TWO successive losses for our Pambansang Kamao have knocked down the morale of many kababayans around the world, who have looked up to Manny Pacquiao as the modern-day hero of Filipinos.
His recent knock-out loss to Juan Manuel Marquez has made Pinoys wonder if it is time for Pacman to: (a) hang up his gloves, (b) return to the Catholic faith as his Mommy Dionisia has pleaded, or (c) continue to fight in order to regain his boxing glory.
In our Balitang America daily online opinion poll Isyu Ngayon, majority of our viewers (52 percent) clamored for a rematch between Pacquiao and Marquez, while 48 percent said Manny should retire from boxing.
However, 80 percent of our viewers contended that should Manny get in the ring with Marquez again, he needs to drop everything that has been distracting him from training: politics, bible studies, showbiz, etc., so he can regain his competitive edge in the sport.
Our readers weighed in on this issue. Here are some of their comments:
“Magpasalamat na lang tayo at hindi napuruhan at walang nangyaring masama kay Pacman. Isa pa rin syangFilipino na lumaban para sa atin. Ginusto yun ni God at walang may kasalanan. Ipagmalaki, ipagtanggol at tulungan natin [ang] mga kapwa nating Pinoy, dahil walang ibang gagawa nyan kundi tayo lang na magkakalahi.Maging proud tayo”. – Jane Jacinto
“It’s not about karma nor religion, it was only an accidental lucky punch by Marquez. All we have to put in our mind is: “ WALANG MALAKAS AT MAGALING NA BOXER PAG MINALAS NG TAMA, TALAGANG KNOCKOUT.” Tayo kasing mga Filipino we expected more, at di sanay makita ang Pambansang Kamao na mapatumba.”- Nickmar Satorre Tesiorna
“Ang Pinoy talaga. Bakit ninyo sinisisi si Romney sa buhay ng tao? Mayroong talo at may panalo — hindi naman parati kang panalo. Mas naniwala pa yata ako sa sinabi ni Aling Dionisia, baka dahil nagbago na si Manny ng kanyang paniniwala. Dati kasi kung may fight si Manny, may hawak siya na rosary at nag-sasign of the cross,ngayon wala na.” – Corrine Valyn Agot
“Well, aral na yan, na kung anong paraan ang panamampalataya mo, panindigan mo dahil sa ganun paraan ka nagtagumpay. Rosaryo at simbahan o imahe — doon ka nagsimula Manny.” – Drawde Carlos
“If a person is bent on changing himself for the better, changing religion is not the answer/solution. To change your bad habits is a personal challenge and religion has nothing to do with it. KUNG GUSTO MONG TUMINO, EH DI LIVE A LIFE THAT IS MATINO…kasi gusto mo talagang tumino. Hindi yung change religion then change bad habits. Manny turning into a Born-again Christian to change himself is superficial, because I believe that it is the PERSON’S CONVICTION TO CHANGE THAT COUNTS. Religion has nothing to do with it, because he can backslide anytime. Take note that during the fight, it was the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8). Coincidence? Well, no one can beat the energy of sacredness that saints do exude. Peace to all and Manny, win or lose YOU ARE STILL OUR CHAMPION.” – Marinela
“People may never know what [it takes to be] a Christian, until [they are] born-again. If Manny remains a Catholic, his disposition of his defeat may not be what you see in him now. Manny accepted Jesus Christ as His personal Saviour and Lord. His acts manifest that Bro. Manny is following God’s Word. Bro. Manny is a transformed man.” – Diego Ledda
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Mark 8:36” – Jhun Diaz
“Ang labang ito pinaghandaan talaga ni Marquez at ganoon din naman ni Manny. Pero may improvement naman talaga ngayon si Marquez, hindi katulad noong mga nagdaang laban nila, na kayang-kaya ni Manny ang suntok ni Marquez. Nasamahan pa nga siya ng suwerte at na lucky punch niya si Manny… At alam niyo ba, kaya nahuli ni Marquez doon sa punch na yon si Manny dahil ng pag-apak niya sa paa ni Manny. Ito ang dahilan kaya hindi siya nakaatras or nakaiwas ng mabilis kasama ang paa niya.” – Aries Magsino
“Ayan na naman, with the stepping-on-his-foot thing. Sa palagay niyo, may time si Marquez na tumingin sa paa niPacquiao? Southpaw [ang] stance ni Pacquiao, Orthodox si Marquez, so it’ll happen. I’m sure na he knows kahit ilang seconds lang siya hindi mag pay attention sa kamay ni Pacquiao, mapupuruhan sya. Natalo si Pacquiao because he was careless, overconfident dahil di nya akalain na in a span of 2 seconds, makakasuntok nangpower punch si Marquez. That being said, walang ibang puwedeng sisihin si Pacquiao sa pagkatalo nya, kung hindi siya. And that’s good, kasi iyon naman ang sinabi nya. Unless na lang na it [could be] proven that Marquez is on PEDs.” – Carlo Domingo
“Kahit huwag na bumawi si Manny sobra na siyang yaman. Sabi nga ni Mommy Dionisia, pinahalik na ulit siya niGod sa lupa. Huwag na sana pasaway si Manny dahil baka madale na siya ng mafia. Manny naman pakiusap lang ha, makinig ka kay Mommy Dionisia dahil mothers know best. Saan ka ba may utang na buhay, di ba samommy mo? Tapos ngayon, di ka makikinig sa kanya at makikinig ka sa kinang ng flatteries sa iyo ng mga tao,na gusto kang isabong ng isabong for their own pleasure. Paano naman pleasure ng mommy mo? ng asawa mo at mga anak mo? Sino ba ang mas importante, ibang tao o family mo?” – Teresita Woodard
“Kung para mapasaya mo lang kami kaya gusto mong bumawi ay tama na!! Matagal mo na kaming napasaya.Ang isipin mo ngayon ay ang iyong pamilya at ang intensyon mong makatulong sa tao. Paano ka pa makakatulong sa mga tao, kung may di magandang mangyari sa’yo? Thank God, ligtas ka at walang nangyari sa iyong masama. Yoon ang importante. Pwede mong itaas ang bandila ng Pilipinas at mapasaya mo ang Pinoy sa ibang paraan. God bless you, Manny.” – Rowena Limense
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
