I know, I know. You have your predictions too. After we Pinoys stuck it out with our hero despite the odds and the snubs of the boxing experts, its time to gather once more behind the Pacman.

Pacquiao Wins

If Manny dismantled the Golden Boy easily, how can Hatton, a smaller fighter, match up to him? Manny isn’t the pound-for-pound king for nothing. Manny has the speed, reach and power to knock this brawler from England. Pacquiao’s handlers said Hatton will be an easy target because he is unidimensional, wide open and doesn’t have a good footwork. If he comes straight to Manny, a big-left to the head would put him to sleep.

Speed will be the key for Manny’s victory. I was at the front seat facing the big screen when Manny danced his way to beat De La Hoya. Awesome indeed! And those punches are so powerful that girls cried after seeing the latter’s badly deformed face.

Pacquiao in 5 rounds.

Hatton Wins

Ok, let’s play some bad boy here. There’s a much talked-about transformation of the Hitman because Floyd Mayweather Sr. trained him. He won in his last fight under Floyd Sr. who vowed to morph Ricky into a Floyd Jr, the former pound-for-pound king. If one lucky punch could hit Manny, would it be the end for our hero? The Hitman is a brawler and won’t brake when he starts cranking. A lucky punch is all it takes. Floyd Sr. believes so much in his ward.

If the fight would be held at Wembley, as initially suggested, there’s a big possibility of a Hatton win. A rowdy crowd, flying beer bottles, etc… (I am thinking of football hooliganism), would bother Manny.

Hatton in a split decision.

My Predictions

The fight won’t be a walk on the park for Manny Pacquiao. My 5-round win guess may be an underestimation of the foe. My prediction of a Pacman victory is as good as yours, even if you’re a Hatton fan. Manny fought three very good fights in 2008. 2009 won’t be any different. Even if Hatton is unbeaten at 140lbs, he isn’t really the best. He’s just another boxer who can give the sweet science more bucks and another lease of life. Pacquiao vs Hatton will be the fight of 2009, unless Floyd Jr returns from retirement and exchange blows with Manny at a latter part of this year.

What’s your fight results prediction for Pacquiao vs Hatton?

“After a wonderful and very relaxing seaside holiday I am now in the final stage of preparation for the new season which, as you know, will be beginning very soon. Never before have I started a tennis-year as early as the one ahead: I will be back in action on January 1st. I am very much looking forward to the tournament in Abu Dhabi, which is taking place for the first time, as well as the entire season of 2009! There is such a large number of challenges lying ahead - facing them, working hard and giving my best to succeed is precisely why I love my job so much.”

No injuries, no fear and no reason to fail this 2009. 2008 may be a disappointing year for him, having held the top spot till Rafael Nadal snatched the glory from him in August. The five-time US Open and Wimbledon Champion has a record to beat. At 27, he is at his peak but he has two people (Nadal 1st, and Murray 4th) in which he has a losing record. These two are also at the height of their careers.

Australia Open 2009

Having lost to Djokovic in the semis last year despite being the 3-time and defending Champion, it is no doubt that he is out to regain the trophy. Anyone in the top four could beat him. But Roger is the god of tennis.

French Open 2009

Three-time runner up to Rafael Nadal, the clay court is definitely not Roger Federer’s Achilles’ heel. It is just that Rafa is the king of the clay court. Barring any illness or injury to Nadal, Roland Garros may still be a dream for Roger.

Wimbledon 2009

A sixth straight victory at Wimbledon was spoiled by a resurging Rafa. It was the turning point of 2008 when I, watching live at the cable TV, almost fell at my chair. It was a battle of nerves and I could not believe my eyes seeing Federer making errors one after another. He was mortal after all. 2009 will be different. Without any pressures of some records, he could regain the title easily this time around.

US Open 2009

Roger Federer held on for the fifth straight title. He could still own this one in 2009. Andy Murray, the one who could have taken this away in 2008, is also rising fast. And I think that guy has what it takes to become no.1 in 2011. Sorry, Andy!

Grand Slam Records

The 14 grand slam titles of my other tennis idol, Pete Sampras is within reach this 2009. With 13 in his record, Roger Federer is definitely going to take it away this year. My prediction: 3 out of 4 in 2009. Go, Roger!

New Look

I learned of this free theme from Bloggista. This one is the Blue version of his theme. A new look for a new year. How’s that for a change?

New Direction

I am still a participant of the Busby SEO Test. But with 30 days to go and with my site in search engine limbo, my participation would be reduced to a cheerer, and a link-giver to the leading Filipino participants.

I am sports-lover, whether as a player or as a fan. I play basketball, softball, football, volleyball, chess, badminton, darts, tennis, ping-pong and whatever games played when I was in high school. I can even play “takyan” if you like. Yeah, sports is my other passion and writing about it won’t be a problem for me.

I won’t be posting about SEO anymore. My other blog will take care of that. So it will just be about sports in 2009 and onwards.

Wow! Someone’s buying links just to win this contest? Isn’t that against the rules in the Busby SEO Test? Nope, the rules didn’t say anything about buying links. I didn’t really check further as to the identity of that buyer. But I’m amazed. The contest’s top prize is $5,000. Even if you invest $2,000 for 10,000 links, it is still not an assurance of winning. If the big G finds out, there would be a bigger problem.

So what if that link-buying is for negative SEO? I mean putting out a competing site in the SERP rankings. Flooding links to a site would alert the big G, and could lead to penalization of that site. But who knows the intention of the buyer.

I am not buying links, and I’m not selling either (unless it is above $50). And because it’s Christmas time, why don’t we just do a little link-giving here. This one’s free.

By the way, my friend Bloggista is also joining Busby SEO Test challenge. The Bizblogger is exhorting us to spend more this Christmas to help ease the global financial crisis. The FatherBlogger is posting some useful food preparation tips for healthier children. My friend Javi is also busy with his promotion of Palawan as one of the best Philippine destinations.

So there. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Now, let’s see who are the famous people born on Christmas day. Here they are:

1642 - Sir Isaac Newton (English physicist and mathematician)
1821 - Clara Barton (nurse and founder of American Red Cross)
1887 - Conrad Hilton (American hotel magnate)
1899 - Humphrey Bogart (American actor)
1907 - Cab (Cabell) Calloway (American bandleader)
1912 - Tony Martin (Alvin Morris) (American singer and actor)
1915 - Pete Rugolo (Italian-born bandleader, composer)
1918 - Anwar Sadat (Egyptian president; Nobel Peace Prize winner)
1924 - Rod Serling (American TV scriptwriter)
1937 - O’Kelly Isley (American singer: The Isley Brothers)
1945 - Ken Stabler (American football player)
1946 - Jimmy Buffett (American singer and songwriter)
1946 - Larry Csonka (American football player)
1948 - Barbara Mandrell (American singer and actress)
1949 - Sissy (Mary) Spacek (American actress)
1950 - Manny Trillo (Venezuela-born American baseball player)
1953 - Dave Wasick (American football player)
1957 - Shane MacGowan (Irish songwriter and singer)
1958 - Ricky Henderson (American baseball player)

source

Surprisingly, no one was named after Jesus or some other biblical name except for Sir Isaac. Of course, we all know that Jesus wasn’t born on December 25. That day was only designated by some religious powers in the early times.

In a Christian country like the Philippines, those born on Christmas day are famous in schools, in workplace and in their communities. They’re mostly named, Jose, Jesus, or anything similar to it. Along with fame, they also carry the burden of living a life worthy of the true celebrant of Christmas.

This Busby SEO Test participant was not born on Christmas day. But he’ll readily accept Christmas gifts if offered in good faith.

So what shall I do now in order to get back to the SEO race, and in my chase for a better pagerank come update time? I guess I just have to follow my own advices.

I am thankful that the Philippine economy did not fail despite the economic turmoil felt worldwide. Even if I am not pro-GMA, I am still thankful that God gave her and those around her wisdom to run this country.

I am thankful for the promotion, even though it was a bit delayed. God had his perfect timing for everything. I thank my superiors for this opportunity. And I don’t even have to shed tears for the Cebu I left behind because of this relocation that goes with the promotion.

I am thankful for my wife who supported me even though she hates the idea of moving to Manila. We had a great and some scary times exploring Manila.

I am thankful for the Citibank credit card that I could use in purchasing my plane tickets. Traveling to Cebu is now at my own expense.

I thank God for my landlady who allowed me to rent her large room and use her 2HP aircon unit.

I thank God even for those thieves who stole my spare tire. Had the spare tire lock dropped at EDSA, it would have been a disaster.

I thank God for my new staff. They are very cooperative and supportive.

I thank God for another year in my life. I celebrated my 33rd birthday the other week and in time with the promotion assignment.

I also thank God for my friend who, despite leaving his high paying job, also got a new one and an AVP title as a bonus.

I am thankful for the search engines, which brought visitors to this blog and to my other blog. May they also stumble into my Pacquiao vs De La Hoya Dream Match post.

I am thankful for you (yes, you) who are reading this post. Thank you for your time, and may you drop by again in the future.

On the money side, this will also be Manny’s biggest purse in his entire career. Other people wouldn’t mind breaking an arm, a leg and a neck to fight De La Hoya for a couple of million dollars.

For De La Hoya, there could be no more money-making fight than this. Pacquiao is on the rise while he is on a dive. He couldn’t look for Floyd Mayweather or at Ricky Hatton again. No other fighter could possibly be a crowd drawer at this time. No other fight could be a better retirement victory than to stop a fighter on a streak, the current pound-for-pound king, and who has handily beaten other Mexican legends.

For the Mexicans, they can claim De La Hoya as their own. And who would they root for but the one who will fight against the tormentor of their boxing heroes. To see Manny pulverized by De La Hoya is not actually the dream match they want. They want revenge from their legends.

The Filipino people are worried for Manny. Some people in Congress would even want the fight cancelled, saying they are concerned for the safety of the Philippine boxing icon. What if Oscar’s left hook damages the brain of Manny? What if a straight punch would break his skull? What if….? Ok, what if Manny’s punch would make Oscar lose a tooth or two? Of course, there are so many fight results predictions.

Again, the Filipino people are praying for Manny. Maybe perhaps they’re praying for him more than they prayed for the country’s leaders or for the current economic crises that plunges the economies around the world. It’s the people’s dream that they have a hero. This December 7, 2008, (RP time) they will know for themselves the results of this Dream Match: Pacquiao vs De La Hoya.

So I’ll take a break. A break from chasing links and keywords, and return to my sane self. I’ll go back to writing poetry and short stories. I’ll read novels and magazines. I don’t even know what had happened to America after Obama won. And what about Erap? Is he running for the 2010 elections? Or will the administration declare a martial law to keep PGMA in office after 2010.

Yes, I’ll take a break. I’ll explore Manila and Laguna this weekend. They say the Caliraya is awesome. I have to see it for myself. I know that without a guide, I’ll get lost in the maze of streets and highways. So I’ll buy a map.

But only in the Busby SEO Test that I’ll take a break. I have so much work to do. Tons of it!

From a previous high of 44, his ranking dipped to an all-time low and is now among the unknowns, as he is also unknown.

In October 3, 2008, Ceblogger registered as a participant to the Busby SEO World Cup 2 upon the invitation of Lhurey of Phblogger.net. Despite his lack of SEO skills, he courageously restructured his blog in order to compete with the elite.

Now, a month and a half had passed, he is still nowhere near the top. And so he prays, pleads, and begs for mercy. And since today is Ceblogger’s birthday, he wishes that Google give him gifts. Not just one, but the two as follows:

1. Restore his other blogs’ PageRank.
2. Restore the top 50 standing in the Busby SEO Test contest.

But while Google still has to think about this, Ceblogger will just have to enjoy his pizza.