When an athlete is propelled into the spotlight and achieves greatness, his or her entire country is often impacted by their success. Sports such as boxing and soccer are classic cases of this example, as the passion from the athlete’s countrymen has been on display time and time again, whether inside of a Las Vegas arena or a sold out soccer stadium overseas.
When a fighter comes from a third world country and finds a way to break the mold and capture something special, the dynamics are even greater. People going through hard times have an identity to look up to when somebody from their ‘block’ accomplishes something historical and that has been the exact case with Filipino Manny Pacquiao over recent years.
It’s no secret just how meaningful Pacquiao’s career has been as of late and the impact he has had on his native Philippines is as clear as day. Pacquiao’s connection to his homeland is constantly on display, whether his fans are screaming loudly at one of his events, charting his every move back home, or debating about his potential online.
Pacquiao’s story is one that has its share of hope and inspiration and many people have gotten caught up in his ride. For a country like the Philippines, where a gold medal has never been won by one of its athletes, to have someone so special is a huge plus but it doesn’t change the fact that away from the spotlight much pain and grief still exists in the country.
This past Monday, November 23rd it was reported that at least 21 people among a group of local politicians and journalists were abducted and murdered in the Southern Philippines. The killings are said to have been linked to a political rivalry that is tied to next year’s national elections. Reportedly gunmen linked to one of the country’s powerful politicians were given the order to seize and kill and unfortunately they followed through with their instructions.
Upon reading the news, fellow Examiner and Filipino native Dennis Guillermo was taken back in the worst of ways. As he read the information online, Guillermo made mention that life in the Philippines is still as hard as ever. Guillermo grew up in the country’s capital, Manila, and still keeps tabs despite moving to America in 2002 because of the opportunity that existed in the States. Upon reading the news of the murders a few things stood out to Guillermo.
“The murders were politically connected so the first thing that came into my mind was that the politics back home is still dirty” Guillermo said in a slightly down tone. “Every time elections come around in my country it’s the same old story; people end up getting killed. I actually have a good friend of mine whose dad was a long time mayor of a province and he ended up getting killed not too long ago as well. It’s just the way things are over there.”
When asked why life back home is so cruel Guillermo can’t point to an exact reason or cause, it’s actually a combination of several things. What takes place in the Philippines has been going on for years, well before Guillermo himself was ever around.
“It’s a third world country,” Guillermo pointed out. “It just dates from way back. It’s how things have been for a while and honestly I can’t see it changing any time soon. It’s just the sad truth and its just embedded in the country. Back in the Philippines money makes the world go round over there. People who have money of course have power. Back home the police system isn’t what it is over here. People get away with a lot of stuff easier. If you get robbed in the streets there isn’t a 911 you can call who is going to respond.”
Guillermo also noted how dirty the politics in his native land is and how the politicians have their own set of bodyguards and even personal armies at times. Guillermo remarked that growing up he had to hustle just to get by and that in the Philippines you either get picked on or end up being the own who does the picking. From Guillermo’s perspective, it’s a dog eat dog world no matter where you set foot.
“Every area has its ghetto,” Guillermo continued. “I grew up in the city, in Manila, which is pretty much our New York over there but I also went to a lot of places because of the kind of life I lived. I’m familiar with Cebu, The Visayas, and some parts of the Mindanao. Of course there are certain areas that are deeper in poverty and gangs but its like that all around. It’s just that if you grow up there you learn where to go and where not to go. You learn certain things at a young age and you just have to understand things in order to survive.”
When asked what takes place over in his country that outside observers may not be able to understand, Guillermo doesn’t know where to begin. It’s pretty much the way of life itself. In American Guillermo has spent time living in the Bay area in California, Las Vegas, and Indianapolis but cant’ recall anything like life back home.
“You really have to be there and experience it to really grasp it,” Guillermo stated bluntly. “It’s not easy to just talk about it. Just the daily living is different. Everything is different. I remember a couple of people from the ghettos over here in American in Compton went over to the Philippines once. They were immersed in the ghetto in the Philippines and they came back beings shocked and actually being fortunate for the lives they had back at home.”
When the topic turned to how Pacquiao’s recent run of success has affected people in the Philippines as well as outsiders looking in, Guillermo didn’t hold back his thoughts. People in his country get an initial rush for every one of his fights while others have gotten a greater perspective of the Filipino way just because of all the attention Pacquiao has attracted.
“It definitely gives the insiders an escape for a few hours,” Guillermo says of his countrymen. “There’s no violence for a few hours and seeing Pacquiao win allows them to escape from the harsh realities of their situations back home. People just look up to Pacquiao and get inspired. As for outsiders I think it’s opened their consciousness about the Philippines, especially after seeing the 24/7 series and all the video montages and highlights. I think people have started to really see how life is back home and Pacquiao is obviously proud to be a Filipino and he has garnered respect for his home country and its people.”
At the end of the day the harsh reality is that for as much as Pacquiao has lifted his entire country his time in the spotlight will eventually pass the grim situations back in his native land will still exist. Guillermo himself wants to maintain hope and admits that he takes a great deal of inspiration from what Pacquiao has been able to accomplish, but at the end of the day it’s an uphill battle.
“It can be a start but its just a hard situation. People can all come together and it’s a good start but it’s a tough battle over there. The people on top with the money over there control a lot of things and get away with a lot of things. I don’t want to name drop any politicians but all I can say is that there is just so much of the wrong things that have been going on for the longest of times. It almost seems like it’s hopeless at times but the good thing though is that Filipinos are never at a loss for hope.”
