Sunday, June 30, 2008 Workers find ways to view live Pacquiao fight By Marian C. Baring Sun.Star Staff Reporter
AS THE rest who could afford the fees bought the live feed for the Pacquiao fight for home viewing, or trooped to the numerous establishment that did, other enterprising Cebuanos who were stuck at work looked for other ways to watch the fight, or caught up with the action anywhere they can, while another said he couldn’t care less who fought whom.
With the delayed telecast on free TV lasting almost a full three hours after the time Pacquiao finally decked the sturdy Diaz, the cafeteria at Robinsons Place was filled, not by hungry patrons, but mostly by fight fans, eager to catch the action.
In the second floor, a stall selling TV aired the fight and predictably, people in the benches, and in front sitting on the floor were glued to it.
On the other hand, those who unluckily found themselves at work on a Sunday had to contend with the next best thing, albeit “illegally.”
Call center agents who were trapped at work during the time of the fight, pulled tricks out of their sleeves and use the resources at hand—the internet—to watch the fight.
Strict rules
“It is not allowed, we almost can’t open our e-mails or browse the net at work, but yesterday, the supervisors, somehow, ‘allowed’ it,” said a call center agent, who works in a company that has strict rules at the IT Park.
By “allowing,” the agent meant the supervisors pulled out the video streaming website, for all to see.
Making the viewing better for them was they watched the bout from Mac computers.
“The reception was very clear because of the Mac monitors,” he said.
The agents left their stations for a moment to watch the fight.
“Some held their customers for a while. Others took a break and our supervisor just let them, at least for that span of time,” he said.
On the other hand, while everyone thought that the Philippines is at a standstill when the country’s pride displays his talent in beating another Mexican, hidden behind the uproar are people who think that another Pacquiao fight is just a waste of precious time.
One of that people, is Paul John Colina, a human resource executive of one of the city’s call centers.
Better things
“I woke up and there was no breakfast as everyone was glued to the computer screen as if it was about to give another winning lottery number series, my personal trainer cancelled an appointment at the last minute and I wondered what was going on?
“And when the drowsiness faded, it hit me, it is one of those Pacquiao fights again,” said Colina, who is one of the minority who do not consider watching two grown men clobber each other a form of entertainment.
Colina said there are better things and more important issues that the country should focus on instead of getting too caught up with Manny Pacquiao’s endeavors at getting more moolah by making his body a punching bag.
“I don’t understand why Pacquiao’s fights get celebrated like a national holiday. In case people had not noticed, we have a rice shortage going on side by side the gasoline prices skyrocketing like crazy and dead bodies waiting to be fished somewhere out of Romblon waters. But, no, people set this aside for an hour or two of fighting,” he said.
Hindrance
For someone who works round the clock, Pacquiao fights just become a hindrance to his regular Sunday routine.
“While it is actually a good time to go to the mall because there are not a lot of people, some of us just wish to go on existing, earn money and be productive. But then it’s hard to get a ride to work,” Colina said.
Colina, who ended up joining the rest of his family and some neighbors watching the bout added that he understands how it gives people a sense of pride having a Filipino make history or clobber a foreigner.
“I am impressed, of course. Even the Big 3 (of the Boston Celtics) are there to cheer him on, but still it boils down to how it affects me personally, my job and this country’s economy.
“But if you really want to be patriotic, try caring about the rice shortage. Yes, he may have won another belt and we could all be proud of it, but after that, it does not give us reprieve from the rice shortage. In fact the only people, who could take advantage of Pacquiao’s win are Dionisia (Pacquiao’s mother), Jinky (Pacquiao’s wife) and Buboy Fernandez (trainer). For sure they can buy a sack of Ganador rice without problem. And Dionisia can now buy her car,” he said.
