Yes, boxing folks, the above holds true for all Filipinos, young and old, rich or poor, good or bad. The greatest sporting event in Philippine sports is finally at hand. Manny Pacquiao beckons history to be at his side. Come March 19, everything in this nation of 80 million people and 7,107 islands (I got it right this time) will be in some sort of a trance when the Pacman enters the ring at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on March 19th. Every Filipino, here and abroad, will nervously and anxiously, watch as Manny tees off with that big left hand of his. And the very moment that straight left lands, well, its going to be like everybody here had just won the lottery. People will be jumping, stomping their feet, raising their hands in frenzy, roaring and shouting their brains out, and hugging whoever is near them. That is how Manny endeared himself to his people. He brings out the Filipino in every Filipino. Come fight night, Pacquiao becomes a prayer.
A couple of nights ago, I was talking to my Taiwanese friend, James, who was studying here in the Philippines. He asked me,” What’s all the fuss about Pacquiao? Even my Professor devoted half of his lecture in my graduate studies class. I can’t believe it!”. First, I asked James if the Taiwan people even know what boxing is. Or If they have guys there who box at all? He says, ” It doesn’t matter, I like Efren Reyes better”. I just rolled my eyes and told him that at the moment, Manny Pacquiao is the man of the hour. James retorted back, “Manny can’t beat Efren”. I turned back to him in disbelief and said,” Of course, you dimsumhead, that’s pool you’re talking about”. James settled everything when he said,” But Manny will knock the lights out of Erik”. I have to admit, that put the smile back on my face. In the event that happens, a world record for the most number of smiles for a single given time will be established by the Filipino nation. For Manny Pacquiao is the saving grace, the upside for all the hardship one endures in this poverty stricken country wherein the economy is constantly being knocked down and had shown no signs of getting up.
It is amazing how a simple kid like Manny can galvanize a whole nation. For once, the Filipino people finally agreed on something. No bickering on this one. Manny Pacquiao is the Filipino fighter for the ages. Pancho Villa, Ceferino Garcia and Gabriel Elorde have passed the torch of greatness to Manny and this kid will hold true to tradition when he fights Erik Morales. The pride of 80 million people riding on a kid’s back! It’s true, and you better believe it. The excitement here in the Philippines is just incredible. It’s like as if the Woodstock concert will be held here. One wouldn’t be surprised if Manny Pacquiao ends up in the homily of church masses here. If the Pacman is a commodity in the stock exchange, no doubt he will be the bluest chip out there. Manny Pacquiao just transcends through every social barrier in his country and globally as well. Filipino overseas workers now claim they don’t get homesick anymore. They just login into the Manny website called Pacland, and it’s like they haven’t left at all. The Fil-Ams (Filipino-Americans) were such a joy to hear whenever they express their pride about their roots and the great fortune of having the Pacman as one of their kind. A true full blooded Filipino they all are.
So what’s the fuss about Pacquiao, really? I don’t know about you guys, but for me, I don’t give a damn if the world ends the day after the Pacman-El Terrible superbout, as long as the Pacman emerges victorious. I don’t care anymore if I stay a bum all my life and just write about boxing provided Manny KO’s Erik. I couldn’t care less anymore when my wife catches me in the early morning hours surfing Pacland (she thinks it’s really an adult site) and seeing a smile on my face.
If she thinks I’m crazy, she better take a look what’s inside the website. I am not ashamed to say that Manny Pacquiao brings me to tears when he starts fighting. I am talking about that relentless Pacman style. Lay it all on the line. His fierceness and courage in the ring have taught me that fear is just a state of mind, and hope is indeed eternal. It’s unbelievable this 26 year old kid unwittingly taught a 45 year old guy like me on how to go about this life we’re in.
Just throw ’em. Pull no punches.
So what do you do when the fight’s all over? Maybe you’ll go out of your house to talk to friends about the fight or probably ask your girlfriend to go see a movie together because this fight had already taken a lot out of you; you need to unload (unload what?).
Perhaps you’ll just go out in your yard and sit down beside your dog and you start telling him how lucky he was just being a dog all his life thinking only of dog food and not having any anxieties one suffers from such superbouts as this. You can also be on your way to the market to buy those fatty foods since you’ve now already given up trying to look ripped with those abs of Pacman and Bruce Lee. Fight is over. Live life again.
Me, I’ll just go on our roof deck and try to pull myself out of this haze. I’m trying to shout, but my voice is already hoarse. My throat is dry. I lit a cigarette and put my two hands on top of my head.
It still hasn’t sunk in. My friend James was right after all. Manny “the Pacman’ Pacquiao had just knocked the lights out off Erik Morales. What a great day!
