People who are into Boxing, or who have some connection to the Philippines undoubtedly know who Manny Pacquiao is. Pacquiao is a World Champion boxer, and he hails from General Santos City, in Southern Mindanao. As I type this column, Manny’s latest fight is just getting started, with Manny fighting against David Diaz for the WBC Lightweight Crown. Manny Pacquiao already holds the WBC Super Featherweight Title.
As I type this, I don’t know how the battle will end, but I am certainly hoping that Pacquiao will prevail. What I wanted to write more about, though, was how it is here in Davao and throughout the Philippines when Pacquiao has a fight. Basically, the life almost goes dead here when there is a fight! The streets are certainly nearly empty, it’s like you would expect on a major holiday like Christmas. It seems that nearly everybody is in front of the TV, watching to see the outcome of the fight.
When I lived in General Santos City, this was even more pronounced. It’s as if the place turned to a ghost town during fight time. Last election, Pacquiao decided to get into politics, and he ran for Congressman in the area. He did not succeed, though. Despite his massive popularity in the area, people decided that Manny would be better as a boxer than as their Congressman. It seems, though, that there are no hard feelings, as the lady who prevailed in the race is paying to offer free viewing of the Pay-Per-View event for citizens of General Santos.
Manny Pacquiao really is a rags to riches story too. He started out in life a very poor boy, and as a child he sold lottery tickets on the streets of General Santos to help provide food for his family. Nowadays, though, Manny is a very wealthy man, having fought more than 40 times in his career, and in recent years, he gets millions of dollars for each fight.
Pacquiao just earned his millions too…. he knocked out Diaz in the 9th round! Congratulations, Manny.
Way to go, Manny! Didn't get to see it here, as I am to cheap to pay the $50 for pay for view.
Hi Randy C – yep, I was really happy with the outcome too! Feyma might get mad at me for revealing this, but Feyma is a distant relative of Manny Pacquiao's, so I always root for him. I have never met him, but who knows… maybe someday! 😆
…I think I heard the joyous, largely Filipino fans roar with delirious delight…all the way over here in Orange County California, at Manny's manhandling of David Diaz. I am holding the startup of the press tonight here at my work in order to get the results of this fight in the paper…and although it is a hispanic publication, they always do a very good job covering Manny's fights (probably because he has been fighting **and beating** so many latino/Mexican champs)…
Viva la Manny! ❗
Hi Bob,
I watched the fight at a local pizza parlor. The Mexican crowed filled the
place and there were only a few Filipinos including me. From the 1st
round and up to end, our small crowd were the ones who were noisy. I did not bet because the odds was $450. to $50. Imagine winning only
fifty against my four hundred fifty.
Hi marshallmellow – Wow, you even help up the paper to get the results in! That's commitment!
Hi Robert – You are lucky that you got out of there alive! 😆
Bob
I believe that the reason people gather around the TV and the country shuts down is national pride. It's still alive in the Philippines but sadly in the US I believe pride in our nation is lacking. Anyway hearing about boxing reminds me of a fight I listened to on the RADIO many years ago in the middle of the night. It was a fight titled "The thrilla in Manila" Anyone here old enough to remember that?
Hi Dan Mihaliak – I think you are right about the national pride. I think it still exists in the States too, though.
I remember the "thrilla in Manila" although I was just a kid at the time. 😆
kamusta bob
ahhh manny is a great hero there in philippines .i know most filipino have the dream of being sucessful and going abroad to work and support thier family.manny has surpassed and has great sucess.manny ia truely agreat boxer.i think it goes to show that even a poor little boy has a chance in life if he is willing to work hard and devote his life to achieve.manny is a great insperation to the filipino people and a national hero.GO MANNY GO
salamat bob
Hi Ron W – Yep, I think that the success of Manny Pacquiao is something that many Filipinos dream of for themselves and their families, and that is part of the reason why he is such a national hero.
That was a really good fight. Glad I'm here and I could watch it as it cost too much back home to watch.
Hi Kevin – I'm glad that you enjoyed the fight, I did too! I am not really a boxing fan, but I do enjoy following Manny!
Another nice thing about Pacquiao is that he seems like a real nice guy. I get tired of hearing arrogant and boastful million dollar atheletes, but Manny is the complete opposite of that. He seems like a regular guy. Also he is very generous when it comes to things like helping Typhoon victims in the Philippines. It would be nice if a lot more world class atheletes were like him.
Hi Joe Parisi – Yes, very true! Manny is very generous, and generally humble too.
I don't know how humble for Manny to run for mayor (vice mayor?) or Manila.
But his fight was very entertaining. Good job.
Hi khaye – Manny never ran for either Mayor or Vice Mayor of Manila. He ran for Congressman from South Cotabato.
Hi Bob,
It was a good day yesterday for the Filipinos! Congratulations to Manny for his brilliant performance in the fight against David Diaz. Usually, since here in Singapore we don't have any direct TV feed (nor cable program from what I know) of the live telecast of his fight (since very few know about him and love boxing events like us Filipinos in this tiny island of football maniacs), our relatives and friends back home will text us through our mobiles telling us that Pacquiao won! Really that made my day yesterday. 🙂
Hi Jio – The Pacman had control of that fight since the opening bell! He won every round, and decisively. Even without the knockout, Manny would have won convincingly! Glad you enjoyed the results!
Great fight. Manny is a true champion and a great rolemodel for kids all over the world.
I watched the fight live streaming from a wesite in my wifes province. (not sure if they are supposed to do that, so I wont mention their name)
Hi anthony – good idea to keep that one quiet, because I do think that it's a "no-no" for them to do that! 😆
Manny and Oscar De La Hoya have signed a contract to fight on Dec 6th. It is being billed as the fight of the decade, and I think it very well could be. Manny is younger and faster, but he has to move up two weight divisions to fight De La Hoya, who is naturally a much bigger man. I can't wait to see it. It will be by far Manny's biggest payday ever,
Hi Joe Parisi – I am also looking forward to it! No doubt, this will be Manny's biggest challenge yet.