Mike Rama, Cebu City Vice Mayor: ?It will be a long fight… a real show.
There will be countless punches. Today, heroes in our midst are a scarcity.
Pacquiao is a hero. He is a hero who is known globally. And there are very few Filipino heroes known world-wide: Monique Lhuillier, Lea Salonga, Bata Reyes. What?s amazing with Pacquiao is how long he?s maintained that name around the world. He?s a hero of today.?
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Wally Liu, CEO, Primary Structures Corp.: ?I guess today will be a great day to do groceries or Christmas shopping… the malls will be empty! Yes, the whole country?s tingling with excitement and anticipation for the Big Fight.
My general reading with Pacman and this fight is that with Morales, he?s found a rival. Aside from rooting for an underdog, we all love rivalries between equally matched competitors. Will Pacquiao knock-out Morales? ?My heart certainly hopes so. My head says it might go the distance since they both know each other?s strengths and weaknesses and there won?t be many surprises. Both are quick and smart, with good coaches. Both can go the distance, and I think Manny will win by TKO or decision.
If Pacman wins, is he one of the greatest-ever Filipino sportsmen? ?He already is. Aside from natural talent and training hard, he?s a natural advertiser?s hero because of his humor and humility and overall attractiveness.
There?ve been many more talented athletes who won?t be considered great because they were unable to gather a huge fan following. Manny not only has millions of fans but has the ability to unite our fragmented country, and restore patriotism and national pride!
?What makes him special? He?s saleable because his charm disarms everyone to root for the little guy. His rivalry with Morales can last a few more years of wins and losses. But that only makes him more special. Unlike previous athletes, boxers included, no one has had his kind of cult following.
A ?W? or a ?L,? he?s still a winner!?
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Salven Lagumbay, columnist, Cebu Daily News: ?Bay, the atmosphere here in Vegas is just unbelievable! I think Pacquiao will again stop Morales in the later rounds, around 10th to 12th. Morales can?t keep up with the speed, power and conditioning. ?Yes, if he wins this fight, he?ll definitely be a lock to become not just the greatest Filipino boxer of all times, but a front-runner as the greatest Filipino sportsman of all times. You have to consider his humble beginnings, how he rose from there to become an icon, and once on the top, how he is able to parry (or live with) all the distractions, temptations and what-have-you, to still win and deliver. Other athletes could have caved in. Pacman is indeed the man!?
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Dr. Maning Juanillo, top Cebuano surgeon: ?Pacquiao in nine rounds. This choice I make not because of anything else but that deep in my heart I want him to win. Morales may be the wilier, more experienced fighter but ?Pacman? is younger, faster, stronger. I do hope my prediction comes true.
?Pacquiao, greatest RP boxer? ?No!? Being a Cebuano and a Bogohanon by ancestry, my ?bias? is for Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde, my late father?s idol. Pacquiao may be the most celebrated and perhaps the richest Filipino boxer in terms of purses earned, but he still has a long way to go before being considered the greatest ever RP boxer. True, he has beaten two of the greatest boxers of this time, both a cinch for the Boxing Hall of Fame, but ?The Flash? held the 130-lb. division world championship for 10 years, making him the longest reigning junior lightweight world champion ever. Elorde has been enshrined in both the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame.
?Pacquiao the greatest ever RP sportsman? No. It is difficult for anyone to surpass the achievements of Rafael ?Paeng? Nepomuceno. He has won the World Cup in bowling four times in three decades and can possibly win his fifth this decade. All in all, Paeng has won over 100 titles, national and international. He owns the distinctions of ?Greatest Filipino Athlete of All Time? and ?Athlete of the Century.? In 1999, the FIQ named Paeng the ?International Bowling Athlete of the Millennium.? His achievements are so outstanding, I see no one come close to achieving what he has done.?
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Me?Anne Solomon, owner, Alcordo Advertising: ?Considering the mileage given to the Philippines, yes, yes, yes, Pacquiao is RP?s best-ever sportsman! Manny represents a dream… He has united Filipinos from all walks of life at one time or the other?during his fights. He is Mr. Cinderella personified.?
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Yayoy Alcoseba, Cebu City Councilor: ?The fight will not last 12 rounds. I was planning to go to Vegas to watch. I spoke to Manny three weeks ago when he was in L.A. and he promised me a ticket plus a room to stay. Sayang. I got caught up with so many things here now. I saw Manny fight Oscar Larios in Manila and he really has the heart. ?Isog gyud!? He likes to fight. He?s a fighter. ?Mo dawat siya ug kumo.? ?Dili siya ma hadlok.? He?s very aggressive. I think (and pray!) Manny will KO him in the 9th!?
