Watching Manny with Manny

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – This city is still celebrating the win of Manny Pacquiao over Mexico’s multi-championship holder whose  declared aim was to beat Pacquiao and avenge his massacre of his country’s top boxers. Juan Manuel Marquez had trained long and hard for that encounter Saturday (Sunday in the Philippines) at the Events Center of the Mandalay Hotel here, hoping to end the reign of the one they call “Mexican Assassin”. Alas for him, he not only got beaten by our Pacman, he also lost his super featherweight World Boxing title, which Manny now holds. The first thing Pacquiao told Bacolod Mayor Bing when they had a chance to talk yesterday was “Be ready to carry three belts the next time.”

* * *

Maybe I exaggerate when I say that this city is celebrating. For sure Filipinos, even the ones who are now American citizens, are rejoicing and boasting with pride. And they bask in the praises and congratulations from other nationals – not the Mexicans, of course – who greet them everywhere. At the Mandalay Bay where we are staying, the guests and gamblers crowding in its lobbies and elevators smile at us and say good words about Philippine boxers. We all bask in  reflected   glory.

* * *

On the day of the fight, we heard mass at Pacquiao’s suite along with his relatives and some friends and team members. It was a solemn and serious offering with the young and very eloquent Fr. Marlon Beof, who has been doing this in past Pacquiao’s fights. Fr. Marlon again gave a very appropriate homily, and it was very touching to hear a member of the congregation contribute their own spontaneous petition, asking the Lord to bless and guide Manny.

* * *

Yesterday, we gathered again at the suite, this time with more participants, both to celebrate Palm Sunday and to give thanks for the victory of Manny. Again Fr. Marlon gave a very appropriate homily,  linking the two events and the lessons to be gained from them. We felt bad to see our champion, his eyes still swollen, but he gamely spoke and thanked his countrymen, and later signed autographs for both young and old fans until his eye began to hurt. Lunch was served at the Suite.

***

Later, we proceeded to the Alcala residence at the Mountain’s Edge Area in SouthWest Las Vegas where his personal physician, Dr. Allan Recto and his wife, were giving a party for their 9-year-old daughter, Nicole. After the bounteous feast that the family had prepared, we all settled  down to watch the replay of the fight. The third round was about to start when the champion himself, with his wife Jinkee and her two sisters, arrived and joined us. Everybody envied me because the couple sat right beside me on the sofa and everytime  fans had their photos taken, they stood behind me. So I also felt like a celebrity,  at least.

* **

That close, I was able to observe the champion very closely and noted, not only his injuries, but also how impassive he is while watching himself being hit or hitting. It was only in the second to the last round when Buboy Fernandez was heard on TV commenting loudly “Bagsak na sila (They are flattened already)” when Manny P. laughed and said “Hindi niya sinabi na bagsak rin kami (He did not say that we are flattened, too).” I think that only shows how humble the Pacman really is. How different from the man he had just beaten who kept grumbling to the media that the judging was unfair, even if he had been the one who had gone down flat on the floor.*

back to top