Halalan 2013

What do economic stimulus, pep rally, preventative medicine, civil stability, and pride of a nation have in common with a boxer? Sit back, read on, and I will tell you. The legacies you leave are often predicated by your actions in life. One will always remember Manny Pacquiao as one of the Philippines’ finest boxers, and within the boxing world, as “the best fighter pound for pound,” but his legacy might be better carried by his sheer generosity and the kind of charisma he commands; this, too, that can carry a nation.

Can you imagine? Manny Pacquiao has attained the power to uplift a slumping economy, even if for only a weekend. Las Vegas has seemingly slowed down into a ghost town over the past year; even the Consumer Electronics Show last January (the biggest electronics trade convention in the world) couldn’t pack Vegas the way “Manny-mania” managed to do this weekend.

His ability to revive a fading sport has been unmatched since the days of Ali. Let’s face it, UFC and mixed-martial arts have dominated the lion share of organized pugilism for the past few years now; the only real excitement in the traditional boxing world these last few years has been Manny and whoever he chooses to do battle with. His efforts and amazing track record are breaking barriers and paving a road wherein the words “Philippines” and “champion fighters” are synonymous.

You can read all the sports stories leading up to the fight elsewhere, but I wanted to share with you a story more tangible. A story about a people’s champion, so humble in his nature that even a common soul, like myself, can walk in his footsteps and observe him up-close and realize that, despite his elevation to truly “Superhuman” status, he is still one of us: a loving husband and father, a brother, and friend to you and I alike.

On Saturday evening, May 2, 2009 (Sunday morning Manila time), most crime will cease and the chaos of our streets will pause, and for a moment there will be solidarity, as we come together to cheer for our hero. Regardless of the fight outcome, Manny will always be an inspiration and his legacy might even prove to be bigger than boxing itself. It’s not whether he wins or loses; it’s how kind he is to the common person. That is what I will always remember.

Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton fight Update: Pacquiao won via Round 2 TKO.