PACMAN’s PERFECT “10″
For ten electrifying and furious rounds, Emmanuel “Pacman” Pacquiao engaged the Latino legend Erik “El Terrible” Morales in what was undoubtedly a bloody battle for the ages.
It was a knockout performance that “shocked and awed” the thousands in attendance and the millions watching at home as the popular catchphrase of ring announcer Michael Buffer goes. His rousing triumph has once again galvanized (albeit temporarily) an entire nation and showed that the Filipino has the talents and the tools to be a world-beater in the biggest sporting spectacles.
Before the slambang affair, the fever pitch build-up led by Solar Sports/ABS-CBN and their massive PR machinery and cross-platform infrastructure only served to whet the appetite of the boxing-crazy and Pac-lovin’ Pinoys. There was no escaping the daily updates and features on TV, newspapers, the internet and to top it all, Manny P. himself even unveiled his newfound talent (or lack of it) with the release of his record appropriately titled “Para Sa ‘Yo Ang Laban Na ‘To”. And the unanimous decision, dare I say, is that being fast and furious with your fists doesn’t exactly translate to instant singing prowess. Coming soon: Pacman’s ditty in full blast at a videoke joint near you.
Now going back to the real topic at hand. So what’s exactly the big fuss and hoopla about two half-naked men trading punches in a square arena called a ring? How bout revenge, redemption and add to that, an obscene amount of money for both protagonists. WWE it wasn’t. But rather two men settling old scores without resorting to the cheap gimmickry of other so-called sports.
Both being patriots and beloved icons in their countries, Pacquiao vs. Morales to a greater extent was Philippines vs. Mexico in the boxing ring. The match was a matchmakers dream as their huge transplanted fanbase came in droves for the big night. And with the Pinoys and Mexicans propensity for gambling (blame it on our common conquistadors - the Spaniards), betting houses stand to make a killing on wagers placed on the match. Dyan Castillejo of ABS-CBN even went on record to say that a local politico parted with $450k ( to bet on Pacman winning. Wonder if he was the same big, bespectacled gentleman who occupied a palatial $20k per night Las Vegas suite during the first Pacquiao-Morales tiff .
From the get-go, boxing pundits readily proclaimed Erik “El Terrible” Morales as the odds-on favorite to repeat his masterful triumph over the Pinoy pugilist. Eking out a hardfought unanimous decision win clearly cemented his well-deserved reputation as a gritty and formidable ring warrior. On the other hand, our GenSan destroyer was given a slim chance at reclaiming lost glory. The ring smarts and savvy of Morales would prove to be too much for Manny to handle, they chorused. Many were of the opinion that Pacquiao was just another one-dimensional and predictable power puncher who will once again succumb to the Mexican mauler.
For all the punishing training they endured and in what would amount to be almost an hour worth of beating (granted that the bout goes 12 rounds) the bejuses out of each other, the duo stands to earn close to $5 Million (Php 250 million!) between them ($2M for Manny and $2.7M for Erik). Wonder how that would translate to dollars per punches. Go figure.
Unless you’re in a deep coma or inhabiting in the farthest recesses of the earth, January 22, 2006 was a day that a boxer’s quest for redemption became a nation’s shining moment. It was the day that a pugnacious and crafty underdog battered into submission his former tormentor. The man with the granite chin crumpled from the two-fisted barrage emanating from one of boxing’s most dreaded power-puncher.
And the resulting aftermath? Euphoria and pandemonium ensues in the hero’s homeland, politicians clamber up the ring to rain on Pacman’s parade and Gloria said hello in her all too familiar voice. Strange, but the image of an election officer/magician turned funny hat-wearing fugitive kept cropping up on my mind during the Prez and Pac’s brief but awkward conversation. Garci, why are thou still tormenting us?
Manny’s timely win somehow managed to stave off perceived and imagined destabilization threats against the GMA administration. Unconfirmed reports have it that coup plotters called off their planned attacks as they were all intently glued to their television sets like the rest of us on V-day Sunday. Even NPA and MILF fighters admitted to being transfixed to the match and were one in heaping praises to a deserving hero after his clinical stoppage of the Mexican. Manny kept the guns silent and muzzled for one more day.
From rich and ragged, barber to bartender, we were all agog in the frenzy generated by Pac-mania. Indeed, for one joyous and unforgettable Sunday, time stood still as 90 million citizens seemingly and collectively willed a countryman to win one for a belegueared Team Philippines. I for one could not come up with a comparable event wherein the Philippine flag loomed large and proud on the world stage. Maybe the Onyok Velasco Olympic silver and the recent SEAG overall title could approximate the scope and magnitude of Manny’s towering achievement. But V-day Sunday clearly tops them all in terms of impact and was an entirely different story altogether. It was a scintillating accomplishment of a countryman that you’ll be proud to tell your grandkids about.
After the two People Power, never has a simultaneous outpouring of “Pinoy Pride” been on full display. For in a country bereft of heroes and gripped in a state of uncertainty, “The Battle” was more than just one man’s stirring victory, it also came to symbolize the cathartic and uplifting power of the Filipino united. Perhaps there is still a fight left in us after all…
