I met Manny and his family recently in the Mandarin Hotel lobby here in the PI. I just alighted from my car together with my wife and son to spend the Easter weekend at the Mandarin while Manny was waiting for his ride. My 4-year old son was so excited upon seeing him and honestly, I was also as excited as he was. I greeted Manny and shook his hand. My son said “Idol!” which made Jinkee smile. I told her that my son is an avid Pacman fan and we have seen his fights and VCDs countless of times.
After some pleasantries, I did not bother Manny anymore because I observed that his mind seemed to be elsewhere. Also, I have so much respect for him that I wanted to give him some space after that hard fight with Morales and the unfair, malicious and irresponsible rumors that had spread along with these and the Murad money issue to top it all.
Seeing how Manny seemed to suffer, I felt the necessity, if not a moral duty, to defend the man who I consider to be the epitome of the ordinary Filipino. I admire Manny not only because of his boxing skills, but more importantly and primarily because of his noble character which is very rare nowadays. In all of Manny’s fights, he has always dedicated them to God, his country and his family. That is why he has fought with such valor and courage that men made of lesser stuff would have ordinarily surrendered. His boxing career will eventually end-no one defeats Father Time, but his shining example of fighting against the insurmountable odds will forever be etched in the memories of those Filipinos who have seen him live. I am honored to have lived in Manny’s time. For I have seen a Filipino worthy of being called one. Manny has given hope to those who in their daily existence fight against the inhumane conditions of poverty, abuse, lack of education. He has fought against the notion that a man born of poverty will die of poverty. He has shown that he can lift himself up in an honorable and dignified way, through sweat and blood, to beat the odds. It is not important to me if Manny has lost or not. I know that eventually he will have to lose. Every boxer loses. Had Rocky Marciano lived and fought longer, he would have had lost also, but what is important to me is the way Manny has fought every fight – with unwavering courage and unassailable honor.
I am angry. Not because Manny has lost, but because his loss has made to surface the most vicious of all men. Men who feed upon the misery of others. Men who would like to bring their miserable lives to those who toil honorably. Men, who in their vain attempt to hide their cowardice and lack of heart to compete, would try anything to bring down the efforts and memories of those men of valor who risk their lives fighting for dignity and love of country. And these are the kind of vultures that had fed upon our boxers, now and before. These are the same vultures who are trying to feed upon Pacquiao now.
Hence, I write this so that the honor that Manny has brought upon the Filipino nation, here and abroad may never be tarnished. Indeed, Manny has lost to Erik Morales, a great fighter raised and trained much like Manny was, but Manny’s loss can never undo nor erase the pride that Manny has given us Filipinos. Rather, it must serve as call for all of us to unite behind him and to lift his spirit so that like the Phoenix, he may rise and claim victory again.
To my heart, Manny is a victor. For a man’s worth is not only measured by victories, but more importantly, by his character and how he has fought his battles- always with courage and honor, not for his own, but for his God, country and family.
