Boxing: the Final Match, the Game of Life

“Sige pa!!!.. Ayan….Sige, banatan mo Manny!!! Oooch, Kaliwa!!! Banat. Umph!!!!. Sigeee banatan mo!!!”

This was some of the loud cries that awoke me from my short nap. The first thing that came in my mind was a “square” between our two teenage neighbors, Manny and Tristan who both court the stunning Mary, a 17 years old girl from the nearby block. I assumed that the two young boys got jealous or they offended each other which resulted in confrontation, then in the fight.

Curiosity forced me to go out from my room. “Ate may rambol ba?”, I asked my sister. “Anong rambol?”, she replied. “Hala, di ba nagsusuntukan sina Manny at Tristan?”, I said. “Hehehe. Ibang suntukan un. Hindi sila un. Susmeo, ulyaning ka na ata. Ngayon yong laban ni Manny at Morales. Asan na pusta mo?”, she expressed.

My sister’s statements strike me on my head, bringing me back from our deal regarding Morales and Pacquiao Final Match. Today is Sunday, November 19. The most waited time of Morales and Pacquiao fans. Today is the judgment day. Is it “El Terrible” who will end the battle? Or the “Pambansang Kamao”? Almost in the family bet 500 pesos each on the match, half for Eric Morales and half for Manny. Of course, I was on Manny’s side.

I already forgot to wash my face. I just wiped with my hands the oil on my face and the ‘afternoon glory’ on my eyes. Almost all members of our family were in the living room during that time, each witnessing the grand boxing event in the history and hoping that the boxer they bet for will win.

Amidst the limited spare space in living room I found a nice, comfortable place where I laid the folding chair. It was already the start of the second round when I begun to see the fight. The environment was hot. But the boxing between the two was warmer than the surrounding just like the viewers.

We could not control ourselves from shouting especially every time Pacman jab and hit Morales. “Sige banatan mo Manny. Putik, sapol….!!!! Sige pa!! Patumbahin mo!!!” These were some of the words echoed in the living room. These words were sometimes accompanied by punching actions. My younger brother sometimes did body movements that seem he was the one being punch Sometimes he acted as if he was avoiding the smack. I could not deny that I also did what he acted. And perhaps even the other viewers across the globe did the same thing.

The third round was more exciting. The fight was more sizzling. Even our cries became louder especially when Morales nearly fall down when he was hit by Pacquiao. “Tuluyan mo na yan!!!!”, my father said. Many times Pacman gave Morales a strong jab which almost knockout him. And also many times we consumed our voices shouting for joy because of what happening.

The third round decided the end of the third and final match between Morales and Pacquiao. It was “Pambansang Kamao”, Manny Pacquiao who ended the battle. This was a great victory not only for Pacman but also for the whole nation as well. Pacman’s honor is also the country’s honor.

Boxing is really one of the areas where we can be proud of. This was early manifested by our early boxing heroes, Luisito Pio Espinosa, Rolando Navarrete, Tirso del Rosario and Gabriel ‘‘Flash‘’ Elorde. And Manny Pacquiao, by a large measure has been responsible for this.

Generally, Pacquiao’s winning offered a fragrant smell for the entire Filipinos among the international communities. This winning is such a great advantage to help build the image of our country positively because it acted as a blanket covering the issues regarding the political and economic problems we face as well as the rotten picture the government projected on the globe.

On one hand, this battle between the two legend boxers did not only entertain the public but it also gave additional income for them. Pacman’s triumph over Morales doubled the money of those people who bet for him. In some way, this bet helped as an additional income especially for Filipino who loves to venture in gambling.

In the same my money was doubled since I bet for Manny. I could not paint my happiness when I got my 1, 000 pesos from my Ate who kept all our bets. For me 1,000 pesos is already a big amount. I believed that I can already buy lot of things with that amount. However, there was a question developed in my mind regarding the bet. “If we bet 500 pesos for that fight, how much did the politicians and businessmen bet for? Ohhm, maybe thousands or even millions,” I thought.

There was a big possibility that politicians and those already in the positions put large amount of money on that match. Additionally, those who went to the actual location of the boxing tournament were obvious that they spent big amount of money covering their transportations, accommodations and other needs. The question now is that, where did they really get the money for that purposes.

I could not imagine how they managed to risk money for that game considering that there was really no assurance whether they will win on their bets or not. There are also other things to consider in the country which needs wider attentions and which are more important than going to the states for the sake of the game and bets.

On one hand, Pacman, in my view, was very proud and happy considering the prestige and the big amount he brought home for winning the fight aside from his portion from the tickets and networks that covered the event. “Tiba-tiba na naman si Manny,“ my brother said. There are reasons why Manny won against Eric and such reasons can help ordinary Filipinos to surpass the battle and the poverty of life.

Manny is a model that we, Filipinos should be proud of. Perseverance, patient and hard work are the key aspects which gave him the victory. If we really want to triumph in life then we should act like what he acted. I am not suggesting that we should also engage in boxing profession but what I am trying to point out is that we should demonstrate in our lives such attitudes which gave Manny the success.

Similarly, just like Manny, we are also boxers. But we are boxers in our own rights. And life is our huge boxing arena where we are in. We fight everyday neither for a boxing title nor for boxing prestige but for survival. We are in the boxing fight where there is neither no referee to assist and make order of the battle nor rounds to rest or coach to suggest strategy. If we give up, then we are totally knockout. Thus, boxing is the name of the life’s game and like Pacquiao we must also conquest this boxing.