(Manila)--Inside the brightly lit men's dressing room, a swarm of young actors, singers, dancers and celebrities are waiting for their turn to appear on stage. Amidst the throng of made-up stars, Ronnie Alcano, dressed in white jeans and a light color, short sleeve shirt, stands and quietly studies the lines written on his note cards, as the two main stars, Janno Gibbs, a famous Filipino host and actor, and Ogie Alcasid, a popular singer, go over with Alcano how they're going to play the upcoming bit. Every few moments, various young Filipino celebrities come up to congratulate Alcano, or they pose with him and snap a picture with their cell phones.

Normally early Sunday afternoon would find Alcano asleep, after a long night of money games at the local pool hall. But two weeks after winning the World Pool Championship just down the street at the Philippine International Convention Center, little remains of Alcano's once normal life as a promising young pool player. That's why he's here at the brand new Mall of Asia, purported to be Asia's largest mall, making an appearance on one of the Philippines most popular TV variery shows, SOP, which weekly offers its tens of millions of viewers the biggest stars in the land.

Compared to the pretty boy actors and rugged dancers sprawled all over the packed men's dressing room, the lanky Alcano cuts a rather nonchalant figure. On the surface he seems as cool as ever. But his darting eyes and slightly agitated demeanor clearly show he's not as cool as when he's staring down a long cut on the nine-ball to win an important rack. A floor manager walks in and signals to Gibbs that they're on next. The three men walk to their position at the back of the stage, at the top of a set of stairs. The three wait while a group of young, too-pretty male and female dancers perform a sexdance number. Then, on cue from the floor director, the three men descend the staircase and approach the podium surrounded by canned applause. Alcano's co-presenters introduce the new World Pool Champion and the audience applauds. Alcano then reads out the winners of a music award. The group comes up and accepts their trophy and thanks the crowd. Three minutes after it began, Alcano is done for the day.

Outside in the mall, several thousand fans who couldn't get in the auditorium have gathered behind barriers, and they squeal and shout when a famous Filipino actor walks by. They don't squeal for Alcano as he heads out, but he is noticed nonetheless. A student reporter asks for an interview and Alcano obliges, sitting down with her and answering questions for 20 minutes. The owner of a painting shop invites him in for a photograph. Later even as he, his two children and his friends eat at a busy restaurant in the mall, Alcano is interrupted perhaps once every minute or two, by someone asking for an autograph or a photo.

In the two weeks since he captured the World Pool Championship, Ronnie Alcano's life has clearly changed forever. Before Alcano was well known only amongst fans in the billiards community, another superb talent in the burgeoning crowd of great players and potential world champions emerging out of the Philippines. Now he has entered an entirely different realm, one of movie stars and superstars, where the wider society beyond pool knows everything about him.

That momentous change began the moment he raised the silver cup and the raucous crowd at the Convention Center loudly and lustily chanted his name, �Ronnie!! Ronnie!!, Ronnie!!!� And surely it became absolutely crystal clear to Alcano the second he left the press room after his obligatory meeting with the large media scrum. Hundreds of fans were waiting for him like a pack of hungry coyotes. Each had World Pool Championship posters, caps, t-shirts, local pool cues, even just a plain piece of paper that needed to be signed immediately. A phalanx of cops�who made sure to get their autographs-- quickly organized everyone in a line and Alcano signed away for over an hour. And it hasn't stopped since.

Filipinos, used to a steady diet of outrageous tragedy, absurd politics, of personal dead ends and massive trials and tribulations, are natural suckers for a great dramatic tale with a fairy tale ending. In this Alcano hit the jackpot with his story-book run to claim the world title, and in his home country to boot, where an estimated 50 million viewers watched him defeat Ralf Souquet live and in color.

His victory had all the ingredients of one of those dramatic telenovelas that proliferate on television in the Philippines; a n ordinary man who comes from the same teeming masses who toil in poverty and obscurity each hour of every day; a professional billiard player, the sport of the masses, b arely squeezing into the final 64 of the biggest tournament of them all, then taking down world champions along the way, including the legend Reyes and the defending champion Wu. Cool, confident� and toothless. Ronnie Alcano has become the latest metaphor for the dream of every one of the Philippines' 60 million poor.

Little wonder then that Ronnie Alcano hasn't gotten much sleep since capturing the title. After signing his way out of the Convention Center, he headed to Bugsy's Lair, the one-table pool room owned by his manager, Perry Mariano. There he greeted well wishers throughout the night before appearing live on a popular national morning TV show, where he was the top news story.

Alcano even took a congratulatory phone call from the Philippines most popular athlete, boxer Manny Pacquiao, who was training in Los Angeles for his upcoming fight with Mexican great Erik Morales. Pacquaio, who when he's not training for a fight can usually be found playing money games in Manila's popular pool halls, has been friends with Alcano for three years. Pacquaio regularly stakes several Filipino players, including Alcano, in large money matches.

The following day, Alcano visited a regular Pacquaio spot, the presidential palace, where he met with President Gloria Arroyo, who presented him with a cake shaped like a pool table, awarded Alcano the title of �Champion for Life,� and handed him a $20,000 check. The next day he visited the offices of the Philippines largest corporation, San Miguel, who also was a major sponsor of the World Pool Championship, and received an additional $6000. San Miguel will likely make Alcano an endorser along the lines of Efren Reyes.

The following day the new world champion finally made it back to his home town of Calamba, in the province of Laguna, about one hour's drive south of Manila, where city leaders organized a grand welcome. Here again the storyline provided more sizzle to the story book tale. Calamba just so happens to be the hometown of the Philippines' main national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, whose explosive writings in the late 19 th century led to his execution at the hands of the Spaniards, which then sparked the Philippine revolution.

�He(Alcano) is our city's latest national hero,� proclaimed Mayor Joaquin Chipeco Jr. But while Rizal was raised in rather comfortable circumstances, Alcano found himself at the bottom of the social totem pole from the beginning. The third of five boys, Alcano grew up in an impoverished community. He and his four brothers were introduced to the game of billiards by their late father Ricardo, who had a stint as a professional basketball player. Ricardo used to rent a commercial stall at the old market plaza where he operated 13 billiards tables. It was there where Alcano learned to love pool.

The father, and especially the mother, discouraged Alcano from playing billiards, however, instead wanting him to focus on his education.

�I used to stop him from playing because he was skipping his classes just to play billiards,� Alcano's mother said recently. �But now that he's a champion, I don't regret the life he chose.� The Alcanos' one-bedroom, 50-square-meter house is located on a privately owned lot. The simple house, which sits just down the street from Rizal's ancestral home, is constructed of unpainted cement blocks, with a rusting tin roof. The owner of the lot has given notice that he will soon demolish the house and has asked the family to move out. One of Alcano's first purchases will more than likely be a new home for the family.

Before he could even visit his mother, however, Alcano had to feel the embrace of his adoring provincemates. The parade, which began at 7am and included a convoy of 20 vehicles, wound around the entire city for several hours as thousands of residents turned out to greet the local boy done good. Students were let out of school, office workers took off from their desks. Amidst the throng cheering their native son, one middle-aged woman shouted, �Alcano, I want to have your baby!� Another yelped, �Give us a share of your winnings!� Afterwards, Alcano received $2000 from the mayor, then an additional $1000 from a local business club.

In between the request for appearances have come endless media interviews, along with a line of new found friends and long lost relatives, all looking for even a small piece of the pie. For Alcano, it's all come as a massive learning experience.

�I've been super busy,� he said at the mall restaurant between bites of his lunch, and regular requests from Filipinos approaching and asking for a photo and a signature. �It's not like before when I can go anywhere and people don't even know me. Now, there are people chasing me asking for pictures and autographs. There are places I used to go but I can't go anymore.�

Even the sanctuary of his favorite pool hall has not accorded him a breather from the onslaught. Several days after winning the World Championship he walked into the One Side pool hall in the Malate section of Manila. Normally this would be his refuge where he can do what he normally does just about everyday; play pool and gamble the night away. Alcano walked through the front doors and the players and watchers on hand gave him a round of applause. Immediately people were asking for his autograph. Soon others who normally wouldn't even think about entering a pool hall were coming in and asking for a signature, or to pose for a snapshot.

Alcano says the adulation has come as somewhat of a surprise to him, as he never gave any thought to what it might be like if he ever did win the World Championship.

�I never thought of it,� he said. �I never realized it would be like this. This is the actual life of a winner, a champion. I just have to live with it and go with the flow. Now I fully understand what it's like to be Efren. But of course this has always been my dream to be like him.�

Naturally the comparisons between the two are readily made. Like Efren, Alcano is the humble, rural provincial boy, the regular guy who came from nothing and has stayed close to his roots. While that could certainly be said of nearly every Filipino player, Alcano himself says he has always patterned his entire game after Efren, referring to himself as Efren Jr, mimicking Reyes' stroke, his laid back demeanor, even his facial features. Five years ago, Alcano claims he had what few teeth were left in his mouth pulled, so he could look like the famously toothless legend.

Interestingly, since Alcano won the World Pool Championship, some pool observers have dug up an obscure quote which Reyes gave in a 2003 interview with Azbilliards.com.

�There are many young promising players in the Philippines,� Reyes told the website, �like Lee Van Corteza, Dennis Orcullo and Warren Kiamco. But of all the players, I think Ronnie Alcano is the one who has more or less adopted my style of play.�

It should be pointed out that nobody in Philippine billiard circles is proclaiming Alcano to be the new Reyes. Everyone, including Alcano, recognizes the sheer greatness of Reyes, and that replacing such a national treasure is literally impossible.

What is clear from the reaction of even ordinary non-pool fans in the Philippines to Alcano's victory, though, is that the 34 year old has already succeeded in carving out his own path, and immortalized his name forever in local lore. Just as surely as countless others will in the very near future.

Indeed the main lesson derived from Ronnie Alcano's stirring victory in front of his countrymen is that the billiards rocket ship in the Philippines has now cleared the launch pad and is well on its way to soaring high into the outer universe.

�Ronnie's win marked the start of a new era in Philippine pool,� said Alcano's manager Perry Mariano, who looks after a total of nine players, including World Pool quarterfinalist Jeffrey de Luna, Orcollo, Gandy Valle and Jerhome Pena. �His win will serve as a catalyst for new players, new names, for young kids. In a year or two you're going to see so many new names cropping up in the pool scene. It won't be just one player but numerous players. Ronnie's win will arouse competitiveness in the sport. No longer will the entire sport be centered on the invincibility of one player. That has been going on here for 20 years and it nearly killed the sport.�

Mariano is referring to a topic that has, until recently, been discussed in hushed tones in the Philippines. That is the seeming protection of Reyes as the only player who can carry the banner of Filipino greats. While Reyes' legendary status is firmly intact, people have lately been asking why an entire generation went by with only one Filipino grabbing nearly the entire spotlight, even while the talent pool has been extremely deep for decades.

�Monopolies are bad for any business,� Mariano said. �Competition is good. People are excited about seeing good competition. That's why Ronnie winning the world pool championship is a spark, a kick for the sport of pool in the Philippines. The fans saw what he did, how he did it, and he did here at home against the best in the world.�

With the World Pool Championship almost sure to be held in Manila next year, and perhaps for several years after that, the opportunities for everyone�players, advertisers, fans-- are growing exponentially. Already World Pool organizer Raya Sports is planning on hosting the World Pool Championship next November, along with a full schedule of international and local events for the 2007 calendar. With the Philippine market so bullish on pool, other events are bound to crop up, as well. This surge in pool's popularity means that the young talent, which is literally everywhere one looks in this archipelago, is going to have ample opportunity to show its stuff, to get exposure, to earn a real living playing pool. Which surely translates into more Filipinos winning world titles in the years to come.

For the moment, though, Ronnie Alcano continues to deservedly hog the spotlight cast by his billiard-loving countrymen and women, who remain amazed at his incredible feat. How did he beat Efren knowing the entire nation was rooting against him? Why did he appear so cool and collected under such tremendous pressure? His answers reveal much of what Filipinos seem to like about him. He is who he says he is and wants to remain an ordinary guy.

�When I played Efren,� he said, �I was thinking that if I can beat him, I can beat anyone. For me playing him was a challenge. It was like playing against my idol. All my matches I tell myself �if I lose, it's ok. Because I was the last one to make it into the last 64 of the tournament, I tell myself there's no pressure. I just enjoyed myself.

�Some of the players can't accept their defeat. They are always under pressure emotionally. I am not stressed because I don't worry about winning. I've always looked at it as it's just a game. So when I play Ralf, I don't feel like it's a championship. I'm so relaxed. I don't put any pressure on myself. It's like it was a regular match.� So much so, he revealed, that the night before the final, he stayed at the One Side playing money matches until seven in the morning.

Alcano says he doesn't feel any particular responsibility being a world champion, only that he wants to compete in the biggest tournaments around the world and raise the level of his game even more.

�I just want to be a regular guy,� he said when asked if he'll change. There is one thing, however, that he's definitely going to modify soon. Alcano says he now has a sponsor who will provide him with a full set of teeth. When it's pointed out that the new choppers will mean he longer resemble his long time idle, Alcano responds in a manner that will surely get nods of agreement, if not a few laughs, from his millions of new fans.

�No more Efren Jr, that's finished,� Alcano said with a toothless smile uncannily reminiscent of his legendary hero. �Now I'll be Ronnie Alcano. I'm the World Champion.�

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