File Under Politics Category/ies

Should We Ban Boxing in the Philippines?

Filipinos really love boxing. We knew it and we can see it especially during the fights of Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao. And we’re even watching yesterday’s boxing bouts of Gerry Peñalosa, Rey Bautista and AJ Banal who all won the fight. Gerry Peñalosa successfully defended his World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight title while Rey Bautista and AJ Banal keep their World Boxing Organization (WBO) Intercontinental Jr. featherweight title and International Boxing Federation (IBF) Intercontinental Jr. bantamweight title, respectively.

Although this kind of sport make our Filipino boxers earn money for their living, a congressman from Nueva Ecija, Philippines authored a bill to ban combat sports including Boxing.

… Congressman Eduardo Joson of Nueva Ecija filed House Bill 3743, which calls for the complete ban of all contact or combat sports in the country.

In his proposed bill, the solon unmitigatedly included boxing-the most popular and well appreciated sport of the Filipino people-to be banned completely. The solon described combat sports especially boxing as bloody and deadly. He singled out boxing as violent that inflict harm, pain, blood lust and death. (source)

He might have reasons for banning it:

The legislator noted that violent sports encourage violent behavior among the people particularly the young generations. According to him, his pet bill would help make people to be great achievers by joining non violent sports through proper training, discipline and dedication without hurting others just to gain wealth, fame and praises. (source)

But this reason is not enough to back-up his bill on banning it.

You see, Mr. Congressman, it might be true that boxing and other related sports are violent or deadly, but don’t you ever think that the sport where you’re in now (Philippine Politics) is more violent and deadly than the sport you want to be banned?

Mr. Congressman, give me the number and names of those martial artists, boxers, etc who died during their fights, and I will give you the number and names of those politicians who died in politics.

I think, the reasons you have in banning this kind of sport is not the real reason why you want it to be banned here in the Philippines.

Just one last question Mr. Congressman, can you offer better job to Filipino Boxers and Filipino Martial Artists who find their living from these sports if you successfully banned them here in the Philippines?

Save to del.icio.us • Stumble It! • Submit To Netscape • Digg This!

Sign up for PayPal and start accepting credit card payments instantly.
As the world's number one online payment service, PayPal is the fastest way to open your doors to over 150 million member accounts worldwide.
Promote your product to high quality, targeted websites and blogs.
Find effective, influential blogs and highly targeted audiences to advertise.Choose to display your ad across entire blog networks to maximize your exposure to a wide audience.

Recently Commented

Posted by SELaplana, 7 April 2008 at Politics (No. of Views: 18223)

Comments

9 Responses to “Should We Ban Boxing in the Philippines?”

1
EntrepreNars Says:
April 7th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Yes, boxing is a violent sport, so is MMA(Mixed Martial Arts). But IMO, it is superficial.

The sport gives a lot of lessons to the youth such as discipline, courage, determination, perseverance sportsmanship, etc.

Pacquiao won’t be what he is today if he lack these traits.

I think what’s need to be done is the officiating and the proper monitoring of the health of the fighters.

Again, MMA/UFC leads a great example. As of now, there are no recorded death…yet in the sport of MMA. The reason is because when a fighter is hurt in the ring/cage or not intelligently defending himself, the fight is stopped immediately. No more second chances.

There are deaths in boxing because of poor officiating, such as stopping the fight very late when a fighter is receiving too many blows to the head, which is very dangerous situation for a fighter.

I don’t know if there are mandatory CT Scan of the head here in the Philippines after a bout, but in the U.S., this is implemented, especially if the fighter has been knocked out.
2
Joliber Mapiles Says:
April 8th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Technically, it’s a suicide to ban boxing in the Philippines.. In the first place, boxing is one of the main reasons why Philippines is recognized worldwide.. It’s a no-no!
3
minor Says:
April 8th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
dude nagpapansin lang ang congressman na yan at nagtagumpay sya…. na magpapansin
4
SELaplana Says:
April 8th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Minor @ hahaha oo nga pala…
5
Rey Says:
April 8th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
For the members of the House of Congress:

Maybe its time they check out on how older laws be revised/amended for them to be effective and updated and how to make effective and reasonable policies that will lessen corruption and ignorance in our country.

I believe that the Honorable Congressman has the noble intentions to eradicate the mentality of war and pain,violence and lust, etc.. Life at all is full of pain and injustice in the Philippines.

Well, boxing has been, time in the past, has given honor to the country through our brave representatives in this area.It has given military men some hours to have peace with the rebels…at least.

I would like to suggest therefore to our honorable congressman to concentrate on issues that have been repeatedly said during campaigns and all in oder to look MAKAMASA… Poverty alleviation, good education, housing ,etc, etc, and even proper tax collection, disbursement of public funds, and procurement.

Maybe as a country, our children will look at the boxing fight as a form of entertainment only if they have proper education and have been properly guided by those who have been earlier educated.

Children resort to violent acts not only because of boxing, but perhaps with what they see in their house( father-mother) or even slapping scenes in the house of congress as seen on tV’s, pirated movies that they see and have ample of access to and the violent Filipino movies that we often see in PBO and other channels, their desire to acquire things, or perhaps to battle against odds for survival.

To ban the boxing in the Philippines is a nice try policy. It’s like entering into ZTE contract. A contract that will only benefit the few, but not the entire Filipinos.
6
ceblogger Says:
April 10th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
This is a ridiculous proposal. Boxing is not a violent sport because there are rules governing it. I totally agree about the violent politics here in our country. Should we move to ban politics as well?
7
peach2008 Says:
April 27th, 2008 at 11:26 am
It does not show violence, mostly, boxing includes discipline just like taekwondo, karate and other martial art sports. He doesn’t care about the virtues you learn from MMA and Martial arts. MMA and martial arts makes an individual confident and disciplined. There are rules in boxing or any other violent sports. don’t ban it before a tourist from annother country will list philippines as the worstest country of all time.
8
Weapons: Escrima Says:
July 11th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Can I ask though - how did you get this picked up and into google news?

Very impressive that this blog is syndicated through Google and is it something that is just up to Google or you actively created?

Obviously this is a popular blog with great data so well done on your seo success..

MMA / UFC greats you should write about next!
9
Tristanabesamis Says:
October 31st, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Congressman you’re an idiot!