Bona fide text
Pacman, the Man of the Hour
Boxing. Philippines. Pacman. The Man of the Hour. Who doesn't know Manny Pacquiao today? Nobody. He is the well-known boxing champion in the entire world. A Filipino at that!
Pacquiao's stunning second-round knockout that dethroned IBO light welterweight champion Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas on May 3 cemented his image as the world's best pound-for-pound fighter that ever lived.
Let us reminisce what had happened on May 3 (Phil. time) that made Pacman as the man of the hour today. Screams and cheers filled the jampacked theaters, malls, plazas, restaurants, schools and various public places. Everybody was glued on the television on that day while others were rejoicing live in Las Vegas boxing arena. Text messages must have gone out wild all over the world as Ricky Hatton in an instant hit the canvas for the third time in a boxing fight that lasted only for about six minutes. Wow! That was too fast, isn't it? Millions of boxing fanatics would react that the fight was, “Bitin!” But it was that “bitin” that made as proud as Filipinos. Our Manny “Pacman” Pacquaio made a mark in the entire boxing history.
As of this day, Pacman has five boxing titles. He wrested the Hitman’s IBO 140-lb belt, his fifth after earlier conquests at flyweight (WBC), super-bantamweight (IBF), super-featherweight (WBC) and lightweight (WBC). Unofficially, he has a sixth division title, the Ring Magazine featherweight belt, which he collared with his 11th round TKO of Marco Antonio Barrera in 2003.
Moreover, he took away Hatton’s Ring Magazine light-welterweight belt while keeping his hold as No. 1 fighter in the magazine’s mythical P4P ratings.
This has made Pacquiao the first Asian fighter to win world titles in four or more divisions, joining Henry Armstrong in the elite list of fighters, who displayed greatness across multiple divisions.
So again, here's the question, who doesn't even know Manny Pacquiao today? And again, the answer is -- nobody. Everybody does.
No question that Pacman gave the Philippines the great opportunity to be well-known once again in the world. He's proud to be a Pinoy boxer. In gratefulness and for his overwhelming victory in his May 3 fight, Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Proclamation 1764, which declared May 11 as the National Day of Celebration. PGMA stressed, "Hiningi natin at pumayag naman si Manny, na siya ang maging ating sugo ng kapayapaan at pagkaunawaan. Maraming salamat Manny... Congratulations muli mula sa nagpapasalamat na bansang Pilipinas."
The Pambansang Kamao received a cake adorned with a life-sized boxing belt, gloves, Philippine flag, the Presidential Seal and the inscription “pound-for-pound king” from the president. In turn, Pacquiao gave Mrs. Arroyo and First Gentleman Mike Arroyo personalized jackets.
Meanwhile, DOJ Sec. Raul Gonzalez signed Pacquiao’s designation via Department Order no. 344 as the special assistant to the justice secretary on intelligence matters.
“He is a useful unifier of the nation. He has a lot of following in Visayas and Mindanao. He is respected even by the Muslims," Gonzalez said.
Indeed, Pacman is the man of the hour. Today, millions of people all over the world look up to him as the best boxing icon ever. Pacman, a Filipino.