its no use maintaining two blogs
visit me here
http://blogniolek.wordpress.com/
Martes, Disyembre 27, 2011
Biyernes, Disyembre 16, 2011
Decoding Pacquiao-Marquez 3: A Critique
good vid actually
conclusion: i think the vid has overanalyzed it.
discussion: i am of the opinion that the current pac or even the 2003 version, is more than enough to beat juan manuel marquez (jmm). the fight is more psychological than technical. remember that jmm is a kind of fighter who thrives in a very controlled environment while pac is a kind of fighter that imposes dominance through chaos, confusion and all out kamikazee attacks. that is pac first and foremost, an ultimate assault machine. Take it out from pac and you take 50% of his chance to win.
its stupid to go technical against a seasoned technical fighter. no way you can dominate jmm in his game, especially if youve got a very poor fundamentals in defense. by simply learning how to cut off rings wont work against jmm. review the whole fight and youll see that pac has jmm in his range right after some exchanges for most fo the fight. but it was very frustrating to see him not unloading because his primal consideration has suddenly shifted to defense.
that was how jmm controlled the fight. he forced pac to rethink his punches wc effectively lessened his aggression. again, pac was all about aggression, you take it away from him, you diminish his chance to dominate the game.
jmm was not really a very mobile boxer. all he showed on the 3 pac fights was his ability to beautifully coordinate his counters with his footworks (maintaining distance). he was not the tactician and the very mobile boxer in the mold of floyd and whitaker. he was, first and foremost, a simple counter puncher with a very linear footwork. he cant fight backwards either, he needs to plant his feet before he can unload. pac can simply bulldoze his way through jmm. pero, psychological na, pac just cant storm in to exert his dominance for fear of getting caught by jmms right counters.
excerp from an old article:
Pacquiao vs. Hatton: Solving the Pacquiao Puzzle
By Erik Sarmiento Dela Cruz.
"Taking a look at Pacquiao's first and only credible defeat (his first two losses were flukes as he reported on both fights dead on the weight), Morales plausible performance in March 2005 could be best attributed to his right hand, either delivered as a lead or as a counter, which he threw with surgical precision and perfect timing.
The game plan he displayed on that fight was basic and simple: jab, jab, straight right and left hook. The simple game plan, which he brilliantly adapted on the whirlwind approach of the his pressure forward fighting opponent, has firmly established the pattern of the whole fight: Pacquiao would try to overwhelm him with his sharp and fast punches, after withering the assault with his great defensive capability and remarkable durability, he would storm back with lead rights and left hooks that would effectively drive the Filipino into brief tactical defensive posture, forcibly backpedaling Pacquiao at sometimes.
Of course, there was that nasty cut above his right eye suffered by Pacquiao at the fifth stanza of the fight which saw him fighting half-blind for more than half of the game. Taking nothing away from the iron-willed Mexican, Morales was a defensive genius as he was an offensive monster. He kept his left guard up and elbow in, which effectively blocked Pacquiao's left leads and permitted him to time his opponent with stinging counter right hooks. Such game plan we would see again working for Morales at their first rematch, until he ultimately gave in under blizzards of hard shots at round 10.
Morales' remarkable capacity to absorb tremendous blows has placed him in a better position to carry out such simple yet very effective game plan with a great degree of success relative to what has offered by his compatriots who also fought Pacquiao. That ability has allowed him to negate not only Pacquiao's phenomenal power but his extraordinary speed as well. It is interesting to note that Roach and Pacquiao was not able to solve (or did they opt not to?) the counter-punching game plan of Morales—which says a lot about Pacquiao's questionable ability to shift game plans and adapt to his opponents' style. To cap it further, Morales slick right hand has been very elemental in putting Pacquiao at a defensive stance, albeit briefly, for key moments of the fight, a territory that is very unfamiliar to the Filipino who has learned only to be the aggressor in his entire career.
The right hand was also very elemental to the impressive performances displayed by Marquez in his two controversial bouts against the Filipino superstar. The right hand, which he delivered either as a counter or as a lead, has punished Pacquiao for the whole 24 rounds that they fought. It has allowed him to rebound from the crashing knockdowns he suffered on both meetings, especially on the first fight where Pacquiao decked him three times in the opener, to eventually put up very-very close fights which could have gone either way. It is very interesting to note that Marquez has actually outlanded Pacquiao on that dramatic opening round of their first meeting where he was able to connect 42% of all his power punches compared to 35% of Pacquiao."
conclusion: i think the vid has overanalyzed it.
discussion: i am of the opinion that the current pac or even the 2003 version, is more than enough to beat juan manuel marquez (jmm). the fight is more psychological than technical. remember that jmm is a kind of fighter who thrives in a very controlled environment while pac is a kind of fighter that imposes dominance through chaos, confusion and all out kamikazee attacks. that is pac first and foremost, an ultimate assault machine. Take it out from pac and you take 50% of his chance to win.
its stupid to go technical against a seasoned technical fighter. no way you can dominate jmm in his game, especially if youve got a very poor fundamentals in defense. by simply learning how to cut off rings wont work against jmm. review the whole fight and youll see that pac has jmm in his range right after some exchanges for most fo the fight. but it was very frustrating to see him not unloading because his primal consideration has suddenly shifted to defense.
that was how jmm controlled the fight. he forced pac to rethink his punches wc effectively lessened his aggression. again, pac was all about aggression, you take it away from him, you diminish his chance to dominate the game.
jmm was not really a very mobile boxer. all he showed on the 3 pac fights was his ability to beautifully coordinate his counters with his footworks (maintaining distance). he was not the tactician and the very mobile boxer in the mold of floyd and whitaker. he was, first and foremost, a simple counter puncher with a very linear footwork. he cant fight backwards either, he needs to plant his feet before he can unload. pac can simply bulldoze his way through jmm. pero, psychological na, pac just cant storm in to exert his dominance for fear of getting caught by jmms right counters.
excerp from an old article:
Pacquiao vs. Hatton: Solving the Pacquiao Puzzle
By Erik Sarmiento Dela Cruz.
"Taking a look at Pacquiao's first and only credible defeat (his first two losses were flukes as he reported on both fights dead on the weight), Morales plausible performance in March 2005 could be best attributed to his right hand, either delivered as a lead or as a counter, which he threw with surgical precision and perfect timing.
The game plan he displayed on that fight was basic and simple: jab, jab, straight right and left hook. The simple game plan, which he brilliantly adapted on the whirlwind approach of the his pressure forward fighting opponent, has firmly established the pattern of the whole fight: Pacquiao would try to overwhelm him with his sharp and fast punches, after withering the assault with his great defensive capability and remarkable durability, he would storm back with lead rights and left hooks that would effectively drive the Filipino into brief tactical defensive posture, forcibly backpedaling Pacquiao at sometimes.
Of course, there was that nasty cut above his right eye suffered by Pacquiao at the fifth stanza of the fight which saw him fighting half-blind for more than half of the game. Taking nothing away from the iron-willed Mexican, Morales was a defensive genius as he was an offensive monster. He kept his left guard up and elbow in, which effectively blocked Pacquiao's left leads and permitted him to time his opponent with stinging counter right hooks. Such game plan we would see again working for Morales at their first rematch, until he ultimately gave in under blizzards of hard shots at round 10.
Morales' remarkable capacity to absorb tremendous blows has placed him in a better position to carry out such simple yet very effective game plan with a great degree of success relative to what has offered by his compatriots who also fought Pacquiao. That ability has allowed him to negate not only Pacquiao's phenomenal power but his extraordinary speed as well. It is interesting to note that Roach and Pacquiao was not able to solve (or did they opt not to?) the counter-punching game plan of Morales—which says a lot about Pacquiao's questionable ability to shift game plans and adapt to his opponents' style. To cap it further, Morales slick right hand has been very elemental in putting Pacquiao at a defensive stance, albeit briefly, for key moments of the fight, a territory that is very unfamiliar to the Filipino who has learned only to be the aggressor in his entire career.
The right hand was also very elemental to the impressive performances displayed by Marquez in his two controversial bouts against the Filipino superstar. The right hand, which he delivered either as a counter or as a lead, has punished Pacquiao for the whole 24 rounds that they fought. It has allowed him to rebound from the crashing knockdowns he suffered on both meetings, especially on the first fight where Pacquiao decked him three times in the opener, to eventually put up very-very close fights which could have gone either way. It is very interesting to note that Marquez has actually outlanded Pacquiao on that dramatic opening round of their first meeting where he was able to connect 42% of all his power punches compared to 35% of Pacquiao."
Lunes, Disyembre 12, 2011
Nakakatuwa at nakakalungkot
Parehong nakakatuwa at nakakalungkot ang dumalo sa Medical-Dental Mission. Aatikihin ka ng makabilang-dulong pakiramdam na kapwa magpapasigla at pipiga sa iyong puso. Nakakatuwa dahil masaya sa pakiramdam ang tumutulong; hindi lamang dahil sa mabilis na pagbugso ng adrenalin dulot nang hindi magkamayaw na maraming pasyente at ng pangangailangang harapin sila kundi dahil na rin mismo sa pakiramdam na may naitutulong ka. Habang sa kabilang dulo naman nito ay ang nakakalungkot na imahe ng kahirapan at ng kakulangan ng kalingang medikal at dental sa mga mamayan. Ang nagdudumilat na mukha ng kahirapan at kawalan ng atensyon mula sa pamahaalan ay mababanaag mo sa bawat mukha ng batang kulang sa nutrisyon at ng matatandang iginugupo kapwa ng edad at kumplikadong mga karamdaman. May naitulong ka sa isang araw na pagpapagod, may nabigyan ka ng mga gamot, pero hanggang kailan ito aabot?
Batang tadtad ng di-ko-alam-kung-ano-pero-makating-makati na sakit sa balat
Batang nakakatuwa dahil kahit hindi mo sabihing magpose siya-kusa siyang nagpose sa cam. Hawak-hawak niya ang dalawang kahon ng gamot mula sa misyon.
___________________
December 11, 2011 • Cutcut sa loob ng Hacienda Lusita, Tarlac City
(Teka lang, kala ko ba tagumpay ang Stock Distribution Scheme dito sa asyenda? Bakit andaming nangangailangan ng medical at dental attention?)
Huwebes, Disyembre 8, 2011
Sagana sa gutom
point and shoot cam lang ito
kuha sa may domaks, junction ng san fernando, pampanga
hatinggabi, habang naghihintay ng sasakyan papuntang gapo
Warrior: isang rebyu
Isang counter left hook na ibinigay mula sa tila hindi balansiyadong tayo; magugulat ka na lamang at parang trosong tumimbuwang ang tinamaan. Tulog at nahiya nang bumangon; wala pang 20 segundo sa laban. Si Tommy Conlon (Tom Hardy), ang may-ari ng pamatay na left hook, ay nagbigay ng pahayag sa suntok na iyon sa kanyang unang laban. Nandoon siya sa Sparta tournament, isang winner-take-all na labanang MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) upang manggulpe, magpatulog at manalo ng 5 milyong dolyar.
Walang imik siyang lumabas ng octagon habang Hindi pa tapos bilangan ang kalaban at wala pang naideklarang panalo. Tahimik, misteryoso, seryoso at punong-puno ng pigil na galit, iyan ang karakter ni Tom sa pelikulang Warrior na idenirihe ni Gavin O’Connor. Siya ang nakababatang kapatid ni Brendan (Joel Edgerton), isang dating manlalarong MMA na naging guro ng physics sa isang mataas na paaralan, isang di-gaanong kahusayang wrestler/grappler. Isang perpektong underdog. Ang dalawa ang magiging sentral na drama ng Pelikula at sentral na tunggalian sa loob at labas ng octagon. Ito ang klasikong banggaan ng isang ‘striker’ na umaasa sa panggugulpi at pagpapatulog upang manalo, at ng isang ‘wrestler’ na nakasandig sa kasanayan sa labanang-nakahiga upang mapwersang mag-tap-out ang kalaban.
Mapupuri mo ang pelikulang Warrior hindi lamang sa mahusay na koryograpi ng maaaksyong labanan, kundi pati sa madamdaming pagganap ng mga pangunahing tauhan. Gayundin, mas higit pa sa bayolenteng bakbakan sa loob ng octagon, isa itong kwento ng pamilyang winasak ng alak, panggugulpi, pagkamuhi at pagkamatay. Isa itong gasgas na istorya ng pagkawasak at pagkabuo, ng paglagpak at pagbangon. Gasgas na kwentong nakamamanghang nadala ng may isang lebel ng kahusayan ng pelikula.
Ang kanilang ama, si Paddy (Nick Nolte), ay dating boksingero na nabaling sa alak. Isang walang kwentang ama na laging lasing at nanggugulpi ng mga anak at asawa. Ito ang ugat ng pagkawasak ng pamilya Conlon—lalayasan siya ng kanyang noo’y maysakit na asawa at ng kanyang dalawang anak. Subalit hindi magagawang sumama ni Brendan sa kanyang ina at kapatid sapagkat buntis ang kanyang kasintahan. Sa piling ni Tommy babawian ng buhay ang kanilang ina; ang galit ni Tommy sa kanyang kapatid ay kasingtindi na ngayon ng suklam na nadarama niya sa kanyang ama.
Pagtatagpuin muli ang tatlo ng madugo at marahas na daigdig ng MMA; bawat isa ay may kanya-kanyang motibasyon: si Tom ay sasali upang maibigay ang mapapanalunang premyo sa naiwang pamilya ng kaibigang sundalo na napatay sa isang friendly fire sa Iraq; si Brendan ay kinakailangang balikan ang daigdig na ito upang maisalba ang bahay na iniilit ng bangko; habang ang kanilang ama na siyang magsasanay kay Tom ay pilit ginagawa ang lahat upang buuin ang nawasak na pamilya—isa siyang repormadong lasenggo habang hindi naman matuwain ang mga anak sa ideya ng pagpapatawad at pangkaraniwang litanya sa pilikula ang insulto ng mga anak na tinanggap niyang lahat.
Ang tensyon ng pamilya ang bubuo sa kontradiksyon magpapainog pilikulang ito. Ang tensyong tutungo sa klaymaktikong labanan sa pagitan ng magkapatid sa kampeonato ng Sparta. Sa kabila ng mahusay na koreograpi ng mga labanan at ng mahusay na pagganap ng mga pangunahing tauhan, hindi naman naitago ng pilikula ang mga litaw na sablay nito. Lubhang maraming mga sub-plots na walang resolusyon at malabo ang pinanggalingan at papel sa pilikula: ang isyu hinggil sa droga ni Tom na hindi na muling maririnig matapos kumpiskahin ng ama ang tatlong bote ng droga, ang isyu hinggil sa naiilit na bahay na bigla na lang lumitaw, ang malabong pinanggalingan ng lakas at kakayahan ni Tom na magpatulog ng mga mahuhusay na propesyunal na kalaban at ang kanyang kwento ng kabayanihan sa Iraq. Hindi mo rin kinakailangan ng doktoral na diploma upang mahulaan ang napipintong paghaharap ng magkapatid sa kampeonato ng Sparta.
Hindi na nakakatuwang makitang itinampok ng pilikula ang komersiyalisasyon ng larong lubhang kumakapit sa kagustuhan ng mga manonood na makakita ng mararahas na salpukan ng dalawang tao—ang kanser na sumisira sa siyensya at artistikong aspeto ng isang metodikal at taktikal na labanan sa loob ng octagon (o ng ring sa larong boksing). Ang komersyalisasyon na nagsabing ‘cage’ ang ibansag sa octagon, isang malinaw na pagtutulad sa labanang-hayop dahil sa likas na karahasan ng laro. Walang kahihiyan din ang pilit na pagtatapat ng isinalarawang barumbado, marahas at hindi-sibilisadong estilo ng ‘striking’ at ng may relatibong-hinahon na kalikasan ng ‘grappling,’ ‘wrestling’ o ‘ground fighting.’ Ang banggaan ng magkaibang estilong binigyang katauhan ng karakter nila Tom at Brendan—ang dahas at hinahon. Ang pagtatapat ng dalawang magkaibang estilong nakakasukang pilit na itinulad sa lubhang-gasgas na pag-aaway ng “sibilisado at mahinahong” daigdig ng kapitalismo laban sa “marahas at atrasadong” daigdig ng komunismo. Ang labanan na dinala ng mga karakter ni Brendan at Koba (Kurt Angle), ang walang-talong manlalaro ng Rusya na ipinakilalang halimaw na uhaw sa dahas at dugo.
Ito ang mga maling steryotayping na pilit ipinakain sa mga manonood; ang steryotayping na pilit nagpapakipot sa taktikal na yaman ng labanang MMA. Ang metodikal na pagpapahina, pagpapabagsak at pagpapasuko sa kalabang may sariling apresyasyon sa eksekyusyon ng mga kilos ng iba’t-ibang klase ng martial arts ay lubhang artistiko at siyentipiko na pinababaw ng mga steryotayping sa pilikula; gayundin, walang kinalaman ang estilo sa laro sa pagiging kapitalista at komunista ng isang bansa. Bumenta na ito sa pilikulang Rocky IV kung saan nagharap sa ibabaw ng ring ang aykonikong boksingerong piksyunal na si Rocky Balboa at ang higanteng manlalaro ng USSR na si Ivan Drago, boskingerong kargado ng steoroids at may marahas na estilo sa pakikipaglaban.
Sa kabila ng mga litaw na sablay ng pilikula, mahusay pa ding nadala ang drama ng pamilya at tensyon ng mga labanan. Nakakatuwa ang eksena kung saan dumalo ang asawa ni Brendan sa kanyang laban kay Koba, ang pinadelikadong labanan sa pilikula, upang magbigay ng “I love you” bilang pagpapahayag ng buong suporta sa muling pagyakap ng asawa sa daigdig na napagkasunduan nilang talikuran. Isang makata at romantikong eksenang swak na swak na nagpagaan sa tensyonadong atmospera ng marahas na labanan.
Gayunpaman, hindi sasapat ang mga husay na nabanggit upang makadikit man lamang ang Warrior sa Rocky I ni Silvester Stallone, ang pilikulang mahusay na pagpapakita sa makatotohanang daigdig ng Boksing: mula sa kwento ng kahirapan patungong pagyaman, sa kawalang mukha patungong pagiging sikat hanggang sa korapsyon, ego at komersiyalisasyong nakakulapol na sa laro. Kahit pa walang kahihiyang ginaya ng Warrior ang ending ng bawat pilikulang Rocky: is Brendan, yakap-yakap ang kapatid na tinalo niya sa laro habang palabas sa pinaglabanang lugar—tagumpay at buo sa bakgrawnd ng palakpakan at hiyawan ng mga manonood na katatapos lamang makamalas ng isang madugong labanan.
“Women weaken the legs,” Mickey Goldmill kay Rocky Balboa
“Must be tough to find a girl who could take a punch nowadays.” Tommy kay Paddy Conlon
Nakaugat pa din ang mga mararahas na labanang propesyunal na ito sa seksismo.
(December 2, 2011)
Warrior Official Trailer
Miyerkules, Disyembre 7, 2011
Ritwal
Ikaw ang aking tuwa--
ang mga hugis, tunog at kulay;
ang lahat ng pangamba –
ang gasgas, putikan at mabuway.
Ikaw ang aking kaluwalhatian
at kaganapan. Ang pagnanasa
sa matinik ngunit tiyak na lakbay;
ang pagbabalik loob sa sarili,
ang naratibo ng bawat digma,
ang tukso ng salbasyon at pagkandili
ng sagradong kamunduhan at himala.
Ikaw ang aking ligaya--
ang bawat pintig at paglikha;
Ikaw ang aking tuwa–
ang tula at mga pag-akda.
(Tarlac. January 16, 2010)
ang mga hugis, tunog at kulay;
ang lahat ng pangamba –
ang gasgas, putikan at mabuway.
Ikaw ang aking kaluwalhatian
at kaganapan. Ang pagnanasa
sa matinik ngunit tiyak na lakbay;
ang pagbabalik loob sa sarili,
ang naratibo ng bawat digma,
ang tukso ng salbasyon at pagkandili
ng sagradong kamunduhan at himala.
Ikaw ang aking ligaya--
ang bawat pintig at paglikha;
Ikaw ang aking tuwa–
ang tula at mga pag-akda.
(Tarlac. January 16, 2010)
The sprout
It came without warning, shooting everywhere—
rejoicing, wailing
strongly demanding freedom—
on a grassy hillside
one stormy night.
The sky may have been violent, yes
perhaps, to wash away the untimely
and the ungodly.
But never with a retribution.
Wail.
REJOICE!
rejoicing, wailing
strongly demanding freedom—
on a grassy hillside
one stormy night.
The sky may have been violent, yes
perhaps, to wash away the untimely
and the ungodly.
But never with a retribution.
Wail.
REJOICE!
The undaunted
Crystal.
The stream gushes
through the fine
thick line
of granite.
Cathedral.
The proud standing
tightly, defying
the rapid,
the gentle
and the soft.
Clear.
It is moaning:
the lucid union
of the calm gushing
against the solid worn.
Casket.
It is a raging music
of fury.
And the creek persists to play
an undaunted passion
with serenity.
The stream gushes
through the fine
thick line
of granite.
Cathedral.
The proud standing
tightly, defying
the rapid,
the gentle
and the soft.
Clear.
It is moaning:
the lucid union
of the calm gushing
against the solid worn.
Casket.
It is a raging music
of fury.
And the creek persists to play
an undaunted passion
with serenity.
Wild in winds
The caressing shades of the many valleys,
deeply interspersed with the untamed
and the broken,
have nurtured your flowers
unreservedly, like a violent tropical storm
in a barren and desolate place.
Those huge petals and its wild dances,
remarking a crimson splash of deep passion
in a savage land,
as the eastbound wind blows
fiercely;
I have never seen you, since—
(and never will, perhaps)
but I do know you,
you and your passionate petals.
A palpable prose of dancing petals—
Wild in winds.
(kakahalukay lang sa baul nito.
ginawa noong Oktubre 2005)
deeply interspersed with the untamed
and the broken,
have nurtured your flowers
unreservedly, like a violent tropical storm
in a barren and desolate place.
Those huge petals and its wild dances,
remarking a crimson splash of deep passion
in a savage land,
as the eastbound wind blows
fiercely;
I have never seen you, since—
(and never will, perhaps)
but I do know you,
you and your passionate petals.
A palpable prose of dancing petals—
Wild in winds.
(kakahalukay lang sa baul nito.
ginawa noong Oktubre 2005)
Ang buhay ay isang taksil na paglalakbay
Takot.
Pilit na pagsasaya.
Atubiling pag-aalintana.
May bakod na
ang di-tiyak na landas
ng pagtalima sa di-kilalang gasgas
sa di-nakikitang lupa.
Bawat hakbangin
ay mga nakakasawang awitin;
paglalakbay
na may bahid ng
matinding pagkapit
sa kadilimang
nakayakap
sa munting sulong
aandap-andap.
Talos man
o hindi
ang paroroonan,
Walang magagawa
Maliban
sa bulag na pagtalima,
pakikipag-ulayaw nang pilitan
Sa kawalang-
katiyakan.
Masidhing kumampay;
Ang buhay
ay isang taksil
na
paglalakbay.
(October 14, 2009; Olongapo City)
Pilit na pagsasaya.
Atubiling pag-aalintana.
May bakod na
ang di-tiyak na landas
ng pagtalima sa di-kilalang gasgas
sa di-nakikitang lupa.
Bawat hakbangin
ay mga nakakasawang awitin;
paglalakbay
na may bahid ng
matinding pagkapit
sa kadilimang
nakayakap
sa munting sulong
aandap-andap.
Talos man
o hindi
ang paroroonan,
Walang magagawa
Maliban
sa bulag na pagtalima,
pakikipag-ulayaw nang pilitan
Sa kawalang-
katiyakan.
Masidhing kumampay;
Ang buhay
ay isang taksil
na
paglalakbay.
(October 14, 2009; Olongapo City)
walang pamagat 1
Hindi ako tagahanga ni Anne Sexton. Walang nakakatuwa sa pakikipaglaro sa ideya ng pagpapatiwakal. Ito'y isang karuwagan sa harap ng mga hamon ng lipunang batbat ng paghamak at krisis. O ng pag-atras sa tunggaliang bumabalot dito. Sublit, oo, aaminin kong may lakas akong nakikita sa kanyang panulaan. Kahangahanga; papaanong ang kanyang tintang yumuyuko sa mga halos di-makayanang bigat ay makakapagpaangat ng mga nalulunod na kamalayan? Papaano?
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