Tacloban City (24 January) — Subscribers to the Maasin Cable Television (MCTV) here in Maasin City got an uninterrupted, real-time live coverage of “The Battle” between the Pinoy boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and his now downtrodden nemesis Erik Morales on Sunday, January 22, Philippine time.
The fight became doubly exciting to watch as it unfolded because Pacquiao got the upperhand as early as round two, when Morales wobbled as he back-tracked, clinging to the rope for dear life, with the timely ringing of the bell to end the round providing him a much-needed breather.
Another round also saw Morales badly beaten, being saved not just by the bell but by the referee as well in round six. The 10th round was more than enough, and it was all over.
The speedy Pacman must have sensed, too, that Morales was not up to the task, although he had his share of a lump below the right eye, courtesy of Morales’ good punches. In a post-fight interview, he confided it hurt him everytime he hit Morales.
It was the most kind and diplomatic way of getting back at the man who bragged just before the fight that he never remembered any strong fist from Pacquiao in their March, 2005, encounter.
For 3 or 4 hours on that overcast January 22 Sunday, Filipinos around the country and all over the globe were united as truly one people in watching the fight, cheering all over as they watched the live telecast or the delayed broadcast.
The rich and the poor, the leftist NPA’s and the rightist soldiers, individuals of varied faiths, politicians from the administration and the opposition — all were glued to their own vantage points as the fight progressed from round one.
In that fleeting moment of glory, the modern hero in Pacquiao has succeeded in uniting a nation deeply divided by political wound and intrigue. It makes a lot of sense that Pacman’s wish, amid the euphoric cheers and noisy celebration of victory, was an appeal for national unity.
But then, boxing is not politics, though in politics the discipline honed in boxing is sometimes necessary. And so, shortly after the glorious hang-over, the opponents are at it again, with some in the opposition trying to put their brand of political color on a happy President who simply wanted to congratulate the winner when she called.
It appears that the Pacman’s call for unity has fallen on deaf ears, and some even cautioned him not to be used for political ends.
Talk about a spirit of sportsmanship in the political arena? The Pinoy politico is simply not mature for that, not yet anyway.
By the way, another Pinoy also won in the undercard in “The Battle”, lest we forget. He goes by the name Jimrex Jaca, from Sibulan, Negros Oriental, who floored in the first round his foe. Might Jaca call as well for unity, please?
LOCAL FRONT: When I was the host in the KAABAG talk show over MCTV on January 19 with Vice-Mayor Maloney Samaco as guest, I inserted his forecast in “The Battle”, being a solid Sports Enthusiast himself, and Chairman of the City Sports Council. He said Manny should win convincingly by a knockout and not rely on points, which could favor Morales. It turned out his forecast was right. But even on points, Pacquaio was ahead by the three judges’ scorecard.
ODDLY YOURS: In Indiana, USA, a coffin maker company claimed they had built last year the world’s biggest casket that was 2.1 meters wide, and it was intended for a dead man who weighed 400 kilograms. But this year, the company decided to go full-speed at it, building 600 to 800 oversized coffins for giant individuals. The business name of this extra-large coffin maker is, fittingly enough, Goliath Casket Company. (PIA)
