by Nicasio Angelo Agustin
Boxing is considered among the most savage activities that man has elevated into sport. The world of pugilists brings to mind dark, damp alleys where shirtless, aimless youths form a jeering circle around two contenders beating the hell out of each other. More “refined” pursuits such as polo and golf, on the other hand, bring to mind sunny days, horrifically expensive landscaping and men garbed in the latest, most expensive sports shirts you can find, sipping single malt whisky and living the good, sophisticated life.
These two examples define the spectrum of male machismo: the first, defined by sheer animalistic force; the other, polished sophistication. And it is the former that is the world of Manny Pacquiao.
It is no less than a revelation, therefore, when Pacman demonstrated something not typically associated with the boorish sport of boxing: perspective.
Many have written about how Manny showed restraint by refusing to beat the face of the Tijuana Tornado to a pulp. While a number of sports analysts chided the referee for refusing to end the fight as early as the tenth round, he justified his decision with Margarito’s desire to simply finish the fight – a decision Pacman honored by not going for a knockout.
In later interviews, the congressman-boxer shared that he did not deliberately dance around the last two rounds because he was taking it easy on his opponent; rather, he declared that he was merely implementing his coach’s strategy to finish the bout with care, and not allow for a lucky punch to ruin an otherwise obvious victory. In his simple reply, Manny showed a refusal to condescend to his opponent by patronizing him. To do so would have simply been insulting.
Six hours after winning his eighth world division title, I was struck with the Pacquiao I saw on television: obviously tired, lip swollen, aching, with eyes begging for sleep. While many have been quick to crown him the best boxer ever to have existed – better, even, than Muhammad Ali – what I saw was a person carrying in his body the most physical punishment any human being could ever take willingly, and doing so with utmost dignity.
Pacman is not an invincible hero – but he is an ordinary person who realized his potentials and did extraordinary things.
It would not be a gross overstatement to say that the congressman from Sarangani is probably the most admired person in the Philippines today. Most would have this sentiment for the material rewards that Manny Pacquiao gathered for himself and his family. This is a great disservice to the more important attributes that he has, attributes which I believe he already had even as a stowaway with only a few hundred pesos in his pocket: focus, discipline, fire in the belly and solid values—no small thanks to Mommy D.
A former congressman now based in New York, when asked by some bloggers what he thought of television, candidly shared: “If the youth were interested in television, they would see that Manny Pacquiao takes his duties to heart and works more earnestly than most of his colleagues in Congress.” Golf, I believe, is the favorite sport of the Lower House.
There is a Pinoy saying that goes “sports lang!”, that it is something that is irreverent, merely for exercise and entertainment. If there is anything that Manny’s humility at his peak showed, it is the negation of the statement that sports is just merely sports but is something that can give all of us an education.
What Manny taught me a few days ago is that boxing has finally become a gentleman’s game.
Feel free to send your comments to nic_agustin@yahoo.com.
