Nation stands still as Manny punches his way to victory

Not that it was a weekend but the nation stood still yesterday noon as it cheered for Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao in his grudge match with Mexican rival Erik Morales in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Filipinos from all walks of life stayed glued to televisions and forgot their differences to cheer for Pacquiao as one united nation — at least for a day.

In Pacquiao’s hometown of General Santos City, televisions were set up in markets and in barber shops for the public to watch their idol win by technical knockout in the 10th round.

There were similar scenes in cities and towns across the country. Streets were relatively quiet from morning till early afternoon as most people stayed home for the bout. Traffic was light and most shops closed early.

President Arroyo led the nation in jubilation after Pacquiao avenged his narrow loss to Morales last March in a 12-round unanimous decision, also in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao’s victory serves as an "inspiration and constant reminder to all our countrymen that the Filipino can be the best in any endeavor when he puts his heart into it," Mrs. Arroyo said in a statement.

"I join Filipinos from every corner of the Philippines and the world over in congratulating Manny Pacquiao on his very convincing victory," she said.

"Manny’s triumph exemplifies the indomitable fighting spirit of the Filipino not just in the field of sports but also in every field of struggle for excellence."

Mrs. Arroyo phoned Pacquiao her congratulations through her husband’s cellular phone. First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Singson were at ringside in Las Vegas to cheer for Pacquiao in behalf on the nation.

Mrs. Arroyo’s political adviser, Gabriel Claudio, said Pacquiao’s victory made "divisive politics become even more irrelevant and abhorrent to the Filipino people."

"It’s a great time, a great sign and a great reason to be united," he said. "I hope we can make this feeling of unity and victory last for the good of our nation."

Referring to the opposition campaign to force Mrs. Arroyo from office over charges of vote-rigging in the 2004 presidential election, Claudio urged a halt in "attacks against the government and on the politics of hate, gloom and doom being waged by detractors of the administration.

Several pro-Arroyo and opposition figures set aside their differences and watched the fight on a big screen at Rockwell commercial center in Makati City.

"With this fabulous victory, Pacquiao has raised the morale of the Filipino people and made the nation proud of one of its greatest sons," said Speaker Jose de Venecia, who watched the fight at home.

Last year, the House of Representatives honored Pacquiao with the Congressional Medal of Achievement — the only sportsman ever to given the decoration.

Pacquiao completed the victory at 2:33 of the 10th round, taking his record to 41-3-2 including 33 wins inside the distance.

Morales fell to 48-4, with 33 wins inside the distance.

"I’m very proud and very happy that once again my son won his fight," Pacquiao’s mother, Dionisia, told hordes of reporters waiting outside her home in General Santos after watching her son punch out a convincing victory.

In cities and towns across the country, people from all walks of life took a break from their daily routines.

Raul Dulfo, a tricycle driver in General Santos, said he worked overtime the other night so he could watch the fight.

"I’m really happy because my idol won and of course I also won a case of beer in a bet with a fellow driver," Dulfo said.

Dulfo said he and other drivers had already stopped work as early as 9 a.m. and waited in front of televisions at their favorite carinderias or roadside canteens.

"It looked as if the city was observing Good Friday because only few vehicles were in the streets," Dulfo said.

Businessman Jover Pontino, who runs the London Beach Resort in General Santos, said beachgoers kept cheering for Pacquiao as they watched the fight on a wide screen television put up by the management for its customers.

Shopping center owner Ricardo Yap said he rescheduled the inventory of their stocks next week and gave his employees time off so they could watch the fight.

"We really closed our store today because we want also our workers to have an opportunity to see the fight with their families," Yap said.

Yap’s business associate, Rey Sanorya, who runs a 24-hour convenience store, said he subscribed to a satellite cable service so he could offer free live viewing for his business partners and customers.

Printing press mogul Sam Napala ordered work canceled for the day for its employees.

In Cotabato City, a crowd gathered in front of a widescreen monitor set up by Mayor Muslimin Sema at the city’s plaza.

"Traffic was so light in all parts of Cotabato City and there was no report of any crime," said city police chief Senior Superintendent Abubakar Mangelen.

In Dagupan City, ABS-CBN put up two big screens at the city’s public market for the public.

A Muslim preacher in Datu Piang, Maguindanao, said they offered prayers for Pacquiao during their Friday service. "Sports and friendly competitions to promote unity, humility, patience and perseverance is encouraged by Islam," Ustadz Mohamad said.

Outside Zamboanga City, farmer Rosauro Sto. Tomas left his rice field early and rushed home to catch the fight. "I had to make a little sacrifice to leave my rice field for a while, in spite of predator birds and rodents, to witness our glory."

Metro Manila’s normally traffic-choked streets were nearly empty of vehicles, including public transportation. "It’s as if there’s a transport strike," said one tricycle driver in Malabon.

One traffic enforcer in Manila admitted deserting his post outside Intramuros briefly to watch the fight in a bazaar selling used television sets.

Anticipating the nation to be mesmerized in front of television sets, Philippine National Police chief Director General Arturo Lomibao ordered all officers early yesterday not to forget their jobs, especially in areas where rebels have a presence.

Pacquiao’s match did manage to slow traffic to a crawl because a crowd of 2,000 gathered before a giant monitor of a Mercury Drug store at Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila.

"There were no reports of pickpockets or untoward incidents to our police detachment in the area," said Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong, director of the Manila Police District.

The Manila city government said it will roll out the red carpet for Pacquiao when he comes home.

"Beyond hailing his stunning victory against Erik Morales, Manileños also wish to acknowledge the great personal sacrifice that Manny Pacquiao made in order to prepare himself for this important battle," the city government said in a statement.

In San Roque, Navotas, the Catholic Youth Society put its bingo fundraiser on hold as the entire community watched the bout. "All of us felt as if we won the jackpot," said bingo participant Sammy Talon.

Dozens of people were turned away outside moviehouses at SM Megamall where tickets to the match, showed live via satellite, were sold out days earlier.

Gym instructor Myk Perez, who stayed home for the fight, said Pacquiao’s victory "is the best thing that happened in this country.

"It’s a relief for all especially since the past year. The past months have been very bad for the country because of the controversies, the politics," he said, referring to the political crisis hounding Mrs. Arroyo.

Of course, not everyone was able to see the fight because they had to go to work, like saleslady Cynthia Cortez on duty at a Quezon City mall. "I really wanted to see it but I couldn’t do anything because I’m on duty today. But I felt good when we heard that Pacquiao won," she said.

Even convicts at the National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa City did not miss the grudge match despite the incarceration. Bureau of Corrections Director Vicente Vinarao, who celebrated his birthday yesterday, had a big television screen set up at the maxium security compound to give the prisoners a treat. — With Paolo Romero, John Paul Jubelag, John Unson, Roel Pareño, Richel Umel, Eva Visperas, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Pete Laude, Ramil Bajo, Edu Punay, Katherine Adraneda, Christina Mendez, Cesar Ramirez, AFP