The Philippines shares a common heritage of Spanish colonization and Catholicism. They are also both very near the United States but very far from God.
Long before the Sunday telecast of the Pacquiao-Morales bout ended, I was getting two text messages. One said that E. Morales had won, which turned out to be Evo Morales, the new president of Bolivia (married to Adana, I presume). The other said that Manny Pacquiao had won by TKO on the 10th. I did not turn off the TV because I wanted to see whether it would be Rep. Newk Puentevella who would stop the fight, like he did in Bacolod during the last Southeast Asian Games. We all saw on TV that “only the referee can stop the fight” as a ground rule.
Later, at the 5 p.m. Mass, the priest said he celebrated mass at 12:30 p.m. earlier and very few attended. Puzzled, he asked why and was told by a sacristan that Manny had won.
“Demonstrably corrupt” Gov. Chavit Singson was there in the ring after the win along with perceived crook Mike Arroyo. It is simply very Pinoy to grab credit. I do not recall the two doing it when Manny lost to Erik last time. That would have been great. Neither was there any call from GMA then. Such call would have been greater, fantastic even. Defeat is an orphan, after all.
This time she joined a basically honest people in cheering one who had won cleanly, without cheating. I wondered why Gov. Armand Sanchez, if he was also in Las Vegas like last year, did not go up the ring as well. That would have been a great sight to behold. Might as well include peripatetic Joc-Joc Bolante. They could not wait to spoil it all and divide us again.
I thought it was sick for anyone to text and pray for Manny’s failure as a protest against GMA, who is really as entitled to credit as any US President is for Bill Gates’ success. Let Manny win and win under any administration. Mike was right to stress that there is no politics but he should not have hastened to split us again, the Arroyos’ specialty since 2001.
Jen Bautista sang the national anthem and did it her way. Which was fine in America. How I wish she and the Mexican had sung the Star-Spangled Banner together. On second thought, I am glad she did not do the honors and remind us how near Mexico and the Philippines are to the US and so far from God.
Mayor Lito Atienza was also announced to be in Vegas, skipping the meeting of the Liberal Party which the Arroyos had also divided. I wonder what Lito thought of the way Jen sang the anthem. In Manila, Ordinance No. 8099 passed last year directs that all operators of large enclosed business establishments shall play it at the opening and closing of their daily business hours, either in instrumental music or with lyrics in Filipino in accordance with the musical arrangement and composition of Julian Felipe.
All persons within the subject premises shall stand at attention, sing the anthem with fervor and salute by placing their right palm over their left chest. A violation could mean six months in jail.
Let Manny enjoy his time in the sun. In time, his lungs will go, then his legs, then his friends. He should savor the moment.
Let the Arroyos also realize that a clear win, without cheating, unites our people. And next time, Mike and Chavit should not inflict their presence on stage if Manny wins. They should do it if he loses—heaven forbid—and be the object of new respect. That should help us unite.
For now, let us cheer Manny, full of grace, as his all-weather, not fair-weather, fans.
But, I like it better when Mike is a no-show.
