chumpchampion

I’ve been extremely fortunate to have met and worked with some well known and talented actors, musicians and artists during my editing career and I can honestly say I’ve never been starstruck or that in awe of them. But when I took a break from cutting the ATCQ doc on Monday for a chance to check out reigning pound for pound king Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao in a closed training session with legendary trainer Freddie Roach at his Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, I was completely and utterly impressed. It’s one thing to meet one of your favorite athletes-a record setting boxer who has demolished opponents over six different weight classes (the only other boxer to do so was Oscar De LA Hoya who was forced into retirement by Manny last year), but it’s completely different when you’re a Filipino and the person you’re meeting is basically the Filipino Elvis.

And not only was I amazed at Manny’s superior speed and punching power, but I was equally impressed with his graciousness; stopping to say hi and sign autographs for the few people who were in the gym, posing for pictures (somehow I missed my opportunity when I shook his hand), and even apologizing to Freddie when he would hit him a little too hard in the ring.

HBO’s ongoing 24/7 series leads up to Manny’s fight against Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand Las Vegas for the Welterweight title on Saturday, November 14th. My birthday is actually the day after the fight and the only present I really want is for Pacquiao to break the record by winning his seventh world title in seven different weight divisions, or at least another chance to get a photo with the champ.

Click here to see more video I posted on Vimeo.

And click here or the photos below to see the entire photo set on Flickr.

Manny and Freddie in the ring 1 from chumpchampion on Vimeo.

Manny and Freddie in the ring 2 from chumpchampion on Vimeo.

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Usually on Fridays I post art openings, film events, and whatever fun filled activities are happening over the weekend. But today I need to shift focus to more pressing issues and help raise awareness and relief for the people who could really use the support.

Last weekend the Philippines was hit hard by Typhoon Kestana (also known as Typhoon Ondoy) which killed hundreds and left most of Manila under water and the country in a “state of calamity”. Now the islands brace for the arrival of Super Typhoon Parma (Pepeng) as it makes landfall this Saturday. I was happily relieved when I received a facebook message from my cousins in Manila letting me know that they’re alive and well but at the time of the typhoon they thought it was the “end of the world because the rains didn’t stop”. Others may not be as fortunate. Please help a Filipino out by giving aid through relief agencies such as these:

• American Red Cross
• Philippine Red Cross
  
• UNICEF
• Save the Children
• Direct Relief International
• CARE
• World Vision
• HISG
  

And like many other third world countries that encounter natural disasters, clean drinking water has been in great demand. Meg Wells of Flux has sponsored the Clean Water Initiative donating LifeSaver Water Bottles which turn “the muddiest, murkiest, virus-infested water into clean, safe drinking water.” Watch the company’s CEO Michael Pritchard make clean water at a TED talk here:

Click here to sponsor and donate clean water with a Lifesaver bottle.

Thanks for taking some time to help support those in need!

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