After a neck-and-neck match between Filipino boxer Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao and Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez, the judges declared Pacquiao in a split decision as the real champ in the recent World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight bout in the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In their 12 brutal rounds of punches, boxing techniques and strategies, both exemplified their thrilling styles of a true boxer. Whether you are a Filipino or a Mexican or simply a viewer, you can say that the match was indeed the best fight ever since both were determined to make a good fight.
Pacquiao even had a cut on his eye making it hard for him to strike back in the first rounds of the match. Both had a winning form and would do everything to win. But in the end, Filipino boxer Pacquiao dethroned the former world champ in the wrestling arena.
Such victory made Pacquiao the first and the best Asian fighter to win three record titles in the history of WBC. The winning was not only for the Philippines, but for Asia that indeed we can compete to other countries in all other endeavors, especially in the field of sports.
Previously, "Manny" as what most of his friends call him won the WBC flyweight title and the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super bantamweight crown. At the same time, he brought home the Peoples and Ring Magazine featherweight titles.
When asked about the reaction of the President on Manny's victory, Mrs. Gloria Arroyo said his victory "united and inspired Filipinos for a brief moment even in times of divisiveness" in the country.
She described Pacquiao as an "an icon of the masses" who mirrors the champ within every Filipino, here and abroad.
The President stressed, "I join the Filipino people in savoring this moment of sweet victory and national unity prompted by the courage, discipline and fighting heart of our boxing hero, Manny Pacquiao."
"Like him, we, too, shall overcome the battles ahead, with courage and a steadfast faith in ourselves, our country, and the Lord Almighty," she said.
More than 11,000 spectators witnessed the event in Las Vegas and millions around the globe. This event is always viewed by Filipinos worldwide and has become a craze to support Pacquiao in all his fights.
Certainly, Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao has been an idol among Filipino masses. Once his game is underway, Filipinos create a sense of belongingness and unite in supporting their fellow Filipino. He serves as a binding force toward an end of forgetting about the pressing issues at the moment and be united in cheering for the Philippines as one nation.
I hope in other fields of endeavor, the spirit of nationalism and the pride for the country will be exemplified even in simple terms and would not need an icon all the time to show what it means to be a "united" nation.
Maynard Joseph Delfin finished AB Journalism (cum laude) at the University of Santo Tomas. He has worked as book editor, deskman, copy editor and research and publications officer in leading publishing and research companies in the Philippines. Read more of his blogs at http://maynard_delfin.instablogs.com
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