Freddie Roach is a crucial person in the fame and glory of Manny Pacquiao.  He helped PACMAN get the break when he beat then top ten pound-for-pounder Lehlo Ledwaba of Africa.  Since then, it’s been a sort of father-son tandem for the two, and the role being played by Roach is largely defining the Manny Pacquiao that the world is so familiar with.

Freddie Roach takes his role seriously in Pacquiao’s career.  On several occasions, he has taken the trouble of going to the Philippines just to check on his boy.  Lately, Pacquiao was contemplating of skipping his scheduled training in Roach’s Wild Card Gym to stay and train in the Philippines going into his scheduled scuffle with Mexican former champ Oscar Larios.  Upon learning this, Roach wasted no opportunity to tell his man the great value of his US training as if to say that if PACMAN does not train under Roach’s expert eyes, Manny might be courting trouble.

This is, of course, not to discount the expertise of Manny’s local trainer Buboy Hernandez.  Buboy knows where he belongs and he has so much respect for Roach that if he would have his way he will also advice Manny to go to LA.  Roach has been there for so long and he’s not so naive to miss the risks of the several things and people around Manny’s boldly-stamped career.  He went here, not just to attend the press conference, but more importantly, to tell his warrior they should get back to where the real business is–boxing.

If at all, Roach is actually Manny’s angel.  Without Roach by his side, we can have a less guarantee to Manny’s chances against Larios who is acknowledge by Roach himself to be no push-over.  Larios is a quality opponent and beating him requires a quality training under a quality trainer.  It’s good Manny listened to his angel.

Click here to go to PACMAN’S BOARD.

The first voluntary exit in the PBB Teen Edition is about to be revealed.  Who is this teener who decided to call it quits in Big Brother’s house?

I have a feeling it’s one who has so much attachment to forces outside the house.  This housemate may have had a hard time coping with the pressures and scenarios in the house that all he/she can hold on to keep his/her senses together is the life and memories outside the house forcing him/her to say goodbye this early.

Is it a he or she?  I have a feeling it’s a she as the girls show so much intimacy to family folks and higher tension in the challenges.  What’s the reason?  Is it something within the housemate’s personality or a family problem or both?  Let’s just see.

Also, tonight’s going to be a momentous evening as the housemates come together to face the first nomination for eviction.  I understand that one who will voluntarily leave the house will not be considered for the nomination.  How would the youngsters face each other and feel the drama as their choice of the most unwelcome member so far is revealed?

Who among the nominees shall be eventually evicted and who shall be saved?  It’s going to the next level now.  Brace yourself guys and gals.  Here is my forecast for eviction nominees.

1)  Olyn.  Her unwelcome remarks about Mikki’s dad was unpopular.  That could be her own undoing.

2)  Fred.  His perfectionism seems to be just going along.  There is much to expect from him but up to this point, he is just playing safe. . . to his own detriment, maybe.

3)  Mikee.  It may seem out of hand to have him nominated but his elitist background (though not so pronounced) is apparently rubbing on some of his housemates.  Can’t you feel it?

Log in your reactions.  Click the comment button.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Regional Office 1 has just conducted the training of 26 English teachers in college under the Project Higher Education Language Proficiency Program (HELPP). The training was held in the scenic Rio Grande de Laoag in barangay Suyo, Laoag City, RP.

The trainees are: Nova M.Cabias, Gladys G. Bugarin, Maria Consuelo E. Rupisan and Danilo T. Dumlao from the Data Center College of the Philippines-Laoag; Libertine R. Macaspac of the Divine Word College of Laoag; Lei Antoinette L. Martin of the Northern Christian College; Robert B. Gromthom of the Ilocos Sur Community College; Pernalyn D. Cabasal, Sharon A. Castillo and Bernadette D. Ramos of Saint Mary’s College; Eden Joy B. Paran, Janette B. Boado and Vanessa Paula O. Vergara of Agoo Computer College; Mary Jo Karla T. Dulnuan and Phebe B. Pagulayan of CICOSAT Colleges; Maria Remedios D. Lewis of La Union College of Nursing; Maria Linda G. Bose and Anilyn V. Pascual of Northern Philippines College of Maritime, Science and Techonology; Rhomylla O. Martin of Osias Educational Foundation; Gracia D. Gapasin of the Philippine Central College of ARts, Science and Technology; Cristina B. Baliton and Grace R. Valdez of Sea and Sky College; Maria Trinidad Q. Belarmino of Sta. Veronica College; Marcy O. Badar of STI La Union; Ernesto S. Medina of the Central College of Pangasinan; and Abner R. Catungal of Perpetual Help College of Pangasinan.

Present during the Closing Program are CHED Region 1 Director Evelyn Pascua and staff. The pool of trainers is composed of Loraine Apostol, Shirley Landingin, Jessica Jimenez, Grace Hope Bautista, Ernesto Ader, Jr. and Jessie Paragas and Jennifer Pidong.

First showdown. Girls as expected. Olyn (teenstar wannabe from QC) and Mikki (ang orig na astig from Davao) had it really hot in their exchanges relating to the latter’s father. Olyn downgraded Mikki’s father and Mikki obviously didn’t like her housemate’s remark and she gave Olyn a lung-busting shout. The two, however, eventually reconciled.

Things like these make up the drama in this reality TV show. There will be more of this kind of encounters as each housemate opens up or is masked off.

This teen edition of PBB is turning out to be more crisis-laden than any of the other previous editions. The confusing makeup of Read more

Pressures, pressures, pressures.  These are what surround Manny Pacquiao at the moment as he prepares for the press conference with Mexican opponent Oscar Larios. 

    

Things look very different for both fighters.  While Larios is Read more

It’s basketball to the next level now in the National Basketball Association (NBA).  Regular season is over and the playoffs are on.  Topping the standings for the playoff season are defending champions the Detroit Pistons for the Eastern Conference and former champs the San Antonio Spurs for the Western Conference.

 

Completing the cast for the Eastern Conference playoffs are Miami, New Jersey, Cleveland, Washington, Indiana, Chicago and Milwaukee in that order.  In the Western Conference, the playoffs will see Phoenix, Denver, Dallas, Memphis, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Clippers, and Sacramento in that order.

An interesting attraction in the playoffs is the presence and possibly, meeting, of two big names in current NBA history — LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers.  Both these excellent players sat out the playoffs last season but they’re here to showcase their talents and make history for their teams.

The two are actually neck and neck in the battle for the MVP award with Kobe enjoying an advantage in points per game at 35.4 (no. 1) and James with an average clip at 31.4 points (no. 3).  If things go their way, it will be one spectacular matchup to see their teams squaring it off.  Wether that will happen in the finals or elsewhere, it does not really matter.  I’m hoping that they will play on the same court soon.

It’s been out in the news lately that Manny Pacquiao will train in the Teacher’s Camp in Baguio City for his July 2 meeting with Mexican Oscar Larios.  He will train first in the Wild Card Gym of Freddie Roach in the U.S. then fly back home to do his final workouts in the Philippines’ Summer Capital.

I don’t feel good about the choice of having the Teacher’s Camp as Pacquiao’s training ground.  I have three reasons.

One, the teacher’s camp is right in the heart of the city.  Implications?  It’s highly accessible to everyone, and visitors, kibitzers, paparazzis and, of course, fans might cause some disruptions in Manny’s last minute preparations.  Also, he may be tempted to sneak out of the training camp and roam around the enticements of Baguio.

Two, the Teacher’s Camp is normally booked for some conferences, trainings, seminars and the like because of its affordable rates and, as mentioned, its easy accessibility.  Are they going to close the place for business and make its use exclusive for the PACMAN?  If that’s not the case, then reason #2 will definitely have some effects on his training especially that it’s already a public knowledge that he will train there.

Three, it has nothing to do with the Teacher’s Camp but it may be well to consider that he train in a more secluded place in Baguio.  A place not easily accessible and thinly populated so that Team Pacquiao will have most of the control in the training.  When there are few distractions from other people, all you have to contend with are distractions within your controllable group.

What can you say?

I just can’t help myself writing about this Russian tennis sensation, Maria Sharapova.  The first thing I heard about her is that she’s got the looks.  Now, she’s got both looks and stocks.

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The Postman was away for a number of postless days.  He was on the Lenten break and after that he fixed some domestic duties.  But now, The Postman is back. . . and here is the latest.

Slowly but surely, Manny Pacquiao’s brother Bobby is making a name for himself in the world of boxing.  He will be up against the veteran Kevin Kelley (58-6-2) on June 10, 2006 at the Madison Square Garden to support the Miguel Cotto vs. Paulie Malignaggi slugfest.  On the line is Bobby’s WBC Continental Americas title belt which he snatched from Carlos Navarro last June 17, 2005 via a 7th round stoppage.

Like Manny, Bobby is fighting as a superfeatherweight and while he has much to improve to reach the level of his more popular brother, he has been showing some promise and is propping himself up for some big fights in the future.  His upcoming opponent Kelly is no joke.  He won seven of his last eight bouts and five of them did not last the full route.  He’s a veteran and Bobby will have his hands full to beat him.

If Bobby continues to improve and make big wins, he might well be on his way to boxing fame.  Who knows, we might just see a showdown of brothers in the future.  I wonder if they have thought of this in their wildest dreams.

Is a Pacquiao vs. Pacquiao highly probable?  Click comment button.

The Jologs program of the GMA 7 has the making of a potential hit.  It delves into the day-to-day hassles that most of us go into as we walk through the rigors of life.  But instead of adding insult to injury, Jologs actually shows the enlightened and lighter side of life’s commonplace requisites.

But the main attraction of the program is the meaning of Jologs.  Who is a Jologs?  Well, if my opinion is not different from that of a real Jologs, I must say that he or she is one who has some sort of intelligent insanity or an ignorant intelligence.  Get what I mean?

Oh, it takes an Ethel Booba to understand me and if you’re not Jologs, how can you ever understand?  By the way, do you remember when Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said that she won’t run in the 2004 presidential elections and yet she actually ran?  Also, did you get what she really meant when she said “I am sorry” on national television only to say that she is really elected by the people?  Is our President some kind of a Jologs?  JUst a question.