PAMPANGA — Allan Dungao, president of the Philippine Cable TV Association, said on Sunday the PCTA enjoyed a 25-percent increase in pay-per-view clients in Pacquiao?s “Unfinished Business” bout with Mexican boxing great Juan Manuel Marquez, compared to the Filipino boxing champ?s last fight with Mexican fighter Erik Morales.
“Based on the pay-per-view hits, the growing support of the cable subscribers to Pacman (Pacquiao) is unbelievably tremendous,” he said.
“Everywhere, it is the same situation. In Manila, pay-per-view is very expensive. Global Destiny charged P800 and Skycable, P1,500 but people still buy it,” he said.
On Fields Avenue in Angeles City, some bars and restaurants cashed in on the Pacquiao-Marquez duel.
“Subdelicious,” which has an all-American menu, charged P200 per viewer. The fee went with free refreshment.
The place was full of American expatriates who all rooted for Pacquiao.
International referee Bruce McTavish observed that in his latest bout, Pacquiao was “too hesitant, not his usual aggressive style.”
Businessman Marni Castro called it a “classic fight.”
“Marquez was an intelligent boxer but Pacman is the fighter,” Castro said.
Traffic at the Pampanga capital of San Fernando was unusually light after the 8 a.m. Palm Sunday Mass. Roads in the city were virtually empty before noon.
“Mahina ing pasada. Manalbe lang TV reng tau keng laban ng Pacman (There were few passengers. People were watching on TV the fight of Pacman),” said Luis Quiambao, president of a drivers? association in Barangay Palawe.
In Nueva Ecija, Fiorello Abenes, a United States-based scientist and a visiting professor at the Central Luzon State University, said Pacquiao?s win was “great for the country.”
“It meant that this was one big positive news for the country beamed elsewhere in the world,” said Abenes.
In Isabela, local officials said about 20,000 people watched the fight live at the Antonio Abaya Memorial Coliseum in Santiago City and Francisco L. Dy Memorial Coliseum in Cauayan City.
“Ang tindi ng kamao ni Manny, walang ibinuga si Marquez (Manny?s fists are powerful, Marquez could not do anything about it),” said Roberto Maguigad, a tricycle driver in Ilagan town.
Reports from Tonette Orejas and Anselmo Roque, Inquirer Central Luzon, and Villamor Visaya Jr., Inquirer Northern Luzon
