Muhammad Ali in Philippine history

MANILA, Philippines – Muhammad Ali may have been laid to rest last Friday (American time), but his legacy will surely live on.

He died on June 3, after suffering from Parkinson’s disease.

The American boxer has visited the country twice, and both were historic events.

His first visit was on October 1, 1975, when the historic “Thrilla in Manila” happened at the Philippine Coliseum, now known as the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

It was his third and last bout with Joe Frazier, and luckily, a lot of Filipinos were able to preserve some memorabilia from that event.

On Friday, June 10, the Muhammad Ali Legacy Art Exhibit was opened in Ali Mall in Cubao, Quezon City.

One of the most precious memorabilia in the exhibit is Ali’s autographed gloves owned by radio personality Danee Samonte. This is a priced possession since Ali’s ability to write was hindered by his illness.

Here’s a pair of boxing gloves signed by Muhammad Ali, owned by Danee Samonte. Philstar.com/ Joyce Jimenez

Here are samples of the fight tickets at the Philippine Coliseum was also preserved by collector Edward delos Santos.

Here are some preserved fight tickets from the Thrilla in Manila fight of Muhammad Ali, owned by Edward delos Santos. Philstar.com/ Joyce Jimenez

Rare photos of Ali’s activities in Manila were also showcased there. In one of the photos owned by sports analyst and commentator Ronnie Nathanielsz, Ali was seen eating a snack while reporters flocked around him for an interview.

Sports analyst and commentator Ronnie Nathanielsz was able to preserve some photos of Muhammad Ali on his visit here in Manila.Philstar.com/ Joyce Jimenez

Aside from the memorabilia, the mall itself where the exhibit is happening is historical.

On the photos exhibited, it was narrated how the mall ended up being named after Ali.

After the “Thrilla in Manila,” Ali was invited by the Aranetas in their Bahay na Puti, and there Jorge L. Araneta promised that he would name a mall after him.

The next year, Ali returned to the country to lead the opening of the Muhammad Ali Mall, now popularly known as Ali Mall in Cubao, Quezon City, which was the first air-conditioned mall in the country.

The Muhammad Ali Legacy Art Exhibit is open until the end of June.