Tentatively, Brian Viloria plants his feet, assuming a stance and balance that actor-martial artist Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa has demonstrated for him.

Then, Viloria jabs at Tagawa's open palm, flicking shots, measuring his power. Nodding his head.

The late morning session at Kalakaua Gym is an opportunity for Viloria, the World Boxing Council light-flyweight champion, to explore new concepts.

Ring mechanics apart, however, Viloria is also trying to strike another fine balance, this one straddling two nations: One of his birth, the United States, and one of his ancestry, the Philippines.

The 25-year-old Viloria was born in Hawai'i and moved to Illocos Sur in the Philippines at age six months for almost six years before returning to Waipahu. "Both countries are part of my life and very close to me," Viloria said.

In the world of professional boxing, where loyalties can be sharply defined along national borders, the WBC title belt and hubcap-sized gold centerpiece he earned and defended have given Viloria entree into both countries and a rare binational constituency. They have resulted in visits to the White House and Malacanang Palace and lucrative endorsement opportunities.

"Brian is fortunate to have broad appeal in both places," said his manager, Gary Gittelsohn. "That's not something that happens a lot."

While he waits for his injured right hand to heal before resuming sparring in two weeks and contemplates his next title defense, the unbeaten (19-0, 12 knockouts) Viloria — he chuckles at the notion of Brian Viloria Inc. — nevertheless says he stands to make more from endorsements than boxing. This while he shuttles between the two countries on business as much as pleasure.

Gittelsohn said businesses are also opening their checkbooks. "We've got a few deals pending," Gittelsohn said.

Philippine Airlines and Pony, an athletic wear manufacturer, were listed as sponsors of Viloria's last bout. "The response to Brian has been more than I could have ever imagined," Gittelsohn said. "The doormen at the hotels, (cab) drivers, everybody, it seems, knows about Brian. One of the television executives there told me Brian had a 95 percent recognition factor with viewers."

Viloria said a Philippine government trade and tourism group is talking with his representatives about a commercial he said, "would encourage second generation Filipinos to go back for visits and vacations."

One week after arriving from Japan and the Philippines, Viloria is scheduled to leave Thursday for Manila, where he will be presented the Gabriel "Flash" Elorde Golden Belt in memory of the late world junior lightweight champion and International Boxing Hall of Famer. It is awarded for bringing honor to the Philippines.

Ironically, it will be presented by one Elorde son, Johnny, even as another, promoter Gabriel Jr., seeks Viloria's title for his fighter, WBC No. 1 contender Juanito Rubillar of the Philippines.

With Rubillar's camp chomping for a mandatory title shot, Viloria said he wasn't sure how he would be accepted in the Philippines in an earlier visit after winning the title. "I thought about that. I didn't know. I wondered what the reaction would be," Viloria said. "But the people opened up their arms to me."

With all that, Gittelsohn said, "it would be a bittersweet victory for him to go to the Philippines and beat a Filipino fighter. Not that we will always be able to chart the script."

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com.