Pacquiao at the NCAA
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 03 Jul 2011
The applause was deafening. The moment he entered the Araneta Coliseum playing court, he was greeted by a standing ovation by the 16,000 in attendance, composed mostly of students and officials of the 10-NCAA member schools that filled the five-decade old arena during the elaborate opening ceremony of the league?s 87th season last Saturday.
No, they were not shouting ?Manny ? Manny? Manny ? the normal greeting his millions of fans accord him wherever he goes. The throng remained standing, shrieking and clapping for boxing hero, Manny Pacquiao, who walked through to the tune of his signature song ?Sometime When We Touch,? to the four corners of entire arena to acknowledge their gesture.
It took the guest of honor and speaker 10 minutes to greet the fans, waving and raising his two hands like a true politician he is now.
The reception became louder when he started speaking, congratulating league officials, headed by season president Anthony Tamayo, head of host University of Perpetual Help System and saying: ?Alam ninyo, kapag kasama ko ang mga kabataan ay lalo pong bumabata ang aking pakiramdam. ?
Expressing his gratitude for having been invited to the historic occasion, the Pacman said: ?I will never miss this opportunity you have given me today, because this is my chance to join the young athletes, the next generation of Filipinos who will create a mark in the sports history as one of the sports heroes of the country.?
The world?s pound-for-pound best boxer and eight-division champion then traced back his humble beginnings, how he was forced to turn to boxing at a young age of 16 as a means to help his mother Dionisia raise him and his five other siblings.
?Bata pa lamang nang ako ay nagsimulang mangarap. Because of my determination to achieve my dreams and with the help of the Lord Almighty, he sent me the people who became instrumental to the realization of my dreams,? the32 year old fighting Sarangani Congressman said.
?I experienced victory and defeat. But my failures served as life?s lesson to accept God?s will and for me to strive harder to bring honor to my family and country,? ?I will never forget all those who helped me to achieve what I have today. Kayo and naging instrument upang ako ay maging isang Manny Pacquiao.?
?Mga kabataang athlete, ako ay naniniwala na ang NCAA ay isa ring instrument o daan upang kayo ay matulungan sa inyong paglalakbay tungo sa inyong pangarap,? he told his audience by way of advice. ?I believe that the NCAA will continue helping produce the next Filipino sports heroes.?
Pacquiao exhorted the NCAA athletes to offer their victories to their loved one, to their schools and country. ?Ang tagumpay ay di dapat sa pansariling interes lamang. Ang tagumpay ay dapat lagging ibinabahagi sa ibang tao lalong lalo na sa ating mga kababayan.?
?I will end my piece with a challenge. Always give your 100 percent in every trial in life. Accept defeats and consider them as lessons for you to do your utmost in the net match. And finally, never forget to offer your victory to your school.? he said.
?Malay ninyo, sa mga susunod nba mga taon, mga banyaga na ang inyong mkakalaban at mabibigyan nyo na rin ng karangalan an gating bansa. Kung nakaya ko, kaya nyo rin,? he said drawing laughter from the crowd by adding ?you know,? a phrase identified with him.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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