LOS ANGELES, California — Years from now, when he’s older, slimmer and, hopefully, wiser, Jose Miguel Arroyo, husband of Her Excellency, the President of the Philippines, will be telling his grandchildren what happened on the night of Jan. 21, 2006, in Las Vegas, where Manny Pacquiao erected a monument to Filipino resiliency for the whole world to see.
Where were you, grandpa, at ringside? the children would most likely ask.
No, even good-for-nothing mayors and congressmen could be there; I was right there, inside the ring.
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will no longer be President by then.
Still, the Arroyo grandchildren cannot be expected to wonder how the First Gentleman had made it on top of the boxing ring.
His power and boundless clout, needless to say, make it possible for the First Gentleman to be where he likes to be, or live and sleep in grand chambers of his choice.
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But will the grandkids applaud and cheer Lolo for being in the wrong place at the right time?
It depends. If their Lola Gloria would happen to be around, they should get her vote, too.
For one, did the President approve of the First Gentleman riding the ring at the height of Pacquiao’s triumph in Las Vegas?
From what we’ve read in Filipino papers circulated here, Mr. Arroyo, using his cellphone, had made it possible for the President to immediately congratulate Pacquiao during the instant celebration that was flashed all over the world.
The First Gentleman, based on the reports, should be thanked for his great gesture of jumping into the wild, wild scene.
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Talking of extremes, Nick Joaquin had written about the “spasm of agony” in one of his true-to-life detective tales.
The First Gentleman, it could be said, provided the happy opposite when he risked his limb to get into the ring “fueled by supreme delight.”
It was a tough act, take it from one who happened to be there, what with all the burly, snarling security men guarding the rare moment.
Mr. Arroyo deserves a handshake, or maybe a pat on the back from his dear wife.
We could only express our gratitude that the First Gentleman did not get hurt.
Unfortunately, this could not be said of the countless Filipinos who were all witness to Mr. Arroyo’s sacrificial act.
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No need to conduct a survey and get the people’s pulse.
The Mike Arroyo sideshow was instantly voted a super turn-off, a deep hurt, based on the response of Filipinos at ringside and those who recognized the ecstatic First Gentleman on the television screen.
Mr. Arroyo was reportedly booed inside full-house cinemas in Metro Manila where the Pacquiao super fight was flashed live.
We also received text messages from those who were present inside the movie houses.
But, in the name of charity, we will no longer divulge the content of the messages.
Did he have to do it? asked Albert Molina, a Mexican construction firm driver who said he won $500 on Pacquiao.
Molina had just delivered lumber to a residence in Cocamonga, where Filipino Jojo Llamoso was supervising work on a poolside game room.
It was all a matter of self-respect. Or resiliency, to be exact, remarked the driver.
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Writing in the Arizona Republic, Norm Frauenhelm captures the hysteria as he calls Pacquiao a national treasure, a crown jewel.
Writes Frauenhelm: “Filipinos can’t get enough of him. Politicians, record producers and almost every segment of the island nation have embraced a fighter with a story that is humble and uniquely Filipino, even — or perhaps especially — in defeat.”
The writer notes how adulation grew more intense following Pacquiao’s defeat against Morales last March: “Pacquiao’s blood flowed from a cut above one eye and down his face like tears. There was no way to stop the blood. Yet, Filipino faith in Pacquiao was not shaken. If anything, it appears to have grown stronger, perhaps because in Pacquiao, Filipinos see their own resiliency and ability to come back from defeat.”
The writer had seen the best of the Pinoy in Pacquiao. He, too, believed.
He however lost the appetite to continue with his tale after witnessing the worst of the Pinoy as free-loader in that on-ring sideshow.
Mike Arroyo’s story was not worth telling, even to his grandchildren.
