THE Inquirer headline couldn’t have put it better: One nation in jubilation. The whole country was celebrating the victory of Manny Pacquiao over his formidable rival, the Mexican knock-out artist, who went down a battered and emasculated fighter who knew that he was licked. And by a TKO! There was joy unconfined throughout the land that their hero had once again raised their pride—and the Philippine flag—in the international sports arena.
The common exhilaration was delicious and unbelievable. You could see it everywhere—in the malls, in the streets, in private homes, in restaurants and even in churches, friends and strangers embracing each other in their adulation for Manny Pacquiao. He had once again earned the respect of the boxing world with his walloping triumph over the favored Erik Morales who had earlier beaten him in a controversial decision.
And all Filipinos shared their countryman’s success—men and women and children, Christians and Muslims alike, the poor as enthusiastic as the rich, private citizens no less exhilarant than the public officials with different political loyalties, rebels forgetting their hostilities with the government, even grandparents watching with their grandchildren—all prayed that Manny Pacquiao would win, and thanked Heaven that he did.
Commenting on the general sentiment after the bout, Manny mused that “Sana magkaintindihan na po tayong lahat.” (“May we all finally end our differences.”) Whether spontaneous or dictated, these words of this unpretentious man, whose expertise is in fisticuffs and not in politics and statecraft, deserve the respectful attention of the whole nation. He was deploring the strife-stricken condition of the country and hoping that, as united as we are now over his athletic feat, we might be similarly united in other aspects of the national life.
Manny was reflecting the aspiration of the common citizen, who is confused, irritated and bedeviled by the conflicts of the so-called experts on the Constitution and politics, the economy, education, health, and other serious problems confronting the nation. We are supposed to be one and indivisible country but there are barriers everywhere to prevent our unity. Can’t we be united in the solution of our many problems as we are now united in celebrating Pacquiao?
Perhaps this ideal can be attained by—but God forbid—electing Manny Pacquiao President of the Philippines. With the present overwhelming sentiment in his favor, he could be a shoo-in at the elections with the support of our uneducated voters. This has been done before with the elevation to public office of scandalous misfits better confined in mental institutions or jails. But Manny is not one of them.
In my view, the only flaws in the telecast of the Pacquiao-Morales bout were Manny’s political endorsement of President Gloria and, worse, the appearance of Mike Arroyo up the ring to congratulate Pacquiao. Arroyo is as unpopular as his wife, if not more so, and the Filipino audience must have resented the sight of him for diluting their pleasure. He was met with resounding boos.
Although Mike Arroyo attended the fight as a private person and presumably at his own expense, he was unwelcome nonetheless. He might learn a lesson in modesty from the late husband of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, a millionaire in his own right and a distinguished private person. He always made it a point to walk two steps behind his wife at the public functions he rarely attended and did not project or lower himself for public acclaim.
This low-profile model of humility and propriety was widely respected by his countrymen who did not have the poor taste of calling him their First Gentleman.
But back to Manny, I hope he will not allow himself to be inveigled into politics and instead confine himself to the boxing ring where he can best exhibit his extraordinary fistic prowess. Unlike corrupt politicians who steal and misspend taxpayers’ money, he can honestly earn considerable income in boxing fees and millions of pesos, or even dollars, from television and radio commercials and other advertisements like those stitched on his boxing trunks or announced in the print media.
Pacquiao’s victory was doubly impressive because his opponent was not a pushover but a worthy boxer with a string of laurels that made his fellow Mexicans weep when he lost. What many admired was when, after resting from his punishing ordeal that had left him defeated but not dishonored, he still had the grace to approach and congratulate Manny like a good sportsman. But shouldn’t Manny have been more gallant if he had himself initiated the amenities?
I congratulate Manny Pacquiao for winning the fight but more than that for uniting the Filipinos in savoring his victory. Whipping Morales was only the means for the more important end of seeing our people arm-in-arm in common merriment, if only temporarily and for just an athletic event. Let us hope with him that we will finally resolve all our serious differences in the same harmonious spirit as we selflessly work together for our country’s higher interests.
