Laura Elorde: My love for Bay was a case of love at first sight

Laura Elorde: My love for Bay was a case of love at first sight

By Atty. Romy Macalintal

Anyone who says that there is no such thing as a true love that lasts forever may not have heard of the love story between the late great boxing idol, Gabriel “Flash” Elorde, and his widow, Mrs. Laura Sarreal-Elorde who just passed away last May 3.

This recollection of the life and love of Laura and Bay (nickname of Elorde and Laura’s word of endearment to him) is based on my collection of newspaper and magazine clippings about Flash Elorde dating back in the ‘60s until his retirement in January 1971. Each item is dated and source duly noted – perhaps a foreshadowing of my becoming a lawyer whose evidence must always be properly authenticated.

On March 25, 2011 I personally met Laura in an event at the Sofitel Hotel that honored the great achievements of Flash Elorde.  It was there where I brought my memorabilia about Elorde. When I showed it to her, she was so impressed and even wrote a marginal note in one of the news clips saying: “Mac, your collection astounds me.  May I copy some. Best wishes.  Signed: Laura Elorde.”

Elorde was that poor boy from Cebu who finished only the third grade of his elementary education due to extreme poverty. His boxing career in the ‘50s was managed and promoted by Lope Sarreal, Sr., father of Laura Sarreal, a BSE graduate at the Far Eastern University with English as her major.

It was during Lope Sarreal’s management of Elorde’s boxing career that the latter met Laura.  In an article written for the Sunday Times Magazine by Felix M. Caliwag on December 10, 1961, entitled: “Mrs. Gabriel Elorde, Forever Woman Behind the Man”, Laura said: “Bay is a perfect gentleman.  He’s so respectable that when I first met him, it was a case of love at first sight.”

And that led to their lovely wedding in February 1954.  At that time Elorde was the reigning bantamweight champion of the Philippines and later, on March 16, 1960, became the junior lightweight champion of the world when he knocked out then reigning champion American Harold Gomes in   the seventh round of a 15-round fight.

But while Laura never watched Elorde’s fights, she said that “Bay knows that my love and prayers are always with him”, Caliwag wrote.
Asked why she does not attend Elorde’s fights, Laura said that “boxing is a thankless sport.  You hear so many nasty remarks against a boxer, and this does not exempt world champions…moreover I want to avoid seeing my Bay being the target of vicious punches.  I’m human and I love Bay.”

Laura and Bay were described as a “deeply religious couple (that) everytime Elorde has a fight, they both go to church first thing in the morning.  We both pray to God not only for us to win but we also ask that no accident or harm would befall Bay and his opponent.”

The humble and very simple character of Laura was demonstrated in her answer to the question how it feels to be the wife of a world champion.  “Even the wife of a laborer or a hardy peasant is proud of her husband.  Now, why should I not be proud of Bay even if he were just an ordinary boxer. Bay’s attitude towards life is one of humility.  His policy, win or lose, is to be thankful to those who helped us.  And he loves his fans.”

Caliwag wrote that Laura’s love and respect for Bay goes to the extent of taking care of his diet. “For breakfast, she gives him toast, soft boiled eggs and coffee.  For lunch and supper she gives him steak.  Bay’s favorite is adobo but he can eat it only after his fights.”

Indeed, the love, respect and trust that blossomed between Laura and Flash Elorde are living testimonies that there is such thing as true love which can last forever.  In 1961, Laura was described as “Forever Woman Behind The Man”. With Laura’s death, she has just joined Bay in heaven where they will surely live forever and ever.

I just don’t know how long my collection of these news clips about Elorde could last.  So to fulfill Laura’s wish of having “some copy” of my collection, I am willing to donate all these items to the Elorde family or to any Elorde Museum to immortalize the memories of one of the greatest Filipino boxers of all time. Also my thanks to Felix M. Caliwag for his said article about Laura. I wonder where he is now.

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*Atty. Romy Macalintal is an election lawyer.  In his younger days he collected news and magazine clippings about the life and fights of popular boxers, such as, but not limited to, Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) and Gabriel “Flash” Elorde.  He is the only one in the world who had a two-hour encounter with Ali in 1975’s Thrilla in Manila when he met Ali in his suite where the latter signed his album.  He has a wide collection of newspaper front page fotos of Senator Manny Pacquiao’s fights which the latter had autographed.  He is Pacquiao’s Election Lawyer.