Asiad success hasn't sunk in on Saludar

MANILA, Philippines - This Asian Games gold medalist could have found a better place to spend his day than in an old shopping mall just across the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

But life is too simple for boxer Rey Saludar, 23, who only a couple of days ago bagged the flyweight gold in Guangzhou, and with it a total of P4 million in cash incentives.

“All I want is a simple life,” said Saludar yesterday as he emerged from Harrison Plaza, built in 1976 and now Manila’s oldest shopping mall.

“Namasyal lang, sir, at bumili ng biscuit (Just took a stroll and bought some biscuits),” he said.

Very soon, however, his life should change, once he cashes in on the huge bonanza laid out by businessman Manny V. Pangilinan for him and his fellow medalists.

The chairman of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines has promised P3 million for each boxing gold in Guangzhou, P1 million for a silver and P500,000 for a bronze.

Annie Albania will claim her own prize for winning the women’s flyweight silver, and Vic Saludar, the younger Saludar, his own for winning the bronze in the light-fly division.

Throw in the additional bonanza from the government’s funding arm in sports, the Philippine Sports Commission: a million for a gold, half a million for a silver and P100,000 for a bronze.

That makes Saludar, the gold medalist, P4 million richer, and his younger brother with P600,000 in his near-empty pocket.

The Saludars come from a very big family from Polomolok in South Cotabato. Rey is the seventh child and Vic, 20, the ninth of 14 for their parents, Victorio and Bidencia.

“Yes, there are 14 of us, and four are into boxing,” said the Guangzhou champion, who has a twin brother, Ric, working as a boxing coach in Panabo, Davao del Norte.

Another Saludar, Froilan, is seeking greener pastures as a pro boxer.

The Saludars said they plan to build a house for their family, adding that all their earnings will be deposited in a bank for the meantime. Their parents are jobless at the moment.

“Maybe we can also put up a small business for them,” said Rey in Filipino.

“This is really a big help for us and for our family,” said Vic. “Napakalaking tulong po nito.”

He said he has yet to talk to their parents since they flew back home the other day. But he added that moments after the victory in Guangzhou, he received text messages from them.

“Masayang-masaya nga daw sila (They said they are very happy),” said Rey, who counts on Manny Pacquiao, the reigning pound-for-pound champion, as his biggest idol.

“He’s my idol,” said Rey, who said he won’t stop until he gets to London for the 2012 Olympics, where a victory would mean greater fame and a much bigger fortune.

“As a child, I’ve always dreamed of helping my family. And winning the gold in the Olympics. That remains my dream,” he said.

On the road to Guangzhou, he said he never had a doubt.

“I put my trust on my coaches and then I did my best,” Rey said.

The other night, the ABAP chairman, better known as MVP, threw a victory party for the boxers inside the posh Dasmariñas Village in Makati.

Rey Saludar was asked what he wants for Christmas.

“Wala naman (Nothing),” he said.

Not even a brand-new cell phone?

“Okay pa naman itong gamit ko (I’m still fine with what I’m using),” he said of his Nokia C5, a prize from the organizers of a tournament in Finland last October.

“I won the gold there, along with my brother Vic, and we received these phones as gifts from the organizers. Okay pa naman,” said Rey.

Life, indeed, is too simple for this Asian Games gold medalist.