MANGYAN DOT NET: Virtual City of Mindorenos!

Published in Inquirer.net

By Madonna Virola
Southern Luzon Bureau
 

SABLAYAN, Occidental Mindoro -- While Manny Pacquiao is at the height of his boxing career, a young professional here is preparing hard for an international fight on April 22 at San Jose (town) gymnasium during the Elorde Boxing International as he aims to make it to the World Boxing Council.

And if Adrian “Jong” Francisco beats his Thai boxer-opponent, he would need only three more games to qualify for the WBC.

Jong is the pride of the Franciscos, a family of boxers here.

“Among the siblings, he is the most determined and sacrificing to be a world champ, a title his father almost had,” Loyalyn “Beng” Francisco said of her son in Filipino.

The house of the Franciscos in Barangay Buenavista here has become a shelter, a hang-out and training ground for young aspiring boxers.

It’s a simple concrete one-level house with partitions for two rooms and a comfort room.

Behind is a garden where trainings take place.

Further at the back is a native cottage for trainees.

On Sunday, everybody in the house awaited the big fight of Manny Pacquiao, Beng said.

She had helped her husband Diomedes “Joe” train hundreds of boxing aspirants since 1981 when he retired as a professional boxer. He almost made it to the WBC.

Among their pride are the Magramo brothers who were boxing champs and now trainors at Elorde and their own son Adrian or “Jong.”

Jong is a champ of the WBO Asia Pacific.

A holder of a degree in Bachelor of Science in Commerce, he gave himself until 27 years old to try to fulfill his father’s dream and make a name for himself.

The WBC is the big dream of the Franciscos.

Jong has 11 wins, 8 knockouts, no loss and no draw.

Coached and exposed by his own father in Southern Tagalog , he never had a loss while joining boxing competitions as a student.

Asked whether politicians take advantage of exposures during boxing games, the Franciscos said some politicians supported the sports but the support had not been enough to produce international champs.

Joe is now busy matching local boxers for the April 22 fight.

He is set to conduct a sports clinic (knowing the ropes of boxing) in Mamburao, the capital town of Occidental Mindoro.

Jong is just lucky to come from a family committed to boxing. His three other siblings (all males), including a twin, have also tried boxing.

Jong's mother bakes cakes to add to the income of his father as an employee at the Bureau of Fire Protection.

They shell out money just to support boxing enthusiasts.

The Franciscos belong to the Seventh Day Adventist, which does not support boxing because it could be violent.

Joe said he hoped God understood his sport because they took boxing more as a kind sports than anything else.

“It takes a big heart and commitment to the sports to train boxers because there is really no money here and the sacrifices are big,” he said in Filipino.

The Franciscos were right in anticipating the victory of Pacquiao against Solis in their Sunday's fight, as the Filipino boxing hero knocked down Solis in the eighth round.

“Pacquiao has an advantage in experience. He is courageous, determined, hardworking and has a very supportive coach,” Joe said.

Copyright 2007 Southern Luzon Bureau. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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