Sparring with sandals: A

boxing trainer fights for

support in Leyte
Using a life of experience and a pair of sandals, Manly Minguel teaches youngsters in
Tanauan about life and boxing

Ryan Songalia
@ryansongalia
Published 10:27 PM, June 19, 2017
Updated 11:08 AM, June 20, 2017

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TSINELA POWER. When Super Typhoon Haiyan destroyed his boxing equipment, Manly Minguel
learned to use tsinelas to train young fighters in Tanauan, Leyte. Photo by Ryan Songalia/Rappler

TANAUAN, Philippines - At the town plaza in Tanauan, Leyte, Manly Minguel lines up
two teenagers and sets them up in their boxing pose. Right hands affixed to their chins,
left hands held high out front poised to jab.

Back and forth, Mark James Lopera, 17, and Nevel Busi, 16, move in and out of
punching range, repeating their new lessons until it becomes second nature.

“I don’t only teach boxing but also how to have strong discipline that makes them
become better people,” says the 54-year-old Minguel in his native Waray-Waray dialect.
“Some boxers that I trained before were rugby boys. When I trained them they kept
away from doing drugs.”
After a few drills, Minguel wants to see what sort of power they have. He instructs one
of the boxers to remove his tsinelas (sandals) and puts them on his hands, the way a
trainer would a pair of Winning brand punch mitts. And like an Emanuel Steward or a
Freddie Roach would, Minguel catches the punches without a second thought to the
absurdity of the scene.

Training boxers is something Minguel has done for the past 20 years, sometimes in the
town plaza against the backdrop of better equipped basketball teams and tennis
players, and sometimes in the marketplace.

He had worked with Leyteño boxers like former two-time world champion Johnriel
Casimero and respected journeyman Marvin Tampus as amateurs, and was the mentor
for ill-fated boxer Sonny Boco, the Tanaueño whose career was cut short after 6 fights
by a serious brain injury suffered in Cambodia in 2002.

When Super Typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) came through in 2013 and
washed out the town, leaving scores dead in the region and destroying his boxing gear,
Minguel continued on training without handwraps or gloves to protect their hands, or
head guards to properly spar, or a punching bag to build power.

“Without equipment, I can’t train them the way I want to train them,” Minguel concedes,
but he’d rather train them under these circumstances than give up on the sport he’s
been involved in since he was 14. By the time these two boxers fight their first fights at
the Ormoc city anniversary on June 21, it’ll be the first time either boy has worn a pair of
gloves or a head guard. They enter the ring at a disadvantage against any boxer who
has proper equipment.

“Training here without the equipment will shock them when they get to wear the real
equipment,” says Minguel, who trains 3 other boxers, including Nevel's younger brother
Edgar, 15, plus Christian Cesar, 21, and his younger brother Rolando, 20. They
comprise the de facto boxing team of Tanauan.

Even if the boxers don’t make it to the world title like Casimero, boxing still provides
immediate help. A tricycle driver can make P150-200 a day in Leyte, but a boxer can
make P800 to 1,000 per fight, depending on the tournament, minus the P150 travel fare.

What’s the difference between Leyte, which isn’t known as a boxing hotbed, and places
like Cebu, Negros Occidental and General Santos City, which produce boxing
champions? Gyms, a local fight scene, and the support of the community, in summary.

Minguel’s hope is to get support for the boxing team to provide hand wraps, mouth
guards and gloves for the boxers, and a medicine ball and mitts to condition them. It
isn’t unheard of for balikbayans abroad to adopt a boxing club and send equipment, like
the case of New Yorker Arvee Eco, who led a social media campaign to collect
equipment like gloves, shoes and head guards to send to his hometown of Basud,
Camarines Norte earlier this year. The boxers thanked him by renaming their club after
him.

After Ormoc, the boxers will fight again at the Tanauan fiesta on August 15. The town
borrows the gloves from Baybay and the ring from Ormoc, and there are expected to be
16 fights which will entertain the crowd and make the boxers a few pesos.

In an area known as the Philippines’ skimboarding capital, he sees the untapped

potential for Tanauan to make its name in boxing as well.

“I can guarantee [there’d be champions],” said Minguel. – Translations by Trell

Songalia-Morallos/Rappler.com

Editor's note: A previous edition incorrectly stated Nevel Busi's surname as

Busipractice.

Ryan Songalia is the sports editor of Rappler, a member of the Boxing Writers
Association of America (BWAA) and a contributor to The Ring magazine. He can be
reached at ryan.songalia@rappler.com. Follow him on Twitter @RyanSongalia.

Parks and playgrounds

Tanauan currently has one large municipal plaza which is located right at the heart of the
town across the back of the old municipal hall. It has a mini-amphitheater and a large
outdoor grounds which is often used as a venue for large open air activities such as the
annual Pasaka Festival Competition and other various outdoor gatherings of the town, It
also has two outdoor basketball court and one outdoor tennis courts. Surrounding the plaza
are various centuries-old acacia trees that is one of the well-preserved in the Region.

Pasaka Festival
Pasaka Festival started in 1991. The word "pasaka" means "assumption" which refers to
the Virgin Mary as she was assumed into heaven. The festival, which runs from August 1
through 15, is seen as an opportunity to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Tanauan.
It is a means of paying homage and thanksgiving to the town’s Patroness, Our Lady of the
Assumption. It begins with a nightly cultural presentation being held from August 1
through 14 at the Tanauan Public Plaza, which showcases the best talents, culture,and
tradition of the municipality participated in by various schools, the local government unit,
and the non-government organizations of Tanauan.

In the afternoon of August 14, the traditional Pasaka Festival Competition is held which
features a colorful presentation of dance drama and street-dancing that depicts a
community paying homage to the Blessed Virgin as she is assumed into heaven. The
competition is grouped into three categories: the Senior Category participated in by high
school students, the Junior Category composed of elementary pupils and the Merry Makers.

The festival culminates on August 15, the Feast of the town’s Patroness,Our Lady of the
Assumption, and a Holy Mass is celebrated at the Our Lady of the Assumption Parish
Church. It is also observed as Tanauan Day which is a local holiday.

Tinikling and its possible origins in Tanauan

Tinikling is the most popular and best known of Philippine dances and honored as the
Philippine national dance. It is one of the oldest Philippine traditional dances and originated
in Leyte Province. The people of Leyte describe the tikling bird as one of the most unique
in its movements - walking around and between the tree branches and some grass stems.
This bird was named "tikling" from which the Tinikling dance got its name. Because of the
creativeness of the Leytenos, they imitate this bird by using bamboo poles.
In 2006, the attention of the then Mayor Roque Tiu was called regarding the 2005 Calendar
of the Philippine National Oil Corporation entitled Sulyap (Glimpse) which highlighted the
looking back into the home of Filipino culture and taking a glimpse into one’s roots in
relation to moving forward in life.
In the second page (March–April page), it featured the Tinikling with a brief description in
Pilipino dialect …”ang Tinikling ay nagmula sa Tanauan, Leyte. Isa ito sa mga pinaka-
kilalang Pilipinong sayaw sa buong mundo. Ang pagkamalikhain ng mga taga Leyte ay
nagbigay buhay sa simpleng galaw ng ibong tikling, kung saan nakuhaang pangalan ng
sayaw.
Sa Tinikling naipamalas ang likas na halina at pagiging masayahin na nabubukod-tangi
sa mga Pilipino.” (Tinikling originated in Tanauan, Leyte. It is one of the best known
Philippine dance. The creativity of the people of Leyte gave life to the simple movement
of tikling birds from which the dance got its name Tinikling.
The dance mirrors the innate grace and joy of the Filipinos). Since then, the municipal
government of Tanauan requested historians and enthusiasts of culture and the arts to shed
light on the issue so that the local government can initiate moves towards preserving the
culture of the municipality which has been baptized the title of “Cradle of the
Intellectuals” ("Bungto Han Kamag-araman" in Waray-Waray dialect) ever since the
Spanish Regime.
Another version of the story has it, that the Tinikling really originated in Tanauan, Leyte
particularly in Barangay Kiling. The name “Kiling” is derived from the tikling bird. This
version of the story have yet to be authenticated. Today, pinpointing the exact origin of this
dance still remains a mystery.

Vicente I.De Veyra, a native of Leyte collected folk songs such as Tinikling on his book,
"Mga Ambahan".
Skimboarding
Tanauan is recognized as the “Skimboarding Capital” of the Philippines. It is told by
tradition that Skimboarding was first introduced in Tanauan in 2000, when an American
national came to Tanauan to win the heart of a local lass. Since Tanauan is situated along
the coast facing San Pedro Bay, the American national started making a skimboard which
he eventually finished.

However, he was not able to teach the local youths on how to use it since he had to leave
back to the States. He left the skimboard and the local youths started to train themselves
on how to use it. Young people from Barangay San Roque and Barangay Sto. Nino started
making prototypes of the skimboard which were sold to the enthusiasts. Since then,
skimboarding started to spread to the nearby towns and later on throughout the country.
Currently, National and International Skimboarding Competitions are held annually at
the Bantay Dagat Area in Tanauan.
ISPEAK

The tidal waves of

Tanauan, Leyte
The once scenic and laid back town that was the skimboarding capital of the Philippines
became a living horror.

Paul Cinco
Published 6:00 PM, February 23, 2014
Updated 8:59 PM, February 23, 2014

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The town of Tanauan, Leyte made news around the world after being hit by a
Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) on November 8, 2013. While Tacloban is considered
a highly urbanized city, Tanauan is a laid back thriving coastal community. It is
an old colonial town founded in 1710 that suffered the second most number of
fatalities and devastation by the super typhoon.
Before dawn of November 8, 2013, Yolanda’s wrath mercilessly lambasted Tanauan.
The gray daylight appeared, and all that could be seen were smoke, mist and flying
debris. The winds were soon followed by raging waves from the sea engulfing the
coastal villages, even reaching right to the center of town. After the storm and waters
were gone, the survivors instinctively gathered in the ruined town hall only to be stunned
by what they experienced. Their beloved town was in ruins.

The wounded made their way to the town hall hoping to be treated with what was left of
the first aid and medical supplies. Whoever was abled and skilled to treat people took
the initiative to do so. As the number of dead bodies piled up, people looked for food,
water and a way out of Tanauan. The once scenic and laid back town that was the
skimboarding capital of the Philippines became a living horror. Nothing but misery
lingered throughout the town. (READ: Tanauan: Cry for food, aid)
APOCALYPTIC. People in Tanauan, Leyte thought they were experiencing the end of the world when
Yolanda struck them. All photos by Paul Cinco.

The first few days after the storm were a struggle for survival. The people of Tanauan
panicked when someone cried another giant wave was coming. The rumors that
circulated during the first few days after the storm sparked more fear as people thought
they were experiencing the end of the world. To make things worse, every night, wailing
sounds were heard coming from the coast to the nearby river where most of the dead
bodies ended up.

Beacon of hope

It was not easy living for a few days with dead bodies nearby, especially when the
stench became fouler as the number of cadavers increased day after day. Amidst the
uncertainty and isolation, the people killed time by staying positive and uplifting one
another as help was on its way. Crying was not an option as it only made them thirsty.

Not a single roof in the houses and in the buildings remained intact except for the place
of worship – the Assumption of Our Lady Church. The old structure humbly stood with
minimal damage. It soon became the evacuation center of the homeless survivors from
the coastal villages. It also caught the attention of the faithful as it became their beacon
of hope. The historical marker on the church’s façade reminded them of something.
It reads: “Church Of Tanauan, Leyte constructed by the Jesuit Missionaries, 1704, and
turned over to the Augustinians, 1768-1843. Repaired and enlarged, 1850-1860, by Fr.
Francisco De Paula Marquez who added a transept and surrounded the premises with
thick rock wall, having a watch tower on each four corners for defense against pirates.
Withstood hurricane and tidal wave of 1897.” Philippine Historical Committee 1949.

Lessons from the past

Tidal Wave! Of course! It was a tidal wave that struck the town before. The people
recalled the stories passed down to them by the older generations regarding the town’s
mysteries and tragedies. It is well known among the elders of Tanauan that a mighty
storm hit the town in 1897. The waters from the sea surged towards the town and
drowned a lot of people. The waves were described as gigantic and were called “tidal
waves.” (READ: Flashback: 1897, Leyte and a strong typhoon)

It apparently killed a massive number of people and left the town in ruins except for the
church. According to some accounts, the few who survived the cataclysmic event
witnessed a miracle. They saw from a distance, a lady walking in the sea, her arms
outstretched, holding back the waves to prevent it from bringing more devastation. As
the storm subsided, she vanished and a few were spared.

But the tidal waves were no legend. It was history, and history repeated itself on that
very day.

The old church of Tanauan withstood the storm of 1897, and it once again withstood
Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013, 116 years later. Some townspeople say that, perhaps, the
church is miraculous, to be able to withstand the worse forces of nature – wind, water
and earthquakes for over three centuries and fire from its burning convent a few weeks
after Yolanda.

The people of Tanauan know that they are continuously being protected by the Blessed
Mother despite what happened to them. They say that the town suffers from a
catastrophic event to teach the people a lesson. When history and its lessons have
been almost forgotten, and materialism is valued over morals and spirituality, they are
reminded of the basic essentials of living – contentment and perhaps, a call to be closer
to God.

A chance to rebuild

More than three months after Yolanda, although there are still a lot of people missing,
and families grieving, the amount of help that has poured into the town is enormous.
From food, cash donations, cash for work programs, to rebuilding schools and livelihood
distributions, the people are thankful for all the help that they’re continuously receiving.
They are, however, anxious if they will ever go back to their normal lives.
FRIENDLIER WAVES. People of Tanauan hope to become the skimboarding capital of the Philippines
again.

The locals know that Tanauan is making a name for itself now. Countless non-
governmental organizations, private groups, local and foreign governments, beauty
queens and high profile sports stars have come to see the old town. It uplifts the
people’s spirits and brings a wave of temporary happiness. It brings people excitement
as to whoever is coming to see the town next.

The local leaders understand this and know that this is a chance to rebuild the town
better. There is a blessing to Yolanda’s curse after all. (READ: Tanauan village head:
‘Kaya pa namin ito’)

The devastation in Tanauan, Leyte was really out of the ordinary. Tragedy is an
understatement. It was apocalyptic. An entire town almost washed out by the sea that it
once considered a friend. Whether it was caused by climate change, a cycle in nature or
a repeat in history, it brought lessons to be learned that should be remembered and
considered through the next hundred years.

As the people of Tanauan try to forget the miseries of the storm, they positively look
forward to the future where they can celebrate, offer their savory lechon (the best in the
Metro tacloabn area), show guests their stations of the cross, party in the local Pasaka
festival, or simply hang out with the people and laugh over a drink of beer or Tuba
again. The local people of Tanauan look forward to the day where their smiles are
whole again, and their hearts healed.
People hope that the town would be more prepared for disasters to come, perhaps,
have a warning system in case a calamity of the same magnitude happens
again – sturdier structures for evacuations and temporary shelters, stronger homes and
a fully operational hospital. The people hope for industries to come and develop the
fishing, agriculture, and pottery sectors. They look forward to the day that Tanauan can
sustain itself again.

But for now, a lot of work needs to be done in rebuilding Tanauan and its people’s lives.
Being the skimboarding capital that they are, Tanauan and its people will continue to
ride the many tidal waves of life, come what may. – Rappler.com

Paul Cinco is a travel photographer from Tanauan, Leyte. He earned his degree in
International Studies, Tourism Management from San Beda College Alabang. He is a
victim and survivor of Super Typhoon Yolanda.