“Hey Norm, do you want tickets to watch the Manny Pacquiao-Oscar Larios fight?” It was my friend Lonnie Aguon calling my cell.
“Yeah!” I answered, with little thought but a lot of enthusiasm.
Lonnie works for MCV, which showed a live broadcast of the event at the Hyatt Regency Guam last Sunday. When I got there, I saw no less than several hundred Filipinos eager to watch the event. But this comes as no surprise, because after all, “Pacman” Pacquiao is a Philippine icon. And aside from that, next to basketball, boxing is one of the most popular sports with Pinoys.
The most significant bout near the start of Pacman’s career was his fight against the legendary Marco Antonio Barrera, when he scored an 11th-round TKO victory on Nov. 15, 2003. He later captured the WBC international featherweight title on Sept. 10, 2005, after knocking out Hector Velazquez. And then, Pacman defeated Erik Morales by TKO in a rematch earlier this year on Jan. 21 (he had lost to Morales by a unanimous decision in March 2005). Despite Pacquiao’s outstanding performances on the global arena and his celebrity status, the Philippine slugger still appears down to earth. His ringside demeanor, like the way he kneels and prays before the start of his fights and when he makes the sign of the cross, also show he’s a man with faith.
In spite of his average looks and small stature, he’s used his talent and determination to rise out of poverty to become a national hero and a source for Pinoy pride. There’s even a joke that if Manny were to run for mayor, people would elect him governor.
In fact, Pacquiao’s rags-to-riches experience parallels that of James Braddock, portrayed by Russell Crowe in the movie “Cinderella Man.” Pacquiao was born in the Philippine province of Bukidnon, in Mindanao, and sold bread in the streets. The fighter eventually went to Manila penniless and worked as a construction worker and sold cigarettes.
Boxing columnist Michael Katz once wrote, “He ran away from the corn and rice fields at the age of 12 because his mother didn’t want him to box. … Now he is on the cusp of becoming perhaps the greatest Asian fighter to conquer the West since Genghis Khan.”
Getting back to the main event, it started with pop singer Bituin Escalante, dressed in a traditional Mestiza. She belted out a powerhouse, soul-stirring acapella of “Lupang Hinirang.” The performance gave me goose bumps, knowing millions of people also were listening to the Philippine national anthem, many perhaps for the first time.
Pacquiao had a lot of weight on his shoulders. A loss would devastate his fans, including Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and it would steal thunder from an expected third fight with Morales later this year. The combat was intense and Larios proved to be a formidable opponent.
Pacman had trouble in the third round after receiving a barrage of blows, making a handful of women in the Hyatt audience scream. But later in the seventh round, he dropped Larios with a short right hook, followed by a straight left hand. After dominating most of the 12-round fight, Pacquiao (42-3-2) retained his WBC international superfeatherweight title by a unanimous decision victory over Larios (56-5-1).
Based on the pouring of support Pacquiao received from his compatriots throughout the world, it’s clear that Filipinos will band together for a shared cause and behind individuals they respect. Pacman galvanized Pinoys from all walks of life, creeds and political convictions when it came to defending national pride. Imagine what would happen if we retained this same unity, passion and drive to achieve all our common visions!
Manny’s triumphs remind us that Pinoys, like any other group, can overcome adversity if they’re full of faith, are steadfast and resilient against their struggles. More importantly, his achievements give confidence to Filipinos everywhere that we not only have the innate qualities to compete with the best in the world — we can succeed! Norman Analista, 31, is a former news anchorman and a Filipino-Guamanian. Write him at [email protected].
Originally published July 7, 2006
