Pacman: Inspiration comes from above

Ask anyone in boxing and he will tell you, the life and career of Filipino boxer Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao is one interesting tale, and even more interesting is that it is a true story.

Emmanuel Pacquiao first entered the boxing arena at age 12 through Uncle Sardo Mejia who knew something of the sport, so Manny could raise some money to feed his family who lived in abject poverty. When he won, he tried again and won again, and his uncle thought Manny could use some professional advice from friend and tutor Buboy Fernandez, until he was ready to go to Manila. Manny is the first boxer in history to win an unprecedented eight world titles in eight weight divisions. His incomparable rise from poverty to international fame has held the world glued to his every fight. In the Philippines, it is a known fact that whenever Manny has a fight, the entire population is glued to the television screen; there is no traffic on the streets; and there is no crime. This is how much we have come to love the Pacman. He is the country’s “Pambansang Kamao”(“National Fist” in English).

We went to watch the full-length documentary Manny on its last run in selected theaters, and while we Pinoys are full-fledged Pacman fans, this does not extend to watching a documentary on the big screen. We were less than 20 in the audience, which was sad since the docu-drama was one of the very best we had seen. As a nation weaned on the teleserye like the Mexicans, it wouldn’t hurt for someone (calling Malou Santos, Wilma Galvante, Angel Javier) to work on a true-to-life Pacman story as a television series and see it hit No. 1.

The Manny documentary opens with the army and the rebels in the heat of conflict. Gunfire is shot; there is a lot of running around the forests. Then, the fighting stops. There is ceasefire. We are brought to a flashback of the controversial fight with Juan Manuel Marquez which gave the win to Marquez, although half the boxing world didn’t think the decision fair. The only way to solve the impasse was for both to meet again which could become a possibility if both contenders win their next fight. What this means is Pacman winning against Timothy Bradley, and Marquez winning against Mike Alvarado. Pacman’s life story as a pugilist is by no means ending soon. 

Pacman as a child in General Santos (GenSan) helped out the fishermen at dawn tugging on the catch. Manny is vocal in stating that this activity as a child gave him the strength early in life, and has been of great assistance in his career as a boxer. Manny the documentary then goes into the various fights Pacman has won. Of course, there is an attempt to mention the Pacman’s myriad other activities like being congressman of Sarangani province’s lone district; his movies Wapak-Man or Anak ng Kumander that we and many other fans didn’t have any interest in watching; his multiple product endorsements; and his singing.

Those who think Pacman’s series of recordings were simply a hobby, can just watch and enjoy the clip from the movie Manny which shows him at the Capitol Records studio taking his sessions seriously, recording Sometimes When We Touch and Imagine. The annotator notes the utter peculiarity of Pacman’s love for romantic songs. How does this fighter who inspires sheer terror in the ring make a complete turn-around to sing those ballads? But Manny takes everything in his life, strange as they may seem, simply as a matter of course, as meant to be by the “supreme being.” 

Everyone watching a Pacman boxing match is familiar with how he kneels down, makes the sign of the cross and prays to God to bless his fight. Non-Christians would find this strange and how a man would pray so that he could successfully pulverize the enemy. This is never in Manny’s frame of mind. He is simply praying for guidance.

It has been noted that much of the documentary simply centered on Pacquiao, and failed to conduct interviews with his family. There is the family matriarch Dionisia who single-handedly raised her children after she and husband Rosalio separated. It would have been interesting to give Mommy Dionisia some coverage, see her grow from the harried breadwinner to one with time on her hands, going to the parlor and getting made-up, discovering the art of dancing, dressing up like one of the rich and famous, becoming the toast of television by accepting interviews, as well as having dancing exhibitions and inviting people to the house Pacman has built for her in GenSan. Pacman’s wife Jinkee has had more exposure, but it would help if there was more. Both Mommy Dionisia and Jinkee would attempt to convince Manny to stop boxing, since he was already over the age limit of 30, considered safe for boxers. But Manny has gone on and on against all advice.

  And now, there is this upcoming fight. Only time will tell what the next months will bring. Or, as Manny could say, “Bahala na si Lord (Leave it to the Supreme Being).”

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