Have been digging through my files lately and countless treasures — things I thought have been lost forever — have suddenly appeared on my lap.
Apart from trinkets, old pictures of family and friends and work-related stuff like old credentials, accreditation cards and memorabilia from events that I have covered, what struck me the most were several pictures of Manny Pacquiao.
I know, I know.
What else has the public not seen concerning Pacquiao?
Well, I was able to retrieve photos of him while he was in Thailand many moons ago when he defended the World Boxing Council flyweight throne against Medgoen 3K Battery in Nakhon Si Thammarat in September 1999.
You see, while the fight was televised in the Philippines from that far-flung city 610 kilometers south of Bangkok, the dispatches were limited.
To illustrate the fight’s obscurity even to this day, there were just two Filipino writers who were at ringside for this one landmark fight of Pacquiao.
I was still writing for the now-defunct TODAY during that time. The other guy on the boxing beat and was present was Quinito Henson of the Star.
A third media guy — Ed Picson — was there to provide commentary for television.
Ed now heads the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines while Quinito, who is my wedding godfather, remains with the Star.
Anyway, as I was saying before the circus came to town, the Pacquiao-3K Battery showdown was not so publicized simply because it was a fight that the eight-division world champion lost.
The way Pacquiao lost it was controversial and heartbreaking.
He was the fight favorite but he could not make the fly limit of 112 lbs.
He attempted twice but he could not do so.
And it was during these moments that I took shots of Pacquiao that I feel have never been seen before.
Got a couple of them and I have carefully kept them inside a vault.
One day, when the right time comes, I will release it or even post it for all the world to see.
Mind you, it ain’t something that will land me in jail.
As I have said, these are just photos that are entirely different from what most of us — and even hardcore Pacquiao fans — have seen on the internet and in print form.
My mother said there are still stacks and stacks of materials that I have yet to see.
The prospects of taking a look at them excites me to the core.