All roads lead to ‘Grand Finale’

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — For Dionisia Pacquiao, prayers work wonders.

"God is so good to us… He really heard our prayers," she remarked after her son Manny — called "The Pacman" — stopped his Mexican nemesis, Erik "El Terrible" Morales, in the third round of their fight in Las Vegas yesterday.

The fight was particularly momentous for Manny — and for Filipinos in general — as he claimed supremacy in their super featherweight trilogy.

As she was wont to do whenever Manny took to the ring, Dionisia, together with relatives and friends, went to the altar and prayed.

The Pacquiao clan, who had gathered at Manny’s new home in Barangay City Heights here, soon turned ecstatic when Jinkee, Manny’s wife, called from Las Vegas to relay the good news.

Also savoring the moment were Manny’s two sons, Emmanuel Jr. and Michael. His daughter, Divine Grace, was too young to join the partying — she’s one and a half months old.

"The birth of Divine Grace is really lucky for Sir Manny," quipped her nanny, Nerry Arabe.

Everything virtually stood still in the streets of General Santos, as elsewhere in the country, as "The Grand Finale," as the Pacquiao-Morales fight was billed, unfolded. Some were glued to their TV screens, while others joined Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr. at the Lagao Gym where two huge screens were installed. Malls also had big screens while restaurants availed themselves of pay-per-view to lure clients.

As the fight began, what used to be busy streets saw lighter traffic. "The city was very peaceful," said Senior Inspector Samson Obatay, Cotabato City police chief, likening it to Holy Week.

No crimes were reported, added Obatay. Thankfully so as lawmen were preoccupied with securing areas where Mayor Muslimin Sema had put up TV monitors.

Criminal elements also apparently took a dayoff in Davao City, where everyone rooted yesterday for Manny, who owns two houses and frequents billiard halls in the southern metropolis.

This scene was replicated across the country. In Tagbilaran City, Bohol’s capital, churchgoers shied away from Masses starting at 9 a.m. to watch the Pacquiao fight.

At the fabled Panglao Island, resort guests stayed in their rooms to watch. "I already wore a Nike Pacquiao t-shirt as a sure way to celebrate Pacquiao’s victory," said lawyer Doy Nunag, owner of Amerela Resort.

At the Bohol Tropics Resort, members of the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals took a break from their retreat to watch, too, and after Pacquiao’s victory, trooped to Chinese resto Le Eng to celebrate. "He’s a national treasure," said Bobby Lavina, BCBP national president, of the "Pacman."

Tricycle drivers also joined the jubilation their own way — honking their horns as if they to say they were back in business after taking a morning break to witness "The Grand Finale."

"It was a thrilling fight. As a Filipino, I’m proud that Pacquiao won," said Nueva Vizcaya lawyer Virgil Castro after arriving from the FTM Food Fiesta where he saw the fight.

"Of course, I’m very happy that Pacquiao won," echoed fellow Vizcayano, businessman Paul Macabadbad.

Newspaper dealer Sally Galima was particularly elated over the victory and the "Pacquiao mania," which she said made her newspapers and magazines sell like hotcakes since last week.

For his part, Mayor Ambrosio Cruz of Guiguinto, Bulacan said, "Ngayon lang uli nagkaroon ng idol ang mga Pinoy na halos nakakatulad ang popularidad ni Gabriel Elorde (Now the Filipinos again have an idol whose popularity nearly compares with Gabriel Elorde)."

Indeed, for ice drop vendor Manuel Birando, 34, of Daraga, Albay, Pacquiao is his "idol." "Pinakamagandang laban ni Manny ito — ang idol ko (This is the best fight of Manny — my idol)," he said.

So, too, with Zamboanga City’s street folk, who for a day became armchair boxing analysts. "Bien difficil ultimo ora ay ase tekas el maga jurado (It’s difficult, the judges might make tricks in the scoring)," quipped pedicab driver Bobong Ferrer early in the fight.

For the Pacquiao clan, General Santos City folk and other Filipinos across the country, the victory party continues. — John Unson, Edith Regalado, Lino de la Cruz, Charlie Lagasca, Celso Amo, Peter Dejaresco, Roberto Dejon, Roel Pareño, and Dino Balabo