‘Mommy D’ steals show as son fights

Screengrab from the short video that has gone viral, showing Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao’s mother, Dionisia, uttering something in front of TV cameras while her son was trading punches with Bradley in a world welterweight title boxing match in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sunday.

MANILA, Philippines—Did “Mommy D” just put a hex on Timothy Bradley?

A short video has gone viral, showing Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao’s mother, Dionisia, uttering something in front of TV cameras while her son was trading punches with Bradley in a world welterweight title boxing match in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sunday.

Her left hand was clutching a rosary and what appeared to be an estampita (small holy picture), her right middle finger pointing to the cameras. The joke on social media was that she was “casting a spell” on her son’s brash opponent.

Whatever it was, it seemed to work. And with those precious few seconds during the pay-per-view telecast, Dionisia stole the show from Manny, who would go on to avenge his highly disputed loss to Bradley in 2012.

‘Curse?’

Here was an animated 64-year-old woman, wearing a terno and jumping off her ringside seat during furious exchanges between Pacquiao and Bradley. One photo circulating on Twitter showed her furiously pointing two fingers at Bradley, who had gone off balance.

Seeing Dionisia on the screen, a commentator for the international broadcast thought she was uttering some “curse” in Filipino. At the end of the fight, she was shown embracing a defeated Bradley while offering some words of consolation.

Her antics provided a comic relief to Filipino viewers mostly curious if Pacquiao would get a clear decision against Bradley this time.

Still fresh in his supporters’ minds was his brutal one-punch knockout loss to Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez more than a year ago.

But in his return bout against Bradley, Pacquiao, winner of multiple titles in a record eight weight divisions, coasted to his second straight victory since that defeat.

For that, a Malacañang spokesperson said the country would again roll out the red carpet for the boxing superstar.

“We will extend the proverbial red carpet when we welcome home Congressman Manny Pacquiao, who will certainly experience the warmth of the unparalleled enthusiasm and abiding affection of nearly 100 million Filipinos,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said in a statement.

“We join the Filipino nation in celebrating the magnificent triumph of our national treasure in global sports, Congressman Manny Pacquiao.”

Coloma said Pacquiao embodied the world-class qualities of the Filipino in many competitive fields. “We can hold our heads up high by the dint of our industry, hard work and courage.”

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte described Pacquiao as “truly an inspiration for so many of our countrymen.”

Symbol of recovery

“After our country was hit by disaster after disaster last year, Manny serves as a symbol of our recovery,” she said.

“Our message to the world is clear: While vicious storms may knock us down, we will always stand back up. The deep faith, solidarity and strength of will of the Filipino people will always prove stronger.”

Coloma added: “In the face of successive calamities and challenges, the Filipino people have demonstrated their remarkable resiliency and steadfast determination to rebuild their communities, guided by their faith in Divine Providence and in their God-given talents and capabilities.”

Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara said Pacquiao’s victory “undoubtedly” brought the country “back on the world boxing map.”

“Congressman Manny did not just reclaim his crown but [also] the respect and admiration of the world,” he said.

Sen. Nancy Binay said Filipinos “take pride in [Pacquiao’s] tenacity, dedication and love for country.”

“You always make us proud that we are Filipino. You embody the hope that every one of us has a fighting chance, as long as we work hard for it, as long as we believe,” she said.

Originally posted:  7:55 pm | Sunday, April 13th, 2014

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