Special Feedback Feature
The day after the Manny Pacquiao-Erik Morales super battle as I was watching the NFL playoffs on television I could not get the fight off of my mind. I kept thinking of the two brave warriors- the two national heroes- and how one nation\’s icon fell and one nation’s icon was triumphant.
While there is no question that Erik Morales is beloved by millions of Mexico’s fight fans, there is nothing quite like Manny Pacquiao and his relationship to the Philippines in all of professional sports.
As I watched the football game, I got my notebook out and began writing “Reyes a Glass to Manny Pacquiao.” The words flowed rather easily. After the game, I transferred my thoughts from paper to computer and later that night published the piece on this website.
I had no idea of what was coming my way.
Almost immediately I began to get feedback thru e mail from many Filipinos who read and appreciated my article. The feedback flowed into my inbox for several days.
I was taken aback by the overwhelming kind words from the many responses from appreciative people. Writing is often a thankless job but these messages from around the globe are wonderful.
I want to share them with all of the readers of TigerBoxing and I want to humbly thank everyone who wrote in.
Here is an unedited sample of what was sent in to TigerBoxing…..
Thanks,
Tom Thompson
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Just wanted to let you know that Tom Thompson’s article “Reyes a glass to Manny
Pacquiao” was superb. One of, if not the best, article I have ever read on the boxing great. Thank you very much.
-Sargo S.
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Dear Tom Thompson:
Mabuhay from the Philippines!
Thank you for writing a wonderful article entitled “Reyes a Glass to Manny Pacquiao” I like what you said in there…Pacman is such an inspiration to all of us here…it’s kind a
funny because our Government Leaders couldn’t unite the country while Pacman can..I like your post it touches me, it give us a lot of hope especially to our struggling country. Again, Thank you.. its just nice to hear someone from other country said those wonderful words.
Regards,
-Rabin R. Cebu Philippines
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I enjoyed reading your well crafted article on Pacman, to Freddie Roach – a hard worker and composed trainer, to Shelly Finkel – a good manager worth of emulation, to Gary Shaw – the promoter of the year and to us Filipinos who truly love our own Manny Pacquiao despite of. For us, we are proud and worthy to be Filipinos. I just thought of worth mentioning the legend of his own and of his country Erik Morales. He showed how crafty he was on the ring, his gallantry to fight before his fans and countrymen and I believed because of El Terible, Pacman reached on top.
Thank you.
-Jun R.
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Tom Thompson
01/23/2006 – Near New Orleans
Hi Tom,
First time reading a write up from you. “Very Credible” thanks anyway for the Kudos on Freddie Roach, Shelly Finkel the manager, Yes you are absolutely right on your praise for these people behind the Pacman victory Mr. Shaw did a good job too these people with Pacquiao helps us Filipino to unite at least 8 hours on Sunday (Jan 22, 2006) .
Crime rate according to news is “zero” in NCR during that time.
-L.M.A.
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Excellent work Tom, we were moved by your article.
-A.C.
From The Philippines.
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Tom,
You captured the right words about how Manny means to the Philippines in your “Reyes a Glass to Manny Pacquiao”. It was awesome!
I hope you could see the previous fight of Manny and understand why he is well loved in the Philippines. It will make you a more informed writer as far as Pacman is concern. Pacman’s great fights are now on CDs available in the Philippines.
We read a lot of write-ups from writers around the world trying to give excuses for Eric. Many writers are still in disbelief that Manny KOd Eric. But for most Filipinos, it was no surprise. We’ve seen Manny KOd fighters in the most unexpectable way in his more than 40 previous fights. MAB. JMM and EM are simply affirmation of Pacman’s power. He still a raw diamond being slowly polished by Freddie Roach.
Keep writing good articles.
Thanks for appreciating Pacman and the Filipinos.
-Jun A. Cebu City, Philippines
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Tom,
You are my hero reporter. You are the only one among the many I have read (including Filipino reporters) writing on our hero Manny Pacquiao who ascribed his victory not only to the great boxer that he has become but also to members of his team: promoter, manager, trainer. And yes, it wasn’t really only the Reyes gloves that did it. You’re absolutely right: When Manny Pacquiao won, we Filipinos won. If he had lost, millions would have mourned. Like you said, he is our (new) national hero.
-Frank H. a Filipino
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Hats off to you Tom, we are very pleased to your article, yes we loved Manny so much as we loved our nation. We are a great and loving people of the pacific who idolized Manny because of his humbleness, faith in God and an attributes of being a natural Filipino that true to himself.
We the Filipinos, are loved being the underdog as we always fell treated but that’s not enough for us to go down instead strive until we got the other sides of the coin. We now feel proud that people like you ascended the entire Filipino nation to highest regard, we simple amazing…..Thank you and the Almighty God be with you always. I hope to remember you and your family on my prayer.
More Power….!!!!
-Emmanuel (just a namesake of Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao)
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Dear Mr. Tom Thompson of New Orleans,
I admired you as an honest journalist and a good person in particular. Like Manny Pacquiao I came from the south of the Philippines, the Mindanao Island.
In this regard I am thanking you for the superb commentary on the recent fight of our ring idol Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales. Both are really great warriors and perhaps Manny was very lucky this time because of his hard work, determination, sacrifices, and most importantly to make his countrymen happy.
I emailed your column from tigerboxing.com to my relatives and friends back home. Also to my friends in Singapore, Australia and Gulf area in the Middle East. We Filipinos were very much pleased and happy for the well written commentary about our only living hero the humble and great Manny Pacquiao.
Thank you Sir and may god bless you for being a nice and honest scribe.
-Ding T. Spring, Texas
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For a large group of people everywhere who have suffered the bitterest of luck – the loneliness and hardship of leaving family earning for measly salaries in mostly deplorable conditions overseas, for those who have stayed and endure the threat of conflict brought about by political, religious and social class differences and the threat that natural calamities will befall us as certain as poverty remains a way of life as far as we remember, there is one day in January 2006 when we wept as we listened to our national anthem, grateful for the blessing that a ‘kababayan’ is being given the chance then literally stood as one nation in jubilation.
From dirt-poor background, un-schooled, lacks style, one-dimensional, belittled against a great and highly-respected competitor (but by no means an enemy) in the world boxing stage but armed with patriotic yet humble and joyful fervor, for people and country before anything else, representing the common man, we believed, he delivered.
By the way, they refer to us as Filipinos.
Thanks, Mr. Thomson.
-Alain B.Y.
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I became an instant spammer to my friends and relative here and abroad when I send a link from your special feature, “Reyes a Glass to Manny Pacquiao”.
That was a great illustration by Tom Thompson on how important is Manny Pacquiao to all Filipinos, and how valuable he is now to boxing world and in the future. I never had read, and expected like this in a boxing article. This is really nice.
-Oswald T.
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Hi Mr. Tom Thompson,
You made as so proud of your column. Your objectives and the way you describe how the Filipino people celebrates the victory of their National Treasure.
http://tigerboxing.com/articles/index.php?aid=1001245413
As a Filipino here are some of my stupid views why the Filipino people are so hungry for honor, respect, dignity and reputation.
-Our reputation has been ruined long time ago because of political turmoil in my beloved country.
-10 Years ago or maybe more the Philippines are one of the Volume exporters in US. Hand made products, Clothing’s, RTW, and etc. In today’s time we are the major exporter of Humans; we encourage people to leave and work abroad that are why we offer short term courses. Like for example; care givers, domestic helpers, even some of our own Doctors they have been demoted into nurses, for the sake of the Almighty Dollars.
-According to some foreign investors here in my beloved country, they are really amaze with the talent of the Filipino people. Imagine we are the third English speaking language in the entire planet, and take note, Filipinos are hard working, and intelligent kind of people. Hmm… Maybe!
-But here are some factors why foreigners loved my country. (Especially Caucasian) they are the benefactors of Filipino hospitality. But most of all everything is cheap in the Philippines; imagine, if you have 20 million US dollars investment in this country its a billion already! Plus with excellent loyalty and hard working employee, Man I tell you! What ells do you need?
Maybe another reason why we lost the respect of other races, it is because we showed less respect to our self. Most of them admired the Filipino, because they’re friendly, hospitable, they keep smiling, and so on and so fort. Maybe it’s true but I don’t know why and how.
When I read your column with all those insight I said to my self, this is what Manny Pacquiao has done to his country and to its people. Analyst in the world of Sport talks about Manny Pacquiao, the Philippines and all those things. It is a big honor for us. People, who once lost their hope, people that even in your nightmare you cannot imagine what kind of miracle can make this Nation United for just a few moments. Not even our most educated law maker nor the holiest evangelizer, pastors, reverent and clergy. Only one man, who neglects his Masteral Degree, just to survive the venom of poverty makes most enemies embrace to each other for the victory not only for one MAN, but for the entire FILIPINO PEOPLE.
Imagine almost zero crime rates during the fight? I was thinking of Police and the Criminals right next to each other holding a bottle of beer, cheering with the same word, Go Manny! Go Manny! Yesssss… yehheyy… WOW!
As I said again Mr. Thompson Thank you so much for giving such time for us.
Best Regards,
-Grean
* dear tom,
It’s the first time that I heard from an American that America is envious of what the Philippines have. Manny for us is the unifying force to a divided nation. People all over the Philippines will support manny to the last breath.
You should have been here in the Philippines to witness the euphoric atmosphere when manny knock morales down. You said that even criminals here watch the fight, well, in most of our jails, the police installed large TV so that even the most hated criminals in our land could watch manny fight. That’s how important manny.
Thank you for praising our country even though thousands of our countrymen think that our poor nation doesn’t have any hope of recovering from our sad state. I take my hat off to you tom, God Bless You a million times!
PACMAN FOREVER!
-Manuel G.
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read your article about Manny Pacquiao and it brought tears to my eyes. Thank you so much for the kind words you have said about Manny and our countrymen. J To the Filipino people, “The Battle” was indeed a victory not only for Manny but for the entire nation. Kudos to you, PACMAN!!!
Got to go back to work!
-Sharon R-A
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To Mr. Tom Thompson,
I’m an avid fan of both Morales and Pacquiao. Hats off to Morales for that great fight. He proved that he’s really a warrior just like our manny pacquiao. To you Mr. Tom Thompson thanks for that great article that you’ve written praising manny pacquiao, everyone on his team, and of course THE FILIPINO BOXING FANS who really love manny.:-) Many boxing fans and boxing writers were able to read your article and WERE VERY HAPPY WITH WHAT YOU WROTE ABOUT MANNY AND HIS FANS. YOU SHOULD PAY US A VISIT SOMETIME. YOU\’RE MOST WELCOME ANYTIME. MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY! THANKS FOR WRITING A GREAT ARTICLE! MORE POWER TO YOU TOM THOMPSON, I HOPE THERE WILL BE MORE AMERICANS LIKE YOU! WE LOVE YOU! 🙂
P.S. If ever manny would be fighting here in the Philippines, you should be invited to watch or cover it. Expect the FILIPINO to be warm and hospitable to you. God speed!
-John M.
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Mr. Tom Thompson,
Thanks for sharing an article that may awaken minds of the Filipino people. Indeed, what a wonderful message from a clever westerner of a different culture but of good heart and full of understanding about what a real hero means.
I’m not a fanatic of boxing but I was really amazed when the City of Baguio where I reside has constructed a huge video screen where the whole residents of Baguio could watch Manny Pacquiao as he give the fight for his countrymen. When Pacman entered the ring, the people started cheering shouting for Mabuhay, Mabuhay Pilipino, Pinoy ako ….Pinoy ako which means … Hail Filipino Hail, I’m A Filipino…. I’m a Filipino…. this was the time that I started to shiver and felt the patriotism in me being a Filipino citizen. Manny Pacquiao is a real person full of nationalism, a humble boxer and a generous one. Though I’m not a boxing fanatic, I consider Manny Pacquiao as one of the legend in my home country the Philippines.
Again, in behalf of my fellow Filipinos, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation for an excellent and well-defined article of yours.
Regards and more power to tiger boxing!!!
-Daniel G. C.
Baguio City, Philippines
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Hi,
I read your stuff and you are dead right. I’m Filipino and I’m always proud of being one. The struggles and hope of a nation hangs on a 130 pounder from a lowly place in the southern Philippines. He is our modern hero and we can’t keep our eyes from shedding tears that day when he won. it’s one because I am happy that he demolished Morales, it is with being a Filipino represented in a big event like these.
I appreciate your comments too. again you are dead right. thanks.
-Rey E.
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Hi Tom,
I am deeply grateful for a wonderful article on Manny Pacquiao and for the nice words about the Filipino people.
Aside from the Pacman, you lifted our spirits up during these times when our politicians make us feel down.
Thank you and best regards,
-Leo L.
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