Several years ago, the editor of The Ring magazine paid homage to Pancho Villa at the North Cemetery in Manila.
There were no lavish rites when Niguel Collins visited the grave of Asia’s first world boxing champion.
But knowing that a dignitary was scheduled to pay a visit, caretakers of the cemetery — employees of the City of Manila — made sure Collins won’t end up seeing Villa’s spot looking like it’s been left to rot.
They spruced it up and glazed the bust and tombstone with a fresh coat of paint to make it appear that Villa — Francisco Guilledo in real life — remains one of the burial ground’s most looked after.
A few days ago, while visiting another loved one, I thought about dropping by Villa’s grave to see if caretakers continue to look after it even during the off-season.
Last time I went there, the place appeared neat and tidy.
A floral arrangement even stood next to the bust courtesy of the City of Manila.
As it turns out, it was just a week before All Saints’ Day and I immediately knew why Villa’s final resting place looked appealing to the eyes.
A longtime resident of the cemetery told me that it’s been a while since Villa’s grave had visitors.
“Many years ago, there were people who would come to his grave during All Saints’ Day but the visits became rare in the years that followed until nobody came,” he said.
But last Sunday, ripped plastic bags and other debris littered the area.
It was clear that Villa’s tomb had not been attended to for quite some time, just like the many others whose graves have either been taken over by new burials or exhumed.
I am sure that towards the month of November, the city government would clean it up once again as a show of respect to the fallen fighter from Negros Occidental.
Villa was born on 1 August 1901 and he reigned as world flyweight king from 1923 until his death in 1925 in the United States due to an impacted tooth.
His remains were brought home to the Philippine a month after the tragic fight and he was interred at the North Cemetery.
Over at the Manila Memorial Park in Sucat, Parañaque, things are totally different.
The grave of Gabriel “Flash” Elorde, world junior-lightweight king from 1960 to 1967, gets a steady stream of visitors during All Saints’ Day and even during social occasions.
Both Villa and Elorde are the only Filipino boxers who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York.
The Flash’s grave receives visitors during his birthday in the third week of March and during his death anniversary on 2 January.
It is rather difficult to find living relatives of Villa and this is the reason why he no longer gets visitors even during his birthday, death anniversary and even during All Saints’ Day.
Sad, sad story.
