MANNY Pacquiao dazzled the aficionados. Whenever he was in the ring in Vegas, traffic stopped. Even those in the run from the law like the NPAs and the Abu Sayyaf uncocked their guns and all of us were glued on the idiot box. The crowd in the theatres and restaurants exploded when he floored in the second round the cocky Ricky Hatton, the pride of England. That’s our pambansang kamao. There were many more Pacquiao’s fights that made us Filipinos standing tall. Barrera, Solis, Marquez, Cotto, Diaz, Margarito, De La Hoya and few more others.
Fast forward: Now the venue is not in the boxing ring but in a political arena. Pacquiao over the weekend got jab straights from Duterte and a left hook from bosom friend Chavit Singson. The sound bites: “Huwag kang aabsent. You are s**t, s***t.” Two jabs from the president. “Iba ang politika sa boxing. Mag-aral ka muna.” A left hook from Chavit. But just like in his boxing matches, Pacquiao parried the blows and kept his jabs that shook Malacanang because he struck the raw nerve of Digong when he said the incumbent government is more corrupt than the administration of the late President Noynoy Aquino.
There are truths on statements made by Digong and Chavit. Frankness is number one enemy of a civilized society. He is not discouraged. Everyone knows the public life of Pacquiao. He always rise to the challenge. Now he wanted to be champion in three political divisions, Congress, Senate and Malacanang and he is focused. No one it seems can stop him from pursuing that. Just like when most are asking when will Manny Pacquiao hang his gloves? Even his coach Freddie Roach once told him to retire. But look he will square it off again with younger Errol Spence Jr. this coming August. Money, influence and fame are already tucked in. It seems he has no satisfaction.
This I remember. He was floored by Manuel Marquez with a hard counterpunch, and kissed the canvas. It took him some minutes to regain his consciousness. His wife Jinkee broke down to tears. Months later he was up in another match. That Marquez episode didn’t stop him to go up the ring. The spotlight was again focused on him when he decisioned unanimously the much younger Keith Thurman. Looking back on his life, he was 16 years old and he was Kid Kulafu then. Just as he survived the difficulties and harsh realities of life, the same to this nation which to this day still surviving and getting browbeating from the uncaring leaders who embraced kleptocracy, running around with their stolen money and dancing with joy when there are a lot more Kid Kulafus in many parts of the archipelago trying to search their place in the sun. Pacquiao wanted to knock out corruption, but the corrupts are dancing and running around Mayweather style.
Manny Pacquiao's journey in the boxing world may have to end sometime. As they say all good things never last. He was a preacher, a recording artist, a movie star, a playing coach and a senator. Give it to Manny he remain nice, kind, generous and humble. Because from where you started, it was way way down there. But like an eagle he soared so high that the whole world took notice. This corner is wishing you the best of luck everytime you step into the ring, when you cross mitts with Spence.