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Pep talk with Caloy
By JAIME K PIMENTEL

Sydney, August 19. THE PHILIPPINES' athlete of the century, Carlos 'Caloy' Loyzaga, gave the Olympic boxing team an inspiring pep talk before the boxers' departure for Mexico in June.

Loyzaga, who is now an Australian citizen, paid the team a visit at No. 13 Settlers Avenue, Liberty Grove, and relived Olympic memories with the boxers.

Speaking in Filipino, he reminded them about the value of playing for your country.

Loyzaga told of his deep feelings about playing with his country's flag on his chest.

"Malaking karangalan sa akin ang maglaro para sa aking bayan," he said.

"Alam ko na gayun din ang dinaramdam ninyo ngayon."

Loyzaga warned them about making friends with the "enemy" before the Games.

He recounted his experience at one Olympic Games, when he shared a close relationship with an opponent.

When the Games began, his "friend" turned on him like a raging bull, to young Loyzaga's astonishment.

"Nagulat ako sa umpisa," he told the boxers.

"Pagkatapos, naging maliwanag sa akin ang lahat.

"Sa laro, lalo na sa Olimpiyada, walang kaibigan sa kabila.

"Una sa lahat ay ang bandila sa aking dibdib. Makipagkaibigan pagkatapos ng laro. Iyan ang payo ko sa inyo."

Loyzaga told how, when he was taking part at Olympic Games, he kept an interest in boxing by watching sparring sessions of the Philippine team.

Jaime K. Pimentel is a Sydney-based journalist and sub-editor with Fairfax Ltd. He has a bachelor's degree in Journalism from Ateneo and a master's degree in Advertising and Newspaper Management from Northwestern University (Chicago). He was previously a lecturer in Journalism at San Beda and UST. Jimmy is also a scriptwriter and producer of Dramatic Philippines. He loves and practices the sports he writes about. He was a boxing gold medallist during his Ateneo days, an official of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines as a referee and judge, and an Ateneo instructor in P.E. (boxing and swimming). In Australia, he was also an amateur boxing referee. emanila team

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