down as ABAP president after a long stint marked by thrilling victories and agonizing defeats in the international arena, has been replaced by Ricky Vargas.

Manny V. Pangilinan of PLDT-Smart has been elected chairman and Pato Gregorio as secretary general. Vargas and Gregorio are also with PLDT-Smart, ensuring harmony in the ABAP leadership.

Even Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez is now part of ABAP as a regional consultant in Davao City.

Lopez, who succeeded his father, the former Manila Mayor Mel Lopez as head of ABAP, remained as vice president of the association.

“Mr. Pangilinan has always supported ABAP and its programs and now that he’s the chairman, I hope that his support will even be greater. We are all hopeful at ABAP,” said Velasco in Filipino.

Velasco, whose elder brother Roel also won an Olympic medal, a bronze in 1992 in Barcelona, also said the Lopezes should be credited for all their hard work through the years.

“They also did a lot for the sport. We won a number of Olympic medals and a few gold medals in the Asian Games under their leadership,” added Velasco, now a consultant at ABAP.

Velasco, who also made a name for himself as a movie and TV comedian, said serving as coach in the RP boxing team is not on his mind right now.

“The salary is too small. With P15,000 or P20,000 I don’t think I can support my family. Three of my children are already in school (aged 14, 13 and 10) and we have a two-year-old,” he said.

“I have a family to feed. And that’s my priority. But I’m always here to help ABAP and the PSC as a consultant. I often visit the ABAP gym looking over our boxers, giving out pointers,” he said.

Since competing in the Olympics in 1928, the Philippines has won nine medals, seven bronze and two silver (the other one also courtesy of boxer Anthony Villanueva in 1964).

Velasco, better known as Onyok, can only keep his fingers crossed that under the new leadership, amateur boxing in the country is finally in for the golden ages.