Pacquiao fight clears streets, P141M lotto jackpot jams outlets
Like the enterprising boxing 'promoters' in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA aiming to jack up "Dream Match" tickets of Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao, frenzy for some extra quick cash also hit Iloilo.
Hours before yesterday's late morning broadcast and telecast of the boxing match, offers for bets and counter-bets were taken by phone or text messages. Amounts ranged from a few hundred to a few thousand pesos or if one wild talk is to be believed, P2 million from a Filipino-Chinese businessman famous for his 'gambling blood.' The P2 million was purportedly for De La Hoya's easy victory which meant an easy loss since Pacquiao dominated all eight rounds.
Yet it was not all money for bets as even more enterprising and creative Ilonggos opted for no-money deals. Instead of pesos, one group of bettors agreed "cases of beers" with matching appetizer.
"It is still the same. If we win money, we will still buy beer so ours is direct to the point – cases of beers. Either way, we get drunk and very happy," said one laborer of a shipping company.
Services were also used as bets like a free massage for a De La Hoya victory and a manicure-pedicure for a Pacquiao win. Why the apparent distinction cum discrimination?
"Pacquiao is the underdog, remember?," explained rather unclearly by one lady physician to The News Today (TNT)
Interestingly enough, traffic was relatively absent in Iloilo City's major streets as the match began. Even late morning Church services were affected in terms of turn-out of the Catholic faithful.
Adding to yesterday's "Dream Match" broadcast and telecast though was the anti-climactic power failure - Panay Power Corporation 'trip-off' at the start of the 'Pay-Per-View' coverage.
Fortunately, power was restored some thirty minutes before the main match. FM station Z100 made the historic coverage, first-ever for Iloilo's FM stations, a full-account of the "Dream Match."
Philippine News Service's (PNS) Rufino "Pinoy" Gonzales reported live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena alongside reports facilitated by Z100 via satellite. Print media partner was The News Today.
On Boracay Island, hundreds of tourists including foreigners momentarily stayed off the famous white beach of this island as they cheered for boxing icon Manny Pacquiao.
Cheers and shouts erupted at the convention center of the posh Boracay Regency Beach Resort where around 400 hotel guests watched the fight on a wide screen provided by the hotel.
Guests were served buffet lunch and beer as they watched and celebrate Pacquiao's victory over boxing great Oscar de la Hoya.
The tourists along with their family stood up and cheered each time Pacquiao's punches connected on Dela Hoya.
"It was a blast," Jason Henning, a guest from Kansas City said in an interview. He said he also watched previous fights of Pacquiao.
"It was a great fight," said Nick Steward from Nashville, Tennessee. "Pacquiao defeated a legend and he became a new one."
Another 500 guests and residents watched the fight at the Eco-Village at the northern end of the 1,032-hectare island.
PO1 Christopher Mendoza of the community relations desk of the Boracay Special Tourist Police Office said the normally congested streets of the island were clear because most tricycle drivers stopped plying their routes and monitored the fight over the radio or in delayed television telecasts.
"It's so quiet here but we will monitor the celebrations tonight," said Mendoza.
In Bacolod City, deafening shouts from thousands of Pacman's supporters filled the Bays Center and the 2nd floor of the city hall as the local government offered a pay-per-view live showing of the Pacquiao-De La Hoya fight.
All the major streets in the city were free from traffic during the match dubbed as the "Dream Match".
Pacquiao is an adopted son of Bacolod City and the first Asian boxing hero who has won four championship titles in a row in four different weight divisions (Flyweight, Super Bantamweight, Super featherweight and Lightweight).
Bacolod City Mayor Evelio "Bing" Leonardia again served as one of Pacman's belt hoisters.
The mayor has been the People's Champ's belt hoister for the last six boxing matches.
Moreover, Pacquiao's statement during his visit to Bacolod City last July 17 this year has come true.
He has mentioned during his press conference at the City Mayor's Office that, "Si Mayor Bing parang may magnet sa belt, walang makakakuha ng belt, parami ng parami."
Meantime, another betting frenzy as the Lotto-mania heats up anew.
At stake and up for grabs as of 3 p.m. yesterday was P141 Million jackpot prize for the government's Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Super Lotto Sunday evening draw. The amount increases depending on the turn-out of sales by 8:30pm last night.
"It is almost like the amount won by Pacquiao," said one male Lotto enthusiast who lost a P500 bet on the "Dream Match" while adding with a grin, "Maybe this is my chance. If I win, I will share it with my idol, Oscar De La Hoya." (With a report from Bacolod City PIO)