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Philippines, 17 May 2024 |
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A CLOSER LOOK AT KING DAVID AND MANNY PACQUIAO By Medeon Maraon PhilBoxing.com Wed, 03 Dec 2008  King David. Manny Pacquiao. Two distinct characters I look up to. As I looked intently into the lives of both individuals, I found interesting similarities between them. Allow me to share with you some of the things I found fascinating. First, they're both excellent musicians. David played the harp and Manny plays the guitar. Before David became king, he was a shepherd boy. While keeping watch of his father's flock, he probably practiced his harp. For sure he practiced daily because he became good at it. When King Saul needed a skillful musician to drive away the evil spirit that kept tormenting him, his servants recommended David (1 Samuel 16:17, 18). That shows how good a musician David was. If you're summoned by a king to entertain him, you must be good. Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo summons Manny to the Malacanang Palace every time he comes home after a huge fight. Not to sing, of course. But in case you didn't know, Manny is a recording artist back in the Philippines. His debut single "Para Sa 'Yo Ang Laban Na 'To" (This Fight's For You) became a huge hit the moment it was released. King David fought a giant of a man in Goliath. How tall was Goliath? He was 10'8" (1 Samuel 17:4). How about David? The Bible doesn't say anything about David's height. All we know is that he was a boy, not strong enough to carry King Saul's paraphernalia. The average height of a teenage boy in the San Diego Fil-Am SDA Church is 5'6". Let's say that's how tall David was when he faced Goliath. A big disparity in height! It was a good thing David launched his attack from afar because the outcome of the fight could have been different if Goliath got hold of him. Manny will also be fighting a giant on December 6, 2008. But his case is more critical; he cannot launch his attack from afar the way David did. Manny is only 5'6 ?" compared to Oscar De La Hoya who stands at 5'10 ?". His 67" reach pales in comparison to De La Hoya's 73". Which means Manny should fight toe-to-toe in order for him to land the blows that could wreak havoc on Oscar's body. Both gladiators fight with the weight of their nations on their shoulders. When David fought Goliath, the hopes of Israel were upon him. The whole nation was desperate for a messiah, someone who would deliver them from the hands of the enemy. Their dreams of crushing the enemy vanished into thin air when they saw Goliath. Nobody wanted to fight Goliath. Israel's army was hesitant at first to send David to fight the giant. But David's determination cast a ray of hope on the sagging confidence of King Saul and his men. All of a sudden, the Israelites started dreaming once again. When Manny fights, the whole nation is grounded to a halt. With the economic crisis getting worse each day, the Philippines look to Manny as its hero. He is such a tremendous inspiration to the poverty-stricken country that Filipinos start believing in themselves every time Manny enters the ring. So, are these two revered warriors perfect? No, they are also weak individuals like us who are always in need of a Savior. In fact, they both share the same weakness: women. And their mistresses' names starts with a letter "B" (Bathsheba and Bacosa), has three syllables, and ends with an "A." Ah! But the good thing about them is this: when they knew they made a mistake, they humbled themselves, admitted they were wrong, and they mended their crooked ways. David admitted to Nathan the Prophet that he had sinned against God (2 Samuel 12:13). His prayer found in Psalm 51 shows how sorry he was. Beautiful prayer! When Manny understood the true meaning of faithfulness, he stopped his late night parties (where he met his mistress) and spent more time with his family whenever he's not training. Now he's worthy to be called a true example. Both fighters needed to add some bulk to their small bodies in order for them to be at par with their towering opponents. Manny last fought at 135 lbs. where he beat another guy named David (Diaz) for the WBC lightweight championship. Oscar has been fighting as a light middleweight (147-154 lbs.) since 2001. For the fight to take place, Manny had to add twelve huge pounds to his weight, something he hasn't done in his past fights. King Saul didn't want David to fight Goliath unprotected. So, he allowed David to use his armor. Poor David! It must have been a funny sight to behold: a huge armor with a tiny head, tiny hands, and tiny feet sticking out of it. No, David didn't need that extra bulk. What he needed was more bulk in his faith. I could imagine David praying to God while walking towards Goliath. I strongly believe David asked for God's guidance when he had to choose which stones to pick. Definitely, David prayed when he did swing his sling. For sure, he asked God to guide the stone to its target. Can you still remember that song taught in Sabbath School about David's showdown with Goliath? Here are the words in case you forgot: Only a boy named David, only a little sling Only a boy named David but he could pray and sing Only a boy named David, only a little brook Only a boy named David but five little stones he took. Why, it's Manny's song, too! Only a boy named Manny, only a little swing Only a boy named Manny but he could pray and sing Only a boy named Manny, only a little hook Only a boy named Manny but twelve extra pounds he took. Manny is the underdog; and so was David. Can Manny do what David did? Outclass a giant? It already happened before. I don't see any reason why it won't happen again. Philippines. Philistines. There must be a reason why they rhyme. We still don't know what's going to happen come December 6. But here's what I can say basing on the showdown that took place in the Valley of Elah: a little guy with a big heart and a BIG GOD is guaranteed to win. De La Hoya - Pacquiao. This is David and Goliath all over again. Don't miss it! Click here to view a list of other articles written by Medeon Maraon.  |
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