SOON AFTER scoring an electrifying victory in Las Vegas, ring sensation Manny Pacquiao expressed one wish for his country: “Sana magkaintindihan na po tayong lahat (I hope we’ll all finally end our differences).”
And for three or four hours yesterday, Filipinos looked like they did.
In Metro Manila and elsewhere in the country, families stayed glued in front of their television sets, many motorists and jeepney drivers stayed off the streets, traders closed their shops and others set up TV monitors in markets to watch their idol hammer Erik Morales to submission.
In one hospital in Quezon City, doctors and nurses burst into cheers, although a patient was undergoing surgery in a nearby operating room.
Communist guerrillas and Moro separatist insurgents also listened to or watched the fight.
Even if only fleetingly, a people deeply divided over their President had united behind a former bakery worker.
Pacquiao expressed his wish for his country on national Print this story Send this story Write the editor Reprint this article View other stories
and cable television when interviewed in his dressing room after the fight.
The boxer was surrounded by Filipino officials, led by First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo.
Pacquiao profusely thanked the nation for supporting him with its prayers. He admitted he felt like crying over the huge support his compatriots gave him.
“I hope you would continue to support me and, especially to President Macapagal-Arroyo, thank you, thank you very much and to you all, thank you very much,” Pacquiao said. “God bless you all.”
Pacquiao also spoke by phone to Ms Arroyo, who watched the bout from Malaca?ang.
“I join Filipinos from every corner of the Philippines and the world in congratulating Manny Pacquiao on his very convincing victory,” Ms Arroyo said in a statement.
An inspiration
She said Pacquiao’s win should serve “as an inspiration and constant reminder to all our countrymen that the Filipino can be the best in any endeavor when he puts his heart into it.”
While the fight was going in Las Vegas on Saturday night (Sunday morning in the Philippines), there were only a few shoppers in the big malls in Metro Manila, despite it being a Sunday.
Many of the usual mall customers apparently stayed home or had gone elsewhere to watch the bout.
Shoppers began to come in at about 3 p.m., when the fight was over.
Cheering every punch
Only light traffic flowed along stretches of EDSA (Epifanio delos Santos Avenue).
In Pampanga province, many jeepney and tricycle drivers in San Fernando City stopped plying their routes and watched the fight on television at their terminals.
Every Pacquiao punch that found Morales’ chin or stomach set up roars of cheering.
“The victory of Manny is a moral booster to all of us Filipinos, especially during these times,” said driver Nestor Ocampo.
In Baguio City, traffic was at its lightest in years because most residents stayed home to watch the fight, according to the police.
Hundreds of people converged on Malcolm Square downtown to watch a delayed telecast of the match on a widescreen set up by the ABS-CBN network.
Pretext for reunions
In Barangay Dominican, families used the match as an excuse to hold reunions. Jeepney and taxi drivers also took a breather to watch the match before plying their routes.
But cab driver Marvin Tangganan kept on working.
“I decided to earn a living because the radio already broadcast the fight, and I already knew who won,” Tangganan said.
While in Las Vegas watching the fight, Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson acted as the “blow-by-blow commentator” of a radio station in Vigan City.
Singson interrupted a religious program of the dwRS Commando Radio to deliver his fight commentary.
In Sorsogon City, hundreds of passengers going to different towns were stranded for hours after jeepney drivers grounded their vehicles to watch the bout.
Deserted streets
The streets were deserted, a scene experienced only during Good Friday. Tricycle drivers also stopped plying their routes.
Restaurants with TV sets were packed with jubilant customers.
But Grace Pascual, administrative officer of SN-dzRS, refused to watch the fight, saying she wouldn’t be able to bear it if Pacquiao lost.
From their hideouts somewhere south of Luzon, the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army joined the nation in celebrating the victory of Pacquiao and that of another Filipino, Jimrex Jaca, in an undercard.
Victory for the people
“We salute them for their victory. Their win is also the victory of the people,” communist spokesperson Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal said in a text message. He said he followed the fight on radio.
When asked if the rebels momentarily stopped their operations against government forces so they could monitor the bout, Rosal said: “The NPA operations against the enemies continued even while some of the Red fighters were monitoring the fight.”
In Cotabato City, the Moro Islamic liberation Front congratulated Pacquiao on his feat.
“We expected that he would win the bout. We join the Filipino people not only in the country but those overseas as well in celebrating his victory,” MILF spokesperson Eid Kabalu said on the phone.
“We support him. We are happy that even in sports, our group feels the spirit of unity,” Kabalu added.
He said the front provided its forces in the field with TV sets so they could watch the fight.
Politicians were also ebullient.
Senator Richard Gordon said the fight was spectacular and noted how Pacquiao was “focused” throughout.
“That’s one thing we Filipinos lack. He also showed the Pinoy is world-class,” Gordon said.
Senator Edgardo Angara said of Pacquiao: “He’s a national treasure. Let’s take care of him and let’s not push him to exhaust himself.”
Senator Francis Pangilinan called Pacquiao “truly the Filipino people’s champion.” With reports from Tonette Orejas, PDI Central Luzon Desk; Leoncio Balbin Jr., Frank Cimatu and Vincent Cabreza, PDI Northern Luzon Bureau; Delfin T. Mallari Jr. and Bobby Labalan, PDI Southern Luzon Bureau; Michael Lim Ubac, Luige del Puerto and TJ Burgonio in Manila, and PDI Mindanao Bureau, and Agence France-Presse
