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Philippines, 06 May 2024 |
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VINDICATION OF A CLEAR CONSCIENCE By Aquiles Z. Zonio PhilBoxing.com Sat, 30 Sep 2017  MAKATI CITY ? Once again boxing icon Manny Pacquiao was tossed into the spotlight by the netizens? hullabaloo about ? virtually ? nothing. The controversy stemmed from Pacquiao?s supposed flirting with Caucasian ladies on Instagram. It was nothing but a casual and cordial conversation between Pacquiao and his fans. No more, no less. Sad to say, people with wild and filthy imagination put malice into it. They misconstrued Manny Pacquiao?s amiability. There?s an underlying reason behind his cordiality and geniality in dealing with fans. Pacquiao?s constant reminder to the members of Team Pacquiao is ?Never ever offend, turn down or shoo away any of my fans. Without them I would not be where I am today.? Truth to tell, since his spiritual renewal, Pacquiao has led a pious life compared with some priests or pastors out there. I was one of those who doubted Pacquiao?s transformation when he started embracing Christian life way back in 2011. But Pacquiao managed to change my impression vis-a-vis him when he gave me a chance to cover his April 2014 rematch with American boxer Timothy Bradley. Pacquiao is totally a changed man. I?m a witnessed to his daily life. Can?t we give Pacquiao some respect? Can?t we give him the benefit of the doubt? Pacquiao is our national treasure. Even people from other countries look up to him with respect and admiration. Sad to say, right here in our country many of our countrymen are so ungrateful, churlish and afflicted with crab mentality. Pacquiao as a person? There?s more to Manny Pacquiao than his being an exciting and fearless prize fighter. Pacquiao is an epitome of a real Christian, not just a nominal one. Above all, he put what he preaches into practice. No wonder, he was able to touch so many lives both here and abroad. In his home, at the gym and even at the Senate, ordinary fans and celebrities alike come in droves to get his autograph or simply meet or catch a glimpse of the boxer-senator. Since the time I?ve been with Team Pacquiao, I have never seen him harm, berate, scold or yell at anybody even at the time when he?s in bad mood. He just keeps silent. He?s a man with self-control. He?s the kindest, humblest and most generous human being I?ve ever met. When ask why he?s behaving that way, he said ?We are nothing but a mere caricature. Everything ? glamor, fame, success and even life, itself ? is just ephemeral. My mother taught me to be humble, kind and generous to others.? In the Philippines and even in the US, Pacman is known for being a one-man social welfare agency. Pacquiao, even when he was not yet a boxing superstar, has been sharing blessings to other people. He?s been feeding the hungry and giving land to the landless. Even in the US, Pacman provides a living to some jobless Filipino-Americans who left their home country hoping, yet failed, to find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Pacquiao explained his generosity by quoting Luke 12:33, which says ?Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.? ?We don?t always get the chance to help others and I thank God for giving me such rare opportunity. Our mother inculcated in us the value of sharing the blessings to others,? Pacquiao said. Real heroism? Pacquiao grew up in Barangay (village) Labangal, a crowded community in General Santos City where he used to sell donuts and other foodstuffs to help Mommy Dionisia provide the basic needs of the family. It was there where his mental and physical toughness, including his fighting instinct, was first honed by the harsh environment. In the early part of his life, he figured in several street fights against much bigger kids who bullied him and his younger brother Bobby while vending foodstuffs in the neighborhood. Much had been said and written about how he rose above poverty and emerged as the world?s lone eight-division boxing champion. His life on top, as in the past, remains replete with trials and controversies. His heroism and greatness is not just confined within the four corners of the boxing ring. Outside the ring, he showed to us the real meaning of heroism by conquering his own self and by serving others. After his knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez, Pacquiao went home a different man. Pacquiao said his profound love for God, country and his family prompted him to change. ?For a man to conquer himself is the first and noblest of all victories,? Pacman stressed quoting Plato, a famous Greek Philosopher. In one of his sermons during a Bible sharing in his hotel room in Las Vegas, he said that with his newfound faith he?s neither worried about the future nor concerned about what the media or other people would say about him. ?I knew who I am. I?m now at peace with myself. As long as God is with me, I?m not worried or afraid of anything. I just wanna make sure I?m prepared anytime to face my Creator,? he said. In the face of all the trials and controversies, Pacman is unperturbed. Most of the time, he is a portrait of a man in high spirits. According to him, amid all the controversies and cacophony of a high-profile life, he finds solace, refuge and vindication beneath the mantle of a clear conscience. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Aquiles Z. Zonio.  |
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