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I find myself lucky to h
ave witnessed the glorious career of someone who could very well be the greatest Filipino boxer of all time- Manny Pacquiao. Our super champ is currently being pitted against some of the top names in boxing. Sure to bless Mannny are over $20 million paydays against Floyd Mayweather Jr. (I would love to see Mayweather, the once pound-for-pound best vs. the incumbent pound-for pound pinoy pugilist, Pacquiao) or the lethal Ricky Hatton.
ave witnessed the glorious career of someone who could very well be the greatest Filipino boxer of all time- Manny Pacquiao. Our super champ is currently being pitted against some of the top names in boxing. Sure to bless Mannny are over $20 million paydays against Floyd Mayweather Jr. (I would love to see Mayweather, the once pound-for-pound best vs. the incumbent pound-for pound pinoy pugilist, Pacquiao) or the lethal Ricky Hatton. photo- (President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrives at Sarangani Capitol Park in Alabel, Sarangani Province where she addressed the Region XII Cooperatives Summit and distributed land titles to 350 landless farmers and fortified rice to school pupils Thursday .With her are Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Lito Atienza, Dep. National Security Adviser Luis Singson, Filipino boxing idol Manny Pacquiao.)
Pacman is on his way to becoming a Filipino legend and should do away with the “trapos” that hound him. He should realize that being seen gallivanting with “damaged goods” like Eddie Gutierrez and Annabelle Rama, Chavit Singson, FG and their ilk would just disparage our representation of a true “people’s champ!”
Manny Pacquiao indeed wears the Philippine colors proudly after his great victory!
I therefore implore the Pacman to stick to doing what he does best- BOXING. Call a halt those who trying to convince you to enter the political ring or use you for their own political schemes. Bear in mind that these “cling-ons” are up to no good and are using your accomplishments to enhance a political environment obsessed with the idea of an unbeatable candidate, regardless of the consequences to our country!
Manny, the boxing ring is your arena… leave the political ring to those opportunistic others.
By:Rain Barnido
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For those of you who are still high from the euphoria of yet another Pacquiao victory, this post might be a downer , so stop reading.
This article does not hope to suffer the fate of Amado Picardal – biker, academician, theologian and online pundit – who had to brave a barrage of curses and death threats just because he posted that he did not consider Manny P as a hero at all.
Among other things, Picardal counteracted the traditional media (Yes, I am talking to you Korina Sanchez and everyone else in network TV and national dailies) whose portrayal of Manny is ostensibly close to hero worship. “Speaking of heroes, we are the only country who considers our boxing champions as heroes. Muhammad Ali, the black heavyweight champion, was never considered a hero in the US, rather it was Martin Luther King, the civil rights leader,” he said.
“Heroes are not just objects of admiration, they are role models. I wouldn't want our little boys to grow up thinking they can become heroes by using their fists and beating up other boys,” added Picardal.
Manny, the boxing ring is your arena… leave the political ring to those opportunistic others.
By:Rain Barnido
______________________________
For those of you who are still high from the euphoria of yet another Pacquiao victory, this post might be a downer , so stop reading.
This article does not hope to suffer the fate of Amado Picardal – biker, academician, theologian and online pundit – who had to brave a barrage of curses and death threats just because he posted that he did not consider Manny P as a hero at all.
Among other things, Picardal counteracted the traditional media (Yes, I am talking to you Korina Sanchez and everyone else in network TV and national dailies) whose portrayal of Manny is ostensibly close to hero worship. “Speaking of heroes, we are the only country who considers our boxing champions as heroes. Muhammad Ali, the black heavyweight champion, was never considered a hero in the US, rather it was Martin Luther King, the civil rights leader,” he said.
“Heroes are not just objects of admiration, they are role models. I wouldn't want our little boys to grow up thinking they can become heroes by using their fists and beating up other boys,” added Picardal.
All right, he has some point there. We will not go, though, as far as proclaiming that boxing is a violent sport, because that would open up a whole discussion on what sport is gentle and what isn’t.
But it is best to explore why almost everyone – from the President to the sidewalk vendor; from Kris Aquino to her look-alike Madame Auring; from politicians to the barber shop pundits – hails Manny Pacquiao as a hero worth emulating.
For the record, I do not consider Manny Paquiao as a hero, at all. And that is largely because I have my own ideals of what heroism should be. Manny Paquiao is a national pride; he is an exquisite boxer whose ring exploits put the Philippines on the sports map at least twice a year, whose bouts allow the global exposure of a Filipino artist who gets to sing the National Anthem; and whose entourage oftentimes includes such faces as the First Gentleman and Chavit Singson.
(When Tony Blair cheered on David Beckham, he looked like an ordinary fan. When Miguel Arroyo sat on the ringside for Manny, the FG looked like Pontius Pilate.)
When Manny P returns he will be appointed Ambassador of Peace because he apparently he is the best boxer in the world pound for pound - a sign of the country’s gift for irony or sick sense of humor, considering that Manny earns his adulation in a sport that is far from being peaceful. Why don’t we just make him Ambassador to the Court of St. James, or better yet, open a new position and make him Secretary of State? (Manny, this is not an attack on your diplomatic sensibilities; this is a scrutiny on the capacity of PGMA to make relevant decisions.)
Manny is even considered a cabinet-secretary –level-responsibility, at least according to DENR Secretary Lito Atienza who, when faced with a threat of penalty for being absent at the budget hearing, said, “I consider it as a responsibility (to be with Manny in Las Vegas). Manny was facing the most important fight in his career and of course, my worry was what will happen to our country if Manny loses.”
Indeed, what will really happen to our country if Manny lost the fight?
a. Do we die of hopelessness because Manny is a symbol of hope, as PGMA often says?
b. Do we give up on dreaming because Manny is a testament that Filipinos CAN?
c. Do we fight against each other because Manny is the symbol of national unity?
d. Do we lose trust in ourselves as a people?
I don’t know about you and the rest of the Filipinos. But as for me, if Manny lost that fight, I would have finished reading Jay McInerney, consumed two bottles of Red Horse, posted some comments on Victorina, and prepared a list of people who will receive my book as Christmas gift. Wait, those are the things I did when Manny won! Right.
I will not use any profanity now because my young nephew is starting to read Victorina because of Uncle Rain. So, I will just say that Manny’s loss will not affect my life and the state of the country’s natural resources, climate changes, national security, cultural identity and economic situation.
Now, if Manny will come home and use his leverage to create long lasting peace in General Santos, that would be heroic. Or he offers all his winnings to feed the hungry, that would be nice too but foolish.
In a country so desperate for a heroic symbol that it assigns that role to such name
s like Flor Contemplacion, Jun Lozada, Charisse Pampengco, and, heaven forbid, Manny Villar, the choice of Manny seems logical. But until his strength, dedication and love for country are proven outside the ring, Manny P will remain for the time being a celebrated athlete and a global sports icon, whose story captures the imagination of the people. If he inspires the young ones to become boxers, he is a worthy sports idol.
But a hero?
Not yet.
Now, if Manny will come home and use his leverage to create long lasting peace in General Santos, that would be heroic. Or he offers all his winnings to feed the hungry, that would be nice too but foolish.
In a country so desperate for a heroic symbol that it assigns that role to such name
s like Flor Contemplacion, Jun Lozada, Charisse Pampengco, and, heaven forbid, Manny Villar, the choice of Manny seems logical. But until his strength, dedication and love for country are proven outside the ring, Manny P will remain for the time being a celebrated athlete and a global sports icon, whose story captures the imagination of the people. If he inspires the young ones to become boxers, he is a worthy sports idol.But a hero?
Not yet.
