SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2016

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aittimes.net

03 04Sing Galing Duo: 2 morepairs added to semis

Mark CabasagGuillermo: FHKA

Mr Pogi 2016

MANILA: President Duterte will get a fresh reporton the Paris climate agreement from EnvironmentSecretary Gina Lopez after she returns from a cli-mate change conference later this month,Malaca?ang said on Friday. Mr. Duterte earlierexpressed reluctance to honor the historic pact thatintends to strengthen the global response to thethreat of climate change, arguing that this mightslow the country’s development. But his tone hassince softened on the issue, saying he would listento his advisers with regard to the internationalaccord. Presidential Communications SecretaryMartin Andanar said Lopez is expected to reportback to the President after her attendance at theMarrakech Climate Change Conference.

MANILA: Philippine PresidentRodrigo Duterte said Friday he maynot be able to survive his six-yearterm and seemed overwhelmed bythe immensity of his work, includingthe drug menace he’s trying to fight.

Duterte, 71, outlined in a ramblingspeech the obstacles he’s confrontingin his deadly crackdown on illegaldrugs, the heavy workload of thepresidency and his cloistered exis-tence now, saying “it gets to be a verylonely life.” “Will I survive the six years?I’d make a prediction, maybe not,” hesaid. Duterte, who took office on June30, did not explain exactly what hemeant but said there were peoplewho want him to be removed, citing

his reaching out to China and his lash-ing out at the U.S., his country’s treatyally, after President Barack Obamaand other American officials raisedconcerns over his anti-drug crack-down. Duterte has been in the newsin recent weeks for his expletives-laden outbursts against U.S., EU andU.N. officials, who have called for anend to the killings of drug suspectsand raised human rights concerns. Inone speech, he told Obama to “go tohell.” Duterte’s trash talk has become afeature of his political persona. Hesuggested Friday that he was onlyjoking when he recently announcedthat he had promised God he would-n’t swear again. He explained that he

loses control when he feels he’s beingoppressed.

“When I’m threatened, I get scaredbut there is a certain point in my fearwhen, if I think that I may die or I’m ata disadvantage, that I’m beingoppressed, I become wild,” he said. “Ireally lose the civility in me.”

Duterte, who has served as a pros-ecutor, a congressman and then asthe longtime mayor of southernDavao city, said he is not obsessedwith the presidency and could give itup to opponents without a fight.

“Those who don’t want me, that’seasy,” Duterte said, adding that poten-tial coup plotters did not have towaste their bullets and should just

head to the presidential palace, and“we’ll have coffee and I myself willswear you to run this republic andsolve the problem.” “Do not give me areason to go out because you mightget your wish,” Duterte said.

Duterte to consider staying with US

weapons, despite offers SUAL: Philippine President Rodrigo Dutertesaid he’ll consider continuing to acquireweapons and defense equipment from treatyally the United States if his military recom-mends so, despite offers from China and Russia.

Duterte made the remark Wednesday in aspeech in which he again railed at the U.S. withexpletives for criticizing his deadly anti-drugcrackdown, calling American officials “monkeys”and breaking a promise that he would nolonger resort to trash talk.

Duterte, who took office in June, has beenantagonistic to U.S., EU and U.N. officials whohave raised human rights concerns over hisbrutal crackdown on illegal drug sellers andusers and have called for an end to extrajudicialkillings.

He has used expletives in his responses,telling President Barack Obama to “go to hell” inan outburst last month. He has declared hisintention to scale back his country’s militaryengagements with Washington, including end-ing largescale joint combat exercises and thepresence of visiting U.S. forces, while reachingout to expand once-frosty relations with Chinaand Russia. U.S. officials, however, say they havenot been formally notified by the Philippines ofany change in security relations and activitiesand stress that Washington wants to continueits decades-long alliance with Manila.

Continued on Page 2

Your move, Mr. President

Will he survive the presidency? Duterte says ‘maybe not’

PH police say drug-linked mayor shot dead in jailPage 6

MANILA: U.S. Marines from the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade and their Philippine counterpart fold their respective flags at the closing ceremonyof the 33rd joint US-Philippines amphibious landing exercises dubbed PHIBLEX at the marines corps in suburban Taguig city, east of Manila,Philippines Tuesday. The Philippine president says he will not abrogate a defense treaty with the United States but is questioning its importance andthat of joint combat exercises, which he says only benefit America. President Rodrigo Duterte criticized the United States and his country’s engage-ment with the American military in many of his speeches as Philippine marines and their American counterparts ended combat drills a day early. —AP

Duterte

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2016 2Continued from Page 1

Asked about Duterte’s latesttirade, State Departmentspokesman John Kirby said it wasinexplicably at odds with the closerelationship that the U.S. continuesto have with the Philippine govern-ment and people. He said that in ademocracy, government “doesn’trest on the shoulders of just oneindividual.”

“There are long-standing rela-tionships that we have nurturedover the years with figures in hisgovernment, and those relation-ships are still there, and they’restill vibrant,” Kirby told reporters,adding that the U.S. remains com-mitted to developing a goodworking relationship with Dutertehimself.

Duterte said he has asked hisdefense secretary and militaryofficials to travel to China andRussia to check what weaponsand defense equipment they haveto offer, but added that the mili-tary’s recommendation will becrucial.

“China is open. Anything youwant. They even sent me a brochure,telling me to choose and they willprovide,” Duterte said.—AFP

Duterte to consider staying with US weapons, despite offers

SUAL: A Vietnamese fisherman (2nd R, facing camera) hugs a Filipino government employee (C, in white shirt) during a send-off ceremony at the wharfin Sual town, Pangasinan province, north of Manila recently, while other Vietnamese fishermen prepare to board their boats. Duterte personally saw off17 Vietnamese fishermen who had trespassed in Philippine waters, after ordering their release in a gesture of friendship towards Hanoi.—AFP

MANILA: Terrorist groups are planning kidnap-pings on central Philippine islands that are popularwith tourists, the US embassy has warned, fuellingconcerns Islamic militants infamous for hostagetaking are roaming wider.

A travel advisory from the US embassy inManila on Thursday warned Americans to avoidthe southern regions of Cebu island, one of thenation’s most popular tourist sites because of itsidyllic beaches, spectacular diving and whalewatching.

“The U.S. Embassy alerts U.S. citizens that terror-ist groups are planning to conduct kidnappings inareas frequented by foreigners on the southernportion of Cebu Island,” the advisory said.

The embassy identified three locations —Dalaguete and Santander on Cebu, and nearbySumilon island. Those areas are a short boat ride totourist hotspots Bohol and Dumaguete.

The warning came after a surge in kidnappingsby Islamic militants in the southern Philippines,which included the first attack on a cargo ship inthe high seas and the murders of foreigners afterransoms were not paid. President RodrigoDuterte’s office released a statement on Fridayconfirming police had reported an unspecified kid-napping plan in southern Cebu and that securityhad been increased in the area.

The US embassy did not name who was plan-ning the attacks, but the strife-torn south of the

mainly Catholic Philippines is home to various mili-tants groups that have in recent years sworn alle-giance to the Islamic State group.

The most notorious is the Abu Sayyaf, a loosenetwork of militants formed in the 1990s with seedmoney from Osama bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda network,which has earned millions of dollars from kidnap-pings-for-ransom. The Abu Sayyaf is based onislands about 500 kilometres (300 miles) southwestof Cebu, and most often kidnap people fromcoastal regions and vessels close to their strong-holds of Jolo and Basilan islands.

However the militants kidnapped twoCanadians, a Norwegian and a Filipina from Samal,a tourist island about 500 kilometres to the east of

Jolo last year. The Canadians were beheaded andthe other two were released after ransoms werereportedly paid.

The Abu Sayyaf has also been blamed for theabductions of dozens of Indonesian and Malaysiansailors in smaller vessels in the area. Last monththe captain of a South Korean cargo ship wasabducted in waters off the southern Philippines, inthe first such attack on a large merchant vessel.

Duterte has launched a military offensive toeradicate the Abu Sayyaf.

Another extremist group, the Maute gang, wasblamed for a bombing in Duterte’s home town inthe southern city of Davao that left 15 people deadin September. —AFP

Kidnapping threat in Philippine tourist spots: US

MANILA: Moro National Liberation Front founder Nur Misuari gestures ashe gives a speech at the Malacanang Palace in Manila recently. An influ-ential leader of the Philippines’ decades-long Muslim separatist insur-gency voiced support November 3 for peace efforts after rebellioncharges against him were suspended and he held a surprise meetingwith President Rodrigo Duterte.—AFP

LAS VEGAS: Manny Pacquiao waves to fans duringhis official weigh-in at the Encore Theater at WynnLas Vegas on November 4, 2016 in Las Vegas,Nevada. Pacquiao will challenge WBO welterweightchampion Jessie Vargas for his title on November 5at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP

LAS VEGAS-It’s easy to understand why MannyPacquiao keeps on fighting. He’s generous to afault.

For this f ight against Jessie Vargas alone,Pacquiao has spent $1 million (roughly P48 million)for 2,000 tickets given away to friends, relatives andfellow politicians.

That’s a huge amount, considering that he’ll notbe receiving the guaranteed $20 million for histhird fight against Timothy Bradley in April.

According to sources, Pacquiao will be receivingan undisclosed flat rate plus a percentage of therevenues from The Legend vs The Champ fight card

promoted by Top Rank Inc. Vargas, on the otherhand, will get $2.8M outright.

With the lower prices, tickets to the 19,522-seater Thomas & Mack Center, are selling briskly,according to Top Rank honcho Bob Arum.

Despite the absence of HBO, which passed offthis time, pay per view sales are expected to rise,hours before the card starts at the home of theUNLV Running Rebels, the 1990 US NCAA Division Ichampions.

In a mini press conference Thursday, Pacquiaodisclosed that nearly 50 percent of whatever heearns from boxing is channeled back to the poorthrough free housing, hospitalization and othergeneral services programs.

It ’s a good thing, sponsors continue to trustPacquiao’s global marketing appeal. Just this week,Anta, China’s giant spor tswear f i rm, formallyannounced that it has made Pacquiao a chiefendorser.

Pacquiao gives away $1 million on tickets

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2016 3KUWAIT: Two more pairs has beenadded and qualified to join thesemi-final rounds in the on-goingPinoy Arabia FM ‘Sing Galing Duo’competition. Auditioners will com-pete on 11th November for thesemis, also to be held in PinoyArabia FM studio. Recent qualifiersare:

David Micu, Vienna Villanueva,Francis Jaranilla and Jen Banez.Grand Finals will be held on Nov 18,2016 at the Discovery Mall in KuwaitCity. The last day of audition will beon Nov 10. Sing Galing Duo is spon-sored by Philippine Airlines, LBC, AlRashed International TravelCompany, TikTok, ADM InternationalManpower Services Co, Al AlamiaInternational Manpower Services,Yazeemir International ManpowerAgency and Asia’s Grill Restaurantand Vistaland-Kuwait.

Here’s the rest of qualifiers: SEPT 28

1. Astro Gabriel R. Jimenez Prisian Mae Caranza 2. Nelson JarataJoann Nazareno

OCT 71. Ezael Mar JandusayMarisol J. Untal2. John Warren HillaMary Ann OriendoJeffy CambelReichelle Ancheta

OCT 81. Carlo DelfinadoJoanna Slayton

OCT 131. Richard SuicoBjhane Del Mundo

OCT 171. Charles Vincent MolacoBeljore Jude Camello

OCT 211. Nomer CervantesAriane Linda

2. Emma Lou LanuriaMark Marquez

OCT 281. Ruth AguiloJerome Hantoc

OCT 291. Aeronon Ore PilolaDonna Caryl MelendezIn-house judge Jennifer Uy

released individualgrades/scores of the contestantsbut it will be kept out of thepublic eye until the grand finals.The audition is open to allFilipinos/even for some halfblooded Filipinos. Championsand First prize winners are dis-courage to participate as theywill not be allowed to competefor the newbies.

Sing Galing Duo: 2 more pairs added to semis

Francis & Jen David & Viena

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2016 4

KUWAIT: Mark Cabasag Guillermo bagged‘Mr Pogi’ title in the recently concludedFilipino Heroes Kuwait Amazons (FHKA)search. The event held at Elysees Hotel inSalmiya was just few of the organization’scalendar of event for this year and part of

its 2nd Founding Anniversary. PhilippineAmbassador to Kuwait Renato Pedro Villagraced the occasion with some presidentsand officers of various Filipino organiza-t ions in Kuwait . Arsenia Landao, FHKAfounder would like to thank all supports

and members for the successful conductof the program. Congratulations to all thewinners and see you again next year!!!

Here’s the list of winners: M R . F H K A P O G I , 2 0 1 6 — M R MA R K

CABASAG GUILLERMO

1st RUNNER UP- MR RJAY FERRER 2nd RUNNER UP MR- NEAL NIXON JHON

ALCALA3rd RUNNER UP-MR FREDDIE COLEGA-

DO4th RUNNER UP- MR ELLIE BITONIO

Mark Cabasag Guillermo: FHKA Mr Pogi 2016

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2016 5

By Maximo Zeus Euqor

KUWAIT: There was a “Magic 8” major shakeup in the elimi-nation round of the Philippine Bowling Association in Kuwait- 30th Anniversary Cup Team Tournament 2016 held at COZ-MO Bowling Center in Kheifan. COZMO taken over the lead-ership, MD Strikers, Original Pin Killers, NUSANTARA andScavengers move up and snatched the top five positionswhile Asian Air Safari, All Star Strikers and Mangaf Strikersslide to sixth, seventh and eight spots from their previouspositions.

Top rank Asian Air Safari suffered their first demeaningdefeat from the hands of Scavengers (2918-2693) who wasone of the tail- ender. Scavengers dumped their opponent intheir scheduled three game series 966 - 891/981 - 842/996 -960. With the win-lose result Scavengers re-joined the elitegroup and took the fifth spot while Air Safari was down tosixth position. Scavengers’ energized bowlers were AjiVarghese (517), Anthony King (507), Ali Arqoub (494),Mohammad Othman (472) and Basma Ammar (457). ForAsian Air, the players were Sonia Mathews (513), Gani dela

Cruz (462), Vernie Villaruel (461), Mousa Abdullah andHermie Sal iba. MD Str ikers str ike hard the ‘headless’Bowlersmate (3072-2621) with previous team name of LEAF.Bowlersmate was winless in their 3-game series 951 - 877/1037 - 900/ 1059 - 844. MD Strikers top scorer was NasserHajras (598), Abdul Wahab Al Shatti (555), Neveen Wasel(552), Rani Skeik (524) and Alma Turley (431) while thecourageous Bowlersmate were Rocky Castil (464), JoePresenta (436), Reygan Percy (373), Cris Carungay, ImeldaDaguio, Jelyn Colegio and Leila Cervantes. The win-loseresulted to MD Str ikers surge to second place whileBowlersmate was out of the top 8 from number 7.

The match-up between COZMO and NUSANTARA teamscan be compared to “Goliath and David” encounter, the lanemaster as the colossus and NUSANTARA as the feeble team.In the first two games COZMO outscored their counterpart906-863/1060-1037 but in the third game NUSANTARA retal-iated with the score of 983-975 with total score of 3016 -2908 in favor of COZMO and remain the number one teamwhile NUSANTARA move up from No. 8 - No. 4 position. TopScorers of the winning team were Alex Cervantes (627) andFaisal Al Saleem (607) supported by Noe Mahayag, TonyZuleta, Mohammad Karam, Bader Malalah and NengCervantes while best scorer from the other side was SalehFaraj (502), assisted by Tatang Razak (476), Ahmed Fahmi(441), Erlisa, Gantosori, Abel and Bima Nitikusumo. OriginalPin Killers outsmarted Fiery Dragons 2907-2848; SwoopingEagles surprised the All Star Strikers 2902-2687, finallyIndian Bowling League subdued Mangaf Strikers 2835 -2710.

Results for the Individual and Team Best :Category Name Individual Name Individual

High High Men’s A Abdulaziz Al Aslawi 236 Ibrahim Al Jadi 203.30Men’s B Siddath Nair 237 Siddath Nair 194.04 Men’s C Jason Gamba 221 Bader Malalah 188.00Ladies A Blanca Mercado 210 Myra Manalo 172.66Ladies B Abel Nitikusumo 169 Abel Nitikusumo 143.33

For Team High Game (Scratch) and Team High Series(Scratch): Team High Game (Scratch) Team High Series(Scratch) COZMO - 939 MD Strikers - 2968

Weekly High Series:1. Asian Air Safari - 2931 2. LEAF - 2968 3. MD Strikers - 2972Third round results: 1. COZMO (8873); 2. MD Strikers (8872);

3. Original Pin Killers (8651); 4. NUSANTARA (8613); 5.Scavengers (8586); 6. Asian Air Safari (8539); 7. All StarStrikers (8458); 8. Mangaf Strikers (8448); 9. Fiery Dragons(8443); 10. Bowlersmate (8346); 11. Indian Bowling League(8261) and 12. Swooping Eagles (8241).

PBAK 30th Anniversary Cup Team Tournament-2016 Scavengers down Asian Air Safari, MD Strikers out LEAF/Bowlersmate

Elijah Clyde Manalo Andrade and Mark AngeloManalo Andrade both celebrated their birthday lastweek of October 2016. “We could not believe howswiftly time as passes us by, Uou are such a ‘big boy’now, May you reach all your dreams and aspirationsin life. We love ! From Papa/Mama and Lolo Mandy

Greetings

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2016 6TACLOBAN: Philippine police killeda town mayor in his jail cell yesterdayin a purported gunbattle with offi-cers, the second killing in a week of apolitician linked to illegal drugsunder the president’s brutal crack-down.

Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. ofAlbuera town in central Leyteprovince and a fellow inmate wereshot dead before dawn after theyfired at officers who staged a raid insearch of firearms and illegal drugs,police said.

An anti-crime watchdog hascalled for an investigation of the cir-cumstances of the killings, wonder-ing how the slain mayor and the oth-er inmate got hold of guns and whatprompted them to clash with severalpolicemen while in detention.

Last week, police killed anothertown mayor, Samsudin Dimaukom,and nine of his men allegedly in agunbattle in the southernPhilippines. Espinosa and Dimaukomwere among more than 160 officialsnamed publicly by President RodrigoDuterte in August as part of a shamecampaign. Espinosa’s son, an allegeddrug lord, was arrested in the UnitedArab Emirates’ capital city of AbuDhabi last month.

After being linked by Duterte toillegal drugs, Espinosa surrendered

to the national police chief in Augustin a nationally televised event. Hewas later released but was arrestedlast month after being indicted ondrug and illegal possession offirearm charges.

Police estimate that more than3,600 suspected drug dealers andusers have been killed since Dutertetook office on June 30. Many ofthose killed in the initial months ofthe crackdown were poor drug sus-pects, and police said “high-valuetargets,” including mayors and druglords, would be their next target in anew phase of the crackdown thatwas launched last week.

The unprecedented crackdownand killings have helped consider-ably ease crimes, but U.S. officials ledby President Barack Obama and oth-er Western governments, along withhuman rights watchdogs, have beenalarmed and called for an end to thekillings. One human rights advocatehas called the killings under Dutertea “human rights calamity.”

Duterte has lashed out at Obamaand other critics, saying he was deal-ing with a pandemic that has afflict-ed politics, corrupted even generalsand threatened to turn the countryinto what he describes as a “narcostate” similar to some Latin Americancountries.—AP

PH police say drug-linked mayor shot dead in jail

MANILA: This photo shows Leyte Albuera Mayor Ronaldo Espinosa (L) talking to Philippine NationalPolice (PNP) chief Ronald dela Rosa (R) at Camp Crame in Manila. Espinosa, linked to the illegal drugtrade, was shot dead in cell on November 5, police said, the second local official implicated in narcoticsto be killed in two weeks. —AFP

Duterte eyes jointoperations with

Malaysia vs. Abu SayyafMANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will discuss pos-sible joint military and police operations with Malaysia to quellAbu Sayyaf militant kidnappings of sailors along the countries’sea border, saying that the brazen attacks have paralyzed tradeand commerce. Addressing the “deteriorating peace and order”in those waters will top the agenda when Duterte meetsMalaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and other top officials inMalaysia next week, Duterte told reporters late Tuesday.

Duterte said the attacks embarrassed him because the AbuSayyaf perpetrators are based in the southern Philippine islandof Jolo, an impoverished, jungle-clad region where the militantshold their hostages for ransom. “There is a need for us, the threecountries Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia, to talk about thisseriously and to put a stop because it has somehow paralyzedthe trade and commerce in that area,” Duterte said.

He said his talks will cover border control, border crossing,“and, maybe, joint military and police operations.”

During a recent visit to Indonesia, Duterte said he discussedpossible security strategies with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodoand the Indonesia leader was “OK with everything.” Duterte didnot specify the security steps.

Despite initial talks by the three countries about ratchetingup security, Abu Sayyaf gunmen and allied militants - part of awider Muslim rebellion that has been raging in the predomi-nantly Roman Catholic nation for decades - have continuedattacks at sea this year, kidnapping Malaysian and Indonesiancrewmen of slow-moving tugboats mostly pulling coal barges.

The security talks are complicated and tricky because thePhilippines and Malaysia have had territorial issues and ques-tions have arisen, for example, how far Malaysian authoritieschasing fleeing militants can go as they approach Philippineterritory. In initial talks, the countries have considered establish-ing a more secure sea lane for commercial vessels as well ascoordinated law enforcement actions, including sea and airpatrols. —AP

WASHINGTON: Secretary of State JohnKerry expressed confidence Thursday thatthe U.S. relationship with the Philippines cansurvive recent turbulence as he swore in anew U.S. ambassador to the Southeast Asiannation.

Kerry administered the oath of office toSung Kim, formerly the chief U.S. envoy forNorth Korea policy, in a ceremony at theState Department.

Kim, a career diplomat, takes up his newposition in turbulent times. OutspokenPhilippine President Rodrigo Duterte, whotook office in June after winning a presiden-

tial election, has been antagonistic toWashington over human rights criticisms.

Duterte has forged closer ties with China -a blow to the Obama administration effort toforge deeper ties with Asia. He has declaredhis desire to scale back military engage-ments with the U.S. and has told PresidentBarack Obama to “go to hell.”

But Kerry remained confident about thefuture of the 70-year alliance between theU.S. and its former colony, “notwithstandinga difference here or there about one thing oranother.”

“Democratic elections bring change, and

we must have the wisdom to recognize andadjust to that change. But the logic of ouralliance and why we have stood together forso long,” Kerry said, “are as compelling todayas they have ever been.”

Kerry met with Duterte in Manila in Julyand said Thursday he hopes to visit againbefore he ends his terms as secretary ofstate.

On Wednesday, Defense Secretary AshCarter said the U.S. continues to regard thePhilippines as an ally but stressed it isn’tAmerica’s only friend in the region, whereWashington has been pushing againstChina’s assertive behavior in the disputedSouth China Sea.

“Our strategy, however, is strong and isn’tdependent upon any single one of ourfriends or allies out there. And we havemany. And there’s a huge demand for us todo more. And the reason for that, quite hon-estly, just to be direct about it, is that manyof them have concerns about Chinesebehavior,” Carter said during a question andanswer session with soldiers at Fort LeonardWood, Missouri.

Daniel Russel, top U.S. diplomat for EastAsia, told reporters in Washington onThursday that Chinese coast guard, navyand maritime militia vessels continue to bestationed near Scarborough Shoal - a dis-puted reef off the northern Philippines thatChina effectively seized in 2012. But he saidthat some Philippine fishing boats havenow been able to fish in the vicinity of theshoal. —AP

Former US envoy to N Korea becomesambassador to Philippines

MANILA: Secretary of State John Kerry administers the oath of office toSung Kim, joined by his wife Jae, center, as U.S. Ambassador to Philippines,Thursday, during a ceremony at the State Department in Washington. —AP

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2016 7

KUWAIT: FBC’s 76th tourney once again welcomes returningchampions and ushering in newcomers mostly in theBeginners level who have gathered to prove their skills on thecourt to grasp the coveted championship title. The tourneycommenced & got off to an invigorating start with several

heated matches right off the bat and is set to be another stud-ded and thrilling event.

On a lighter note, a surprise birthday/recognition programwas held with the collaborative efforts of all the FBC officers andmembers to one of its co-officer, Ms. Elma Falguera whom they

tagged as FBC’s “mom”. FBC is inviting all badminton addicts tojoin every Friday in their regular tournaments from 8 am to 1 pm,FBC Singles and adults/kids badminton coaching/tutorial andcourt rental from 2 pm to 5 pm. For inquiries please call FBC orpersonally come at the Kuwait Disabled Sports Club in Hawally.

FBC 76th tourney kicks-off

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2016

Page 7

FBC 76th tourney

kicks-off

Pacquiao fights Jessie Vargas in bout that’s a tough sellLAS VEGAS: The hook for Manny Pacquiao’s latest fight is thathe’s the fighting politician, as eager to take on problems in thePhilippines as he is to take on other welterweights in the ring.

Unfortunately for Pacquiao, at this stage of his career heneeds a hook to sell his fights.

Pacquiao meets a likable but relatively unknown JessieVargas on Saturday, with a piece of the welterweight title atstake. In the past that might have been enough to excite box-ing fans, but Pacquiao is aging and so is his appeal.

He probably should have retired after not showing up forthe biggest fight of his life against Floyd Mayweather Jr. Hecertainly should have retired after getting elected to the sen-ate in the Philippines, where he’s an ally of President RodrigoDuterte.

Yet he plods on, partly because he reportedly needs themoney. He got a few million dollars to fight Timothy Bradley inApril but is fighting on percentages against Vargas, so thesales pitch is necessary.

Pacquiao’s longtime trainer, Freddie Roach, held out thepossibility this week of a rematch with Mayweather, saying hehas been told that Mayweather has been back in the ring spar-ring recently. But the first fight took five years to make and itseems a stretch to think Mayweather would come out ofretirement to fight Pacquiao once again.

Still, Roach says he’s convinced Pacquiao has one or twomore big fights left in him.

“Manny’s like the old Manny now,” Roach insisted afterspending a month training Pacquiao in the Philippines. “I likethis Manny a lot.”

To Pacquiao’s credit he did look re-energized in April whenhe beat Bradley in the third fight between the two men. It washis first fight since losing to Mayweather, a loss he blamed ona bad shoulder that has since been surgically repaired.

But the fight with Vargas is a tough sell, which is why pro-moter Bob Arum stacked the undercard with competitivefights and is selling tickets for as little as $50. Arum is also sell-ing the pay-per-view himself after HBO declined to take part inthe distribution of the fight, and Pacquiao’s purse will largelydepend on how well it does.

“Anything north of 600,000 buys would be a big night andhe’d make a lot of money,” Arum said. “I’m hoping he makesmoney like the Manny of old.”

Arum, of course, is way overestimating what the fight willdo, but his job as Pacquiao’s promoter is to get people inter-ested. Since Vargas is not well known, it’s a difficult sell evenwith an attractive undercard.

Pacquiao is taking a familiar path for an aging fighter, tryingto squeeze a few more fights in before finally hanging up hisgloves. He’s got the right to fight whoever he wants, but fightfans also have the right to vote with their wallets on thematchup.

“He is a champion (Vargas holds the WBO version of thewelterweight title) so you can’t underestimate him,” Pacquiaosaid. “But I still feel fresh and young.”

Vargas will be fighting in his home town and is taller thanPacquiao. He’s also full of confidence after stopping Sadam Aliin March for the WBO version of the 147-pound title.

“When I defeat Manny Pacquiao they will see that I beat agood Manny Pacquiao who is still performing at the highestlevel,” Vargas said. “That’s the Manny Pacquiao that I want tobeat.”

The real problem for Pacquiao isn’t his opponent, though

Arum could have easily put undefeated Terrence Crawford inthe ring against him instead of Vargas. It’s that he turned off abig portion of his fans in a stinker of a fight againstMayweather and will probably never get them back.

He used to sell a million pay-per-views whenever hestepped into the ring. But he barely sold 300,000 for his fightagainst Bradley, and this one doesn’t figure to do any more.

The fight features an attractive undercard that includesNonito Donaire against Jessie Magdaleno, Oscar Valdez vs.Hiroshige Osawa, and Shiming Zou vs. Prasitsak Phaprom, allin WBO title bouts. —AP

LAS VEGAS: Boxer Manny Pacquiao, known asthe people’s champion in his nativePhilippines, says he has given away about $200million on projects to help the less fortunate.

“Every income I receive in boxing, almosthalf of it goes to the less fortunate,” Pacquiaosaid. “After each fight, half of my income goesto the poor.

“But I don’t like to announce it.”According to Forbes, Pacquiao’s income

from career purses and endorsements isaround $500 million.

Pacquiao has a number of projects under-way in the Philippines including building1,500 homes on the island of Mindanao. Healso helped to buy a fleet of new boats for

fishermen in a coastal community.Pacquiao says he needs to keep fighting so

he can continue the charity work that hasdone throughout much of his 21-year boxingcareer. Pacquiao was elected to the PhilippineSenate in May. He sits on 15 committees, twoof which he chairs. His Senate duties havemeant he has only been able to train part-time

for the upcoming fight against Jessie Vargas.“I enjoy politics because I do not have a

hidden agenda. I serve honestly,” he said.“That’s a good thing for me because I’m

not ashamed to tell the truth. I ’m notashamed to rebuke someone if they are doingwrong. Government is for serving the people,not for serving oneself.” —AFP

Pacquiao likes to give more than he receives

LAS VEGAS: Manny Pacquiao, left, of the Philippines, and Jessie Vargas pose during a weigh-in, Friday, Nov. 4,2016, in Las Vegas. The two are scheduled to fight in a welterweight title bout Sunday morning in Kuwait (Saturdaynight in Vegas). —AP