Aquino applauds 'Django', Ana Julaton

Aquino applauds 'Django', Ana Julaton - Yahoo! Philippines News: "President Benigno Aquino III is presented by Ana 'The Hurricane' Julaton with a pair of autographed boxing gloves during a courtesy call on him Monday (July 12). Looking on are billiards legends Efren 'Bata' Reyes and Francisco 'Django' Bustamante. (ALFREDO FRANCISCO-OPS/NIB Photo)

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III praised the recent achievements of cue artist Francisco “Django” Bustamante and Filipino-American pugilist Ana “The Hurricane” Julaton in Malaca�ang on Monday."

Bustamante, the 2010 World 9-Ball victor, and Julaton, the World Boxing Organization (WBO) super bantamweight champion, paid a courtesy call on Aquino Monday afternoon at the Presidential Guest House.

Julaton presented to the President the Everlast boxing gloves she used in winning the vacant WBO title last month.


She toppled Maria Elena Villalobos of Mexico by split decision at “Rumble at the Rama XII” at the Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada on June 30.

Aquino even told the Fil-Am boxer that his father, the late Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr., was into boxing during his college days.

The President also received a cue stick from Bustamante, who was accompanied by his wife Milagros, billiards godfather Aristeo “Putch” Puyat, and fellow Filipino pool legend Efren “Bata” Reyes.

Bustamante won the World 9-Ball title after edging “The Little Monster” Kuo Po-cheng of Chinese Taipei, 13-7, at the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation hall in Doha, Qatar early this month.

The win placed Bustamante in the elite group of Filipino World 9-ball champions that includes Reyes (1999), Alex “The Lion” Pagulayan (2004) and Ronnie “Volcano” Alcano (2006).

‘Django’ eyes more titles

After capturing the World 9-Ball title that he almost won in 2002, Bustamante jumped to No. 2 in the 2010 Player Money List with $69,338.

Reyes currently leads the list with $71,012 after conquering the 2010 Spanish Open in Vigo, Spain last June 21 to 23. He bested Niels “The Terminator” Feijen of the Netherlands in the finals.

According to AZbilliards.com, other Filipinos in the money list are No. 5 Lee Van “The Slayer” Corteza with $37,625 and No. 7 Dennis “Robocop” Orcollo with $33,775.

Bustamante is said to be setting his sights on the US Open, which he has not won yet.

Before the US Open in October, he and Reyes will defend their World Cup of Pool crown in Manila in September.

Ana "The Hurricane" Julaton and Francisco "Django" Bustamante

Julaton in Manila

Julaton, for her part, expressed her desire to fight before her kababayans in the Philippines.

“Negotiations are still taking place but I hope to have my next fight here,” said the ward of famed trainer Freddie Roach.

The Fil-Am fighter, a former WBO and International Boxing Association (IBA) champion, has 7 wins (with 1 knockout), 2 losses and 1 draw.

“Despite being able to acquire these titles, it’s a lot of pride for me to show the world what is it to be a Filipina, strong, resilient and we have a place in this world,” added Julaton in a press conference as quoted by The Philippine Star.

She also regarded Roach as “an excellent communicator,” sharing that the American trainer told her to show a lot of confidence against her Mexican opponent. – With reports from the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS), Joey Villar of The Philippine Star and Marlon Bernardino