Manny Pacquiao: A man of focus, forgiveness and faith

Part of Pacquiao’s mythic status stems from his ability to defy the odds. Where else can you find a boxer that would be so willing to stage a concert after slugging it out for 12 rounds? Only in Pacquiao country. The fact that he moved up and won all seven divisions is unparalleled. Listen to his trainer Freddie Roach, who was quoted in a USA Today article as saying Manny is “…one of the hardest working people I’ve ever seen. He has a lot of distractions around him but once he comes through the gym doors, all that goes away and his work ethic is unbelievable." In another interview, this time with the Wall Street Journal, Roach said: “He has the best footwork in the game." Crossover Charisma The only thing deadlier than Pacquiao’s punches is his charisma. I have never met a man saying aloud “I love you Manny" to another grown man with no hint of embarrassment. But inside the conference center of Gaylord hotel, shouts of “Manny, we love you" and “we’ll pray for you" from male and female fans punctured the air. Hollywood types flock to him, and so do sports giants. After every mass, the “pambansang Kamao" sets aside some time to sign an array of merchandise that range from the ordinary -- posters, caps, shirts -- to the almighty dollar. “Manny, Manny, show me the money!" screamed one enthusiastic middle-aged matron over and over again, waving a $5 bill in front of the boxing icon. It is just too hilarious a scene to be missed, especially when the matron seemed to hyperventilate during her rant. At this point, the line between media practitioners and fans become blurred. I was beginning to catch the Pacquiao fever myself. People can’ help but be converted into Pacquiao enthusiasts. His humor, humility, generosity, and kindheartedness are so palpable that it cuts across gender, ethnic and class lines. Me: Mr. Pacquiao, can you please say thank you to Oscar who gave this belt as a gift to you? He: Oscar Masso, thank you ha, thank you sa belt. Maraming salamat. Me: A, Kano ho siya. He: Oscar Masso, thank you to the belt that you’ve given to me, thanks a lot ... “I like him because of his humble beginnings. He worked very hard to get to where he’s at and he remains a humble champion. It’s a universal dream for someone to work hard and climb up and he has done that," said Oscar Masso, a Lebanese Palestinian Mexican businessman who asked me to hand over a special belt to Pacquiao.

And then there’s the likes of Laredo pediatrician Dr. Allan Recto, who spends much of his own money to assist Manny in his medical needs. There are people like Michael Koncz, who says, “I have risked my life for him." I spoke to him while he was preparing Pacquiao’s breakfast: toast, oatmeal, cereal among other things. He is also known as guys who tucks in Pacquiao and fluffs his rice. Asked if he thinks Manny can continue his boxing career even as a legislator, he said, “it’s a possibility" and that regardless of what happens, he’ll be around to advise Pacquiao. There are fans like Tijuana–based German TV producer Walter von Borstel and his wife Colombian Lina Carrascal who, as personal guests of promoter Bob Arum, are aware of Pacquiao’s community involvement. They came to Dallas to see Pacquiao fight. “I don’t know much about boxing but when you see him fighting it’s exciting. I think he looks like a good guy. I know and heard that he does things for his country and that he’s a figure that inspires people," says Carrascal. “Being from Tijuana, there is a big fan following for the sport of boxing in general because there’s a lot of boxers that fight in Tijuana and are from Tijuana, and Pacquiao is a favorite because he is a very charismatic boxer ... and the best that’s ever been so its nice to see him fight," adds Borstel. Jesus “Zeus" Gomez of Hy3rid, a musical group based in Southern California whose genre is rock/hiphop songs in Spanish, is another unabashed fan. “Pacquiao is always smiling, he has a lot of charisma," the corn-rowed Jesus gamely opined. His mom Lilian nodded in agreement. Gold’s Gym Brownsville branch General Manager Hugo Robinson has this to say: “He’s the pride of his country because he gives back to the community. Whenever he wins or loses, he always has a wonderful homecoming because he is so involved in his community that they appreciate him, whether he wins or loses." From zero to hero Pacquiao’s rise to boxing demigod status is all the more inspiring because he started out with so much less. Mexicans, in particular, have an affinity with Pacquiao because boxing is a most beloved sport in the country, next only to soccer. Pacman’s climb from zero to hero status is reflective of every poor man’s dream especially in blighted areas like Tijuana, where boxing is the only way out of a gang life. Monica Gomez, a 28-year old medical assistant from a cancer treatment facility, says of Pacquiao: “He’s humble and down–to-earth. He has never forgotten his roots, where he came from. He has charisma and character. He is not flashy, not arrogant. You don’t see a lot of that. Now that he’s famous he can use that power to help." Thirty-five year old businessman Carlos Caballero adds, “he is one of the purest fighters there is. I don’t like Mayweather who’s a lot of talk. I will go for Pacquiao even against a Mexican fighter because I will root for the best fighter and he never talks bad about his opponent." Over and over, what struck Mexicanos and indeed Latinos the most were Pacquiao’s humility, boxing prowess, and involvement with the community that he came from – traits that Latinos, in general, revere. And that goes for us Filipinos as well. There is widespread speculation that Pacquiao’s electoral defeat in a congressional run in 2007 was brought about by the Filipinos’ refusal to see his name tainted and sullied in the political arena. After all, Philippine politics has always been mired in corruption. The Man and his Faith Through it all, one thing has remained constant-- his unswerving faith in God. It is readily apparent as he makes a sign of the cross and says grace before eating. He invites Filipino Catholic priests to hold masses before and after a fight wherever he is. He asks for prayers not only for himself but also for his opponents. (By the way, the main celebrant of the masses held in the hotel’s convention center. Fr. Marlon Beof, formerly of Palawan and currently based in Oxnard, California, also has his own “team" composed of his parents and siblings.) But there are two caveats that Pacquiao should watch out for. One is his inability to say no. His flag-bearer Crisostomo Aquino said Manny once spoke about forgiving “70 times seven" much like how the Bible puts it. “He has a deep sense of faith in God and he believes all things that happened to him are a gift from God. He treasures everyday and (is) very thankful for all the blessings. If God forgives, why can’t we … we’re only human!" was how his personal physician Dr. Recto evaluates Pacquiao and his faith. (see Aquino sidebar). Indeed, it’s been said that only the truly forgiven would know the joy of extending the same. The second is that Pacman has to watch out how his earnings are being spent. The world is replete with examples of sports figures who earned so much but played and gambled so much also that it led to their financial, and sometimes professional, ruin. The tendency to please might help explain why Pacman spends for so many people, even those who can afford to spend for themselves. Is it his own way of reminding himself of the days when food was scarce and life was brutish? I think he has already paid his dues, and he doesn’t have to keep repaying them. It is enough that he is already held up as an example of how hard work, faith in God, and being selfless, humble and forgiving serve as strong messages to his fans. Another biblical analogy would probably suit Manny better: “Teach people how to fish and not give them fish." Giving people livelihood programs, or funding children’s education, go a really long way. Chartering a bus to transport fans is probably not useful. Manny should surround himself with business-savvy advisers, the entrepreneurs who will help secure his future and that of his wife and children, and not squander it away for every foreseeable venture, especially if they are ill-conceived. The billionaire that he is is really mind-boggling, but what would be so devastating is when he wakes up one day and realizes that nothing’s left. “Right now, Manny is a hot commodity. People want a piece of him and pretend to be close to him," said Filipina businesswoman Trisha Verzosa, a close friend of Manny’s wife Jinkee. “But there will come a time when the crowds will stop cheering you on, when age will catch up and when the leeches will move on to the next celebrity. By then, Manny will find out who his real friends are," she added. The Man from Gen San has been very vocal in wanting to help his “kababayan" from the squalor they find themselves in. But if he’s not elected, he has said, “in the eyes of God, I’m at peace. I know I’ve tried to help." He adds: “Magiging congressman ako dahil ang pera ng mga mahirap, nandiyan sa gobyerno. Kukunin ko, ibibigay ko sa mga taong mahirap. Ang dapat sa mahirap, mapunta doon sa kanila." Let’s make sure that Manny gets his happy ending. We owe him this much. – YA, GMANews.TV PART ONE Manny Pacquiao: The making of a global icon Jacqueline Co learned about Manny Pacquiao's successful crossover from Philippine sports superstardom to international celebrityhood last year, April 1 to be precise, one balmy morning while queuing up at a local courthouse in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. Read her account here.