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What Manny Pacquiao means to non-Filipinos?
"D Source's Mailbox" (special edition): What Manny Pacquiao means to non-Filipinos
August 24, 12:10 AM
Indianapolis Fight Sports Examiner
by Dennis "dSource" Guillermo
Good day fight fans! Another Monday is upon us and perhaps a long week ahead for most. As we jump start this week, allow me to share with you what I received in my email inbox this past weekend.
Last week when I wrote the piece titled "Why is the Philippines so captivated by Manny Pacquiao?" I received perhaps the most reader mail ever from one specific article. Majority were thanking me for paying tribute to a real legend of the sport, some told me that the article left them watery-eyed and a handful accused me for exaggerating Pacquiao's significance to his country. All good! I appreciate your feedback and for taking time out not only to read my articles but also for writing me an e-mail.
One e-mail caught my attention though. It was an e-mail from an 18-year old reader named Kayla L. from New Jersey. Kayla described herself as a "black female" and wanted to share her thoughts on Pacquiao and his impact on boxing fans as a whole and not just those with ties to the Philippines. In the e-mail, Kayla wrote,
Hey Dennis, whats up?
My name is Kayla, and just so you know I am a big fan of your articles on Examiner, you speak the truth and nothing but it and i love it. But the purpose of this email is to ask you if i could elaborate on what Manny Pacquiao means to a normal boxing fan who is NOT Filipino.. I know Filipinos keep a spot for Manny in their hearts but i would like to express my admiration for Manny as he is someone also special to me, though I dont know him personally. I know you do interviews with fighters and trainers, and maybe you'll just ignore this, but i assure in all seriousness, I would be willing to talk to you and just show the impact Manny has on the world outside of the Philippines.
I know many were saying he was avoiding black fighters, but as a black female, I dont feel that way at all, corny as it may sound, i fell in love with this sport through Manny Pacquiao. So if you email me back great, if not thats cool too, just wanted to have the chance to voice my opinion.
Thanks Anyway
Kayla
Interested in what she had to say, I asked Kayla to write me an essay on what Pacquiao meant to her. Being a Filipino living in the United States, I too tend to forget the impact Pacquiao has had on the sport and casual fans in general. Kayla also told me she was going to post a video on her Youtube channel regarding the subject. Check out Kayla's essay below.
************************************************** ************************
I fell in love with this sport called boxing and it was all because of this guy called Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao. The true "Numero Uno", pound-for-pound best! And yes, champions come and go but for me, Manny will stay there always. He's not only my favorite inside the ring but also outside of it. No, I don't gotta know him personally to say that either. I can’t really put into words what really does it for me about him but it just does.
I'm told I inherited this liking for the sport from my Mom-Mom, her favorite fighter of her time was Alexis Arguello, R.I.P, and I'm soooo glad I did. To me, Manny truly emulates what a real Champion is; a Champion at your craft and your life itself. He came from nothing and to see where he is now, how can you not admire him?
I've become so intrigued I even took the incentive to learn about the Philippines and its culture. It’s funny, if my Mom catches me reading about other boxers on the Internet or where ever, she says "What are you cheating on Manny now?". Now, I'm not Filipino, but when Manny fights, I feel like one. I assure you if he was to lose or win his next fight or any fight, I would feel the joy or sadness just like a Filipino. God says he loves the humble one. Tell me how can one man from a country that sometimes people even forget about, carry the dreams, prayers, and struggles of about 90 million people on his shoulder with such ease? That's crazy. Well, nobody will forget now or probably ever.
He's opened doors for every Filipino just like Barack ***** did for African-Americans. Yes, as an African-American female, Barack ***** is someone I look up to, but also next to Manny Pacquiao. One of his best lines is, "I will do my best and let God do the rest". A lot of fighters like to showboat and use the word "God" in their victory speeches, but if they were to lose, he becomes unknown. Manny has faith and would thank God for his victory and his losses, because he leaves it all up to him. He truly appreciates everything he has, to practically giving away money until he probably won’t have any for himself, to signing autographs, where ever, whenever at every opportunity and so much more.
I truly believe Manny is doing what God put him on this Earth to do. If that will instilled in him was to just warm the hearts of his people, then so be it. He is not called "The Fighting Pride of the Philippines" or the "National Fist" for nothing. Humility is everything, to know your name is going down in the books, is good and all but to know and keep it to yourself rather than shove it in everyone’s face is something else. They say when someone brags about what they are doing, they really ain't doing anything. There is a difference between ****y and Confident.
If you don't agree with the Numero Uno statement, then your name is either Mayweather, Marquez or you’re just a fan of one of Pac's past victims. Granted everyone is entitled to their opinion, but you guys please, don't hate, appreciate. Appreciate that someone is trying to make the effort, like all of you, to save this sport that they say is dying.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. if you end up reading this, this part right here is for you.
Floyd, listen, you are a great fighter, no doubt about it, but maybe if your attitude was a tad bit different, people would actually buy your PPV hoping for you to win, instead of hoping you get KTFO or maybe you could sell out fights without saying a word, just like someone I know. You could also have a fan base like Pacquiao, Cotto and others. I'm not trying to throw salt on you, I'm just being honest. So if it is true that boxing is dying and at the end of the day there are only a few that still choose to support the sweet science, I will be one of those few, all because of Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao.
Sincerely,
Kayla L.
(g0.higher@yahoo.com)
August 24, 12:10 AM
Indianapolis Fight Sports Examiner
by Dennis "dSource" Guillermo
Good day fight fans! Another Monday is upon us and perhaps a long week ahead for most. As we jump start this week, allow me to share with you what I received in my email inbox this past weekend.
Last week when I wrote the piece titled "Why is the Philippines so captivated by Manny Pacquiao?" I received perhaps the most reader mail ever from one specific article. Majority were thanking me for paying tribute to a real legend of the sport, some told me that the article left them watery-eyed and a handful accused me for exaggerating Pacquiao's significance to his country. All good! I appreciate your feedback and for taking time out not only to read my articles but also for writing me an e-mail.
One e-mail caught my attention though. It was an e-mail from an 18-year old reader named Kayla L. from New Jersey. Kayla described herself as a "black female" and wanted to share her thoughts on Pacquiao and his impact on boxing fans as a whole and not just those with ties to the Philippines. In the e-mail, Kayla wrote,
Hey Dennis, whats up?
My name is Kayla, and just so you know I am a big fan of your articles on Examiner, you speak the truth and nothing but it and i love it. But the purpose of this email is to ask you if i could elaborate on what Manny Pacquiao means to a normal boxing fan who is NOT Filipino.. I know Filipinos keep a spot for Manny in their hearts but i would like to express my admiration for Manny as he is someone also special to me, though I dont know him personally. I know you do interviews with fighters and trainers, and maybe you'll just ignore this, but i assure in all seriousness, I would be willing to talk to you and just show the impact Manny has on the world outside of the Philippines.
I know many were saying he was avoiding black fighters, but as a black female, I dont feel that way at all, corny as it may sound, i fell in love with this sport through Manny Pacquiao. So if you email me back great, if not thats cool too, just wanted to have the chance to voice my opinion.
Thanks Anyway
Kayla
Interested in what she had to say, I asked Kayla to write me an essay on what Pacquiao meant to her. Being a Filipino living in the United States, I too tend to forget the impact Pacquiao has had on the sport and casual fans in general. Kayla also told me she was going to post a video on her Youtube channel regarding the subject. Check out Kayla's essay below.
************************************************** ************************
I fell in love with this sport called boxing and it was all because of this guy called Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao. The true "Numero Uno", pound-for-pound best! And yes, champions come and go but for me, Manny will stay there always. He's not only my favorite inside the ring but also outside of it. No, I don't gotta know him personally to say that either. I can’t really put into words what really does it for me about him but it just does.
I'm told I inherited this liking for the sport from my Mom-Mom, her favorite fighter of her time was Alexis Arguello, R.I.P, and I'm soooo glad I did. To me, Manny truly emulates what a real Champion is; a Champion at your craft and your life itself. He came from nothing and to see where he is now, how can you not admire him?
I've become so intrigued I even took the incentive to learn about the Philippines and its culture. It’s funny, if my Mom catches me reading about other boxers on the Internet or where ever, she says "What are you cheating on Manny now?". Now, I'm not Filipino, but when Manny fights, I feel like one. I assure you if he was to lose or win his next fight or any fight, I would feel the joy or sadness just like a Filipino. God says he loves the humble one. Tell me how can one man from a country that sometimes people even forget about, carry the dreams, prayers, and struggles of about 90 million people on his shoulder with such ease? That's crazy. Well, nobody will forget now or probably ever.
He's opened doors for every Filipino just like Barack ***** did for African-Americans. Yes, as an African-American female, Barack ***** is someone I look up to, but also next to Manny Pacquiao. One of his best lines is, "I will do my best and let God do the rest". A lot of fighters like to showboat and use the word "God" in their victory speeches, but if they were to lose, he becomes unknown. Manny has faith and would thank God for his victory and his losses, because he leaves it all up to him. He truly appreciates everything he has, to practically giving away money until he probably won’t have any for himself, to signing autographs, where ever, whenever at every opportunity and so much more.
I truly believe Manny is doing what God put him on this Earth to do. If that will instilled in him was to just warm the hearts of his people, then so be it. He is not called "The Fighting Pride of the Philippines" or the "National Fist" for nothing. Humility is everything, to know your name is going down in the books, is good and all but to know and keep it to yourself rather than shove it in everyone’s face is something else. They say when someone brags about what they are doing, they really ain't doing anything. There is a difference between ****y and Confident.
If you don't agree with the Numero Uno statement, then your name is either Mayweather, Marquez or you’re just a fan of one of Pac's past victims. Granted everyone is entitled to their opinion, but you guys please, don't hate, appreciate. Appreciate that someone is trying to make the effort, like all of you, to save this sport that they say is dying.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. if you end up reading this, this part right here is for you.
Floyd, listen, you are a great fighter, no doubt about it, but maybe if your attitude was a tad bit different, people would actually buy your PPV hoping for you to win, instead of hoping you get KTFO or maybe you could sell out fights without saying a word, just like someone I know. You could also have a fan base like Pacquiao, Cotto and others. I'm not trying to throw salt on you, I'm just being honest. So if it is true that boxing is dying and at the end of the day there are only a few that still choose to support the sweet science, I will be one of those few, all because of Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao.
Sincerely,
Kayla L.
(g0.higher@yahoo.com)
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