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Filams cheer as Pacquiao wins
WASHINGTON D.C. - Thousands of Filipino Americans in the Washington area joined millions of Filipinos in the Philippines and around the world in applauding the feat of Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao who avenged his defeat last year with an impressive victory over Mexico’s Erik Morales in the 10th round at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada Jan. 21.
They cheered as they watched Pacquiao stop Morales in the super featherweight elimination round with an impressive display of speed and power. Pacquiao sent Morales to the canvas for the first time in his career and completed the convincing victory when the referee stopped the fight at 2:33 of the 10th.
Many Filipino families in the tri-state area invited friends to their homes to watch the fight on the pay-for-view channel in the evening of Jan. 21. Similar events were replicated in thousands of homes in the United States.
In Virginia, some neighbors have reportedly complained about the loud noises coming from some Filipino American homes late that evening.
In Manila, millions of Filipinos throughout the country watched their hero who dedicated this fight to his countrymen.
With this victory, Pacquiao has improved his 41-3-2 record with 33 wins inside the distance. President Gloria Macapagal talked to Pacquiao after the bout and hailed his feat as a source of pride for millions of Filipinos. Also beside Pacquiao after the fight in Las Vegas were First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, Ilocos Gov. Luis Singson and other Philippine officials.
In the early rounds, Pacquiao appeared to be losing to Morales. But later on, he went after the Mexican fighter with everything that he had. This effort sapped the energy of the 30-year-old Mexican as he offered less resistance to Pacquiao’s pressure. Pacquiao finally put away the valiant Morales when he dropped him with a left with just under a minute remaining in the 10th round. Morales sprung up at the count of nine, but Pacquiao quickly pounced and again floored Morales, prompting referee Kenny Bayless to stop the action.
With the victory Pacquiao was installed as the World Boxing Council’s No. 1 contender in the division in which Mexico’s Marco Antonio Barrera holds the title.
MANILA – The nation stood still at noon of Jan. 22 (Jan. 21 in Las Vegas) as it cheered for Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao in his grudge match with Mexican rival Erik Morales in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Filipinos from all walks of life stayed glued to televisions and forgot their differences to cheer for Pacquiao as one united nation at least for a day.
In Pacquiao’s hometown of General Santos City, televisions were set upin markets and in barber shops for the public to watch their idol win by technical knockout in the 10th round.
There were similar scenes in cities and towns across the country.
Streets were relatively quiet from morning till early afternoon as most people stayed home for the bout. Traffic was light and most shops closed early.
President Arroyo led the nation in jubilation after Pacquiao avenged his narrow loss to Morales last March in a 12-round unanimous decision, also in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao’s victory serves as an “inspiration and constant reminder to all our countrymen that the Filipino can be the best in any endeavor when he puts his heart into it," Mrs. Arroyo said in a statement.
“I join Filipinos from every corner of the Philippines and the world over in congratulating Manny Pacquiao on his very convincing victory," she said.
“Manny’s triumph exemplifies the indomitable fighting spirit of the Filipino not just in the field of sports but also in every field of struggle for excellence."
Mrs. Arroyo phoned Pacquiao her congratulations through her husband’s cellular phone. First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Singson were at ringside in Las Vegas to cheer for Pacquiao in behalf on the nation.
Mrs. Arroyo’s political adviser, Gabriel Claudio, said Pacquiao’s victory made “divisive politics become even more irrelevant and abhorrent to the Filipino people."
Several pro-Arroyo and opposition figures set aside their differences and watched the fight on a big screen at Rockwell commercial center in Makati City and at Plaza Miranda in Manila.
“With this fabulous victory, Pacquiao has raised the morale of the Filipino people and made the nation proud of one of its greatest sons," said Speaker Jose de Venecia, who watched the fight at home.
Last year, the House of Representatives honored Pacquiao with the Congressional Medal of Achievement, the only sportsman ever to given the decoration.
“I’m very proud and very happy that once again my son won his fight,” Pacquiao’s mother, Dionisia, told hordes of reporters waiting outside her home in General Santos after watching her son punch out a convincing victory.
In cities and towns across the country, people from all walks of life took a break from their daily routines.
Raul Dulfo, a tricycle driver in General Santos, said he worked overtime the other night so he could watch the fight.
“I’m really happy because my idol won and of course I also won a case of beer in a bet with a fellow driver," Dulfo said.
Dulfo said he and other drivers had already stopped work as early as 9 a.m. and waited in front of televisions at their favorite carinderias or roadside canteens.
“It looked as if the city was observing Good Friday because only few vehicles were in the streets," Dulfo said.
Businessman Jover Pontino, who runs the London Beach Resort in General Santos, said beachgoers kept cheering for Pacquiao as they watched the fight on a wide screen television put up by the management for its customers.
Shopping center owner Ricardo Yap said he rescheduled the inventory of their stocks next week and gave his employees time off so they could watch the fight.
“We really closed our store today because we want also our workers to have an opportunity to see the fight with their families," Yap said.
In Cotabato City, a crowd gathered in front of a widescreen monitor set up by Mayor Muslimin Sema at the city’s plaza.
In Dagupan City, ABS-CBN put up two big screens at the city’s public market for the public.
Metro Manila’s normally traffic-choked streets were nearly empty of vehicles, including public transportation. “It’s as if there’s a transport strike," said one tricycle driver in Malabon.
One traffic enforcer in Manila admitted deserting his post outside Intramuros briefly to watch the fight in a bazaar selling used television sets.
Anticipating the nation to be mesmerized in front of television sets, Philippine National Police chief Director General Arturo Lomibao ordered all officers early yesterday not to forget their jobs, especially in areas where rebels have a presence.
The Manila city government said it will roll out the red carpet for Pacquiao when he comes home.
“Beyond hailing his stunning victory against Erik Morales, Manilenos also wish to acknowledge the great personal sacrifice that Manny Pacquiao made in order to prepare himself for this important battle," the city government said in a statement.
In San Roque, Navotas, the Catholic Youth Society put its bingo fundraiser on hold as the entire community watched the bout. “All of us felt as if we won the jackpot," said bingo participant Sammy Talon.
Even convicts at the National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa City did not miss the grudge match despite the incarceration. Bureau of Corrections Director Vicente Vinarao, who celebrated his birthday yesterday, had a big television screen set up at the maxium security compound to give the prisoners a treat.
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