May 12, 2008

General Admission

Do you know the way to Baguio?

By Al S. Mendoza

I WAS in Baguio only a while back and guess what I saw: A totally altered traffic in the City of Pines.

Has Mayor Bautista become a sudden fan of Bayani Fernando?

Fernando is that favorite bloke of Ate Glo - the favorite son of Marikina City whose penchant for roads and traffic is rivaled only by his obsession for everything pink.

Pink overpasses. Pink foot bridges. Pink public urinals. Pink bus/jeepney/taxi stops. Pink road railings.
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Filed under Opinion, General Admission by Sunday Punch.
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May 6, 2008

General Admission

A trip rooted to roots

By Al S. Mendoza

I HAD a chance encounter with Mayor Rey Velasco of Sta. Barbara on Tuesday at the fabled Dagupeña Restaurant.

After the usual handshakes and hellos, I asked the good mayor, “What’s the latest on your airport project?”

Rey was quick to reply.

“The feasibility study is ongoing,” he said. “But don’t you worry a thing, Al. I’ll get my airport project done. I can guarantee you that. You’ll be the first to know when the ground-breaking ceremonies will be held.” So there. Right from the horse’s mouth, so to speak.
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Filed under Opinion, General Admission by Sunday Punch.
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April 27, 2008

General Admission

El Nido is Hundred Islands of Palawan

By Al S. Mendoza

I WAS in El Nido, Palawan last week and the place reminded me instantly of Hundred Islands in Lucap, Alaminos City, Pangasinan.

Why, because El Nido’s beach resorts resemble those of our very own Hundred Islands.

Tallish mountains proud as Pangasinan politicians.

Sea shores as white as those at Governor’s Island, Quezon Island and Children’s Island of the Hundred Islands. Schools of fish abound in the area.
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Filed under Opinion, General Admission by Sunday Punch.
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April 21, 2008

General Admission

My ‘Deep Throat’ in Pacquiao Team

By Al S. Mendoza

NOW it can be told.

The reason why Doug Flescher was replaced by Tom Miller as one of the three judges in the recent Pacquiao-Marquez fight was through the instigation of a genuine Filipino boxing lover.

I cannot divulge his character here, lest I incur the ire of the guy himself and tells his friends at the US embassy to revoke my five-year I Visa (Journalist Visa) ASAP.
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Filed under Opinion, General Admission by Sunday Punch.
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April 15, 2008

General Admission

Marquez mars Manny’s day

By Al S. Mendoza

MANNY Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez recently showed the other side of their lives.

Pacquiao is humble, Marquez rude.

Interviewed on TV by ABS-CBN on April 6 during the “Invasion:  The Philippines vs The World” boxing card at the Araneta Coliseum, both fighters dished off contrasting personalities.

Marquez unleashed gutter behavior when he told Pacquiao during the interview by Dyan Castillejo: “You should immediately give me a rematch because you know that you lost the last time we met (March 16).”
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Filed under Opinion, General Admission by Sunday Punch.
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April 6, 2008

General Admission

The lure of homeland

By Al S. Mendoza

MANY balikbayans are now looking for homes they say they’ll need when they retire and return for good to their country of origin.

Some prefer condos, others townhouses.

A few of my balikbayan-friends say they like lots where they can build a house and a vegetable garden and a mini orchard.

“I miss our vegetables, like ampalaya, camote, patola, eggplant, okra, allocon and saluyot,” said one of them, who’s been living in

       New York City for the last 20 years or so.

The condo- and townhouse-seekers are doing their home-hunting in the metropolis, targeting Makati and Quezon City.
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Filed under Opinion, General Admission by Sunday Punch.
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March 31, 2008

General Admission

The swim suit of Kuya Leonie

By Al S. Mendoza

FIRST, he sends me a text message from Los Angeles, California.

“I am arriving tomorrow on board a Korean Air jet,” he says. “Hope to see you immediately upon my arrival.”

“C yah when I C yah!”

Next day, he calls.

“I have just landed,” says he. “Am here at the airport. Where can I see you?”

“Now? Today?”

“Yeah,” says he. “You want a swim suit, right?”

“Ah, you are here for the summer, ha?”
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Filed under Opinion, General Admission by Sunday Punch.
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March 24, 2008

General Admission

Praise for National Punch

By Al S. Mendoza

OK, OK, calm down, fellas.

Why must we fight?

Let’s leave the fighting to the boxers.

Why the whining?

It’s better to applaud than to upload anger.  Like a smile, applauding is good for the heart.

So, let’s stop questioning the victory of Manny Pacquiao?

He won, period.

He won by the slimmest of margins, by the skin of his teeth.

What’s wrong with that?
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Filed under Opinion, General Admission by Sunday Punch.
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March 17, 2008

General Admission

Was Pacquiao saved?

By Al S. Mendoza

AGAIN, in accordance with deadline rules, I wrote this piece four days before fight day today, March 16.

So by now, I believe that many of you already know who won in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Did our own Manny Pacquiao win? Or did our Pambansang Kamao lose to the Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez?

Of course, I had predicted as usual a Pacquiao victory.

I hope I was right?
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Filed under Opinion, General Admission by Sunday Punch.
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March 10, 2008

General Admission

Prospects for Pacquiao

By Al S. Mendoza

THE TALK of the town is the Pacquiao-Marquez fight on March 16 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The most common prediction is Pacquiao will have a hard time against Marquez.

I can believe that.  But Pacquaio, eternally oozing with talent, can handle things with ease - as always.

Marquez (Juan Manuel) can run because, against Pacquiao (Manny), the Mexican fights like he is on board a bicycle.

Marquez did that the first time he met the National Fist in 2004.
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Filed under Opinion, General Admission by Sunday Punch.
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