Who likes to watch a movie from the end especially one in which the principal character dies or loses? It was thus that I walked away from the television set Sunday afternoon, my feet barely able to carry a heart burdened with grief. Blame it on text messaging.
The TV coverage of the fight between Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales was supposed to start at 10 a.m. so I fretted a bit when 10 minutes into the appointed time I was still on the road from a visit to a sick relative. I did make it in front of the idiot box, though, in time for the abbreviated Z Gorres-Glenn Donaire preliminary bout.
Early in the second (Morel vs. Castillo) event, former Cebu City Councilor Ernesto Elizondo called, saying he just received a text message that Pacquiao kayoed Morales in the fifth round. ?Pretty Boy? is a good boxer (he was reported to have knocked out an erring pier worker with one blow) but not a very convincing talebearer. Just for fun, I spread the lie to three friends, all of whom immediately recognized it.
By then, I noticed that the interval between rounds had gotten longer. Solar Sports said it had the sole right to broadcast the fight in the Philippines but it did not promise that it was going to be a ?live? coverage.
At 1:44 p.m. my son texted from Manila. ?Pildi?? he asked. Six minutes later, he answered the question himself. ?Pildi,? he said.
Whatever hopes I had that my son?s information was wrong were dashed when Junie Jabines, a client, texted from Los Angeles. ?Daog Morales, about 12 rounds, 115 ug 113 ang score?, she wrote. I forwarded the message to my three friends. ?Di diay ni via satellite ang Channel 33?
Nag-una lagi ka,? replied a doubting Grace Joy Avila. Ewin de Guzman was more resigned. She said ?k enjoy na lang mo diha.? Dodong Cania was silent.
At 2:08 p.m., my tennis partner Benny Macion?s message appeared on the cell phone screen in big bold letters, ?PACMAN LOST 113 TO 115.? I already know, I replied. ?Ayaw na ug labara akong ulo.? ?Ganina ra sa tennis galabad ka,? he replied. ?
At 2:27 p.m., came Bob Gothong?s text. ?Pacquiao lost on points, unanimous, so go and take a nap instead. No need to wait for the delayed telecast. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.? By then, the TV screen was showing Chino Trinidad doing some preliminary talk. He sounded almost apologetic.
In the chair next to mine, Nonoy Pacifico complained that the San Mig light had turned suddenly bitter and the chicharon bulaklak tasted like plastic. That was the signal for us to rise and drag our heavy feet away from the TV set even before Pacquiao and Morales could trade mitts.
As I crossed the street to the car, Grace Avila?s words kept ringing in my ears: ?Paita aning pildi uy. Minghoy.?
