Gomes trip nearly aborted

World featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao won’t be around for the fourth annual Flash Elorde Boxing Awards Night on March 25 in Makati. He’ll be in Los Angeles training for his May 8 fight against Juan Manuel Marquez by then.

Without Pacquiao, the spotlight will zero in on Harold Gomes—-the American of Portuguese descent whom Elorde dethroned as world junior lightweight titlist in 1960. Gomes will attend the rites as a special guest and recipient of the second Gabriel Elorde Memorial Trophy.

Not too many fans know that Gomes almost cancelled his trip because of a US travel advisory dissuading Americans from traveling to the Philippines. He would’ve been the second Elorde opponent to back out after Teruo Kosaka begged off due to illness.

The Gabriel Elorde Memorial Trophy is given to an Elorde foe of note. The first recipient was Shigeji Kaneko who flew in from Japan to receive the Trophy last year.

Gomes initially confirmed his arrival with his wife, son, daughter and grandson on March 21 then got cold feet.

According to Ronnie Nathanielsz, Gomes sought the advice of a US government official in his home state of Rhode Island on whether or not to fly to Manila. The official based his recommendation on the travel advisory.

"Because of recent US government warnings regarding travel to the Philippines, it is with great regret that my father has decided not to attend," wrote Gomes’ daughter Karen in an e-mail to Elorde’s daughter-in-law Liza, the event organizer. "His feelings are very torn since he already committed to this high honor your family bestowed upon him. This decision did not come easily to him. His career is his whole life and he is upset that he came to this conclusion. I cannot express my regrets enough."

When Liza read the e-mail, she nearly broke down. It was like a dagger pierced her heart. She shared the bad news with Nathanielsz who is producing the Awards Night on TV for Viva Sports. Nathanielsz volunteered to call Gomes long distance at his expense. He hoped to convince Gomes to change his mind. Nathanielsz talked over 20 minutes with Gomes. It seemed like an hour considering the overseas call wasn’t cheap and Nathanielsz’ reputation of being thrifty. But in the end, Nathanielsz said it was worth the cost.

"I told him that he, like other foreigners, were perfectly safe in Manila and pointed to the several American pro basketball players playing here and the fact that over 8,000 fans packed the stadium in General Santos City in Mindanao to watch a game," related Nathanielsz. "I also told him that Manila was much safer than many US cities and that international referee Bruce McTavish called just before boarding a plane to Australia to work two bouts to tell Gomes, his long-time friend, not to worry."

Nathanielsz rattled off the names of American pop artists who were recent Manila visitors. He named Brian McKnight and Mandy Moore, among others. If high-profile celebrities dared to defy the travel advisory, surely, Gomes had nothing to worry about.

Gomes promised Nathanielsz he would think it over.

The next day, Karen sent an e-mail to Liza. "I certainly appreciate all of your concern and understanding about our hesitancy to travel," she said. "I also received an e-mail from Ronnie Nathanielsz who has been most effective in explaining the situation there and the ease of travel to your beautiful city with all of the examples of Americans traveling and the safety that they have experienced. To this day, (my father) speaks so very highly of your father (Elorde) and what a great man and a great fighter he was. I grew up seeing all of the pictures of that phenomenon that was that particular fight. What a wonderful life-changing experience for them both, your father and my father. As long as we feel safe, we will enjoy this trip immensely. I know that. Looking forward to experiencing Filipino hospitality."

Liza heaved a sigh of relief. Gomes decided to make the trip with his family, after all.

* * *

Over 250 female transport workers unions and their families jogged on the Bay Walk Area along Roxas Boulevard last Sunday morning in a fun run to celebrate the International Women’s Month.

The runners wore "Strong Unions Need Women" and "Women Unite" slogans and carried streamers heralding the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) campaign for women’s basic rights.

The unions that participated in the run were the Associated Marine Officers and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP), Pambansang Tinig at Lakas sa Pantalan, Philippine Seafarers Union, Port Workers Union of the Philippines and Bagong Kapisanan ng mga Manggagawa sa Philippine National Railways.

AMOSUP, headed by Capt. Gregorio Oca as president, organized the event, which was funded by ITF and three maritime unions in Norway.

Senatorial candidate Pia Cayetano, my wife Menchu and I led the run starting at the Manila Yacht Club in full view of Sunday promenaders and motorists on the boulevard.

After the run, the participants were treated to a sumptuous breakfast by Capt. Oca at the AMOSUP Convention Hall in Intramuros. Mae Genato of Capt. Oca’s office emceed the program that followed the breakfast. Capt. Oca thanked the runners and their families for participating in the run and championing the cause of women’s rights. Menchu, as incoming Zonta president of Muntinlupa and its environs, spoke about laws protecting women’s rights and activities to promote women’s causes. The program was capped by parlor games.

The fun run was a prelude to the ITF Campaign Day last March 8 when affiliated unions worldwide, numbering 600 transport unions consisting of four million workers in 145 countries, held simultaneous activities to express support for their women members.