Show Us The Manny Pacquiao

Never-failing to give me the goosebumps – in all of MANNY PACQUIAO’S fights, would be that part when Michael Buffer ( of the, ” Let’s-get-ready-to-rumble fame ” ) would loudly introduce Manny Pacquiao as,

..” The Fighting Pride of Gehneyrail Saint-os City,
PHILIPPINES… “

And it is not just about making Filipinos stand tall through Manny nor cementing the city of Gen-San on the world map.

But the announcer’s voice would always make it sound as if the entire Philippines is one lean mean fighting machine.

An introduction that Diego Silang and Lapu-lapu would also be worthy of.
( ” From Aringay, La Union…PHILIPPINES.. The Revolutionary…)

I’ve always indulged myself in listening to that intro.

However after that of course, I turn the television set off.

( yes, I had only watched all his fights on the delayed telecasts and replays.)

Never was I a boxing fan anyway. And especially not, when Manny is on that ring.

The results of all Manny’s fights directly affect my husband’s mood and where he would take us for a family day that Sunday.

Not counting my entire family: my husband, my dad, my brother-in-law and my four brothers -they clearly comprise that phalanx of support for Manny called, ” The Filipino Nation.”

And that is why during the duration of all Manny’s fights aired on t.v.,I voluntarily consign myself to my son’s room.

Or without prompting, I become one of Aling Dionisia’s prayer warriors.

In between prayers, I would just listen to my husband’s voice from our room yelling and shouting the blow-by-blow account of the fight.

And when I couldn’t contain myself I would shout out to my husband,
” Is Manny winning?”

When my husband would shout back, ” Mananalo tayo, sweetie ” ,
( as if he is Manny himself on that ring )
then, that is when I would rush to his side and catch a glimpse of the fight.

But when the opponent’s one-two punches would now impact on Manny, I scamper back to the other room to end my torment and concentrate on seeking divine intervention.

Besides, that infamous Marquez punch from the previous fight landed not only on Manny’s face but on all the faces of the men in my country from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Manny’s last fight was too traumatic for all the men in my family.

My husband , the next day, did not get up early to open our store.

My seafarer brother-in-law Jong had a fever after that fight.

My senior citizen Dad was too grumpy for my mom to converse with.

And I know for a fact that one of my four brothers did not get up for work the next day.

I cannot take seeing them broken-hearted like that.

All of them wanted to avenge Manny like they were the ones punched by Marquez himself.

Manny Pacquiao and Freddie Roach might have gotten over that fight but the men in my family had not.

Needless to say that Jinkee’s expression which registered on t.v.
( after seeing her seemingly lifeless husband on the floor)
haunts me to no end.

And that is how we love Manny Pacquiao in my country.

Our family day, immune systems, state of being and even the country’s crime rates are dependent on his fights.

We know Manny carries all his countrymen in his heart especially when he says, ” para sa bayan.”

And in the midst of the harrowing experiences his countrymen might had gone through during a deadly storm coupled with an unexpected storm surge, he gives hope.

Manny,

You have made us believe in life after tragedy.

You had also taught us to get up from where we had stumbled and fight once more.

You inspired those who have nothing to aspire to be somebody, someday.

Most importantly, you taught us that nothing is impossible with God.

We love you, manalo man o matalo, you are the Man!

You taught us how to fight like a champ, Manny.
And inspite of what this country is going through, we will continue fighting.

And nothing can keep us from supporting you, not for all the tea in China.

Take care out there!

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