RP pauses for Dream Match

The “Dream Match” between boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and Mexican-American Oscar de la Hoya temporarily united all Filipinos and stopped politics, crime and insurgency in the country.

During the fight, Filipinos chose to remain in front of their TV sets to watch and cheer for their ring idol. 

People from all walks of life were glued either to TV sets or computers with live streaming via Internet or were in moviehouses watching the fight, police said.

Many gymnasiums in Metro Manila also offered real-time viewing of the bout.

In conflict areas in Mindanao, fighting came to a halt and no untoward incidents were reported, particularly in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao where sporadic fighting, kidnappings and bombings occur.

Chief Superintendent Bensali Jabarani, ARMM regional police, described the entire region as peaceful yesterday.

In Zamboanga, Sen. Manuel Roxas II, who led soldiers in Western Mindanao Command in watching the fight on a wide screen inside the military headquarters’ gymnasium, said Pacquiao carried the Filipinos’ pride in his showdown with De la Hoya.

Roxas made his observation even at the start of the fight when the soldiers in their civilian attire along with their families stood up and joined in the singing of the national anthem.

“Stop politics, stop fighting, stop everything and let’s just watch and cheer for Pacquiao,” he said.

“I know, Manny Pacquiao is carrying our prayers and our pride, kaya ibinigay niya ang lahat.”

Zero crime

In Metro Manila, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported not a single crime during the Pacquiao-De la Hoya bout yesterday.

Except for a lost wallet in a crowd of watchers at the public free viewing area in Tondo, crime rate was zero in the metropolis, said National Capital Regional Police Office chief Director Leopoldo Bataoil.

He explained that a fight aficionado was watching the bout at an “arena” in Tondo when pandemonium broke lose after De la Hoya failed to leave his stool in the 9th round, signaling victory for the Filipino boxing hero.

“He complained later that his wallet was missing due to his excitement in watching the bout,” said Bataoil.

“Maybe his wallet fell out of his pants’ pockets because of the wild celebration.”

Police also reported 30 percent reduction of traffic, especially in Metro Manila, where streets looked nearly deserted as the fight went on.

“The entire stretch of EDSA and other major thoroughfares of Metro Manila were clear of the usual traffic yesterday that one can actually play bowling bowl in the middle of the road,” said Charlie Nosares of the Metro Manila Development Authority’s traffic monitoring center.

“Yung mga buses natin humihinto lang sa loading and unloading bays. Maluwag talaga,” he told The STAR admitting that they themselves watched the fight.

Like EDSA, Nosares said, there were also few vehicles cruising the busy Commonwealth Ave., C-5, and South Luzon Expressway, which MMDA monitored via closed circuit television cameras.

Nosares noted that Metrobase personnel who had to come to work even on a “holiday” recorded no accident throughout the Pacquiao-De la Hoya fight.

Peaceful in provinces

Cotabato City police spokesman, Senior Inspector Wally Kasuyo, said no crime was reported by the province’s police stations from the time Pacquiao and De la Hoya climbed the ring until the stoppage after the 8th round.

Lt. Col. Julieto Ando, spokesman for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said local officials in Maguindanao, North Cotabato and Shariff Kabunsuan had earlier initiated backdoor dialogues with local military units and commanders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to prevent any undue encounter while Muslim and Christian residents in their respective provinces were watching the Pacquiao-De la Hoya fight.

“Surprisingly, there was indeed tranquillity in the three provinces. Soldiers, of course, also watched the fight. MILF rebels who have access to cable TV may have watched, too,” Ando said.

Ibrahim Ibay, acting governor of Shariff Kabunsuan, a component province of ARMM, said their provincial police director, Superintendent Ismael Ali, confirmed that not a single incident happened in the entire province while Pacquiao fought De la Hoya in the ring.

In Pangasinan, thousands cheered as the fight was stopped at the end of round eight.

Almost 2,000 Dagupeños trooped to the Dagupan City People’s Astrodome to watch the fight via three large screens.

Gerard Rodas, SMART Communications area manager for Northern Luzon, said that people began arriving at the People’s Astrodome in the city as early as 9 a.m. to watch the Dream Match.

But most Pangasinenses just stayed home and were glued to television sets.

The Pacquiao-De la Hoya boxing match was telecast on a slightly delayed basis from 1:10 p.m. to 3:04 p.m. yesterday.

Bataoil later directed his five district directors to intensify foot and mobile patrols in their respective areas afterwards, especially late in the evening, to prevent violent incidents among Filipinos celebrating Pacquiao’s victory. – Cecille Surte Felipe, John Unson, Roel Pareño, Michael Punongbayan, Cesar Ramirez, Non Alquitran