Buboy Fernandez watches Pac working on the double-ended bag. (Photo by Winchell Campos)
BUBOY Fernandez wept unabashedly in front of millions and chanted “Mabuhay ang Filipinas,” as he rushed to give his childhood friend Manny Pacquiao a bear hug just as when he knocked out Mexican hero Marco Antonio Barrera last Nov. 15, 2003 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
That scene was five months ago, but still, the memories remain fresh. So when Team Pacquiao reviews the Pacquiao-Barrera fight tape for the umpteenth time to look for flaws and mistakes, Fernandez stops the tape and rewinds it back again, trying to skip that part, eliciting another round of laughter.
The tears were different from that of Greek war hero Achilles’ when he cried for friend Patroclus. They were tears of joy and ecstasy, when they could say, mission accomplished. Both Pacquiao and Fernandez have arrived, coming from a very, very long journey, way, way back!
In fact, Fernandez is one of the main reasons why Team Pacquiao has gone this far in its search for the Holy Grail of boxing. Both men have practically known each other for a lifetime and success or failure goes through each other’s lifelong association.
“Mahirap nang bumalik dun sa panahon na iyon,” said Fernandez, reminiscing the times when he and Pacquiao virtually had nothing. At present, Fernandez gets some of life’s most precious lessons from Hall of Fame Trainer Freddie Roach, who also sees parallel experiences in him.
Like Roach, Fernandez was 27 years old when he helped Pacquiao train and win the IBF bantamweight crown. Fernandez shuns the spotlight and would prefer to just work in the sidelines, translating Roach’s instructions like secret war codes into audible dialect, wipe off sweat in between rounds and massage Pacquiao’s feet and legs in between rounds and training exercises.
Roach was a struggling retired boxer when he helped Virgil Hill win his first championship belt in 1987.
Fernandez, four years Pacquiao’s senior, played big brother through most of Manny’s childhood when they used to fend off fights against other neighborhood bullies. “Magaling talaga iyang si Manny sa suntukan kahit na nung bata pa,” said Fernandez, scratching his head and smiling when he remembers that he was one of the “promoters” of the usual kid fights in their poor neighborhood back in General Santos City in the early 80s.
Those were the days when Pacquiao, struggling to get out of the gripping poverty of the place, peddled through the streets of General Santos, bread and other bakery products from where he also worked part-time.
Fernandez recalls that Pacquiao was truly a gifted athlete. “Champion siya sa takbuhan. Siya ang pambato ng escuelahan ng Saavedra at siya ang anchor sa 4 x 100 meter dash. Spiker din iyan sa volleyball, mataas tumalon at talagang mabilis,” said Fernandez, who adds that Pacquiao was also a consistent honor student.
As fate would have it, Pacquiao sails for Manila with little money in his hand, even works as a gardener instead for one of the boxing gyms he wanted to train in, and eventually got a big break when another manager sees his innate talents and develops it to some degree of success.
“Nung bumalik ako sa General Santos, nakita ko si Buboy, ang itim-itim, naninigarilyo, payat at hubad, butas-butas ang shorts, naglalaro ng basketball sa alikabok. Sabi ko sa kanya na sumama siya sa akin sa Maynila at hindi na siya nagdalawang-isip pa,” recalls Pacquiao.
Pacquiao was already doing eight and 10 round bouts during that time and he trained Fernandez to become his own personal trainer, showing him how to handle the mitts and other gym work. Still, Fernandez had to struggle, working as janitor for the L&M gym of Lito Mondejar.
Fernandez even used to sleep on top of the ring like billiards great Efren “Bata” Reyes used to doze off in a billiards table when he was just a bata. ?Totoo iyon,? said Fernandez, with a shy smile.
“Huwag lang sana maranasan ng aking mga anak ang aking naranasan,” said Fernandez, now a father of two. “Kaya dapat manalo tayo, kasi kapag talo ka, maaari kang bumalik ulit sa pinanggalingan mo,” said Fernandez, a tear welling in his eyes when he remembers himself hungry and eating only once a day like many other people back home.
“Mahirap ang boksing, hindi ka rin nakakasiguro. Ang panalo nasa distansiya lang ng isang split second,” added Fernandez. “Kaya kami ni Manny, talagang nagpupursigi kaming manalo sa laban na ito.”
Fernandez said that against Juan Manuel Marquez, Team Pacquiao must win, at all cost. “Malaking kahihiyan sa atin dahil tinalo na natin si Barrera. Mas malaking laban iyon. Si Marquez, magaling din pero hindi siya sikat,” said Fernandez.
“Ang tagumpay namin ay tagumpay din ng buong bansa. Maraming tao ang umaasa sa panalo ni Manny, maraming mga mahihirap ang naniniwala ring aahon sila sa kahirapan,” added Fernandez. “Hindi lang mga bata at mga boxers, marami pang mga Filipino ang gusto ring makarating sa inabot ni Manny.”
Winning is the only way for Team Pacquiao because there are better and bigger things in store for the two men who have struggled to conquer life?s most difficult challenges, Marquez included.
?Sana, ipagdasal kami ng ating mga kababayan, para kapag mananalo tayo dito, mas malaking laban na naman ang susunod.?
