By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Respected World Boxing Council ring physician Dr. Allan Recto has launched a campaign to help his countrymen in the Philippines cope with the disaster caused by typhoon “Ondoy” and the response has been more than gratifying.
Dr. Recto who lives in Laredo, Texas informed us that the his office had received donations since Monday of sacks of rice, medicines, blankets, canned goods etc while the owner of a shipping company had volunteered to ship the donations to Manila, free of charge.
A warehouse owner friend of Dr. Recto told him, he could us her facility for storage while her staff helped pack the items in boxes.
Several doctors donated medicine and milk formulas.
Dr. Recto informed BoxingScene.com, insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that he sent a letter to his Parish Church, his kid’s school, hospital CEOs, Filipino nurses, fellow doctors, the Laredo Asian Association, Laredo Morning Times (News) and said “the response overwhelmed me.
He said “this is the start of something big and the WBC is taking part as well. Excellent.” Dr. Recto reported that the WBC also donated $1,000 which he will send to the Philippine Sportswriters Association which will go directly to the PSA funds for relief goods to be given to the flood victims.
Dr. Recto said he will send the boxes marked “Team Pacquiao” this week and the next. He also instructed his mother, Ms. Lilia Recto to contact Abac Cordero of the PSA and Philippine Star who covers most of the Manny Pacquiao fights, to send him P50,000 from his own money and asked the WBC to give him four WBC Mini Belts and was prepared to pay the difference in cost, if any.
Mauricio Sulaiman with the blessing of his father, Don Jose Sulaiman said they will use the “WBC Asia Relief Fund” established in 2005 to help the “Tsunami” victims and will start a fund raiser for the Philippines . This has begun with the special keychain bearing the images of Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao and WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto who will clash for the WBC “Diamond Belt:” at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on November 14.
