Glorietta Modus Operandi

Let's be aware that the "squashing technique" is a current practice, so we'll know what to do. How about a karate chop?

Dear All:
I would like to share with all of you my horrible and scary experience last Friday night at Glorietta. Maybe, by being aware of this incident, you will be more vigilant as you do your leisure shopping.

It was one rare moment on a weekday that we, my daughters and I would have the chance to have a leisure evening together. And a rare occasion that I would go around Glorietta as I have been used to the South shopping malls. Anyway, we took the escalator leading to the Rustans store (the Bon Apetit entrance). The escalator that would lead you to the bus stop at Ayala Avenue. I was about five steps away from my two daughters and in front of me were two people (one gay and one girl) in white. They were about 5 to 6 steps ahead of me. I noticed that these two people were walking backwards and to my mind, how could adults play in the escalator.

I only see children doing this. They continued stepping backwards until they were about 2 steps away from me. I noticed that the gay removed her pony tail band from her hair. Then as I reached the top, the gay bent forward trying to pick up something from the floor. I was standing there trying to hold my grip for fear of falling down. All I could say was Ano ba, Ano ba and I felt I was being squashed. I did not know that my daughters were overtaken by another two people and they thought that it was rude of them to do this. The next thing they saw was that I was being squashed in front and at the back. They thought that the one in front of them got their shoe stuck. I finally got out and was cursing the two people in front of me for being so ignorant in the use of the escalators. My daughter noticed that my bag was opened and she asked me to check it out. My cell phones were there. But my wallet was gone. She immediately ran outside to chase the two but they were gone. The other two according to my daughter went the side way.

I told the security guard stationed by the door leading to Ayala. All he asked was that "Inipit ba kayo"? I said yes. And then he said that it is a modus operandi and if I were to interpret what he said, this is not the first time this happened. I was shocked for a while. I did not feel like looking around anymore and just confined myself inside Rustans.

The good thing about this was that next day, a construction worker called my house to advise that he saw my wallet in one of the planter boxes near the bus stop. He saw a receipt with my name and phone number and called hoping he can find the owner of the wallet.

This can happen anywhere where they have these escalators. For those who have connection with the Security of Ayala, please tell them to pose some guards at the escalator areas.

Manny: This Is All For You (Filipino Champ Batters Foe After 3rd Round Scare)

By Francis Ochoa (Inquirer)
Posted 02:16am (Mla time) July 03, 2006

FOR A BRIEF moment in the third round, a hush fell over the Araneta Coliseum, interrupted only by surprised, uneasy gasps.

Manny Pacquiao, the boxing hero many believed to be unconquerable, was at the receiving end of a barrage of blows from Mexican Oscar "Chololo" Larios, the challenger many felt was just a piece of meat tossed into the lion's den.

Then, from the far corners of the coliseum, a chant cut through the silence and built up to a roar as the crowd repeatedly shouted Pacquiao's name.

At that, the Filipino ring icon turned everything around in an instant, showing the speed and power that have made him a byword in the 130-lb ranks, to twice floor Larios, come out a unanimous decision winner and retain his WBC international super featherweight title.

"This is for all the Filipinos who always watch me fight and support me," Pacquiao said in Filipino after yesterday's noontime bout at the Big Dome.

Egged on by the crowd that had shelled out their hard-earned money to purchase pricey tickets to watch him live, the General Santos native knocked Larios down midway in the seventh round with a solid right to the jaw and then floored the challenger again 45 seconds before the final bell with a combination set up by a crisp left jab.

Although none of those knockdowns welded Larios to the canvas for good--the Mexican got up quickly both times--it was enough to ice the victory Pacquiao had promised his compatriots.

But it was a present that the country's favorite son nearly failed to gift-wrap.

Larios, the former two-time world champion, was not the sacrificial lamb Pacquiao's camp had hoped he would be for this homecoming fight of sorts.

The 29-year-old ring veteran surprised everyone as he applied pressure on Pacquiao early on and pinning the Filipino on the ropes in the third round and nearly taking him down.

Larios's shining moment, however, also turned out to be the beginning of his downfall.

"I felt that I could knock him out [after the third round] and I stopped listening to my corner," Larios said through an interpreter in the post-match press conference.

"He started fighting the wrong fight after the third round," said Rafael Mendoza, Larios's agent and adviser. "He lost his head thinking he could knock Manny Pacquiao out."

Suckered into a brawl, Larios gave Pacquiao the stage he needed to do what he did best: Showcase a natural flair for slugging it out and fusing a divided nation with a display of raw speed and punching power.

A country behind him

With the crowd--and an entire country--rallying behind him, the 27-year-old superstar slipped out from under the weight of Larios's third-round onslaught and uncorked a sharp combination that opened a cut under the Mexican's left eye.

"For a while, I was a little bit concerned," said Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer. "But Manny recovered well after that."

"He hit me hard, but I wasn't that hurt," Pacquiao said. "In fact, I was able to get out of the ropes quickly after that. Hearing the crowd chanting my name helped. I knew I couldn't let [my countrymen] down."

"When he came back to the corner after the round, I told him not to get caught sleeping on the ropes again," Roach recounted.

By the time the sixth round came along, Pacquiao was certainly wide awake. His feared left straight started to find its range and his right cross, a weapon developed by his camp for his two previous fights against Erik Morales, came into play.

"He was just coasting in the early rounds and he did not turn up the heat until the sixth round," said Roach.

Pacquiao unleashed rapid combinations to the body and the head that repeatedly rocked Larios from the sixth round onwards, giving the Guadalajara native a sample of his much talked-about power and speed.

After bringing Larios to his knees in the seventh, Pacquiao kept up the pressure. In the 12th round, he drove a left jab straight to the head before uncorking another flurry that had Larios seated on the floor.

Larios: Speed beat me

"Manny's a great fighter, he beat me with his speed," said the former super bantamweight champion of the world.

The only thing faster than Pacquiao's punching flurry, it seemed, was Larios's ability to come back after every barrage, withstanding everything the Filipino threw at him to force the fight to go the distance. That was the Larios fight plan, to force an upset through the scorecards.

But Pacquiao still managed enough to seal a points victory--the three judges had it all for the champion at 117-110, 118-108 and 120-106--even if it wasn't quite the slam-bang performance the Filipino's camp had foretold during prefight interviews.

Partly, it was because, so Pacquiao said, he didn't go full steam against Larios.

"I knew I was in control of the match, leading on points, and I did not want to risk being too aggressive because he might catch me with a lucky punch," Pacquiao (42-3-2) said.

"If I pushed a little harder, I think you all know what the result would have been," he added, hinting that Larios (56-5-1) would not have lasted the distance.

It was also because Larios seemed to have the stars aligned for him yesterday.

Not only was Pacquiao far from the form that allowed him to knock Morales out early this year, but Larios himself seemed to have benefited greatly from the three-month preparation he undertook for this bout.

"Larios couldn't have fought a better fight than he already did [yesterday]," Roach said. Larios earned $450,000 for his effort while Pacquiao, who only prepared for six months for yesterday's tiff, picked up a cool $1 million.

Churches, Malls Miss Sunday Crowds As Fans Watch Bout On TV

By Metro Staff, PDI Bureaus (Inquirer)
Posted 02:30am (Mla time) July 03, 2006

JEEPNEY DRIVERS stopped plying their routes. Church attendance was down. Malls, normally packed by noon on a Sunday, cried out for customers.

College sophomore Mae Santos, 18, summed it all up. No lover of the blood sport, she crossed her fingers for a Manny Pacquiao victory.

“Even if I’m not a sports fan, I’m still a Filipino,” she told the Inquirer as she navigated her way through Robinson’s Place in Ermita, Manila, where the crowd of customers was noticeably thin because many of the usual shoppers had stayed home to watch the fight.

For a day, everybody seemed to be a Pacquiao fan -- well, almost everybody. Three Roman Catholic bishops whom the Inquirer texted -- Oscar Cruz, Deogracias Iñiguez and Leonardo Medroso -- said they did not watch the fight.

Traffic was fairly light on Metro Manila streets and in cities as far away as Davao, apparently because people were glued to television sets to see Pacquiao duel Mexican Oscar Larios.

Crime incidence in Metro Manila from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. yesterday -- or around the time of the delayed telecast of the fight -- was zero, according the National Capital Region Police Office.

The fever didn’t spare President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Back from her weeklong European trip, Ms Arroyo returned yesterday in time to watch the fight on television in Malacañang.

She said Pacquiao’s victory was “another moment of pride for the Filipino.” But her statement was not without political overtones: She said the nation needed “to be focused as Manny in preparing and persevering toward our goals -- a strong economy, a stable political system and a prosperous society.”

Earlier, Ms Arroyo said she would bestow on Pacquiao the country’s first “Champion for Life” award.

For its part, the House of Representatives, which awarded Pacquiao the Congressional Medal of Achievement last year, will honor him with a new commendation when Congress resumes sessions later this month.

Prayers for Manny
In the City of San Fernando in Pampanga province, calesa driver Cipriano Mainin, 64, went to Mass and offered prayers for his man.

“Manny’s my idol because he fights well and he’s doing well in life,” Mainin said.

The fight was special, too, for Jerby Santo, a disc jockey in Tacloban City in Leyte province. He said it helped him forget “my personal problems and those of the nation.”

In Pacquiao’s hometown, around 2,000 people saw a delayed telecast of the fight at the air-conditioned General Santos City gymnasium.

“Hit him hard,” they chorused each time the hometown boy connected. “Kill him,” another group shouted.

Sky-high prices
When Larios fell twice to the canvas, the crowd went wild and chanted: “He has been knocked out. He has been knocked out.”

But the Mexican was still on his feet.

Sky-high ticket prices prevented the crowds milling around the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City from getting in to watch the match, but they did not leave disappointed.

For a few moments, they were able to gaze at the stars and hobnob with a virtual “Who’s Who” in show biz and politics.

Cheers erupted and cameras clicked away every time a major celebrity stepped on the carpeted VIP entrance of the coliseum.

Among the stars spotted were Gary Valenciano, Aga Muhlach and wife Charlene Gonzales, siblings Richard and Ruffa Gutierrez, Jericho Rosales -- who played the role of the boxer in “Pacquiao the Movie” -- and Heart Evangelista.

Politicians, too
Politicians were not far behind: Senator Manuel Roxas II, who came with broadcaster Korina Sanchez, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Representatives Gilbert Remulla (Cavite), Prospero Nograles (Davao City) and Joel Villanueva (Cibac party-list), and Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr.

Some of the crowd had come expecting their P50 and P100 would buy them a ticket. They were shocked to find out that the cheapest ticket cost P528.

Still, others stayed, hoping that tickets would later be sold at discounted prices. But that did not happen.

Patron 1 and 2 tickets were sold for P52,800 and P47,520, respectively, while Patron 3 and 4 tickets cost P31,680. Lower Box tickets fetched P21,120, while Lower Box A and B were worth P7,920 and P2,640, respectively.

A consolation
Construction foreman Peter Balbon, 36, brought along his wife Teresa, 36, and son Carlo, 8.

“I thought it would only cost about P100 or so. We never expected it would cost so much,” Teresa said.

Carlo seemed happy enough. “I saw Richard Gutierrez,” the boy said.

Jun Cañete, 27, a nurse, also thought his P50 would be able to get him in.

“I’d rather stay here and watch the stars,” he consoled himself, laughing. “It’s not every day that I get to see them in person.”

Sponsors made their presence felt at the coliseum entrances, with banners and streamers mounted at conspicuous spaces, booths offering souvenir shirts and Pacquiao CDs, and promo persons handing out freebies like balloons, carton fans and even samples of painkillers and cough medicine.

Impressed with Larios
The crowd watched the fight on monitors set up near the Araneta entrance. Cheers rang out every time Pacquiao landed a punch -- until the coliseum staff moved the monitors away after seven rounds.

An usher later told the disgruntled crowd: “Please just watch it on TV later.”

One Mandaluyong police officer watched the live telecast at the SM Megamall Cinemas without having to pay for the P320 ticket. He was impressed with Pacquiao’s opponent.

“Larios was really strong. I did not expect he would last until the last round,” said the officer. “He was already full of bruises but he was still fighting.”

He and another policewoman were on beat patrol when the cinema manager invited them into one of the five cinemas showing the fight at the mall.

Packed theaters
The five cinemas were packed.

“I think more people went to SM than to the Araneta Coliseum,” the cinema official joked, saying the steep ticket prices might have turned off the fans.

The cinemas virtually shook with cheers every time Pacquiao scored.

Under the Ortigas flyover in Mandaluyong, only one Metropolitan Manila Development Authority traffic enforcer was at the intersection; the others were inside the station, watching the fight on TV.

Policemen at the Eastern Police District Annex Office also gathered in one office to watch the delayed telecast. Two people reporting a crime were also glued to the set, resuming their story during the long commercial breaks.

Still, not everyone had gone crazy.

In parts of Quezon City, some people did not seem very excited about the fight.

Stalls selling secondhand television sets on EDSA (Epifanio delos Santos Avenue) were tuned to the bout but there were very few people watching.

One possible reason was that people had tuned in to radio station dzMM, which described the fight blow by blow and revealed the result before the ABS-CBN’s telecast got underway almost two hours later.

“There was too much hype. That turned me off,” said a reporter, who chose to play games on the computer.

Here is how it was like in the rest of the country:

Luzon
Melito Lacanlale, a mini-bus dispatcher, spent the day at the People’s Gym at the provincial capitol of Pampanga to watch the delayed telecast.

“Iba ang kamao niya (Pacquiao’s fist is unique),” Lacanlale said. He said he challenged his neighbors to place bets on Larios but no one took his dare.

The large viewing screen in San Fernando, Pampanga, drew only a small crowd of 200 men and boys, leaving half of the seats in the gym empty. Many spectators were irked by the delayed telecast and the numerous commercials.

ABS-CBN personnel at the gym kept up the audience’s enthusiasm by holding games like arm wrestling. They gave away free drinks and candies.

In La Union province, farmers in Calungboyan in Balaoan town were all ears to the Bombo Radyo broadcast of the bout. They said they were robbed of the excitement of seeing the fight on TV because of the delayed telecast.

In Tarlac City, a number of meat stalls at the new public market on Ninoy Aquino Boulevard were empty because their owners had chosen to watch the fight at home.

In Tuguegarao City, bets took the form of plates of pancit (noodles), bottles of beer and as much as P500.

In eastern Laguna, streets were empty as drivers of jeepneys and tricycles parked their vehicles.

At the Our Lady’s Nativity Parish in Pangil town, a few people were seen attending a 2 p.m. funeral Mass for a relative, said its parish priest.

Mario Marjalino, an Information Technology consultant in Masbate province, mocked Malacañang’s announcement that Pacquiao would be given the “Champion for Life” award.

“It’s just a mere mask that hides the failures of our political system,” he said.

Broadcaster Jun Galias of Sorsogon province said: “For a country in shambles like ours, every victory counts.”

Viel Balmeo, a third-year high school student at Maryhill College in Lucena City, said: “Yes, he’s still the champion, but he no longer has the true heart and fighting spirit of a champ. Maybe because he wanted to stay longer so he could earn more money. He played it safe so as not to cause more harm to his body.”

Visayas
Most Filipinos across the Visayas, even those who do not care much for boxing, either stayed home to follow the fight on TV or watched it on wide-screen televisions set up in public places and restaurants.

But there were some who were frustrated. In Maasin City in Southern Leyte province, subscribers to Dream TV were dismayed to learn that the cable firm did not carry ABS-CBN, which beamed the fight.

In Tacloban, Malyn Caca, 42, traveled 21 km just to watch her idol fight. Jeepney driver Virgilio Villablanca, 56, took the day off to watch the match.

Mayor Alfredo “Bejo” Romualdez put up a 42-foot wide screen TV at the convention center so that people from out of town could see the bout.

Many Cebuanos were dismayed by the delayed telecast. Betting was relatively light because it was hard to find someone who would bet on Larios.

In Bacolod City in Negros Occidental province, thousands trooped to the arts and youth center, where the city government had set up a widescreen TV, even if they already knew that Pacquiao had won.

Many people went to church early or chose to hear a later Mass so they could watch the fight.

Mindanao
In Davao City, children mimicked the two boxers during breaks, at times sparking petty quarrels.

In Cotabato City, fish vendor Mokamad Ayob gladly paid for the pulutan (bar chow) and the liquor he and his friends were consuming when Pacquiao floored his opponent in the 7th round.

Catching The 'Bench Fever' Willingly, Happily

By Dolly Ann Carvajal (Inquirer)

AS a true child of the'70S, I immensely enjoyed the "Bench Fever '06" underwear and denim show at the Big Dome on Friday. The sounds and sights made me feel like Austin Powers was going to pop up anytime. The stage looked like a huge psychedelic transistor radio. There was even a hippie DJ spinning records inside a golden cage.

The new Bench undies are flirty and sporty. But it also has classic white and elegant black designs. They look too good to be worn under clothes.

As in previous Bench shows, it wasn't only these that the audience had come to see, but also the celebs who did the catwalk. Some standouts were John Estrada, Keanna Reeves, Wendell Ramos, Ruffa Mae Quinto, Jay-R and Richard Gutierrez, not to mention the King and Queen of Bench—Richard and Lucy Gomez.

It was a visually delightful mixture of Kapuso and Kapamilya stars.

Ai-Ai de las Alas brought the house down, when she playfully touched the crotch of some male models.

Most enthusiastically applauded were Richard Gutierrez, Jay-R, Sam Milby, Christian Bautista, and PBB teen winners Gerald Anderson and Kim Sue Chui.

Joey Marquez and his ex-Alicia Mayer seemed to ignore each other on stage. He only had eyes for his daughter Winwin who also modeled some numbers.

The grand finale was the appearance of '70s idols Sister Sledge and Village People who sang anthems of the funky decade. It was anticlimactic, though. But all in all, it was one groovy evening. Everyone went home as "carriers" of the contagious fever.

Postscript
AT the party after the fab show, John Estrada was seen kissing a Caucasian girl. He seemed to be a kissing bandit that night; onstage, he had gamely kissed Keanna Reeves, who was obviously thrilled.