Aquinos, Nonito exchange gifts

The schedule of newly crowned World Boxing Association (WBA) interim super flyweight champion Nonito Donaire has been anything but light since he arrived early Wednesday morning from the United States after a victorious fight against the rugged Panamanian, Rafael Concepcion.

Donaire’s schedule last week included a three-hour motorcade around the City of Manila organized by Mayor Alfredo Lim, a few hours after his arrival; press conferences and interviews, dinners and lunches with well-wishers, medical consultations, and television appearances which the personable and articulate Donaire seems to be very much at home with.  

What however was the highlight of Donaire’s one-week (by today) stay in the Philippines is his attendance at the Holy Mass commemorating the 26th death anniversary of Senator Benigno (Ninoy) Aquino Jr. at the Don Bosco church in Makati City; his turning over his WBA championship belt, the yellow boxing robe he wore minutes before the fight with the words “In Memory of Corazon Aquino” stitched on at the back of the robe and the boxing trunks he wore in the fight with the family name “Aquino” also emblazoned in the waist band at the back part of the trunks, to the Aquino family..

In return for his kind gesture, the Aquino family, represented by Ballsy and Eldon Cruz and their sons, Jiggy and Jonty; Pinky and Manolo Abellada and their kids, Miguel and Nina; Viel and Dodo Dee and their children, Kiko and Jia, gifted Nonito and wife Rachel with an autographed family picture and a bagful of memorabilia of the late President Cory. The tarpaulin-like blue shopping bag that contained the precious memorabilia had a reprint of one of President Cory’s paintings on it. Indeed, the memorabilia and the bag are by themselves collector’s items just like the gifts given by Donaire which the Aquino children said would be displayed at the Aquino Center museum in Tarlac.

But the greatest honor that Donaire was given was when Pinky Abellada announced that the Aquino children would consider Donaire their youngest brother or “bunso”.

I was fortunate to have a direct hand in organizing the attendance of the Donaires at the anniversary Mass last Friday and the subsequent turnover of gifts at the Roozen Hall of Don Bosco. After the official announcement of Donaire’s victory, I called up Eldon and suggested that one of the Aquino children or grandchildren give Donaire a call to congratulate him and to express the family’s appreciation for dedicating the fight in honor of President Cory.

The Aquino family of course readily agreed and I got in touch with Chino Trinidad, who, with STAR columnist Quinito Henson, did the fight commentary for television. I had Jiggy and Chino text each other and later on, I got word from Eldon that the Aquinos were inviting the Donaires to the Mass. I then contacted Solar top honcho, William Tieng and later on, his brother, Wilson, to organize the brief but simple presentation ceremonies right after the Mass.

On Wednesday afternoon, Trinidad, Wilson, my wife Margie (representing the Aquinos), my son Joseph and his wife Trisha (whom the Donaires also met in Baguio in February while Nonito was training for his April fight against Raul Martinez at the Araneta Coliseum)and some key officials of Solar met at the Penthouse of the Solar Building to plan the orderly “exchange gifts” on Friday.

The Donaires, who do not travel and move around with a huge entourage, joined the Aquinos and family friends for the lunch that traditionally follows the anniversary Mass at the Cojuangco home on Palm Avenue in Forbes.

Over lunch, Nonito narrated to the Aquino guests that included US Ambassador Kristie Kenney; former Speaker Jose de Venecia and his wife, Gina; former Supreme Court justice Adolf Azcuna; former Aquino Cabinet members like Pete Prado, Cesar Sarino and Jun Factoran; the reason why he decided to honor President Cory and why he opted to fight Concepcion despite the fact that the latter was about 11 pounds heavier than him hours before the fight: “I couldn’t back out. I had dedicated the fight to President Aquino and she was an example of a courageous woman who fought on despite the tremendous odds. I just could not let the Filipino people down, although I had every right to refuse to fight Concepcion and just get the prize money.”

A few days after the Aquino lunch, the Donaires, Joseph, Trisha nd I were guests of sportsman Jorge (Nene) Araneta at his Sachi Japanese restaurant at the Araneta Coliseum. In both the Aquino lunch and the Araneta dinner, the Donaires shared a number of their thoughts on a variety of topics including Nonito’s future opponents, his boxing and life philosophy, and Freddie Roach as a trainer.