Sunday, December 15, 2019

Julius Babao on the 2007 Southeast Asian Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand

Julius Babao, the anchor of the ABS-CBN's news program TV Patrol from 2004 to 2010, he recalls the fondest memory was the 24th Southeast Asian Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

He and his wife, former Star News segment host Christine Bersola was spending time at the Traders Hotel Manila in Pasay City during their fourth wedding anniversary celebration on December 8, 2007, coincidentally with the second day of the 24th Southeast Asian Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

Besides next to the Babao couple is no other than Ambassador Marciano Paynor, Jr., Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, former Ilocos Sur governor Luis Singson and former Senator Vicente Sotto III.

At the National Media Center of the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, the Ambassador told reporters it cited the live TV coverage of 2007 Nakhon Ratchasima Southeast Asian Games would be next to the Second EDSA Revolution that deposed Joseph Estrada from the presidency after an aborted impeachment trial in which he was charged with plunder and perjury; his vice president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo became president, January 12-16, 1995 Manila visit of Pope John Paul II for the 10th World Youth Day when the closing Mass held at Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park set a world record for the largest number of people gathered for a single religious event with 5 million attendees, 1994 Miss Universe and the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain.

From the PICC, Paynor was accompanied by kart racers Matteo Guidicelli, Tyson Sy, Mark Bumgarner and Javi Benitez and race car driver Enzo Pastor for a lunchtime dinner at the Spiral Restaurant, Sofitel Philippine Plaza.

At the Studio 7 of ABS-CBN Broadcast Center in Quezon City, the news program TV Patrol goes live due to the coverage, when Dyan Castillejo reported from Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand on the updates of team Philippines.

Aside from Castillejo, other reporters were in the said city such as Migs Bustos, Boom Gonzales, Mico Halili, Gretchen Ho, Doc Ian Laurel, Gretchen Malalad, TJ Manotoc, Mozzy Ravena, Mikee Reyes and Anton Roxas.

Ms. Castillejo would interview Miguel Molina, the four-time swimming gold medalist and most outstanding athlete of the year and Star Magic artist turned De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Tanker and Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) Stingrays member Ernest Lorenzo "Enchong" Dee was in lane 8 of men’s 100-meter butterfly finals on Sunday, December 9.

Despite the live broadcast streaming of the swimming competition of the said event in mall activity centers nationwide, also at the Activity Center of Star City amusement park, the police clash with protesters in the Filipino capital Manila at past 7:29 p.m. of Sunday, December 9, 2007 near the Sofitel Philippine plaza hotel to Star City, also they marched to One ECom Center in SM Mall of Asia complex.