A Tribute to "People's Champ" Manny Pacquiao

Yesterday, I saw how a gentleman from General Santos City pummeled the life out of his boxing opponent in just under two rounds and became the world's new junior welterweight champion, easy. This gentleman, of course, is none other than boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, who is hailed by many as the People's Champ and is also called the Pambansang Kamao here in the Philippines. I have no doubt in my mind that he inspires many Filipinos. Perhaps even more than the $2.75 million that he earns every minute. I enjoyed watching the fight (if you can consider six minutes of one man hitting the other every 5 seconds or so in the face to be a fair fight), and I am proud for Manny's victory, but the mind cannot help but wonder... is it really worth all the hype?

Let's consider the pros of Manny's fight and victory:

- Less crime (everybody, even those who would normally be out doing evil deeds, were staying at home just to watch the fight--the streets were literally ghost towns and therefore, safe)

- Source of inspiration (in this day and age, it's hard to find someone you can look up to, someone who came from humble beginnings and literally worked his way up to fame and fortune that would inspire you to do exactly the same with your life)

- National Pride (starting today, for the next five days, you're going to be seeing a lot of people wearing shirts printed with Manny's face, name, or the Philippine flag, and a lot of people will be saying "pinoy pride", "proud to be pinoy", and "proudly filipino" etc at every chance they get)

I'm sure there are more, but at the moment, these are all of the pros that I can think of. So, it seems that Manny's boxing career brings many good things to the Philippines and the Filipino people. When he comes back, he's going to go on a motorcade around Metro Manila and General Santos City, shaking the hands of supporters and fans and giving away money, making even more people happy.

Congratulations, Manny. You are truly worthy of your titles, and you have rightfully earned my respect.

However, as I have shown earlier, I'm having doubts as to whether Pacquiao is really worth all the attention he's getting. Inside the ring, he's a formidable foe. The world's #1 pound for pound boxer, "Pacman the Destroyer". He's a force to be reckoned with, but he's just a boxer, and I can't help but feel disappointed in the Filipino for devoting so much fanaticism on yet another false idol.

I have even heard talks of Manny running for President someday, and there are already a few supporters. Just hours ago I found a forum thread on the Internet with people talking about replacing me in the history books as the country's national hero because Manny Pacquiao is such a great "hero." Yes, that's how much the public actually believes in him now. Manny Pacquiao for President and Jose Rizal's replacement as national hero.

But tell me, am I the only one who thinks there's something wrong here? Surely, you who were not shot to death in the open space of Bagumbayan will know that this Pacquiao-mania is turning more and more into a mass madness as the days go by. Until when are you going to let things be like this?

How many of you even know my birthday? Or the day when Noli Me Tangere came out? Do you celebrate the country's Independence Day anymore? When was the last time you visited my monument at the Luneta Park? Are you telling the truth?

All I'm saying is, don't forget your roots. Learn the difference between a hero and a celebrity. For all I know, a new holiday may be declared just to celebrate how awesome Manny is, while my day, the day that's supposed to be spent celebrating how awesome I am, gets overshadowed, or worse, forgotten.

Manny Pacquiao is not a hero. He's just a boxer who's trying to make money. He's a great boxer, but in the end, he's still just a boxer.

I'm the national hero. There's a difference.

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You are so not ready for this

Whatever you think you've learned during elementary, high school, or college about me, I suggest you take all of it now, roll it up into one big ball and just throw it out the window. I am not the Jose Rizal that you think you know--I'm from an entirely new generation.

If you thought I was just going to stay down after being shot by a firing squad in broad daylight at Bagumbayan, well, then you thought wrong.

Prepare yourself for the onslaught of my writings criticizing your weakness, stupidity, and lack of sense of humor, among other negative traits of yours that fail to impress me.

Prepare for my coming. Prepare for a hero.

Philippines, you are about to get told.

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