John Chavez wrote in boxingconfidential.com that the next time Manny Pacquiao and Marco Antonio Barrera trade punches, Marco will be a better and more dangerous fighter than he was back in November 2003.

I believe Mr. Chavez should have looked into his comparison a little more.  While it is true that MAB was not at his best that time, and that he lost largely because of that, Mr. Chavez missed one point relevant to the inevitable second meeting of the two.

And that point is, Manny Pacquiao is not the same fighter that fought MAB last time.  Since his demolition of the Baby-Faced Assasin, MP has evolved into a more complete fighter. 

Yes, he is still the relentless, fire-breathing, devil-may-care type of an exciting boxer but he has refined these qualities to the point that he takes calculated risks right now.

Also, he has developed a sort of footwork that is dangerously puzzling to opponents.  Ask Oscar Larios, Erik Morales and Jorge Solis about this and they would all agree.  When the PACMAN fought Barrera, he did not use the kind of footwork he used against the three named opponents.

Furthermore, the PACMAN is an enhanced two-fisted champion right now.  Remember that Barrera was knocked down by a vicious left straight by MP in their first meeting and that was all that MP can boast of that time.

But now, Manny has transformed his weak right hand into a potent hooker.  In his bouts with Larios, Morales and Solis, Manny showed good timing of the right hook, right jab and a feigning right hand attack to set up his thunderous left straight.

Now, since Marco Antonio Barrera lost to the PACMAN, what new thing has he shown to make him a dangerous opponent to the dangerous beast from the far east?  Did we see a new Barrera in the Juarez fights?  Did he show anything of the famed Barrera in his losing bid to Marquez? 

I believe the comparison of Mr. Chavez should expand to include more variables before making an assumption of a Barrera invincibility.

The Encounter God Retreat (EGR) of the EGR Pangasinan Network scheduled July 29 and 30 at the Villa Narcisa Vinoya Resort is postponed indefinitely.

The EGR staff encountered some technical problems along the process.  But this does not mean there is no more EGR in the future. 

At this point, things are being studied carefully before the definite date is announced, so for those who are awaiting the next EGR, you will have your chance very soon.

Please pray that things will work out just fine in scheduling the next EGR.

John Stockton’s famous story, The Lady or the Tiger, has gained much review especially about the possible ending to the story. Stockton’s treatment of the ending and his presentation of the background for the ending come with just the right formula to make his story a hit.

But what really came out of the opened door? The lady or the tiger?

The author used a lot of words to somehow bring the ordinary reader to an immediate conclusion that it’s the tiger. Words such as “hot-blooded”, “despair”, “jealousy”, and “barbarism” will create such picture of the princess as a person more inclined to lead her man to the door that would show her selfish love and her brutal nature.

But what did the author mean when he said, “The more we reflect upon this question, the harder it is to answer. It involves a study of the human heart which leads us through devious mazes of passion out of which it is difficult to find our way”? Well, Stockton’s magic is actually in the descriptive word semi-barbaric which he used to picture the king and the princess, and impliedly, the suitor.

Had the author removed the prefix “semi-”, the question would have been easier to answer. But those four letters imply a half-and-half nature of the princess. Those four letters show her heart as equally dominated by both brutality and humanity. Those four letters tell us that she was not just capable of easily dumping her man into a bloody death, but that she was equally bothered by the wickedness of such a fate especially that it would befall the very man she loved.

When she signaled to her man to open the door on the right, did she make that decision based on the SEMI or the BARBARIC part of her? The author said she made that decision after “days and nights of anguished deliberations.” What level of anguish would she have to go through to make her finally bring her man to the tiger’s deadly fangs and paws? What other level of anguish would she have to go through to show her man that her love was willing to let go and give him another lease on life in the arms of the lady behind the door?

Another point of issue is her extent of barbarism. If she indeed had to decide on the basis of her barbarism, did she decide in a more barbaric way? And which was more barbaric: to let her man die a cruel death or to let her man live a life of regret? The princess knew how much the man loved her and it is safe to assume that he loved her with the same ardour and passion that was enough to show a highly barbaric level.

Why in the world did the man love the princess when there was that other lady who may have been lovelier and more attractive? How much pride did the princess feel when she realized that she was loved more than any woman in all the kingdom? And when she had to make that decision based on her barbaric nature, did she make it to tell her man to say “thank you” to him for the love he shared to her; that though it was only for a moment, it was enough to make her live a fulfilled semi-barbaric life? Was not her presence in the arena an indication that the extent of barbarism inside her was enough to witness only the delightful wedding and not the horrible demise of the man she loved with semi-barbaric intensity?

Or was she still so barbaric that she decided not to suffer alone in a losing cause for love? That she wanted also her lover to feel the pierces of pain brought about by a semi-barbaric passion? Did she want that they both suffer: she for longing to shower a barbaric love to a person forever absent, and he for showering a barbaric love to a person forever wrong?

I hope I did my share in making you, reader of the story, decide on the most logical outcome of the story. Or did I make you more confused?

Share your reactions, please.

If the results of the senatorial race in the May 14, 2007 elections are any indication, the typical Filipino voter is sending President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo a message of warning which will likely read: “Better be careful, Madam President, I have men to watch your every move.”

The imminent entry of eight opposition senators will create a not-so-friendly atmosphere between Malacañang and the House of Senate. In fact we should expect a senate that will be more of an investigative body than a lawmaking body especially with the entry of two young but vocal politicos, Senators Francis Escudero and Alan Peter Cayetano.

Also, if things will go their way, Senators Gringo Honasan and Antonio Trillanes will add military color to the fighting desire of the new senate. Senator Honasan will probably draw courage from the his latest debacle with the administration and, may be, he is silently celebrating the victory of Trillanes who is rumored to be his disciple at the Magdalo group.

Even the independent Senator-elect Francisco Pangilinan, though very level-headed and cool, has what it takes to be a staunch critic of the President.

Returning senator Loren Legarda has a score to settle with Vice President Noli De Castro, a very cooperative political player for President GMA.

Senator Panfilo Lacson has always been consistent in his position as a critic of the administration although he has mellowed a bit. But with the arrival of Gringo, Trillanes and company, we expect Senator Ping to be in the fighting mood, next level.

First timer Senator Noynoy Aquino is expected to play a role similar to his father’s and he will probably not betray his mother.

Coco Pimentel will have a family affair with his father Nene Pimentel and this affair they will share with fellow opposition senator Alan Peter Cayetano who will join his sister Pia Cayetano.

The two administration candidates who made it to the Magic 12, Senators Ed Angara and Joker Arroyo may not be that friendly to GMA. No one is forgetting the fact that, Angara was with the opposition a long time until only the election period came. He actually shares only a few agreements with the President.

Senator Joker Arroyo is a watchdog of the administration. Although he is in their team, he is there to pounce on their misdeeds. He can easily join the opposition if he wants to.

Where will the close allies of GMA go? Migz Zubiri, Mike Defensor and Prospero Pichay will most likely get cabinet positions so that they can defend the president from inside the Palace.

If there’s one thing that puts a smile on GMA’s face vis-a-vis the election results, it is the victory of House Speaker Joe de Venecia who played an instrumental role in the losing cause of the impeachment against GMA. Escudero and Cayetano may have gained a plus in winning senate seats but the victory of JDV in the Lower House will neutralize Chiz’s and Peter’s triumphs.

Related to the voting IQ of the current Filipino electorate is the loss of two of the biggest names in show business today, Richard Gomez and Cesar Montano. The Pinoy voter of today has learned his lessons in electing personalities only on the basis of popularity, at least in the arena of national positions. Vilma Santos won the governorship of Batangas because of her good track record as mayor of Lipa City and may be because of the voters’ discontent of Governor Sanchez.

The Pinoy voter, in short, has become a little more intelligent now.

The last Encounter God Retreat for the first half of 2007 has been set on June 29 & 30, 2007 at the Villa Narcisa Vinoya Resort in Labrador, Pangasinan

The EGR Pangasinan Network will have a break in the conduct of EGR for a month or two before scheduling another EGR.

This means that if you are itching to attend the EGR, you should better register for the June EGR or you will have to wait until August or September to have your Encounter experience.

The EGR is open only to those who already accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior and who have gone through the pre-encounter lessons.

Registration fee is PhP500 which includes your post-encounter booklet. You may register through your pastor or contact Pastor Charlie Loranza at 09203290415.

See you there.