HIS favorite color is red.
In this fight, he chose yellow.
His love for country is beyond question.
In this fight, he proved it by dedicating the bout to an unflinching, recently departed nationalist.
His sense of oneness with peerless patriots is the envy of many.
So, in this day of days, he materialized to join the Mass commemorating the 26th death anniversary of Ninoy Aquino, long the precept of undiminished patriotism.
On Aug. 21, Nonito Donaire Jr. added a new dimension to what truly a national figure is: Attaching one’s self to the heartbeat of a nation.
Donaire had joined a flock to hear Mass in honor of Ninoy, the martyred nationalist-husband of Cory, yet another vanguard of freedom and the Mother of Philippine democracy.
If Donaire wasn’t training for his Aug. 16 fight against Rafael “Torito” Concepcion of Panama, I’m almost sure he would have been one of those millions who lined up to pay their last respects to Cory from August 1-4.
He might have even joined the mammoth Cory Cortege on August 5 from the Manila Cathedral to the Manila Memorial Park in Paranaque.
But Donaire did more than his share of sympathizing with a grieving nation orphaned by the death of Cory on August 1: He dedicated his fight to Cory.
To prove his sincerity, his robe and boxing trunks weren’t only changed from red to yellow; the words “I.M.O. (In Memory Of) President Cory Aquino” were emblazoned on the back of the robe, and “AQUINO” embroidered on the back waistband of the trunks.
After his unanimous decision victory over Concepcion, Donaire presented to the Aquino children (Ballsy, Viel & Pinky) his championship belt symbolic of his interim WBA world superflyweight crown-plus the robe and boxing trunks (they now form part of the Aquino memorabilia at the Aquino Museum, Tarlac City).
And to think that although Donaire, 26, was born here, he grew up in America-making him less likely to dish out a homegrown heart with fondness and affection for everything Filipino.
Thus, such rare display of nationalism and pride in being a Filipino has made Donaire a towering symbol worthy of emulation.
Here’s to a budding icon of principled existence.
