“Kid Kulafu” is a heartfelt movie on the rise of Manny Pacquiao. The film traces his childhood in Mindanao; to his move to the gritty streets of Manila; to young Manny’s early success in the amateur circuit. The movie focuses on the early struggles of a poor, but aspirational, kid from General Santos; it does not diminish its topic by re-hashing well-known tales of a pop icon.
Rather, it explores certain aspects of young Pacquiao’s life that fans may not know. Early in the movie, there’s a violent gunfight between NPA rebels and government soldiers right in the middle of young Pacquiao’s tiny village. Viewers see the poverty that affects many Filipinos in the southern part of the country, and the conflicts that can disrupt lives.
One gets to appreciate how young Pacquiao was in desperation when his mother suffers a mild heart attack, and he had to win a fight in order to afford to buy medicine. Frequently, his family went to bed without eating supper, and that fueled constant frustration and the need to find ways of making money. Boxing became a way out. To sustain his family and newfound passion, young Manny collects and cleans used bottles.
The tender love for one’s family is often juxtaposed with the rage of pugilistic excellence. The pride of earning small, but honest, money is contrasted with the lust for a bloody knockout. The young protagonist stays faithful to his God despite being surrounded by impoverished conditions. Through these opposing motifs, audiences sense there’s a growing adventure for young Manny, and the doubts from his mother and detractors increasingly yield to encouragement and fanatical support.
In Manila, there’s a poignant moment, indeed the film’s most powerful scene, in which young Manny’s friend dies after sustaining head injuries in a hard-fought boxing match. The movie suggests this is a turning point in which young Pacquiao vows to always give his best, no matter what.
We see hints of future greatness when young Manny shadow boxes in an empty gym, reminding viewers that thousands of hours of loneful practice preceded any public acclaim. His early morning jogs through the streets of Manila show a determined teen ready for his fate.
“Kid Kulafu” explores the themes of simple living, desperation, passion, faith, and effort. They also reveal why the boxer we know too well is considered a hero in the Philippines, and beyond.
