The billiards fever is on in the Philippines. Toothless Filipino world champion Efren Reyes had a good start, winning his two games on the first day.

Reyes is one of those few who managed to rise from the slums and become a multi-millionaire via his exceptional skill at playing billiards. He now makes more money with product endorsements both in TV and print ads. When he started to become famous several years back, billiard halls sprouted like mushrooms in Metro Manila. In our old neighborhood, there was at least one in every block. And they were packed, expecially after dark. The enterprising owners of the houses within the vicinity of these billiard halls started putting up small stores and eateries, taking advantage of the billiard hall crowds.During those early days of Reyes’ fame before billiard halls started populating the cities, up in Baguio, a mountain resort city about five hours north of Metro Manila, a close friend, godmother of Younger-Baby-Girl, whose family owns an expensive steak restaurant in Metro Manila with a branch up in Baguio City, caught the billiards fever and diverted from the family business by putting up a single billiard table in the restaurant. The beer and finger-food sales from the billiard-playing customers was bringing in more money than the regular diners. Realizing the trend, she decided to put up a separate billiard establishment. She pioneered a business industry up there. And she made good money.

Efren Reyes is still at the height of his career. Watching a live telecast, Older-Baby-Girl just informed me that Reyes won his game over a foreigner named Souquet. Despite the awful economic recession that brought down the number of billiard halls (thank, goodness! They were no noisy!), young boys still emulate him and dream of becoming world champions. A goal is good. It gives us a direction in life. But whether Reyes is a proper role model may be subject to debate. A wayward school kid who cut his classes to play billiards in the neighborhood halls, he never finished his education. As a world champion, he has remained humble–seemingly unaffected by fame and fortune.