Emulating Pacquiao

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

With a dominant and masterful victory over WBC lightweight champion David Diaz, Manny Pacquiao made boxing history by being the first Asian to hold four different titles at different weights.

Manny Pacquiao is obviously at the peak of his career, vanquishing his last eight opponents in a forum where only the best man can possibly win.  Along with his boxing prowess, Filipinos also marvel at the wealth and fame that his outstanding natural talent has brought him.

However, many of us forget that the path that Manny Pacquiao took was a long and hard one, filled with disappointments and heartbreak before he finally made it to the big time.  We conveniently forget that every big money fight demands his total commitment to a singular goal, which demands the outmost perseverance, pure dedication, and pushing his body, heart and soul to their extreme limits during the intense training camps before the big night of the fight, which is simply the culmination of weeks of preparation.

If Manny Pacquiao is on the top of the world today, it is because he willed himself there and worked as hard as he humanly could to get there.

As we bask in our fellow Filipino's glory, let us emulate the good points of his epic journey to the top as we fight our own personal battles, and as we fight to save this country.  Many of us dream of a better future but are not willing to invest our whole selves into that dream. Instead of turning to hard work, dedication, and perseverance, we count on games of luck like the Lotto to lift us out of our troubles.  Based on the sheer quality of his opponents, Manny Pacquiao would not be able to accumulate such an outstanding ring record if he depended entirely on natural talent and pure luck.  He won because he trained hard, worked harder, pushed the limits, continuously improved, and stuck to the game plan.*