He was a ?sakristan? early in his life, and prayer has always been his secret weapon.
This was what President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo learned about Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao when she played interviewer while congratulating the triumphant WBC International Super Featherweight title holder in festive ceremonies at Malaca?ang?s Kalayaan grounds this morning.
— Photograph shows: President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (R) gestures while World Boxing Council (WBC) Super Featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao carries her grandson, Diggy, during his visit at the presidential palace in Manila October 11, 2007. Pacquiao beat Mexican opponent Marco Antonio Barrera on a unanimous decision last week. —
The President, who had walked Pacquiao and company to the Kalayaan grounds from the palace lobby where she had met them, kicked off the open-air hero?s welcome ceremonies by declaring: ?Nagdiriwang ang Sambayanang Pilipino sa muling pagkapanalo sa boksing ng ating pambansang kamao?
?Muling pinatunayan ni Manny Pacquiao na ang husay at tibay ng loob ng Pilipino ay naihahanay sa pinakamagagaling sa buong daigdig ? world class Filipino si Manny Pacquiao at tayong lahat.?
Then she asked Pacquiao about the latter?s religiosity ? especially his ?costumbre? (habit) of making the sign of the cross and kneeling before and after mixing it up with his opponent, and how long he has been practicing it.
?Yun po, bawat laban ko, ginagawa ko po yun para hindi ako madisgrasya o ma-knock-out o mabugbog ng kalaban, para manalo ako, (para) sana bigyan ako ng lakas ng katawan at manalo ako sa fight,? revealed Pacquiao.
Has he always been religious even before he became a boxer? ?Relihiyoso ka na ba bago ka pumasok ng boksing,? the President asked.
To this, the ?Pambansang Kamao? revealed: ?Opo, kasi nung bata po ako, naging sakristan po ako dun sa amin.?
The President marveled at this ?bagong detalye sa buhay ni Manny Pacquiao? who returned to the country at dawn today after winning his Las Vegas bout with Mexico?s Marco Antonio Barrera last Saturday.
Before closing her instant question-and-answer with the boxing champ, President Arroyo asked the Pacman if he had anything more to say to his countrymen (?? May gusto ka pa bang sabihin sa ating mga kababayan??)
?Unang-una po, nagpapasalamat ako sa mahal na Panginoon sa binigay niyang lakas ng katawan sa akin at nanalo ako nung nakaraang Sabado.
?At marami rin pong salamat sa walang sawang pagsuporta niyo po mula noon hanggang ngayon,? Pacquiao told the President.
At the conclusion of the ceremonies — which was beamed live nationwide over government and private TV networks ? the topic again led to prayers and their power: Pacquiao thanked his fans for their prayers ?na napakahalaga para sa tagumpay ng ating bayan, para sa tagumpay, karangalan ng bansa.?
Pacquiao added: ?Masayang-masaya po ako nun at kung kina-kailangan po na araw-araw akong lalaban para sa pagkakaisa ng Sambayanang Pilipino? kasi ayaw ko pong magulo ang ating bansa, gusto ko po nagkaisa tayong lahat, nagkakaintindihan??
The President also waxed prayerful when it was her turn to thank Pacquiao for his latest boxing triumph which again honored the country in the eyes of the world?s sports enthusiasts: ?Maraming salamat, Manny, sa inspirasyon na ibinibigay mo sa ating mga kababayan? at nananalangin tayong lahat, di ba, na laging tagumpay si Manny?
?At nawa?y ipagpatuloy ang iyong pagiging maka-Diyos, maka-Pilipino, maka-pagkakaisa, at siyempre, maka-sports? so talagang ipinagkakapuri ka ng bansang Pilipinas.?
In a cool ensemble of white pants and short-sleeved red native woven blouse, President Arroyo then handed over her congratulatory-cum-thank-you cake to the boxer and his wife, Jinky.
The 13?x 20? banana-coffee-roti cake baked by Malacanang chefs also waxed religious. Glazed with white fondant, it was topped by some 14 ?marzipan? (or sugar with almond taste) statuettes representing the Filipino?s various religions and professions, including a boxer represented by Pacquiao.
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