?Who are you? You?re unbelievable! You?re too fast. Are you human??

These words came from David Diaz, spoken a few hours after Manny Pacquiao had shamed Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday.

Diaz, who was knocked out by Manny in the eighth round of their title fight last June, called to congratulate the man who had wrested the WBC lightweight crown from him.

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I don?t know if Diaz got a satisfactory answer to his questions, but a middle-aged man, reputed to be an expert on amulets and talismans, among many other things, offered an interesting theory.

I met this strange man two nights ago during a neighborhood klatch.

?Pacquiao has in his possession a most powerful amulet,? said the strange man from Cavite. ?Otherwise, how can anyone explain his extraordinary strength and stamina? Except for his most avid fans, nobody believed Manny could beat De La Hoya in such a lopsided fashion. Not the experts, not the media.?

Much in the same way that shamans derive their powers from animals, Pacquiao?s amulet draws its power from the carabao (water buffalo), which is indigenous to the Philippines, the man explained.

He said that with the talisman, Manny acquires the characteristics of this beast of burden, such as its thick skin.

?The carabao can endure any amount of whipping and also the harsh glare and heat of the sun even if it has to work the rice fields all day long,? the man said in Filipino. ?No matter how hard the carabao gets whipped, it doesn?t seem hurt?there are no whip marks. It doesn?t get tired. Look at Manny, his face and body are unmarked after each fight. Compare his face to that of his opponent after the fight.?

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Is it a coincidence then that in the movie ?Anak ni Commander,? where Manny co-stars with Ara Mina, he is portrayed as a man deeply protective of carabaos? Anyone who dares harm the animals earns his wrath.

In the trailers, Pacquiao runs after carabao rustlers. Was it his idea to highlight such segments of the movie?

But what about Manny?s unparalleled quickness and agility? Surely these attributes couldn?t have come from the carabao.

Does Manny have another talisman that comes from the cat?

I didn?t dare ask the expert. He might think that I was making fun of him.

One thing I know is that Manny?s one of the few people who are able to tap their great reserves of power or, in metaphysical terms, their superconsciousness.

Was it last year when he revealed to me his encounter with the Divine?

Manny said it was during the lowest point of his life when God ?spoke? to him and led him back to the right path.

Since then, his life has changed and he has achieved feats and wealth beyond his wildest imagination.

More than anything tangible, God?s blessing, I believe, is Manny Pacquiao?s most powerful amulet.

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?Seniors Monthly,? a magazine for senior citizens edited by former press secretary Rod Reyes, will hold the First Invitational Senior Golf Tournament on Thursday at the Orchard Golf and Country Club.

Former President Fidel V. Ramos heads the 10 senior golfers participating in the tournament sponsored by Havit-All, Pagcor and San Mig Coffee.

A Honda Accord awaits the golfer who makes a hole-in-one.