AT THE risk of being lynched by a mob, we forward an advice: If Manny Pacquiao’s victory last Sunday gave you that overwhelming feeling of pride, please feel proud of Manny and what he has shown the world, but not of the Pinoy.
His glory is not ours. It’s his. He is the one who disciplined himself, who suffered all those rigid trainings, who refused to be as dirty-mouthed as boxers are supposed to be. He is the one who refused to throttle senseless an already tottering opponent. He is the one who remembered his job as a congressman is serving the public and not making the public serve him. He is the one who said boxing is not about killing.
It was Manny, it was not the Pinoys. Given the choice, those Pinoys who rose as one and roared with each punch thrown wanted Manny to knock Antonio Margarito senseless. But Manny chose not to, even if it was within his reach, within his punches to do so, amid the adrenaline rush of being in a boxing bout.
Thus, Manny deserves all the praises, the alleluias, even the idolatry. But keep the Pinoys out of this because we as Filipinos still have a lot to work on as a people. We do not even have the discipline of Manny, and we expect to share in his glory?
Let us pound it into our consciousness that what makes Manny great is because of what he strived hard to become and continues to do, thus see him as our idol, as our model.
Admit it; many scoffed at him when he said he wanted to be a congressman. We snickered when he lost his first bid. But when he finally became a congressman, he acted like the real congressman he wanted to be. He would often stand up in privilege to deliver what he thought should be discussed, but most of all, he stood up against trafficking and pointed out the sufferings trafficked women go through while implicitly saying Philippine government has done nothing but record these because Philippine government has not even thought of providing funds to assist the victim. Of course, he has consistently stood up for the athletes and their pitiful plight.
He went out to be a boxer, and he became a boxer. He went out to be a public servant and he became a public servant. But that’s because of him and not because of his nationality. Had it been his nationality, then government executives would be acting like spoiled brats in a dinner hosted by a neighboring country. Had it been his nationality, then we wouldn’t have the multi-billion corruption controversies surrounding the nine-year reign of President Gloria M. Arroyo. Had it been his nationality, there wouldn’t have been an Ampatuan massacre, where the wheels of justice continue to grind ever so slowly. Had it been his nationality, there wouldn’t have been a botched rescue of Hongkong tourists in Luneta. There are a lot of other shameful events and actions that wouldn’t have happened had our being Filipino had anything to do with Manny’s victories. In fact, there are more shenanigans worthy of shame than the victories of Manny, Charice, Lea Salonga, and all others who have made a name for themselves in the world stage.
We’re not saying that we should not be proud of our nationality and our country. What we are saying is that we should not be blind to our faults as a people and to see with a clear perspective what really besets us so that we can, as a people, be as victorious as those who have individually made it.
Be proud of Manny and all those who worked hard to make a name for themselves, emulate them, and then when we already personify the discipline and craft we have chosen and applied this in our collective pursuits as a Filipino, then that’s the time when we should say, I am proud to be Pinoy. Because, honestly, there are so many greedy politicians, abusive businessmen, bratty and corrupt government executives, and mulcting policemen and clerks that we are not proud of. Unluckily, they share their nationality with us, with Manny.
Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on November 16, 2010.
