QUINITO HENSON ADMITS POSSIBLE ERROR IN JUDGMENT

Steve Bunce taking potshots against U.S. boxing id...commentators. No butt-kissing here.

Joaquin "Quinito" Henson is one of the best and most objective sports writers in the country. He also happens to be one of the most courageous. He took on the establishment recently when he lashed out on the Philippine National Youth Coach (for what he calls treason) for leaving his wards while a tournament was on-going. Other so-called sports writers kept quiet fearing backlash, preferring instead to dish out propaganda and taking on the "government". In this country, nobody defends government actions in sports anyway. My respect for Henson grew even more (for I already admired him when I was young). I remembered when he defended Manny from outrageous attacks from crabs and jealous people putting Pacquiao down after the boxer's close win against Marquez. It was a classic rebuttal.

Now, he is in the limelight again for calling someone to task. He is a relief from too much butt-kissing in sports media today.

What La Salle is all about

Today, he admitted his error on calling the coach's action as "treason".

Perhaps, it was also an error in my judgment to call Pumaren’s departure from Tehran an act of treason. Pumaren and I go back a long way and I’ve never known him to be unpatriotic. I hope Pumaren and the La Sallian community accept my admission.

He also regretted to being the cause for dividing his community:

I regret being a cause of dissension within the La Sallian community but as a writer, there are obligations I must honor, sometimes at the risk of creating enmity. I only hope that I am more understood and less chastised for taking positions which may appear to be contrary to my school’s interests.

In fact, I am most proud when trying to discern what is right and what is wrong, beyond school partisan interests, because that is something I attribute to my La Sallian education as a Christian gentleman.

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La Salle is a school that "endeavors to develop Christian men and women who are committed to excellence, competent in their professions, and actively involved in the service of the fellow men towards a more peaceful, just and humane Filipino society"

Henson was just doing what he was taught in school. Funny, he turned out to be the real La Sallian.

Why is there a dissension? If we are on the same wavelength, there wouldn't be any. If we all believe the country's the top priority and others are only secondary - there should not be any dissension at all.

QUINITO HENSON SLAMS FRANZ PUMAREN CALLING THE DESERTION "AN ACT OF TREASON"

the "abandonados"
courtesy of rhk111@Pinoyexchange.com

Respected Philippine Star sports journalist and commentator, Joaquin "Quinito" Henson slammed Franz Pumaren's action of leaving the national youth team in Iran today calling it "an act of treason".

As for Franz’ desertion, there is absolutely no excuse for abandoning the national team. The fact that the Philippines had already been eliminated from title contention only made it even more important for Franz to stay in Tehran – to be with his boys in their hour of defeat.

When Franz accepted the job to coach in Tehran, he knew there would be a conflict with La Salle’s schedule. He didn’t agree to take on the responsibility for flag and country blindly. It was an unconditional commitment through thick and thin. There was no escape clause to allow Franz an excuse slip in case things turned sour.

Like Franz, I am a La Salle graduate. I was taught by the Christian Brothers to be a man of my word, to honor my obligations, to live the Word of God, to stand by my principles and to love my country.

What Franz did was against the principles that we learned at La Salle. It was an act of treason because whether you like it or not, Franz was guilty of desertion. To compromise his commitment to the country for a school game is not only unpatriotic but also unconscionable. It smacked of a poor sense of priorities. I am surprised that the Christian Brothers allowed him to come back and appalled that no one in the school raised this moral issue against Franz.

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Schools that refuse their students to play for the country should also be denounced like UST. Contrary to what Quinito wrote in his piece, UST doesn't release its players to the national team anymore or at the moment.

Clarifications:

On why the RP Youth Team didn't select Bringas, Pascua and Salva.

As it is reported, the schools won't release these players. Please read carefully the news item before blabbering.

On why SBP didn't change UAAP and NCAA schedule

SBP has no direct control of the UAAP and NCAA. These leagues are independent.

On why SBP gave the job to Franz Pumaren

SBP offered the job to Pumaren in which the guy has the right not to accept. According to posters at Gameface.ph, Pumaren signed in so he could recruit the players for his school.

On why is Noli Eala too harsh on Franz when the SBP boss Manny Pangilinan doesn't even say a word

Simple, Manny Pangilinan supports Ateneo De Manila University (La Salle's alleged rival). For sake of propriety and to prevent misunderstanding, the guy just kept silent. The supporters of both school are fond of concocting conspiracy theories on what their rival is doing to derail their championship goal so staying quiet is a best option.

Get it?

MANNY PACQUIAO PROVIDES MUCH NEEDED HELP

Typhoon Frank damage

ILOILO CITY, Philippines -- The brief visit of Manny Pacquiao made thousands of flood-ravaged Ilonggos forget about their damaged and still muddied homes and streets as they wildly cheered for the Filipino boxing icon.

Men, women, children and the elderly lined the streets screaming and cheering as they struggled to get a glimpse of Pacquiao and his wife Jinky who went to Jaro District here to distribute food packs to victims of typhoon Frank.

With shouts of "Manny" and "Idol," Ilonggos mobbed the boxing champion along his route.

The Pacquiao couple and their party arrived at the Iloilo airport in Cabatuan town around 7:30 a.m. and proceeded to the residence of Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo where they had breakfast with the prelate and Iloilo City officials led by Mayor Jerry Treñas.

They then proceeded to the Jaro Cathedral for mass before distributing around 500 food packs to flood victims, assisted by Treñas and members of the Catholic Women's League.

After knocking out David Diaz last June to win the World Boxing Council’s lightweight title, Pacquiao promised to donate P3 million from his earnings to the flood victims in Western Visayas.

Inquirer

Manny always back up his talk with action. As I've said before the city and its people appreciates any help extended to them even more because it came from Manny Pacquiao. He is the undisputed national hero in the Philippines right now both in and out of the boxing ring.

As of yesterday, eight people died of Leptospirosis caused by wading through the flood waters at the height of Typhoon Frank's onslaught. There's still a lot to be done if you're interested to help but first check the details. In addition to, they also need more implementing partners.

Here's the link: http://www.bangoniloilo.com/main/.

A CITY RISES UP AFTER A HUGE CHALLENGE

the worst flood in Iloilo history/jet skiers in action

Want to help people help themselves? Please proceed to http://www.bangoniloilo.com/main/

Check out the site first before doing anything. A news item carries the story about this, "Website for Aid to Iloilo Up". There is no doubt the city will recover but right now more assistance is needed. Normalcy is still far away a little help is appreciated.

BAGANIHAN

In times of crisis, the real Filipino spirit comes out.

For the past five years Rosendo Mejica II would often have fun with friends during most weekends jet skiing on the waters of Iloilo.

But last Saturday, Mejica and his buddies found themselves on their jet skis surfing not the sea but the flooded streets of Iloilo City and trying to pick up as many victims of the storm who were stranded on rooftops and trees.

"This is the first time that we tried this out because we wanted to help," Mejica told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Ten of them, all members of the Iloilo Watercraft Association, met around 11 a.m. on Saturday after they heard calls for owners of rubber boats and jet skis to help rescue residents trapped on rooftops who were trying to escape from rising waters.

The association's members are all professionals and businessman. Mejica is publisher of the community newspaper The News Today and owner of the Makinaugalingon Printing Press.

The group proceeded to the flooded areas in Jaro District around 2 p.m. with their jet skis in trailers attached to their vehicles.

Six of them were deployed near Barangay Tabuc Suba while the four others proceeded to the Ledesco subdivision area.

The group found themselves confronted by strong currents as they maneuvered through debris and vehicles stranded in the streets.

"We saw water all over with pockets of rooftops. Many of the victims were crying and pleading for us to come to them," said Mejica. For full story

You can help through institutions such as Red Cross, GMA Kapuso Foundation and ABS-CBN Foundation. Food supplies in Iloilo are running low and acting Mayor Mabilog is pleading for help. Thank you very much. I'll use whatever means that I have to make this tragedy known - unprecedented in Iloilo history. Now is the time to work.