By DYAN CASTILLEJO-GARCIA
with JACKIE CASTILLEJO

This particular Sports Unlimited episode has “Top Gun” written all over it.

Let me start off by introducing Iren Dornier.

Iren has a dynamic and daring spirit. One of his motto’s in life is “to live in the moment.” He pursued his dreams aggressively and turned them into reality.

Iren Dornier’s passion for art and technique has not changed in his entire life. When he was 12 years old, he earned money by restoring old motorcycles with the likes of BMWs.

Iren also loved to work with electronics. He has already built transistor radios, amplifiers and transmitters.

Apart from manufacturing these devices, Iren was also inclined with photography, which eventually became his profession. He became a fashion-photographer, developing photos from his very own laboratory.

After he graduated in Ecol’e de Humanitee, he studied Agriculture at Biologiche Dynamische Landwirt and continued to study Smith Mechanics to get a degree.

In 1990, he went to America to learn to fly. He worked as a flight instructor, ferry pilot, commercial pilot, airline transport pilot and helicopter pilot.

With much enthusiasm for technique and invention, registering various patents, Iren decided to start his engineering company in 1996— the Dornier Technologie, which is still in business today, working with Airbus and other renowned companies.

Iren has also created his first brand new watch called the Century of Aviation. His design “Do-X 1929” is already circulating in the market.

Iren made use of his talent as an airline pilot by creating Southeast Asian Airlines in the Philippines with his partner Nicos Gitsis. Gitsis is a pilot himself. He is one of the very few pilots who have been on the jet.

My partner Marc was the first non-pilot to ever ride the Dornier Alpha Jet with Iren himself as the pilot.

Marc looked astounded when Iren showed him parts of the plane. Iren explained to Marc the safety features which will help Marc feel more relaxed during the flight.

Marc is born to be a thrill-seeker. Getting on the jet with Iren is definitely going to make his adrenalin rush for a long, long time.

Battle of Cebu
As early as 4 p.m., boxing fans were already lining up outside the Cebu City Sports Complex to see the matchups of the "Battle of Cebu: Moment of Truth."

The "Queen City of the South" had long been ready for the biggest boxing event. Posters and signs were scattered on the streets. Televisions were dominated by news about the boxers and their training.

Come fight night, almost 20,000 fans filled the complex.

The weather cooperated with a lovely night and a cool wind.

Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao came to support his fellow Pinoys during the battle on the ring.

The first of the three main cards came.

Jimrex “The Executioner” Jaca was up against the Indonesian champion Simson Butar Butar -- the fighter who predicted he would put out Jaca in three rounds. Butar Butar was hurt early in the fight. He looked intoxicated. The Filipino continued to dominate and on the 7th round, Butar Butar went down. Jaca took the WBO Asia Pacific Super Feahter Weight belt.

Next was the much awaited world title fight between Z “The Dream” Gorres and the champion Fernando Montiel. Everyone expected a tough fight. Montiel was a fierce and experienced warrior. He came in full force traveling to the Philippines with his three brothers and father who was also his coach. But Z was confident. He had pushed himself to the limit during his training in the US. This fight was his huge opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream of a world title. Gorres had a great start and led most of the early rounds.

I watched the fight with boxing experts Ronnie Nathanielz, Nic Gionco and Dennis Principe. They were right.

Gorres is a beautiful fighter to watch but Montiel kept his aggressiveness. And on the 10th round, Monitel scored a big one with a right to Gorres. He was visibly groggy but he held on.

Unfortunately the judges gave him deductions for clinching or holding the Mexican too much. Montiels strong finish gave the fight an unbelievable result. A split decision victory was given to Montiel.

The Mexican retained the WBO World Superflyweight crown. Many of the viewers did not agree with the judges’ call.

Z was disappointed. He shed tears and apologized to his coach, managers and the Filipinos for not being able to clinch the title.

I spoke to Montiel after the fight. He was ecstatic and thanked the Filipino audience for their appreciation of world class boxing and for their warm welcome despite him going up against a Filipino.

Bohol’s star Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista’s fight was the last for the night. The 20-year old undefeated pro was determined to avenge the loss of his mate. Boom Boom lived up to his name, exploding with lefts and rights to the body of his opponent from Mexico, Marino Gonzalez.

As predicted, the fight didn’t last long. Gonzalez went down in round three.

Boom Boom stayed undefeated and he will fight as an undercard in the much awaited Oscar de la Hoya and Floyd Mayweather match on May 5 in Las Vegas.

Pinoys definitely enjoyed the three battles. They were also impressed with the Bai Elorde and AJ Banal fight.

Toward the end, everyone got their fill of world class boxing. International visitors had nothing but praises for the entire Battle of Cebu, Moment of truth.

Golden Boy vice-president Eric Gomez said Filipino fight fans are the best in the world. He personally announced that Boom Boom and new Pinoy sensation AJ Banal will join Oscar de la Hoya in training in Puerto Rico.

Both Pinoys are set to be undercards in the May 5 fight in the boxing capital of the world, Las Vegas.