COTABATO CITY — That phrase is how Manny “The People’s Champ” Pacquiao speaks of a muscle-pain medication he endorses on the radio. Good for Pacman, he physically exerts his muscles every day probably enough to squeeze all synthetic elements from his cells and pass it out through his bladder, bowels, skin and nose. But that leaves a lot for lively discussion whether his use of the drug for “eleven years” will be compensated by the food supplements he has endorsed for the last couple of years or so on television.
Spelled correctly, it goes: “Kasama sa tagumpay ko (It goes with my victory).” You see, many Cebuano-speaking people just omit the syllable “sa” or “si” in their speech. Consider the following: “Kauba’s akong Tatay (Kauban sa akong tatay or My father’s companion); Niadto’s Nanay sa lungsod (Niadto si Nanay sa lungsod or Nanay went to town); Nianhi man diri’s Dodong (Nianhi man diri si Dodong or Dodong was here) and so on and so forth. So even if a Cebuano-speaking person talks in Filipino, the omission of that one syllable is a dead giveaway. It’s good the director of that advertisement just left Manny’s accent as it is.
One thing nice about boxing is that it makes real men out of boys; and where I grew up, it was a good venue to settle petty quarrels (pasingot aron huwasan — literally to perspire and release pent up anger). No need then, to use guns.
I never thought of writing about boxing until I watched Evander Hollyfield’s victory in 1997 when he fought the “most frighteningest human to climb the boxing ring” Mike “Bite” Tyson. Hollyfield was euphoric and was giving glory to God when he was cut cold by a TV reporter, “Let’s get over God; let’s go back to boxing.”
Ah. That reporter’s arrogance whizzed questions through my head: Why does the mention of God make people squirm out of their skins? What’s with boxing that make people leave God out of the picture? Why does a reporter have to show his own dislike about God during somebody else’s winning moment?
Consider this conversation last Sunday:
Man 1: “Nganong ipakita pa man gyud nang nangadyi si Paquiao uy? (Why do they have to show Pacquiao praying?)”
Man 2: “Ikaw kuno’y kulatahon di ka ba mangadyi (I wonder if you will not pray if you know you will get pummeled).”
Accordingly, Pacquiao prays every time he goes up the ring. In fairness, the cameras were focused on him, not just on his praying. As the star, his every move is seen. Notice, too, that he never forgets to thank God, win or lose — at least in the last three fights shown on worldwide TV. Heard of the saying, “Real men pray”? Surely that’s a good mark for this Kibawe-born pride of GenSan. And it’s also nice that Filipino anchors did not cut off their interviewee to make Pacquiao stop thanking God.
Perhaps it is Pacquiao’s simple view of life that is disarming even to the most skeptical of his fame and fortune. Even Gov. Manny Pi?ol did not escape his wit when he corrected the former, live on television: “Di ko po sinabi na patulugin si Morales. Sabi ko lang I just do my best (I did not say I will knock Morales unconscious. I just said I will do my best).” Talk about perceptions.
In one of his fights where he lost, he complained, “Di nila ako pinapakain ng kanin (They did not make me eat rice).
He also told his Mama Dionisia where he got his fighting streak: “Nakuha ko ito sa ‘yo, Ma. Sa iyong pagka Waray (I got this from your Waray blood, Ma). Wow…
Another touching moment of Pacman the father was when he saw his children on TV with their Lola Dionisia: “Hello mga anak! Ibili ko kayo ng bike pag dating ko (Hello children! I’ll buy you bicycles when I arrive).
Which led a friend to comment:“Ah, grabe. Dato na kayo wa pa kapalit ug bike sa iyang mga anak? (Unbelievable. With his money he has yet to buy bicycles for his children?)”
If indeed the children have yet to have their bicycles, it’s a sign that they will not get everything they want at their beck and call even with their father’s money.
Here’s another exchange:
“Bumili na yata ng Ferrari si Pacquiao (Pacquiao bought a Ferrari).”
“Aba, pera nya ‘yun. Grabeng bugbog dinaanan nung tao. Yung iba jan, pera ng bayan ang ginagamit pambili ng sasakyan (That’s hard-earned money. Had himself beaten up while others have to use taxpayers’ money to buy cars).”
Pacquiao had some bouts with notoriety but it’s comforting to know that apparently naa’y makabadlong niya (someone is able to correct him). What’s more important: he listens, not only to his coach and manager but also to his Mama Dionisia who seems to be a very gentle yet steady force. His rigid discipline and focus is becoming legendary. Add to that an unassuming wife whose carriage can rival movie stars (she is opening a convenience store as an addition to their other investments).
Armed with lessons in boxing history (high-profile living and mismanaged fortunes, fame-swollen heads and irreversible diseases), Manny Pacquiao cannot go wrong with a nation who wish him well-being and safety; family, and most of all, God.
Kasama’s tagumpay nya.
(MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. Aveen Acuna-Gulo, one of the convenors of the Mindanao Media Forum, also writes a column for Mindanao Cross in Cotabato City. You may email her at [email protected].)
