MANNY PACQUIAO has been listed among the entries (10K) in Sunday?s ?Run for the Pasig 10.10.10? that aims to break a Guinness World Record for the most number of runners in a single race. Madame Gina Lopez, spearhead of the incredible crusade to restore the dead Pasig River to its pre-wartime glory, says they are batting for a total of 120,000 participants, or 10,000 more than the standing world record set in the ?Bay to Breakers? race in San Francisco, California, in May 1986. To those who wonder how Ms Lopez could gather that tremendous number, the reported participation of Representative Pacquiao alone augurs well and should ensure a big field. Bus operators have offered to shuttle participants free to three different starting points of the race that will culminate at the SM Mall of Asia complex. * * * Ms Lopez, needless to say, is singularly possessed by her saintly vow to save and revive the Pasig. El Shaddai has promised to field 50,000; and although no word has been heard from the CBCP, Catholics are expected to pour in droves in support of Ms Lopez?s aim to tell the world ?We want the Pasig River clean.? Anyway, regarding Pacquiao, it?s easy to believe he also agreed to involve himself in Madame Gina?s crusade as part of his advocacy for the environment. Another thing. The Pacquiao run should, in a way, help goad him back to full-time running and no-nonsense preparation for his forthcoming clash with Mexican Antonio Margarito in Texas. For one, we refuse to believe that Pacquiao had tarried before going full stride in training because he was underestimating Margarito, maybe one of the easiest to hit among today?s bigtime prizefighters. * * * The very accomplished Freddie Roach, Pacquiao?s American trainer, has been quoted as saying Pacquiao was not in his best shape. Not yet, of course. There?s still ample time to hit peak form. The only danger is if Pacquiao, given his tight new schedule, ends up cramming. The Pacman need not be told (by Roach) that Margarito cannot be expected to go out there like Oscar de la Hoya or Joshua Clottey, or both. These two ?bigger? foes of the Pacman simply froze like stone statues, suffering instant paralysis under the fury of Pacquaio?s killer lightning offensive.
