Paalam, Pamisa story of success

TOKYO – Elmer Pamisa was on an exhilarating high up in the gallery as Carlo Paalam stood in the podium with the silver around his neck during the medal ceremony Saturday.

Pamisa’s proud of the boy whom he has guided in his fighting career and in life from age 12 back in Cagayan de Oro.

Paalam’s success is Pamisa’s success.

“Bata pa yan, pinagyayabang ko na yan na future Olympic medalist. Kasi kita ko yung tapang at talino niya lumaro sa itaas ng ring,” said Pamisa, the one who brought Paalam to the national team program.

“Hindi ko malaman kung ano ang pakiramdam noong nag-sure medal na siya. Nagbunga ang pagod at tiyaga. At karangalan ko rin na nag-medal siya,” Pamisa also said.

Paalam shared the honor of becoming an Olympic medalist to his mentor.

“He’s like a father to me. Kung may problema ako sa kanya ako lumalapit. Kapag masakit ang katawan ko, minamasahe niya ako,” said Paalam of Pamisa who should not have been a part of the boxing coaching staff here if not for the boxer.

Initially, only three coaches were listed to be on the Tokyo trip with national program chief Don Abnett.

“Ni-request niya na masama ako,” said Pamisa.

Theirs is a success story of a mentor/student tandem.

* * *

Unwittingly, Eumir Marcial was of help in the gold-medal finish of Brazilian Hebert Sousa in men’s middleweight. And for that, the Brazilians are profuse in gratitude to the Filipinos here.

After a brutal showdown with Marcial in the semifinals, Ukranian fighting machine Oleksandr Khyzhniak was a spent force. He fell in a knockout loss to Sousa in their gold-medal fight.

“Pagkagaling kay Eumir, sirloin na si Ukranian noong lumaban sa Brazilian. Kaya todo pasalamat ang Brazilians kay Eumir,” said POC official Wharton Chan.

National Olympic officials of Brazil also extended their thanks to Marcial through POC president Bambol Tolentino.

* * *

The remaining members of Team Philippines here break camp today and head straight to hotel quarantine at Sofitel upon arrival in Manila.

At the end of the quarantine on July 16, the delegation is moving to Tagaytay for a thanksgiving mass and vacation upon the invitation of the POC president who is also the Tagaytay City representative in Congress.

“Those who want to bring their family, we’ll arrange for that,” Tolentino said.

***

For the four Olympic medalists, Tolentino’s personal gift to each one is a house and lot in Tagaytay.