Manobos prayed for Pacquiao’s win and got it

DAVAO CITY – It was in a fashion so grand that the gods smiled in approval and powered the strong fists of Filipino International Boxing Federation champion Manny Pacquiao to retain his crown in a defense fight here Saturday night against Thai challenger Fahprakorb Rakkiatgym.

Pacquiao pounded Rakkiatgym in two minutes and 46 seconds of the first round, sending the Thai boxer down to the canvass three times in the Duel in Davao main event.

But what many did not know was that the spectacular Lumad ritual performed by 74 dancers of the Kathara and Maharlika cultural dance troops that preceded the much-awaited bout, was also meant to please the gods, particularly, ‘Manama’, the ‘Magbabaya’ or creator of all things of the Manobo tribe.

Clad in a fiery red, yellow and black costumes, the performers did an impressive show much to the delight of the visiting spectators who could have briefly thought they were there for a cultural show and not for a boxing bout.

Arnold Alvarez, over-all director of the pre-event number, told The STAR, the concept of the 15-minute presentation was to showcase the various cultures of Mindanao, but there was also an underlying goal of offering the ritual to invoke the benevolence of the gods for Pacquiao to win the bout.

"It was not just a presentation. It was a prayer that the bout will not reach Round 2 because Round 2 will be too much already. We called on Manama," Alvarez said.

He explained that the dancers were motivated to give soul to their performance in order to drive the bad spirits away as a result of the ritual.

"It was not just any performance, which we have done for several times in the past. That one was different. I told them that if we give soul to the ritual we were doing, it will not reach Round 2 and it indeed happened," Alvarez added.

Consistent with the ethnic theme of the presentation, Pacquiao and Rakkiatgym entered in style, they were carried to the ring on top of a platform, to the thunderous sound of the gongs.

Clad in a robe made of Tiboli dagmay cloth, Pacquiao was also in short pants made of the same weave.

Organizers of the Duel in Davao event put up the cultural presentation and the ethnic theme in an effort to promote Mindanao as a tourist haven and an investment site.