Hello, Manny!

Hello, Manny!

Hello, Philippines!

This time, "hello" meant a virtual "Open, Sesame!" of cheerful greetings for a man, who, with his victory, let a nation bid goodbye to its foibles and squabbles for one glorious Sunday. (And hopefully beyond, but that might be too much wishful thinking!)

When President Gloria Arroyo chirped "Hello Manny" over speakerphone to WBC super featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao at the ring that sealed his victory over Erik Morales, not a few Pinoys were reminded of the two most famous (and infamous) words of 2005 (Hello Garci!) Those words almost brought a president down, but Hello Manny will hopefully bring a nation back on its feet.

And why not! It’s like a zillion endorphins and serotonin were unleashed into a nation’s collective psyche, giving everyone a natural, hopefully sustainable high. It’s the high you get after eating chocolates, and the high athletes get after a good workout.

Like Manny, the Philippines is an underdog in this world. To be brutally frank, Filipinos are usually shorter, hungrier and poorer (as Manny once was) than most people in the region and in the world. We have to work harder, stronger and faster to catch up with those who have had the benefit of better bone structures, a more disciplined temperament and a less fractious political system.

Morales probably came from a pueblo that isn’t First World either, but he was taller, with a longer and broader reach, than Manny. Physically, he had the edge. But those who are usually born with less work harder to get ahead.

(Which reminds me of what Gen. Carlos P. Romulo answered when he was asked how he felt among the western diplomats around him in the United Nations, and he answered proudly, "like a nickel among dimes!" He was smaller, but he was worth more.)

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I don’t like boxing, but in my family of three, I was the only disinterested spectator during the Pacquiao-Morales bout. Though we purposely accessed the results from the Internet and therefore already knew the outcome as we were watching the delayed telecast, I covered my face most of the time even if I knew Manny was going to make it. Personally, I couldn’t understand the satisfaction men (and some women, who were also in the ringside of the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, gleefully watching the fight) derived from watching other men beat each other to a pulp.

I asked Allure columnist, psychiatrist Dr. Nina Halili-Jao the reason why, from time immemorial, men and women have enjoyed combat sports – whether between gladiators in the Roman Coliseum or present-day pugilists.

Dr. Jao said people enjoy watching boxing matches and other duels because of every man’s innate need and desire to win. According to her, it also brings out the sado-masochism that may be lurking in our depths. (Dr. Jao will elaborate in her own column in Allure.)

Now, is boxing, because of the hurt inflicted on the protagonists, morally wrong?

I asked Fr. Aris Sison, spokesperson of the Archdiocese of Cubao, what the Church’s stand on the matter was, and Fr. Aris told me that in general, the Church is "positive about sports."

What the Church frowns upon is what goes on the sidelines of sports – like cheating and gambling.

Otherwise, the Church is all for sports because "it is healthy and especially if it promotes positive competition."

Including boxing? 

"Well, boxing is a legitimate sport," says Fr. Aris. "I have not read anything against boxing in the Bible or in any of the Church’s teachings."

So there. 

* * *

Though not a boxing fan and admittedly queasy about the cuts and the bruises the boxers sustain on the ring, I still find myself rejoicing over Manny Pacquiao’s sweet victory over Erik Morales. It’s the heady mix of patriotism and the fairy tale high one feels when someone who has struggled so hard wins big – be it the princess or the $2-million purse. Manny is a modern-day male Cinderella in Cleto gloves. And better than Cinderella, because it took more than just a wave of the magic wand to get him to where he is now. Manny told PEOPLE Asia’s Champagne Morales (no relation to Erik!), who is his co-host in a sports show every Friday on Channel 13, that to prepare for his rematch with Morales, he jogged up and down the hills of LA and worked out three hours a day for two months. He was so prepared for the match, even his wife Jinkee, a former Colgate promo girl in GenSan, was not nervous on fight night itself. "She knew Manny was well-prepared," says Champagne, who had a ringside seat at the Thomas and Mack Center during the Pacquiao-Morales rematch.

We don’t admire (maybe we even secretly envy) those who win the lotto, or those who were born with the good looks that were their ticket to fame and fortune. They had it relatively easy. But those who have had to sweat like slaves to get to where they are now (Manny just bought a Porsche) make us believe that we can go for our dreams.

Already, you could see Manny evolving, speaking damn good English. Manny was quoted as saying, like a Miss International hopeful on pageant night, "I thank God for giving me great power, but with power comes great responsibility."

Now, I wonder if even Cinderella was as quotable?

* * *

But most of all, I admire Manny for beginning and ending his fight on his knees. In prayer. 

While on his knees, Manny Pacquiao brought his nation to its feet.

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