MANILA, Philippines—The prosecution team on Wednesday slammed the defense panel’s argument on why Chief Justice Renato Corona was singled out in the impeachment case when other Supreme Court justices were involved in the ruling on the temporary restraining order for former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

In a news conference held after the impeachment trial on Wednesday, Bayan Muna Party-list Representative and lead prosecutor for Article 7 Neri Colmenares said the defense would not argue the resolution was made by a collegiate body.

Colmenares said Corona, using his position as Chief Justice, had the authority to immediately set the hearing on the TRO and “committed an act of partiality.”

He added the defense must not argue that all justices who favored the TRO should be held accountable since it was Corona’s decision to distort the Supreme Court en banc decision.

“He (Corona) cannot hide behind collegiality because the act is his and his alone,” Colmenares said. He added the other justices who favored the TRO may have voted without bias and partiality.

The prosecution alleged that Corona, on the basis of his close relationship Arroyo, had reversed the ruling of the Supreme Court en banc decision.

Colmenares quoted the dissenting opinion made by SC Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on the TRO which says the resolution released did not contain the decision that SC justices arrived at during their en banc hearing on the issue.

Colmenares, quoting the “archaic” SC rules said during en banc sessions, only the Chief Justice will be allowed to take down notes which will then be used as the basis of the minutes of the hearing and the resolution to be released.

Colmenares added the unsigned resolution need not be reviewed by other justices hence it came as a surprise for other justices when the resolution stated that Arroyo and her husband, former first gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, will be allowed to leave the country without needing to comply with the conditions

WHO OWNS IPAD? Ma Dongxiao, right, an attorney for Shenzhen Proview Technology, speaks to journalists after a premlinary hearing at a courthouse Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012, in Shanghai, China. The Chinese company fighting Apple Inc. over its use of the iPad trademark in China took its complaints to a Shanghai court Wednesday, though it says it is willing to talk about a settlement. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko

SHANGHAI— Apple Inc. defended its right to use the iPad trademark in China in a heated court hearing Wednesday that pitted the electronics giant against a struggling Chinese electronics company that denies having sold the mainland China rights to the popular tablet computer’s name.

Shenzhen Proview Technology’s lawyer Xie Xianghui argued that the sale of the iPad trademark to an Apple subsidiary by Proview’s Taiwan affiliate in 2009 was invalid. Apple countered that Proview violated the sale contract by failing to transfer the trademark rights in mainland China.

It also contends that the Chinese LCD maker has not marketed or sold its own “IPAD,” or Internet Personal Access Device for years, thus possibly invalidating its claim to the trademark.

The hearing adjourned after a fractious four-hour session which saw the judge repeatedly admonishing both sides to observe proper court protocol as they argued across the courtroom. No date was announced for a judgment or further hearings.

“Apple has no right to sell iPads under that name,” Xie said. “The agreement to sell the trademark is not valid under Chinese law.”

Proview is suing to have Apple stop selling the iPad in China under that name. It has also sought to have commercial authorities in many cities order sales to stop. Ma Xiaodong, another Proview lawyer, said after the hearing that the company plans to file lawsuits against Apple in other cities.

Apple’s lawyers demanded that Proview provide evidence that its product is actually marketed in China, contending that the heavily indebted Chinese company has no ability to produce the IPAD. They also demanded Proview provide guarantees it could pay compensation for any losses if the court were to halt iPad sales pending a final decision on ownership of the trademark. The Proview side said it could pay in cash.

Apple has appealed an earlier ruling against it in a court in Shenzhen, a city in southern China’s Guangdong province. The Guangdong High Court is due to hear that case on Feb. 29.

Earlier, Xie said that since no final decisions have been reached in various legal disputes over the issue, both sides were “still able to sit together and reach an out-of-court settlement.” Apple has shown no indication of willingness to settle.

The trademark case is highlighting mixed attitudes toward Apple in China. Chinese are just as crazy about iPads and iPhones as consumers anywhere else and the devices are manufactured in China, employing hundreds of thousands of people.

But public awareness has been growing of criticism over the labor and environmental practices of huge factories that assemble the devices. Taiwan’s Foxconn Technology Group, which makes iPads in China, has been under intense scrutiny after a spate of worker suicides. It recently raised wages by up to 25 percent in the second major salary hike in less than two years.

Apple, based in Cupertino, California, insists it holds the trademark rights to the iPad in China, having purchased them from Proview for 35,000 British pounds ($55,000) through a company set up for that purpose.

A court in Hong Kong, which has a separate legal system from mainland China, ruled in July that Proview had acted with the intention of “injuring Apple.” Proview’s lawyers argued Wednesday that any rulings in Hong Kong were not admissable in Chinese courts.

So far, iPads have been pulled from shelves in some Chinese cities but there has been no sign of action at the national level.

LONDON—Just over a week after her spectacular sweep at the Grammys, British soul diva Adele triumphed on home soil Tuesday at the annual Brit Awards in London.

British singer-songwriter Adele accepts the British Female Solo Artist award at the BRIT Awards 2012 in London on February 21, 2012. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL

The 23-year-old picked up two awards — including the prestigious British album of the year — to add to the six Grammys she won in Los Angeles, cementing her status as one of Britain’s most successful pop exports in years.

Adele — whose career was threatened last year by a throat illness — claimed British female solo artist and best album for “21,” which topped the charts in Britain and the United States.

Accepting the best album gong, she said: “Nothing makes me prouder than coming home with six Grammys and then coming home and winning British album of the year.

“I’m so proud to be British and to be flying the flag.”

The singer also thanked her record company “for letting me be the kind of artist that I’ve always wanted to be,” and her fans. “No one’s ever made me feel like I have to be any different, so thank you very much,” she added.

However, her global chart-topper “Rolling at the Deep” was beaten to best single by British boy band One Direction’s “What Makes You Beautiful.”

The home-town winner sang her hit song in front of a packed 02 Arena, only her second performance since undergoing surgery to cure her throat condition.

Fans were shocked to read a post-Grammys interview in which the soul diva said she was taking five years off to “be in love and be happy.” But the singer later laughed this off.

Writing in her personal blog shortly afterwards, she said: “I’ve a few days off now, and then it’s the Brit Awards here at home and then I’m straight into the studio. BOYYAHH! 5 years? More like 5 days!”

It was also a successful night for folk-inspired singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran, who won best British male and British breakthrough, and for Coldplay, who were named best British group for a record third time.

US singer Bruno Mars topped the best international male category, while compatriots Foo Fighters picked up the best international group.

Barbadian superstar Rihanna — who was awarded best international female — was among the performers along with former Oasis songwriter Noel Gallagher and Coldplay.

Veteran four-piece Blur brought the ceremony to a close with breezy renditions of 1990s indie classics “Girls and Boys,” “Song 2″ and “Parklife.”

ADRIANA Zubiri, Bronte Henfling and AndyWuthrich

It’s not very often I get to meet a real angel. Last Wednesday, that was exactly what I got to do.

Bronte Henfling had no wings or halo—only tap dancing shoes, a tiara  and hot-pink nails, as all 7-year-old angels do.

I had been looking forward to meeting Bronte ever since my sister-in-law, Ana, forwarded me a link to her video on YouTube. You may have heard of her and her video by now, which starts with familiar images and videos of the tragedy of Tropical Storm “Sendong.”

But what is unusual is the voice accompanying it. It’s a young and innocent voice explaining, to the best of her abilities, what has just happened to all these families and more important, how the children must be feeling.

She asks the viewer, “How would you feel?” with a sense of urgency, but she does not end there. She comes up with a plan to bring some joy to these children—1,000 stuffed toys for Bronte and Frank’s (that’s her teddy bear) Typhoon Toy Drive!

As Adriana and I made our way to Mandarin Oriental, I wondered how many bears the video had been able to gather. At the lobby lounge, we were met by family friend Nena Wuthrich. Nena is the foundation development head at LBC Foundation and my link to Bronte and her mom, Megan Worthy.

A NOTE from a donor

We immediately saw the hotel’s teddy bear drop-off point, “Tree of Love,” under which hundreds of colorful bears, of all shapes and sizes, were carefully stacked. Adriana and Bronte gleefully added our bears to the pile while I congratulated Megan on a job well done.

“Oh, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There are many more bears than that!” she said. “We’ve got about 3,500.”

Devastation

ADRIANA Zubiri and Bronte Henfling under the “Tree of Love”

This all began when Bronte, with her parents, saw the devastation of “Sendong” on TV. Living in Los Angeles, she was not familiar with typhoons. While other parents might have tried to shield their young children from such a traumatizing occurrence, Megan explained it all to her.

Taking her cue from her parents, who, at this point were doing what they could to help through Hands On Manila, Bronte decided  she had to do something as well.

“One day, Bronte came and said, ‘If I lost Frank, I’d cry for days!’”

Inspiration was found in a child’s beloved bear and constant companion since she was a baby.

Armed with a video camera and plush toys as supporting cast in her video, Bronte proceeded to record her message and plea. They didn’t know what to expect. After all, millions of videos are uploaded every day. Who would notice this one?

A lot of people, apparently. Soon, bears were arriving, not just from Filipinos, but from all over the world—the US, Europe, Japan and Australia.

And the best part was that it was children themselves mobilizing to collect bears, such as what Bronte’s 7-year-old cousin in New York did.

She immediately wrote a letter and read it to her classmates in school.

Before long, Megan received word that 200 bears were on their way.

Meanwhile, Nena’s 9-year-old niece, Andy, managed to collect a good number of bears from her schoolmates and friends. Many of the bears came with note tags and letters written by their young owners, and with wishes for the new owners.

HENFLING and mom MeganWorthy

One day, they got an urgent call. The message was short and cryptic. Unsure of what to expect, they proceeded to the ballroom where the Mandarin Oriental’s general manager Mark Bradford, with the entire hotel staff, had decided to surprise their guests with a stage full of bears!

Shocked

Each employee had brought one (or more) to help Bronte’s cause. “She was so shocked she couldn’t say anything!” Megan laughingly recalls.

As bonus,  Bradford announced that the hotel would be dry cleaning the bears before they are sent off to the children in Cagayan de Oro.

How do you send 3,500 bears to Cagayan de Oro? That’s when the video fell into the lap of Nena. She immediately mobilized the LBC Foundation and now, as you read this, they are busy packing, storing  and shipping the bears, to be delivered Feb. 26.

Then came the trip to Cagayan de Oro. It would have to be a Sunday so that Bronte’s father, Skip Henfling, a location accountant for the production team of “The Bourne Legacy,” could join them. The plan was for the trio to go on a C130, courtesy of an American captain Megan met in the lobby, but since the return flight would be a problem, another plan was needed.

It didn’t take long for Liza Gokongwei to hear about Bronte and immediately, Cebu Pacific was offering the family the trip to CDO where they would be met by the representatives of the Black Pencil Project. The project has been busy conducting the post-traumatic stress and grief counseling of the children. It will distribute the stuffed toys to the thousands of children affected by the tragedy.

Some people tried to discourage the family from taking Bronte to the evacuation centers because the experience might be too much for such a young age. “But that’s just the thing. I want her to experience it. I don’t want this to just be an idea for her. I want it to go full circle for her,” Megan said.

“This is what I’ve always done. I’ve always exposed her to the realities of every place we go to.”

For this family, that’s a lot of places.

Bronte turned a year old in Budapest, 2 in Moscow, 3 in Milan, 4 and 5 in Los Angeles, 6 in Paris, 7 seven in Manila.

FRANK, Henfling’s bear and a character in the children’s books “Bronte and Frank” and “Bronte and Frank Go to Moscow”

Working in the location production industry means that the family is always on the go. For short-term stays, Bronte is home-schooled using an official US home-school curriculum.

When they know that they will stay in the country for a long period, they enroll Bronte in school but unlike other expat families, they shy away from international schools and, instead, choose local schools where their daughter can immerse herself in the culture and learn the language of the country.

Enriching experience

This experience has been truly enriching for both the parents and child. It has given Bronte a childhood that is unique and far from sheltered.

Meanwhile, Megan has used these journeys to come out with a travel tips book for children and a multi-awarded series of children’s story/activity/travel books under the title “Bronte and Frank.”

The first is “Bronte and Frank Go to Moscow”—a gem of a book filled with clever ways to teach basic Russian words, places  and culture, as well as activities to entertain while traveling. I can’t wait to see a “Bronte and Frank Go to Manila”!

They travel as much as they can in whatever country they’re in, and try to show Bronte both the beauty and harsh realities of the places they visit. On a recent trip to Boracay, they showed her not only the beautiful beach, but also the inland villages and local communities.

There, Bronte spent all her “money” buying necklaces from little girls. Back in the city, Bronte gave all the necklaces away to children she saw on the streets.

In 2010, they were in Moscow during the mass evacuations, and in 2011, they were in New York when Hurricane “Irene” struck and the blackouts occurred. Megan explained to Bronte what was going on. “We live in hotels. I don’t want her growing up feeling entitled and privileged or thinking this is what life is all about.”

“Is this your secret to raising such a socially aware and compassionate child?” I asked. She laughed, but I pressed on. Finally, I leave it be.

Megan will not admit to any secrets or take full credit for her daughter’s generosity.

I suppose as with any parenting goal, there are no secrets or magic formulas. It’s just a whole lot of trial-and-error, coupled with the best intentions, to raise a child the best way you know how. And from the looks of it, Megan and Skip have Bronte (and Frank!) on the right path as she goes her around the world.

You can still send a bear to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, and view the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGWE6qxFpDE

CESAR Montano in “Hitman”

Seems “The Bourne Legacy” has won at least one famous tourist for the Philippines, long before the movie debuts onscreen.

If plans push through, the new visitor is a hunky Oscar winner. A “Bourne” Actor convinced Oscar Hunk to visit the country—specifically, its famous beaches. OH is expected to fly in this week and visit a posh resort outside of Metro Manila accompanied by another “Bourne” Star.

No need to be suspicious. BS’ partner has just arrived and will join the other two.

More pliant hunk

No wonder Controversial Celeb is not as hurt as everyone thought about Young Lover’s indiscretions.

Turns out, while YL was carrying on with Perky Mestiza, CC was seeing Younger Hunk! Yup, playboy YL is yesterday’s news.

YH is fresh and more flexible, being a new age fitness freak. Moreover, CC and YH reportedly went on a holiday recently.

PAULEEN Luna says she’s not pregnant.

But wait, wasn’t YH once involved with Imported Anchor?

Shrill hunk

Naïve Production Assistant barged into the dressing room shared by Hunky Star with Handsome Actor.

PA saw HS  in an unguarded moment—screaming, swooning, chattering excitedly on the phone with a presumably gay friend.

Noticing that PA was stunned speechless, HA casually remarked: “Don’t mind him. He’s really that shrill in person.”

Hidden desire

They’ve been competitors for a long time; who knew they could’ve been sweethearts, too?

Senior Actress once sat beside Beautiful Rival on a 10-hour flight. Though pitted against each other in the biz, they were friends in real life, so BR didn’t mind traveling with SA.

CRISTINE Reyes: No plans of marrying soon (photo: cristinereyesphotogallery.blogspot.com)

While BR was sleeping soundly, however, SA feasted on the sight of her seatmate’s snow-white neck and … it was quite a ravishing view. Yup, SA swings both ways.

Leftovers

Colorful Celeb often brags about the fact that Greying Husband was previously involved with Screen Goddess and other society girls.

“My rivals were rich and famous,” CC quips.

SG’s supporters have another take on that. “CC was content with leftovers … second-hand items.” Ouch.

Aretha on Whitney

NEW YORK— Aretha Franklin says she believed Whitney Houston had overcome her demons and was ready for a comeback.

SARAH Geronimo tries to put a lid on “kilig.”

Interviewed on NBC’s “Today” show on Friday, Franklin said  fans should remember Houston for her artistry and not focus on the challenges she faced with substance abuse. AP

Top of the Talk Shows

For those who missed last weekend’s TV gabfests (and why we are moved, if we are moved):

Alden Richards on staying grounded despite recent success: “Doon tayo nagustuhan. Kung ano ’yung nasimulan natin, pananatilihin po natin … Pinapangako ko po ’yan.” (Sadly, it’s not always as simple as that.)

Annabelle Rama on Nadia Montenegro accusing her of power-tripping: “Baka siya ’yun dahil nagmamadali siyang matapos ang kaso … Nadia … aabutin tayo ng 10 years, ’Day!” (Or the end of the world, whichever comes first.)

Nadia Montenegro on allegedly calling Annabelle Rama a pimp: “Wala akong sinasabing  ‘bugaw’ … maybe by instinct it comes out of her mouth. Dininig ng Diyos … hindi ako nagtitirik ng tatlong kandilang itim sa Diyos ko. Baka iba ’yung diyos niya.” (Leave me out of this.)

Pauleen Luna on speculations that she’s pregnant after fainting on “Eat Bulaga”: “Hindi po ako buntis … May history po ako na hinihimatay. It’s not the first time.” (And maybe not the last, you mean?)

Mark Bautista on why he kept mum on the issue linking him to Piolo Pascual: “Pangit kung magsalita pa ko…”  (Hindi naman; try mo lang.)

Mark on people questioning his sexual preference: “Hindi mo maiiwasan, so tanggapin mo na lang na ’yun talaga ’yung pwedeng sabihin sa ’yo. Umpisa ko pa lang sa show biz,  ’yun na ’yun, eh… At first, medyo taranta ako. Parang shucks, ba’t ganito? Ba’t ganyan? Pero ngayon parang, ‘Okay.’” (Shucks. Tagal na ’yan?)

Cristine Reyes, asked if she plans on marrying soon: “Hindi pa! Hello, kaka-23 ko pa lang!” (Worse things have happened in the biz.)

Andi Eigenmann, asked if she’s afraid to love again: “No, I’m not, because I believe that there will be someone who will not hurt me, and who will love me for who I am, who will never turn his back on me for no reason.” (Rest ka muna, ’te.)

Cesar Montano on piracy: “Kung merong guilty diyan, tayong lahat … The Filipino should understand na kada bumibili ka, tinutulungan mo ’yung magnanakaw.”

Anne Curtis, asked if boyfriend Erwan Heussaff gave her an expensive gift for Valentine’s Day: “Hindi naman mahal! That’s the one thing I love about Erwan. It’s always about the simple things, the sentimental things.” (Expensive—or not expensive—is a relative term.)

Gerald Anderson on going on a group date with Sarah Geronimo on Valentine’s Day: “Single siya, single ako, wala namang masama du’n. Kung magkaroon ng opportunity in the future ulit na lalabas kami, oo naman, wala namang masama du’n … The truth is sobrang special si Sarah para sa ’kin dahil mas nakilala ko ’yung pagkatao niya. And sana, mas makilala ko pa.” (One group date pa lang ’yan ha?)

Sarah Geronimo on Gerald Anderson saying that she’s special to him: “Sinasanay ko nga po ’yung sarili ko sa kilig, eh. Para ’di ako madala! Dapat matibay na ako diyan! Hindi, ayun po, na-a-appreciate ko po nang sobra.” (Kiliiiig!)

Rufa Mae Quinto on being linked to Vicki Belo and Hayden Kho’s breakup: “Bakit ako? Wala akong koneksyon. Walang connectivity!” (Bakit nga kaya ikaw?)

Luis Manzano on people saying that love life and a successful career don’t mix: “I beg to differ. Wala namang kailangang may kapalit. Ang sa akin, kung oras mo naman talaga para umibig at para magkaroon ng napakaraming trabaho, oras mo talaga.” (We’ve heard this said about death.)

(Startalk, Paparazzi, Showbiz Central, The Buzz, with Allan Policarpio, Contributor)

LAS VEGAS—A casino owner paid more than a million dollars for boxing gloves Muhammad Ali used to defend his title. Samuel L. Jackson dedicated a rendition of “Stand By Me” to the boxer. And US President Barack Obama told the icon in a birthday tribute that he inspired the world.

By the end of the night, all Ali needed to do to capture the hearts of 2,000 revelers in Las Vegas on Saturday was go onstage and smile.

The birthday gala—with tickets starting at $1,500 per plate—was held at the MGM Grand, the site of most of boxing’s major fights the past two decades.

Famous faces converged on the 160 tables adjacent to two rings and a stage—Terrence Howard, David Beckham, Anthony Hopkins, Manny Pacquiao and Lenny Kravitz, among others. They spoke and performed in tribute to a fighter who went 56-5 in the ring with 37 knockouts and became perhaps the most famous athlete ever because of his personality and willingness to publicly stand up for his beliefs.

Ali, who turned 70 last month, sat next to Stevie Wonder, who played keyboards and sang his version of “Happy Birthday,” while stars including Sean “Diddy” Combs, Kelly Rowland, LL Cool J, Quincy Jones, Sugar Ray Leonard and boxing promoter Bob Arum followed along.

Ali’s mission

Combs pinched Ali’s cheeks and whispered in his ear, then closed out the nearly five-hour gala by professing his deep admiration for the fighter.

Ali’s eyes widened. He pointed at Combs, then back at his own head, twirling his index finger as if to tell Combs he’s crazy.

“The greatest of all time,” Combs said after leading the crowd in shouting “Happy birthday, Ali.”

The moment closed out the celebration of Ali’s life and fundraiser to generate millions of dollars for brain research, a mission Ali’s family says is important to him in part because of his nearly 30-year battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Greetings from Obama

“Happy birthday, champ,” Obama told Ali through a video message, saying he wished he could have attended the swanky dinner.

“As a fighter, you were something spectacular,” Obama told Ali.  “You shocked the world, and you inspired it, too. And even after all the titles and legendary bouts, you’re still doing it.”

A set of gloves Ali used to defeat Floyd Patterson in 1965 in Las Vegas—the first heavyweight title fight in Sin City—sold for $1.1 million. It came with one of the original posters used to promote the fight, which had Muhammad Ali’s chosen name as a subscript to Cassius Clay, the name he was born with.

Ali entered the room and sat at a table with his family before bidding began on the gloves.

Lorenzo Fertitta, a casino owner and owner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the mixed marital arts league, won the gloves, which organizers had hoped would fetch $500,000.

Gift of inspiration

Football great Jim Brown said Ali represented the greatest of America, because at one time people only recognized his athletic ability and didn’t like what he had to say. That changed over time, he said.

“America started with slavery and ended up with a black president,” Brown said. “Muhammad Ali was a part of that … a big part.”

Ali’s wife, Lonnie Ali, told the crowd her husband’s greatest wish had always been to inspire and help others. She said he felt that his life really began when he retired from the ring.

“Muhammad’s gift of inspiration is timeless, and now more relevant than ever,” she said.

Lonnie introduced a video montage of her husband’s life, including clips from his work with children.

Greatest wonder

“People look for miracles, people look for wonders, people expect surprises of all kinds,” Ali said in the video. “Yet the greatest wonder, the greatest miracle, the greatest surprise is to be found in one’s heart.”

Guests included football great Franco Harris, supermodel Cindy Crawford, acting star Jackson, Ali’s children and grandchildren and Chuck Wepner, who fought Ali in 1975 and lost.

“I would go anywhere in the world for Muhammad Ali’s birthday,” Wepner said.

Guts and grace

One of Ali’s daughters, Rasheda Ali, said the gala was a chance for friends, family and A-listers who look up to her father to show their respect for his life and legacy as a humanitarian.

“He has not left that need to help others,” Rasheda said. “That’s one of his core values—his charity and his giving.”

“He’s done it with guts and grace, with his fists, and with his wits,” Jackson said. “He’s one of the groundbreaking figures of the generation that helped make the world a more open place when it comes to who we can love, where we can go and what we can do. Thank you, champ.”

Wonder, who performed earlier in the day at Whitney Houston’s funeral, performed “Keep Our Love Alive” and “Superstition.” Rasheda said Wonder was the performer her father was most looking forward to seeing.

Wonder wasn’t the only performer.

Snoop Dogg sang a medley of his hits, John Legend, Kravitz, Slash, Kelly Rowland and Cee Lo Green all performed.

LL Cool J rapped “Mama Said Knock You Out” as DJ Z-Trip span a remixed version of the song that included Ali audio, including his famous “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” quote.

Living beyond oneself

Tennis great Andre Agassi said Ali had shown the world that each person had a duty—regardless of their occupation—to live for more than himself or herself and help others.

“What he did with his platform was unparalleled and the impact he’s had as a result, we still feel to this day, which is why we’re all out here tonight,” Agassi said. “We’re grateful to what he’s done. He’s been a leader—we’re also challenged and charged with a duty of figuring out a way to do more.”

Ali has lived with Parkinson’s disease for nearly 30 years, a degenerative brain condition that some doctors say can be brought on by punches to the head.

The gala raised funds for the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky, a cultural attraction that celebrates Ali’s life and pushes educational goals on a wide range of topics for adults and children.

Larry Ruvo, chairman of the clinic’s fundraising arm, Keep Memory Alive, said he was not sure whether the fundraiser would exceed its record of $27 million, but he hoped so.

Without Ali, no Obama

The gala’s auction included some items that only an A-lister or others with incredibly deep pockets could possibly afford. The top item was Ali’s gloves that he used to fight Floyd Patterson in 1965, a bout he won by knockout in the 12th round.

“If it’s $100, great, $100,000 would be better,” Larry King said in trying to drum up bids.

Magician David Copperfield auctioned off a four-night trip to his set of 11 private islands in the Bahamas for $300,000.

A fundraising concert featuring Kravitz, Green, guitarist Slash and others for the general public was planned in the same room on Sunday night.

Promoter Arum said during a pregala reception on Friday night attended by celebrities, including Hopkins and Larry King, that Ali would go down as one of the most important Americans in history.

“Without Muhammad Ali, there wouldn’t have been an Obama,” he said. “There wouldn’t have been a mixed-race president.”

ABC and ESPN plan to air the gala on February 25.