He may not have conquered, but he fought with grit, determination and honor ? and it is for this show of indomitable spirit that Manny Pacquiao will be hailed a hero.
Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said yesterday the Department of Tourism (DOT) was preparing a hero?s welcome for Pacquiao when he arrives in Manila from Las Vegas, Nevada.
Meanwhile, in General Santos City, Pacquiao?s 56-year old mother was declared in stable condition after she was rushed Sunday to a hospital midway through the radio broadcast of her son?s bout with Mexico?s Erik Morales.
Pacquiao?s younger brother, Bobby, said their mother Dionisia was taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital here after she suffered a nervous breakdown.
“She is now safe,” Dionisia?s attending physician said. “What she really needs right now is enough time to rest for her immediate recovery.” The doctor asked not to be identified.
“It will be more than a hero?s welcome for Pacquiao,” Durano said, adding the DOT was coordinating with Pacquiao?s support team for festivities that would mark the prizefighter?s arrival.
The DOT will decorate the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) with banners welcoming Pacquiao home, Durano said.
From the airport, Durano will accompany Pacquiao on a motorcade to Malaca?ang, where he will meet with President Arroyo.
Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said Malaca?ang is prepared to welcome Pacquiao “at his convenience” and that arrangements are underway for Pacquiao?s meeting with the President.
When asked whether there would be a hero?s welcome for Pacquiao at the Palace, Bunye?s response was succinct: “Definitely.”
Durano said the DOT would also provide similar accolades for Pacquiao when he leaves Manila for his home in General Santos City.
All these festivities, however, “will depend on (Pacquiao?s) schedule and what he wants,” Durano said.
Pacquiao tenaciously stood his ground and stayed on his feet during Saturday?s 12-round fight, despite Morales? fierce pummeling, which opened a nasty cut on his forehead. The bleeding cut obscured Pacquiao?s vision and required stitches.
Morales has a longer reach and is taller than Pacquiao ? advantages that contributed to his victory over the local hero known as “PacMan.”
Though his ego had been bruised, Pacquiao managed to flash a big smile and show sportsmanship at the post-fight interview, where he said he gave his best fight and accepts the judges? decision to award the victory to Morales.
In General Santos, Bobby Pacquiao said his mother was tense when she heard over the radio that Manny got a nasty cut over his right eyebrow during the fifth round of his match with Morales.
“Every time Manny has a fight, our mother?s nerves are always wracked ? but this fight was worse because she fell unconscious for several minutes after learning that blood flowed down Manny?s face after suffering an injury,” Bobby said in Cebuano.
When she regained consciousness, Dionisia told reporters: “Mas mabuti pang ako na lang ang masaktan kaysa si Manny (It would have been better had I been the one to take the pain instead of my son).”
Pacquiao?s grandmother, 83-year-old Cristina Dapidran, was also reduced to tears after learning that Pacquiao was defeated by Morales at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
“I really feel bad for Manny,” Dapidran said in Cebuano, “but he will fight again.”
Meanwhile, Sen. Lito Lapid said that despite his defeat, Pacquiao is still “the people?s champion.”
Lapid said Pacquiao?s honor in defeat has earned the respect and admiration of the international community.
In a statement, Lapid said in Filipino that “the courage shown by Manny Pacquiao in the ring against Erik Morales of Mexico cannot be discounted or doubted.”
“He may have lost in terms of points, but my respect and recognition of his ability remains,” Lapid said. “It was plain to see in Manny?s eyes that he wanted to bring honor home but this was not to be.”
“Despite this, I know he will return (to the boxing ring) to show that the Filipino has the native talent to be hailed as champion of the world,” he said.
According to the statement, Lapid flew to Las Vegas “at his own expense” to see the Pacquiao-Morales match on a travel authority signed by Senate President Franklin Drilon.
While in the United States, Lapid is holding meetings with various Filipino communities to consult with them on matters concerning their welfare and livelihood.
Lapid said he will continue to push bills he filed in the Senate for the benefit of over eight million overseas Filipino workers.
