INSIDE SPORTS: Pacquiao the Sports Hero and Pacquiao the Showbiz Personality
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 24 Nov 2009
Our collective weekend was one of mixed emotions. We personally had to grapple with the controversy surrounding a genuine sports hero Manny Pacquiao and his alleged tryst with an attractive actress; Marvin Sonsona’s distressing loss of his WBO super flyweight title by failing to make the weight and Sonny Boy Jaro’s first round KO in a WBA title fight against Giovanni Segura.
But easing the pain and concern caused by all this was Rodel Mayol’s spectacular 2nd round TKO of heavily favored Mexican Edgar Sosa. Mayol bucked a rough ride to the site of the weigh in on Friday to pour out his frustrations on a great champion who was making his eleventh title defense.
The victory of Mayol was an inspiring story because it was his fifth crack at a world title which meant he had faith in himself, never quit trying and was eventually rewarded with the success he truly deserved. That his career has been taken over by the supreme inspirer of us all, Manny Pacquiao, must surely impact on Mayol’s achievement because as he so rightly pointed out after his win, he was thankful to Manny for keeping faith in him.
That must surely be an essential element in all of our endeavors –unflinching faith.
That is why when we were asked about Pacquiao’s alleged flirtations we drew solace from what the Bible tells us in St. Luke, Chapter 6. Simply put, judge not so you won’t be judged, condemn not so you won’t be condemned and don’t seek to remove the mote from your brothers eye, look first at the beam in your own eye.
When we look at the incredible achievements of Pacquiao and his journey to glory from the pits of poverty to rise above all else and emerge as a national hero and indeed as the Thai Prime Minister and other officials pointed out – a hero of Asia – we must focus on drawing strength and inspiration from him, rather than search for shortcomings that seek to undermine what he has done not merely for himself but indeed for all of us.
It is incumbent on us not to bury his achievements in a cesspool of gossip and innuendo but to give him honor where honor is due and as we embrace him in our hearts for the pride and glory he has brought our nation and people we should seek another day and some other time to rant and rave if we must, about his human frailties of which we too – all of us – are guilty but perhaps only in different degrees..
As our parish priest pointed out in his homily at Saint Paul the Apostle church in Laging Handa, Quezon City on Sunday, let's honor Manny for his rags to riches story because he earned what he did honestly and through the sweat of his brow and his own blood and sacrifice unlike others who became rich from virtually sucking the people’s blood.
To us, there is a need to separate Pacquiao the sports super hero as WBC president Don Jose Sulaiman refers to him, and Pacquiao the showbiz personality who is naturally subject to the intrigues and gossip that are an integral part of the business, if one may call it such.
There are those of us who believe very strongly that a man – or woman - is innocent of any crime until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt. Beyond that we believe that if indeed Manny has committed any transgressions he is answerable to his charming wife Jinkee and family, and most of all to God whom he constantly thanks for all the blessings bestowed upon him.
It would be terribly unfair to even suspect that Pacquiao does all this for show because he has been doing this all his life, guided no doubt by the religiosity of his mother, Dionisia. It's like criticizing him for seeking a seat in Congress as though he is not entitled to the same privilege that far lesser men enjoy.
We can never forget that several years ago when he was nowhere near the superstar he is today, Pacquiao told his late business manager, mentor and father figure Rod Nazario in our presence that he wanted to seek public office because he wanted to serve and help the poor people of his province. It isn’t something that depended on his stature today, it was something that came from deep within his caring heart years ago.
We should commend not condemn him. For the desire to serve with sincerity is in itself a torch that should burn bright and light up our lives and lead us, sooner rather than later, to the promised land in the same manner that Manny Pacquiao restored our dignity as a people and redeemed our respect as a nation within the community of nations with his blinding fists and his indomitable courage.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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