DUMAGUETE CITY–Seminarians sneaked out of their schools to watch the boxing fight in auditoriums. People skipped morning mass. People who never used to bet got into all sorts of bets. But at past noon Sunday, Filipinos of all stripes ended up feeling winners when Manny Pacquiao conquered Mexican Erik Morales for the final time in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Businesswoman Menka Ponce de Leon lost 30 kisses to her young son who bet for Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao.
She had to bet 30 kisses for Morales’ victory after no one else would bet with her son, 14-year-old Jorge Sebastian Ponce de Leon, whom she has sent to study at the La Salle Zobel in Alabang. Jorge bet P100 against the kisses.
“Our deal was that if I lost, I would pay him in front of his school,” the mom, who hasn’t seen her son in months, said excitedly.
She immediately bought a plane ticket for Manila upon hearing of the results of the bout. Payment is due in two weeks, she said.
Elsewhere in the Visayas, cheers resounded among those who watched the fight live on publicly displayed giant screens, movie theatres, restaurants and homes with pay-per-view despite the widely expected Pacquiao win.
Tacloban City Mayor Alfredo “Bejo” Morales went as far as announcing that his city will declare Pacquiao as its adopted son. “I will immediately urge our city council to pass a resolution making him an adopted son of the city. Anyway, he has a Waray blood in his mother (Dionisia),” he told the Inquirer.
Romualdez joined the close to 5,000 people who trooped to the city’s convention, where the prized fight was screened. Tickets priced at P100, P50 and P20 were sold out before the fight. But since there was still a big crowd waiting to watch the fight, Romualdez decided to open the gates and allowed them in for free into the venue.
This enabled the group of “Paul,” who sneaked out from the Sacred Heart Seminary in Palo, Leyte to watch the fight at the 42-meter screen. “I am his (fan) and I’m rooting for him to win?.for the country,” he said.
He declined to give his family name saying that their group of three senior seminarians was not given permission to get out their school.
A priest at the Santo Ni?o Church, who also requested not to be named, said that the attendance of the three morning Masses declined considerably. “Perhaps they want to give moral support to him … We understand of course,” he said.
In Bacolod City, thousands of Negrenses jumped and shouted with joy as Pacquiao knocked down Morales in the third round shortly past noon Sunday.
About 3,000 fans gathered at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum, many as early as 8 a.m. to watch the Pacquiao fight. Shortly before the fight, the Bacole?os stood up and said silent prayers for Pacquiao.
Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, a good friend of Pacquiao, carried Pacquiao’s championship belt at the ring as the Philippine national anthem was sang.
Artist Dennis Ascalon was overjoyed by Pacquiao’s win but said the fight was over so fast, it was “bitin (too short).”
“I’m really satisfied even if it was over so fast,” said Tuting Amara, who was laughing as he left the USLS coliseum.
At L’Fisher Hotel in Bacolod, about 500 well-heeled Bacole?os gathered with their families to also watch the fight, along with the Philippine football team that beat Cambodia Saturday at the Panaad Park and Stadium in the Asean Football Championship Qualifiers.
Others also watched the fight at the Robinsons Mall theaters, in front of the Bacolod City Hall, the Bays Center and at public markets in the city.
