Haunted Sidewalk

My last column “killer sidewalk” really triggered a lot of reactions. More victims shared their horror stories on how they slipped or tripped in the uneven sidewalks.  Well, here goes.  My American missionary friend Sherie Murrell tripped and fell to the ground fracturing her wrist. 

Sherie showed me her stitches and told me it has a metal brace.  A few weeks later, her sister Carrie also tripped and fell, her eyeglasses was broken while the frame punctured her nose bridge.  Carrie said she was lucky the particles from the cracked eyeglasses did not enter her eyes or else she would be in the company of Stevie Wonder and Andrea Bocelli.

The sisters who are from Houston, Texas are missionaries from a bible school here in Mambaling. Retired school teacher Esper Velez, 72 said she too tripped on the roots of a tree which is in the middle of the walk. There are also road signs and posts in the center. Employees from a nearby mall, said they were informed that the agency concerned, promised to do some patching work on the sidewalk by the end of the month. 

One disgusted pedestrian said “Basin tawhan na diha” (haunted), remember Balete Drive in Quezon City? Well, I just hope they fulfill their promises before somebody will be six feet “under” the  ground.

Hasta La Vista Herbert

While I’m still recovering from the demise of my “kumpare” Ruben Ursal, another good friend followed to the Great Beyond.  Last week, I was shocked when news that my friend and fellow singer Herbert Buot passed away.  I was surprised because it wasn’t too long ago when I invited him to join our Christmas concert at Robinsons Fuente. 

Herbert was the Perry Como of Cebu and president of Creba, an organization of  real estate brokers.  In sports, Herbert is one of the pillars of Aikido. Our group is composed of Cebu’s Frank Sinatra, Jhun Villahermosa, Edison Monternel, the Tom Jones of Cebu, 2018 Cebu Pop Music Festival Best Interpreter June Villarta, Aliw Awardee Amie Filomeno, host Sam Costanilla and yours truly “Elvisaya”.  “Hasta La Vista” Bert, keep on singing in heaven.

Did you know?

CASSIUS CLAY suffered his first knockdown when Briton Henry Cooper nailed him with a beautiful left hook in the fourth round during Clay’s tune up fight with Sonny Liston in June 1963.  But thank God as Clay got up, the bell rang. What followed was controversial. 

Clay was dazed and the crowd could sense victory for Cooper.  Angelo Dundee called for a new glove that  took an extra minute, just enough for Clay to recover, and in the next round, the fight was stopped when blood started to pour out from Cooper’s left eye.  “Murag gisurambaw sa referee.”

Golden Duo

In the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, Czech Emil Zatopek won the gold in the 10,000 meter run and the 5,000 meters four days later. Less than an hour after, Emil won the 5000m, his wife Dana, broke the Olympic javelin record, making them the first married couple to win Olympic golds.  Then on July 27th, Emil won the marathon in 2 hours, 23 minutes and 3.2 seconds, it was his first time to run a marathon.