When Pacquiao fights, everything in the Philippines halts, crime, traffic, establishments, AFP, every corner of the street from tricycle drivers, garbage collectors up to the corporate and the elite just to give few minutes/hours to glue themselves in front of a TV.
One funny scene I could recall was way back in our small province, there was this Catholic priest who held a "rapid mass" because he don't want people (including himself) to miss the Pacquiao fight. When the priest ended the mass people were running out from from the church and all the clergy folks on the altar could never be found. They were like knitted with one goal, finding the nearest television set.
Another story was, I attended this Christian service way back. It came to the part where the service has ended and we have to pray for something suddenly a man on stage spoke loud in outburst, "Manny won the fight, our prayer was answered."
Every international event whether music, sports etc..with a Filipino on centerstage, the whole nation will definitely give its support. One may wish that Pacquiao should fight someone everyday so our nation from politicians to by standers will unite under one goal. But sadly that isn't the case, yes its daunting to know that we need some boxing icon to get a "short term" grip of unity.
Yes UNITY, ETHICAL unity because there is one thing I would never support in an event like this; the presence of politicians, and Manny's career is one big perfect example. Most of them will try to squeeze themselves just to make sure they are seen on HBO cameras and obviously even the one interviewing Manny gets irritated with all of them around. Like some dogs licking out to ride Manny's popularity, they thirst going to MGM and spend millions of money they claimed "out of their own expense".
Did you see flocks of Mexican politicians crowding to get to MGM to see a Morales, Barrera, Márquez etc..fight? Did you see US or British politicians postponing bills, work just to see a Dela Hoya, Hatton or even Mayweather fight? Well probably one or two they will, but take this record breaking attendance during the Pacquiao-Hatton bout, 50 Philippine congressman went last time to see it!. And thats surprising considering the ratio of that to the ratio of congress, Batasang Pambansa, attendance! Another surprising thing was their bold claim (as Lourd stated it on the video above) "ni singkong duling wala silang kinuha mula sa taong bayan". Who would believe in such thing? For a congressman who earns solely from his government salary, how can he afford to spend millions of pesos to watch the bout in MGM?
Now, if a congressman is eager to shout out his full support is it necessary to fly to Vegas, spend a million there and wave at the HBO camera hoping his constituents to see him internationally on TV? When I was a kid there were like one or two household in our barangay who owns a nice bright colored TV, and out of deep pity a Mayor on the nearby town decided to spend some of his salary and bought some projector and a big canvas where movies are shown at night every weekends. People would try to squeeze themselves on this small plaza to watch their popular movie/movie icons for free. How much would a projector and a canvas would cost? Its not even a fraction of a million. I'm still glad some of this spirit still lives on some areas in our country. I did saw one politician declaring on tv "kesa magpunta pa ko dun mas maiinam dito nalang sa malaking screen para mapanood ng lahat ng tao lalo na yung walang mga tv".
One thing we should follow I think is a nice law I know where in public offcials are forbidden to go to places like casino and non duty luxurious events.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/11/03/09/solons-urged-skip-pacquiao-cotto-fight
"At this time that House quorum is much needed, maybe they will try their best to skip witnessing this particular championship bout of Manny Pacquiao. Magkakahiyaan na rin," House Majority Floor Leader, Iloilo 3rd District Rep. Arthur Defensor told radio dzMM.
"Defensor expressed hope that with congressmen's sensitivity to possible negative public opinion, and their "stand to the call of high sense of duty," only very few lawmakers will watch the Pacquiao-Cotto battle in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 15.
There were reports that at least 20 congressmen, including House Speaker Prospero Nograles, may watch the fight."
There you go, "they will try their best to skip witnessing this particular championship bout of Manny Pacquiao"?
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But whatever it may be, win or lose, Manny will still be the Pinoy Pacman who once lived in our country and throw up some dreams to our fellowman who lost their hopes from our country ensnared by the haunting grip of poverty.
...Manny should start knocking out those politicians behind him.
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