Commentary:
This weekend, at a hotel, I came across a Mexican repairman and his assistant. Speaking very little English, he tried to communicate with me. I had difficulty understanding him. He pointed upstairs and it became apparent that he was looking for a particular hotel room to fix. I pointed in the direction to help him find the place of his job for that morning.
I decided to break the ice. I asked them if they followed boxing. Both nodded no, that they did not really follow it. "Oh really? What about Manny Pacquiao?" His assistant immediately nodded up and down (yes, yes). The head repairman, a gentleman in his late 40s, in broken English said "Wow, Pacquiao? Whew!" He managed to garble up a broken Mex-English of the word "incredible." "When [doo] he [ppiiight]?" he earnestly asked. I said, "next week." Repairman: "Ooohhh, [neesccktt weeek]. Woww. Pacquiao, wheww!"
Near the lobby, I made coffee for both gentlemen. Man to man. I saw his eyes. He had a heart of pure gold. I've had educated co-workers: fluent, good upbringing, and has a way with words. Some practiced cunning, deception, and manipulativeness. I never asked the name of my new friend, but I was glad to converse with a simple man of high character. Abraham Lincoln never went beyond grade school in formal schooling. (He studied independently.) In some way, here was another man cut of the same stainless cloth.
Manny Pacquiao, indirectly, broke down the language barrier that morning. I was afforded just a simple but satisfying conversation. For him, and the entire country of the Philippines, what is at stake on November 14 is far greater.
Tough Conditions
In the street squalors of Manila, neighborhood prisons like Tondo – a forgotten band of Filipino youth may thrust rusty knives into the stomach of an unwilling victim, daily nonchalant occurrences of pickpockets and small-time thieves, dripping streams of blood on an unkept sewage.
Yet, they form an unfortunate detailing of the dire desperation of the average citizen. Drug-infested shanties that harbor mass usage of dangerous methamphetamines, under the barely lit bulbs. Here, vendors sell “recycled food” to the urchins, a cruel euphemism for eaten food thrown in the garbage, only to be collected by vendors. These are then illegally re-cooked for a second round of unhealthy consumption. The customer has no money but for a few pennies, and against the backdrop of starvation, and the choice of eating from the stenched garbage can herself, and the choice of teenage prostitution, and the choice of pickpocketing, she decides to purchase the used-cook food. She aspires for a formal elementary education – she is stuck on the streets, without a future, and awaiting the imminent horror of an abused, hopeless life.
CLICK: Pacquiao's Quest for Boxing Immortality
This story is multiplied by the tens of millions in the Republic of the Philippines. An artificially strung archipelago, of thousands of islands named after King Philip of Spain. Of bountiful natural resources – copper, gold, forestry, fishing, sugarcane, mango, the coconut – of virgin shores, and yet through the complexities of geo-political developments, structure, and infrastructure, the nation did not find a way out of the abyss. It dug a deeper hole in the ground. In these impossible circumstances was born a certain Manny Pacquiao. He got into his first fight at the tender age of 11 when two kids made fun of his brother. The protector beat them up.
Gen. MacArthur's Speech at the Battle of Leyte
If General MacArthur yelled for STRIKE!!! . . . for the sons and daughters, and the future of the country, to “follow the Holy Grail of righteous victory,” Pacquiao answered the call 50 years later. He answered the call each single instance, with cavalier daring that risked his health, against progressively larger fighters. When he fought Oscar de la Hoya, they were naturally separated by three weight classes. He was a 2-1 underdog. When the 10-time champion campaigned at welterweight in the late 1990s, street urchin (born of squalor) Pacquiao was a flyweight – eight divisions beneath the towering U.S. Olympian.
STRIKE!!! Each Filipino begs for an even more brutal blow with each swift combination, to bludgeon the face of a ring enemy - a foe that becomes symbolic of lost hopes. The street Filipino is sick of living in hell’s squalor; of the familial tirade in each leaky house-hut, that there is no food to eat. If rancorous savagery brings triumph, do so with maximum zeal; the gusto of which can at least elate the penniless even in dire circumstances. To give joy even to the damned. “Manny, give us back our dignities, our pride, our hopes and dreams – that for hundreds of years were taken from us.” The Spanish mandated the Pilipino servile to don the barong, a transparent white shirt, so that any subject carrying weaponry would have the threat visibly exposed. Punished with swift death.
This common bond of regaining a people’s pride is a thread that, in the heart of Filipinos, cuts across any man-made boundary; whether social, ethnic, or religious. When their warrior fought Ricky Hatton, former rebels sat alongside Philippine Army soldiers and Marines to cheer on Manny. They forgot the squabbles about land.
November 14, 2009: A Historic Day of Unity
November 14 is a historic day for the Philippines. The people are tired of fighting each other; about wealth distribution; issues of secession, about corruption of the national treasury, and on simple pickpocketing from a lost and angry youth.
The great American president, Abraham Lincoln, declared that a house divided against itself cannot stand. Pacquiao wants his people to stand up and to rise above the petty; to lift their eyes beyond the illusory impossibles.
CLICK: Pac's and Cotto's Last 10 Wars
For one day, the unity of the Philippines is absolute. In cadence they hear the same clarion trumpet. For one day, unquestioned is the loyalty towards that inner spark of selflessness and sacrifice that arouses a mass rallying cry. Of bestowing courage that no longer renders death as an obstacle to a unifying goal. Filipinos once had an outburst against alien Japanese forces generations ago. On November 14th, they’ll have it yet once again. It is a precious moment. They have a new General. He was not promoted by some government or military command.
The people chose him. No military uniform but the stain of blood evidences whose side he fights for. No uniform but the prayers of millions evidences who the people support. So rare an opportunity that an entire people march behind its main hero as he goes to war in solo. He invades a foreign land. Filled with pugilistic three-headed beasts. War was declared. As their warrior clenches his fists, the army’s headcount behind him stands at a hundred million.
November 14, 2009 is a historic day for the people of the Philippines.
The Battle of Leyte Gulf
General Douglas MacArthur promised to the Filipino people "I shall return." Years later, in October 1944, he landed in the island of Leyte, Philippines. The historic Battle of Leyte had begun.
I have returned. By the grace of Almighty God our forces stand again on Philippine soil -- soil consecrated in the blood of our two peoples. We have come, dedicated and committed, to the task of destroying every vestige of enemy control over your daily lives, and of restoring, upon a foundation of indestructible, strength, the liberties of your people . . . .
The hour of your redemption is here. Your patriots have demonstrated an unswerving and resolute devotion to the principles of freedom that challenges the best that is written on the pages of human history. I now call upon your supreme effort that the enemy may know from the temper of an aroused and outraged people within that he has a force there to contend with no less violent than is the force committed from without.
Rally to me. Let the indomitable spirit of Bataan and Corregidor lead on. As the lines of battle roll forward to bring you within the zone of operations, rise and strike. Strike at every favorable opportunity. For your homes and hearths, strike! For future generations of your sons and daughters, strike! In the name of your sacred dead, strike! Let no heart be faint. Let every arm be steeled. The guidance of divine God points the way. Follow in His Name to the Holy Grail of righteous victory!
Historical Events on November 14th
On November 14, 1947, the UN passes a resolution stating that free elections should be held, foreign troops should be withdrawn, and a UN commission for Korea should be created.
On November 14, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln approves General Ambrose Burnside's plan to capture the Confederate capital at Richmond, Virginia, leading to the Battle of Fredericksburg.
On November 14, 1918, Czechoslovakia becomes a republic.
On November 14, 1940: World War II - In England, the city of Coventry is heavily bombed by German Luftwaffe bombers.
On November 14, 1965: Vietnam War: Battle of the Ia Drang begins - the first major engagement between regular American and North Vietnamese forces.
On November 14, 1969: Apollo program: NASA launches Apollo 12, the second manned mission to the surface of the Moon.
On November 14, 1971, Mariner 9 reaches Mars, becoming the first spacecraft to orbit another planet.
Comments
I don't have nothing against Filipinos.But Miguel Cotto will win this fight.
thanks for an informative article...
i like this article. marv, keep writing.
Very likely Manny will make it. This would even be greater than Tiger Woods if he ever reach Jack Nicklaus record of 18 majors. One of the records that will never be erased.
i have the biggest respect to you TU NEGROTE! may the best man wins! two warriors from different races, two gladiators, two titans, two gentlemen...long live puerto rico and the philippines!
ahhhhh it's just too much for me to read marv......can you make you're articles a bit shorter thanks
President Lincoln was a God-fearing man. Obviously, he knows his Bible when he quoted from the it "...a house divided against itself can not stand". Matthew 12:25. Know your line and give credit where credit is due. You painted a very dim and seemingly hopeless Philippines and Filipinos. There are so many beautiful and positive traits of the said country and her inhabitants like resiliency. Manny Paquiao is just one of the mix. Manny can serve and help the Filipinos by spending his hard earned dollars not through politics but helping the Filipinos "how to fish" so to speak. Think about it Manny.
u guys can't handle the truth.
it is what it is. in any country, there are pluses and minuses. the Philippines has its own share of minuses
don't like it? too bad
go make Enrile and Ramos heroes again - LOL
It sad to be described like that but all you said are true. Philippines seem hopeless at this moment, only one man made us all united for at least an hour- Manny Paquiao. Philippines is like a body infected with cancer, there's no more cure but we found some pain reliever in Manny.
Marv, article is long but I like it because it is full of historical facts that usually are lost when one is talking about a very important subject. Manny made his mark in boxing but why some people are saying it is just boxing and yet people from all walks of life have become enamored with the sports & Pacquiao. It is so because Manny brings with him a lot of dimension to the sports. With Manny boxing is not just a sports, it is life to him. If an athlete does not consider other aspects of life , he will never reach a certain level of greatness. Prior to any fight Manny trains hard, prays hard,interact with fans , he indulges in other sports and hobbies, engages in civic activities, he acts, he does business to help others, and he takes care of his family. With all these, it was not very long before Manny is awarded with various recognitions which were never thought by anyone before. Lastly, how can you not love Manny with his charismatic smile, love of all boxing fans.
donde esta mi welfare check?
mi gusta, yo te amo mi welfare ck. yo te amo mucho mucho
It hurts but there is truth in what you wrote about us Filipinos. There are many who really live in misery in our country. But despite these odds, we never buckle down to hardships. Given the opportunity to emerge from these dungeons, we always will. Manny is a living witness to it. Long live the Philippines.
I'm a Filipino and we take showers once a month to conserve water for the little fishes. Let me change the subject now to the fight. The question is does this trainer that cotto has is at least teaching him something? the other question is for Pacquiao does he even got the power to at least hurt cotto? I wish to both fighters good luck to cotto and Pacquiao, Well Pacquiao does not need it but cotto does.hehe.
Maharlika- If you are Filipino hows the weather overthere?
Because over here it suppose to be cold and its REALLY HOT
the weather here is always 124 degrees.
Marc you had painted my country in its most negativity. I hate to admit it but its true. But for me I have faith in my people and I believe in the promise of God "From the Far East I will bring your Offspring and from the far west i will gather you" I am proud that my country produce a Manny Pacquiao but mark my word great things will come to pass much greater than the acheivement of our greatest boxer of all time.
some negative paragraph and line destroy your great essay...keep neutral next time and be fair.
Miguel Cotto will punish Pacquiao all the way to the 6 round then in the 7 he will TKO him.Then roach will throw in the towel. CRY ME A RIVER PACFANS.
alright I'll apologized its because I'm excited about the fight. Even though Cotto will K.O. him in the 6round. I'm sorry for insulting you Pacfans.
I wish i could write like you. Excellent piece brother.
ALL THOSE NOT IN FAVOR OF PACMAN AND SAY HE WILL LOSE KINDLY FORWARD YOUR 1X1 PHOTOS TO THIS WRITER SO YOU WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE "ITHOUGHT HE WOULD LOSE - PHOTO GALLERY" TO BE EXHIBITED VIA YOUTUBE... IF YOU HAVE THE BALLS TO BACK UP YOUR GUTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AM TIRED OF YOUR @!#@#
The fight will be stopped in the 4th round due to low blows by Cotto. It will be an ugly ending. I have seen it!
I like the video of the day but Pacman should the last one to be shown instead of dela Hoya. Pacman is currently the #1 P4P king
I like the video of the day but Pacman should be the last one to be shown instead of dela Hoya. Pacman is currently the #1 P4P king
BELEIVE IT OR NOT, PACS STYLE OF BOXING IS OUT OF THIS WORLD, THAT MAKES HIM UNPREDICTABLE, EVERY FIGHT IS A DIFFERENT TYPE, SO IF THE OPPONENT THINKS MANNY WILL DO THE SAME THING, WELL THINK TWICE.. OR ELSE YOU'LL GET THE SHOCK IN YOUR VERY EYE.. AS ROACH SAID THAT HAYE WILL DESTROY VALUEV, SAME GOES TO PACMAN, BE THERE NOV. 14 TO WITNESS PACS 7TH WEIGHT CATEGORY BELT! LONG LIVE TO THE KING, MANNY "PACMAN" PAQUIAO! SAY IT LOUDER THAN EVER MR. BUFFER!
i am a filipino..and i can say i was not born poor in phils.
but even thou the world look down at us.i will greatly say im poor and starving to death.im in the most dangerous place on earth! i will say that to anyone! if that will make me a filipino! but pls dont talk that u really know pilipinas! mabuhay ang pinas! remember.. everyone got there own problems! and even the wealthy people!..no exception.! so MARV whats your problem??
goldenflip: if you're a filipino then SHUT UP
The Philippines has been hit so hard by corrupt after incompetent after corrupt leaders and the people desperately need a hero. It makes me sad. Pacquiao is the best but he is not unbeatable. What if he gets beaten? What happens then? The people will be so hurt, then what? Who will they turn to next? The Filipinos are a wonderful people. I lived there for a few years. You are the only people I know that after struck by disaster can still put on a smile on your faces. Mabuhay Philippines and Filipinos! Goodluck to you all!
I'm a star who may be attending the Pacquiao event after I whoop Couture's ass
EXCELLENT PIECE......PACHADA.....DA BEST....NINDOT....I really enjoyed reading your article. Thanks a lot MARV.
wow, that was a very good read marv. it puts in perspective several ideas,for example, the conditions from where manny was raised. but the most meaningful is putting into perspective how much manny pacquiao does mean to his people. i being a hard core boxing fan mainly enjoyed him as a one of a kind fighter (mad skills, power, charisma) who comes along every once in a lifetime. i wish pacman the best and for a victorious night of great boxing.
To Pierre Woodman,
Dont worry if Manny eventually loses his fights cause we know that this happy days will end soon. For us Filipinos,for Manny to attempt to capture a 7th World Title is already a plus, he have already done more than enough, even us his countryman could not believe a Filipino boxer could be a living legend an icon of the sport. And also if Manny loses a fight it does not matter for as, CAUSE WE KNOW THAT PACMAN GAVE HIS ALL...HE SACRIFICE...HE PRAYS..and for a moment literally make his country united. WIN OF LOSE WE ARE FOR MANNY "PACMAN" PACQUIAO.
Well, let's see who will cry out loud! Cotto will be like Hatton who said he will not lose because he got a better ABS! Manny is so smart that he blows Hatton's JAWS and not the beautiful ABS of Hatton! So all critics shut their mouths because their AAA+++ class fighter nearly died in the center of the ring. Cotto will also get the same too!!!!
That day all critics will again shut their big mouths as Pacquiao will get the 7th Belt from Cotto!!!! And Cotto will file his retirement soon after........
I AGREE WITH YOU INDIOPINOY!!!!
wow, that was a very good read marv. it puts in perspective several ideas,for example, the conditions from where manny was raised. but the most meaningful is putting into perspective how much manny pacquiao does mean to his people. i being a hard core boxing fan mainly enjoyed him as a one of a kind fighter (mad skills, power, charisma) who comes along every once in a lifetime. i wish pacman the best and for a victorious night of great boxing.
Mr. Marv Dumon, I am a Manny Pacquiao fan and I appreciate your effort to compare Manny's achievements to great things. However your description of the Philippines is so bleak as if it is the worst place in the whole world. You look like a Filipino but I don't think you are. Manny is great and probably the greatest boxer I know and we are very proud of him. But we Filipinos have lives after the Pacman and our country is a beautiful country and not how you described it. You better know our beloved country first before you start painting a very dark picture of it.
a well researched article and kudos to your effort... though, it will be nice too if you can be a bit more positive on your descriptions as to how our country is doing. overall, it's a very
emotional but enlightening of the facts within every pinoy's heart
and situations in certain parts of the country.
70 percent ok!
Made me cry, thanks for the upliftment brother.
Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!!
To the writer: Don't pretend like you know the Philippines because you don't! It's nice writing, yes. But it suffered from a lack of perspective that writers who don't really know us, Filipinos, and the Philippines often commit. For one, while most Filipinos survive on an average of US$ 3 a day, rarely, if ever, will a Filipino die of hunger. That amount buys food on the table, sends children to school, keep a family alive, albeit with difficulties. For another, only our grandfathers look up to McArthur as a hero. We belive the Americans owe us, not the other way around. Afterall, they robbed us of our independence, fought their war against the Japanese, against the Koreans, hosted two military bases in their war against Vietnam, helped legitimize their war against Iraq, etc. etc.
You are definitely right in one sense, though: Manny Pacquiao is our hero! Win or lose.
This Nov. 14 is another day of spending money for Pacquiao!
while it may be true how you describe the country's state from bleak to the point of being sad, i think there are still filipinos like manny who hopefully may kick the sh_t out of our corrupt leaders... good luck manny!
Oh no! your article only means Paquiao will lose on Nov 14. There is really no hope in the Philippines, we are truly born losers. I want to go to Somalia where there is more future
after all the money we've looted from the Pinoy people... after all the people that we've helped disappear... after all the blatant corruptions that we did during the Marcos era.... these Pinoy idiots made us HEROES when we went 'balimbing' on Freddy.
And they even made Ramos El Presidente - whoo hoo!!!!
LMAO... a country of 90 million cowards...
Admit or not, the writer has done lenghty research on this long well written article. The poor will be there always. The thing that I know is, what the author thought was the words of Gen. Mac Arthur about a house divided in itself is actually written on the Holy Scriptures found on Matthew 12:23 "..., Every kingdom divided by itself is brought to desolation,; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand."
used cook food? i find this exaggeration a wee too much. i live in the philippines and i have been to the shanties. i am a social worker. used cook food? where oh where did you witness this? scavengers and street urchins pick these leftovers from the trash cans and eat whatever they could digest..besides cooking these leftovers would only mean additional cost for cooking oil which is definitely a luxury....wake up, man! better write more sensibly. and more truthfully...
This is awesome...My favorite boxer considered as one of the symble of unity. THats an honor to hear. he he he he
Manny Pacquiao.... definitely from "ZERO to HERO"
God Bless You MMORE n MORE Manny :-)
Wala disiplina ang mga pilipino kasi, pero d ko naman nilalahat.
Sa ibang bansa, sila ang unang "law abiding citizen" pero sa sarili nilang bansa mga salaula na, tapon dito tapon doon.
Hindi marunong sumunod sa batas. Sobra ang demokrasya.
Sana mawala na ang inggitan sa mga pilipino...
Nice reconnection of events in philippine history of colonization.
Magellan the circumnavigator ended his faith in mactan island in the philippines. that is the beginning of pilipino's history of super power.
emilio aguinaldo was a filipino who fought against spanish and american colonization... proof that filipinos are no pushover.
filipinos were the only citizens who fought alongside the americans against the japanese...that goes to show that filipinos are superpower in the making.
Run hell by filipinos as quezon the president said, well filipinos live like a hell in their own, superpower belief ended.
Pacquiao a reborn filipino warrior rebirth that filipinos are super power.
Pacquiao the conqueror of america with his only weapon his fist... a tradition power continues.
ronald,
recycled discarded food was featured in 60 Minutes or 20/20 or one of those shows.... can't remember. that's where I became aware of 'pagpag.'
look it up on YouTube....it's called 'pagpag.'
As always, vote for Enrile & Ramos. Let the corrupt and the wealthy run & ruin the country. And these are church-goers!!! Winning election is the Philipppines is a license 2 make urself, ur relatives, and ur friends filthy rich.
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