PACQUIAO WAXES BIBLICAL DURING SUNDAY'S ELORDE AWARDS SPEECH
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 26 Mar 2012
Fighting Sarangani Congressman Manny Pacquiao called on his fellow world champions and future champions to give back to others, especially to the downtrodden, the blessings they are now receiving. Coming true to his self-proclaimed calling as a preacher and recognition as ?A Man For Others? accorded him during the 12th Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde Boxing Awards last Sunday, the World Boxing Organization welterweight title holder said that whatever he and his peers are enjoying come from God and should be shared with country and countrymen.
Citing a Biblical teaching: ?For everyone to whom much is given, of him shall much be required,? Ring Magazine?s pound-for-pound best said, ?I have reaped a tremendous harvest of success so it is time to use it for the good of others and I believe that God has chosen me to spread His message.?
?Ako po ay naniniwala na ang pagpupunyaging ito upang umani pa ng mga tagumpay ay isa rin pong uri ng pagsisilbi at pagbibigay dangal sa ating bansa (I believe that the efforts to reap success is a form of service to bring honor to our country),? Paquiao told his audience, most of whom are awardees in the annual affair.
?Tayong lahat po na narito ngayon ay champions at ang tunay na champion ay di lang umaani ng tagumpay kundi tumatanggap din ng pagkatalo (All of us gathered here are champions but a true champion must not only reap success, but, likewise, accept defeats),? he suggested.
?Like what Ralph Waldo Emerson said, our greatest glory is not in never failing, but rising up every time we fail,? he said. ?The road to my being eight-division world champion is a product of the challenges, defeats and success I?ve experienced.?
The Kibawe, Bukidnon-born fighter who started his pro-career in 1995 as a light-flyweight and rose to campaigning in the flyweight, bantamweight, super-bantamweight, featherweight, super-featherweight, lightweight and junior-welterweight, welterweight and junior middleweight, cited his first loss in his career ? a third round knockout to Rustico Torrecampo in 1996 -- from where he bounced back to be what he is today.
?Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari basta ng imulat ko ang mata ko nakita ko na baligtad ang mga tao na nasa itaas ang paa,? he recalled with a laugh. ?Nang bumangon ako, sabi sa akin ng reperi, tapos na ang laban. Talo na pala ako at nakatulog nang ilang sandali.?
?Despite that defeat, I didn?t lose heart. Instead I vaulted back, trained hard prayed hard until I recovered and reached the place I would like to be,? Pacquiao said.
?What really is the symbol of the honors being bestowed on us today? For me, all the awards that I have received are reminders of a big responsibility to give back to the country and our people, not just to inspire, but to give real hope, to make people believe that nothing is impossible with the help of God,? Pacquiao remarked.
?Makakaasa po kayong lahat na habang nandito si Manny Pacquiao, ako ay magiging ?Man for the Others?, he said.
Sunday?s affair, held at the Dusit Thani Hotel, was the 12th edition of the annual recognition night presented by the Elorde Family, headed by ?The Flash?s? wife Laura, commemorating the late world junior-lightweight champion?s 77th birth anniversary.
Among those honored were Boxers of the Year Nonito Donaire, Brian Viloria, Donnie Nietes and Ana Julaton as well as regional and international titleholders, Philippine champions and individuals and entities who contributed in making the Philippines the ?Boxing Capital of the World in 2011.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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