The Catholic priest who celebrates Holy Mass before and after Manny Pacquiao?s fights in his hotel suite said yesterday to beat Oscar de la Hoya in their blockbuster duel on Dec. 6 in Las Vegas, the WBC lightweight champion should stay focused on God and be more dedicated in training ?to become a much better boxer than he is now.?
Fr. Marlon Beof, 40, is Pacquiao?s spiritual adviser. Before leaving his Mandalay Bay suite to report for his fight against David Diaz last June, Pacquiao played chess with Fr. Marlon. When Pacquiao?s aide Edward Lura said it was time to go, he had just checkmated the cleric from Narra, Palawan.
?My initial reaction when I heard about Manny?s fight against Oscar was to get scared because I don?t want to see him get seriously hurt,? said Fr. Marlon, the Secular Augustinian Recollects prefect of the Tagaste seminary in Suffern, New York. ?Then, when I started to read more about people?s comments and analysis on the issues, I had mixed feelings about it. I?m inclined to pay attention to the analysis of Freddie Roach who trained Oscar for (Floyd) Mayweather.?
It was Roach who pushed for the fight, insisting Pacquiao has the speed and power to overcome De la Hoya. Roach said age and a long career have caught up with De la Hoya whose reflexes are no longer what they used to be.
?The few times I heard Manny talk about it, I looked into his eyes as I listened to his remarks like ?I will fight De la Hoya,? ?you don?t win a fight with height,? ?I was 147 in my last fight anyway,?? continued Fr. Marlon.
?I noticed Manny?s confidence. It?s like he knows exactly what to do to win. His confidence calmed me down, a little bit, but of course, like in all his fights, I pray so hard that no one gets badly hurt in the ring. I think what Manny should do to win is to spend more time in training, more dedication than ever and more focus, focus on God, in what he?s doing and in his abilities.?
As for Pacquiao?s spirituality, Fr. Marlon said only God can evaluate how spiritual a person is for only He sees the heart.
?But the Lord says by their fruits, you shall know them,? he went on. ?People who are much closer to Manny and observe his lifestyle day in, day out are the ones who can see and have a say about the changes in his life as a Christian and Catholic. Honestly, from what I have observed of Manny and heard from some of those people closer to him, there are special and good traits that lead one to say that he is maturing as a person and becoming a more devout Catholic. That should sound good music to all of us.?
Fr. Marlon advised Pacquiao to keep growing in his faith.
?There is always room for everyone to improve and grow so my advice to Manny is to grow in his relationship with God which in turn, will lead him to grow in his relationship with his family and others,? he said. ?Please continue to be aware that God has blessed you abundantly including with a heart that can truly love God back and honor Him by loving others especially the needy and less privileged.?
Fr. Marlon said when Pacquiao should retire is entirely up to him.
?The longer or older he fights, the more possibilities of getting hit, perhaps with some telling blows,? he continued. ?I see a future for Manny in Philippine politics when he retires. But I believe, he has to endure a lot of different moments considering he wants to be someone who can truly make a difference in the lives of our countrymen through effective and good and honest governance.
?One wonders how many people around him when he tries again to enter politics will have the same honest to goodness motivations. Manny can also make a difference and help our countrymen by involving himself in non-government organizations or even make his own Foundation. It seems that he has this conviction that he can do better and more in helping the people if he is in office to govern, lead and be of good influence to other politicians for the true service and benefit of our beloved countrymen.
?Perhaps, to be successful in this not-so-impossible mission, Manny might carefully consider doing first his homework which includes praying more to God, asking for enlightenment, consultations with his family and people of different backgrounds and professions, observing and studying the ins and outs of politics, the situations or conditions of his constituents and livelihood programs of government to help them and to improve their quality of life. I hope and pray that God may grant him the true light as he decides on this issue as well as the strength to follow that light.?
Fr. Marlon said he hopes to celebrate Mass for Pacquiao before and after he takes on De la Hoya.
?It?s not easy for me to be out of my religious community,? said Fr. Marlon who was ordained in Mexico City in 1997 after five years of theological studies in Navarre, Spain. ?But good thing, I?m able to celebrate Mass for Manny, either with a special permission from my superiors or coinciding with my vacation. I celebrated Mass before and after Manny?s last two fights against (Erik) Morales, his fight against (Jorge) Solis in San Antonio, his rematches against (Marco Antonio) Barrera and (Juan Manuel) Marquez and his fight against Diaz. The Masses were held on Saturday morning before the fight and the Sunday morning after.?
