Filipino pride surges anew

MANILA, Philippines–For nearly an hour, survivors of Super Typhoon “Yolanda” in Tacloban City forgot their problems as Filipino pride surged anew across the nation and the world.

In the Astrodome, a facility that served as their temporary shelter, some 2,000 people broke into cheers when Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao retained his World Boxing Organization welterweight crown on Sunday.

Pacquiao dropped American Chris Algieri to the canvas six times during the 12-round contest at the Cotai Arena in Macau to win an overwhelming unanimous decision, 119-103, 119-103, 120-102 on the judges’ cards.

“He failed to score a knockout victory against Algieri but it was still a stunning victory for Manny, our boxing champ,” said Augusto Daaño, 45, who still lives in a bunkhouse in Barangay (village) Caibaan.

Daaño, whose house in San Jose District was washed out during the typhoon, said he was a Pacquiao fan who watched all his fights, including last year’s bout with Brandon Rios.

After his fight last year, Pacquiao visited the Astrodome where more than 3,000 people took shelter during the typhoon.

While the center was not filled up to the rafters as in the past, at least 2,000 people cheered for their idol every time his jab hit his American opponent.

Across the country, cinemas, hotels, public parks and even army bases erupted in celebration as Pacquiao, the only boxer to win world titles in eight weight divisions, dominated the inexperienced New York-based former kickboxer.

Renewed fire

Malacañang took note of the renewed fire in the 35-year-old Pacquiao.

“Strength, grit and courage were written all over his face and demeanor throughout the fight,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a statement. “With every punch that scored, millions of Filipinos cheered him to victory from all corners of the country and the world.”

Coloma described Pacquiao as a “worthy role model and wellspring of inspiration to all Filipinos who are striving to improve their well-being and attain a prosperous future.”

Prayers helped in the Pacquiao victory, according to three senior citizens.

Just like the boxer’s mother, Dionisia, known to most as Mommy D, a 72-year-old woman prayed the rosary while watching the telecast of the match at San Andres Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.

Anita Bacal said she was in the middle of her prayers when Pacquiao knocked down Algieri twice in one round.

“See, prayers really do work!” said Bacal, a resident of San Andres, when the unanimous decision declaring Pacquiao the winner was announced. She was joined in her prayers by another senior citizen and her neighbor, Concordia Virtucio, 79.

They were among the crowd of more than 4,000 who packed the sports complex for over five hours. The heat had a lot of men taking off their shirts, but despite that, spirits were high. Every punch that Pacquiao connected was met with an instant roar of approval.

SEA OF FAN SUPPORT People explode into cheers as they watch the fight between their idol, Manny Pacquiao, and American Chris Algieri, at San Andres Sports Complex in Malate, Manila. Pacquiao knocked down Algieri six times to win by a unanimous decision and retain his World Boxing Organization welterweight title at Cotai Arena inside The Venetian Macao on Sunday. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

In Marikina City, another elderly resorted to prayer power. “It’s Filipino pride. He represents our country so we have to support him,” said Visitacion la Vega, 85, who made it a point to watch Pacquiao’s fight and pray for his victory.

She was among the hundreds who watched the free live screening of the match at Freedom Park.

“I asked the Lord that He bless him (Pacquiao). When he lost [to Juan Manuel Marquez], I cried,” La Vega said.

When Algieri fell in Rounds 2 and 6, La Vega threw her hands in the air. And when the bell rang signaling the end of the match, the woman, who said she was supposed to be resting instead of watching the bout, stood up with a wide smile.

“I’m very happy that the Lord granted my prayers,” she said.

The bout was also shown for free in the Taguig City University Auditorium and other venues.

“In coming together to watch this fight, we are showing our solidarity in supporting the man who gave glory to our country with his every win. We are not just Taguigeños, we are Filipinos as well, and we came to cheer for Pacquiao,” Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano said.

Boxing fans in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija province, became anxious while watching what turned out to be the undercard fight, when they saw Thai boxer Kwanpichit Onesongchaigym taking a beating from China’s Zou Shiming.

It took some time for them to realize Kwanpichit, who bore a striking resemblance to Pacquiao, was not their idol, and many gave out a hearty laugh.

Like in many parts of the country, the city was at a standstill on Sunday. Market vendors and tricycle drivers paused to watch the delayed television broadcasts on television sets at barber shops or sari-sari stores.

Many lamented that no one sponsored a live broadcast this time. But watching Algieri learn boxing the hard way from the veteran Pacquiao made up for that disappointment, fans said.

“We are happy about his win. He did our country proud,” Rodolfo Herbas, 52, library aide in a university in Muñoz, said.

Free snacks

In Ilagan City in Isabela province, free snacks made the win sweeter for fans.

“We were happy about Pacquio’s victory, which was made more satisfactory by the free snacks that came earlier,” said driver Roy Gangan.

Gangan and about 3,000 residents watched a live feed of the Pacquiao-Algieri fight at the provincial amphitheater.

Noodles and bottled juice were distributed to viewers before the match started.

The streets emptied after drivers of tricycles and jeepneys parked their vehicles at the capitol compound to watch.

“This is irritating. As if the world had stopped due to Pacquiao’s fight. Almost all drivers probably watched the bout,” commuter Jo Lucero said.

About 5,000 others watched separate live broadcasts screened at the Ilagan Community Center and at the city hall.

In the cities of Cauayan and Santiago, and Roxas town, about 10,000 people watched live broadcasts sponsored by their local governments and sponsors.

In Baguio City, a shopping mall that screened Pacquiao’s previous fights did not broadcast the live feed due to the absence of a sponsor, which disappointed people who had no access to television or to restaurants that offered to show the fight for a fee.

In Zamboanga City, tricycle driver Juancho Sobrejana, 60, said he no longer believed in Pacquiao’s magic after he and his family went into politics.

“I was a diehard fan of Pacquiao. I never missed every fight, but since almost all his family members, including him, joined politics, I no longer religiously patronize him. Worse, his mother got involved with a man young enough to be her youngest son,” Sobrejana said.

Despite his personal views about the Pacquiaos, Sobrejana’s cheers were the loudest when it was announced that the Filipino boxer won.

In Tagum City, habal-habal (motorcycle-for-hire) driver Randy Curato said it was disappointing that Pacquiao was not able to knock Algieri out.

Curato stopped taking passengers to watch the fight live on a huge screen set up by local politicians and businessmen in Mankilam village in Tagum City in Davao del Norte.

“I lost P100 because I was expecting the fight to end before the third round,” he said.

Another driver who won his bet said the fight’s result only proved Pacquiao was no longer the ferocious fighter he was once.

Cotabato City and its outskirts virtually stood still with most people watching the fight.

“As usual no untoward incident happened today as in previous Pacquiao fights,” said Senior Supt. Rolen Balquin, city police director.

The regional police chief, Supt. Noel de los Reyes, said that “even in the turbulent autonomous region, there’s no report of criminal activities.”

At an Army camp in Maguindanao, Brig. Gen. Edmund Pangilinan, commander of the 6th Infantry Division, said, “So far, we have not received reports of BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters) atrocities while Manny Pacquiao was slugging it out with his American opponent.”–Reports from Annelle Tayao-Juego, Jovic Yee, Maricar B. Brizuela, Christian V. Esguerra, Julie M. Aurelio and Christine O. Avendaño in Manila; Anselmo Roque, Inquirer Central Luzon; Villamor Visaya Jr., Inquirer Northern Luzon; Joey A. Gabieta and Carla P. Gomez, Inquirer Visayas; Julie S. Alipala, Frinston L. Lim, Jeoffrey Maitem, Karlos Manlupig and Charlie Señase, Inquirer Mindanao; and AFP

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