EMMANUEL, THE MESSIAH OF PHILIPPINE BOXING
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 24 Dec 2014
Emmanuel signifies "God with us" (Matthew 1:23), and is the name of the child predicted in Isaiah 7:14: "Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel."
According to New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia in newadvent.org, the Messiah was called Emmanuel, or "God with us", admits a pledge of Divine help and also a description of the nature of the Messiah.
Emmanuel "Manny" Dapidran Pacquiao was born December 17, 1978 (eight days before Christmas) in Kibawe, Bukidnon to Rosalio Pacquiao and Dionesia Dapidran-Pacquiao.
True to his name, Pacquiao emerged as the "savior" of Philippine boxing when we needed somebody who could claim as legend of the sport in the mold of Flash Elorde and Pancho Villa.
Other Philippine boxing world champions surfaced, but they were not as colorful and as hyped as "The Poor Boy from GenSan" where he grew up selling pan de sal in the streets. He made Pinoys proud around the globe.
And every Pacquiao fight seemed a holiday in this nation. We rejoiced in all his victories and we suffered with him in his defeats. Boxing is now for all gender and for all ages in the Philippines all because of him.
Emmanuel wants to make his millions of fans enjoy. He gives his all in every fight. He is now Asia-Pacific's greatest boxer that ever lived. And one of the best in world boxing history.
From rags, he emerged as the only eight division world champion and the boxer the no.1 pound for pound fighter Floyd Mayweather Jr. feared most. He was once at the top of the world in all divisions and a darling of international media.
Christ was born with the poorest of all births. Lying in a manger of hay, beside a donkey and an ox and first visited by the poor shepherds. He was a King yet he died with the most painful death for our debts that we could not pay.
From his very humble beginnings, the boxing Emmanuel is now a billionaire. But he never failed to look back to the life of hunger he used to live. He is always ready to share his blessings to the disadvantaged and the needy.
He is now living a religious life leaving all his vices and spreading the Word of God. And like Christ who was the envy of the Jewish Pharisees and the Sadducees, Manny was not spared from critics and haters.
But the ever humble Manny prayed for those who castigated him like Christ who forgave his enemies while hanging on the cross.
Our Emmanuel wants to follow Christ who came on the first Christmas Day. Jesus is the Savior of mankind. Manny is the "messiah" of Philippine boxing who now lives a renewed Christian life.
Merry Christmas from Maloney, Chona, Mallory, Marton and Marlon.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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