Poor actor

If there is a group of sportswriters aside from my colleagues in Cebu that I am most at home with, these are those from Davao City.

My brief trip to the prime city of Mindanao allowed me to meet some of my brother sportswriters, who were among those who attended the Sports Tourism Forum held at the Waterfront Insular Hotel the other day.

While we talked about seeing each other again later this month for the Philippine Airlines Interclub Golf Tournament that Davao will be hosting, there was one other topic that we talked about – the antics of Juan ‘Panterita’ Esquer.

If you have a short term memory loss, the Panterita was the Mexican foe of Milan ‘El Metodico’ Melindo in the main offering of Pinoy Pride XI last Saturday night at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Neil Bravo, my closest buddy among the Davao boys, asked me what happened to the Mexican and why the bout was aborted on the 7th round.

For those who don’t know yet, Esquer, who badly needs acting lessons, was declared loser via technical knockout on the 7th round when his corner called it off.

The Mexican, who was obviously outclassed by Melindo, claimed to have been hit by a low blow, which during the slow motion replay on the big screen was really a legitimate low blow.

What irked the audience was when the Mexican acted like he was hit by more than a punch and crawled around an area of the ring in what appeared to be from the script of a World Wrestling Federation match.

In the course of my participation in various contact sports, I admit that a few times I got hit where no man wants to get hit, so I know how painful it can get, but I can’t recall having acted like Esquer.

What was more irritating was that after he acted like he was about to die, he comes out charging at Melindo the moment the bout resumed.

When the Mexican did it again, his embarrassed corner man called the bout off.

I used to have a very high regard for the acting ability of Mexicans because of the telenovelas that have become very popular in the Philippines.

Some of my mistahs told me stories how as young lieutenants of the Philippine Army, shortly after graduation from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), there was an unofficial truce when the show Marimar was on air.

Apparently, even the enemies of the state enjoyed watching Thalia.

Esquer is totally the opposite and I hope he either hangs his gloves or take proper acting lessons.

Maybe Filipinos would enjoy seeing him next time as some good or bad guy in the telenovelas. He is definitely not a star material.

Despite Esquer’s antics, Pinoy Pride XI was another huge success. I’m looking forward to the next one.

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MILESTONES: happy birthday greetings to my cousin Vincent Q. Cruz, bassist of Verismo, who turns a year older today.

The same goes to Ret. Col. Gus Atencia, Alvin Maglasang, and top golfer Lloyd Jefferson ‘LJ’ Go.

Advance greetings to those celebrating tomorrow like my dear cousin Joyce Lebumfacil-Manigsaca, Me-mye Reyes-Cavada, Cora Coronada-Seno, Holly Dale Bandala, and Snyder Su.

Congratulations to B. Gen. Alan Rio Luga, the new commander of the 7th Infantry Division.

More power all of you!