“GOD is great!” exclaimed Manny Pacquiao right after his victory Sunday over Mexican boxing superstar Erik “El Terrible” Morales in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
In an interview over ABS-CBN an hour after his “sweet vengeance” against Morales, Pacquiao said, “I really prepared for this. I never promised to win but I did my best.”
He said his prayers and the prayers of his parents, siblings and neighbors at General Santos City helped much in his victory.
He was teary-eyed while talking to his mother, who was in General Santos, via live remote satellite broadcast provided by ABS-CBN.
Bacolod acting Mayor Renecito Novero said Pacquiao’s victory was an answer to our prayers, the reward of our expectation and delivery of our hope.
Novero added that Manny’s victory is also the victory of the Filipino people, especially of the Bacole?os. This as Pacquiao is an adopted son of Bacolod.
Representative Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo Jr. of the 5th District of Negros Occidental also said he’s very happy that Pacquiao had fought well for his country and won.
His victory is like the recent victory of Filipino athletes in last 23rd Southeast Asian Games that was hosted by the country, the solon said.
Arroyo also said, “I hope Pacquiao’s victory will send a message to all of us that regardless of our political affiliation we should unite in order for the Philippines to move forward.”
Pacquiao, he added, is also an added indication that our country is doing good, such was the strong peso against the dollar, the rising economy and growing investment opportunities.
It also an indication to the political destabilizers that Pacquiao’s victory should make us unite and join hand to make great things possible. If we can produce a great man, we can also make our country strong and a champion in the entire universe, the solon said.
“It was as if we reached the heaven,” said Representative Jose Carlos “Kako” Lacson of the 3rd District in the province.
He said we can now say that we are proud of being Filipinos with Manny’s victory.
On the other hand, Henry Villalva, concurrent president of Sports Communicators Organization of the Philippines (Scoop) said Pacquiao had really played in a style opposite during his first fight against Morales on September last year.
Pacquiao has also proven that he was the first man who knocked down Morales who earlier belittled him, said Villalva, adding also that Pacquiao’s victory connotes a message that “we Filipinos should now rally behind him.”
Sportsman turned Transportation and Communication Assistant Secretary Ricardo “Cano” Tan, meanwhile, said Pacquiao’s victory has been expected already. Tan earlier voted for the Filipino boxing sensation to win a hundred percent via a knockout.
The DOTC assistant secretary stressed said Pacquiao’s victory should be a clear message for us to “unite amid political crisis.”
