They’d rather see Pacquiao fight than evacuate
MANILA, Philippines—Not even the threat of a storm packing 85-kilometer-per-hour center winds could persuade them to flee to evacuation centers. They’d rather stay put and watch Manny Pacquiao fight.
Albay provincial officials on Sunday said efforts to evacuate areas threatened by Tropical Storm “Bebeng” (international name: Aere) were disrupted because residents of threatened barangays in Legazpi City refused to heed orders to leave, preferring to watch a free telecast of Pacquiao’s fight with Shane Mosley in Las Vegas.
In Cebu City, a 67-year-old man died of a heart attack in the 10th round of the fight after Pacquiao suffered a controversial knockdown.
At the San Andres Sports Complex in Malate, Manila, dozens of people had their blood pressure checked at the height of the excitement over the bout.
“The fight is disrupting our evacuation effort,” Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said in a text message minutes before the fight began as an estimated 2,000 residents swarmed to the Albay Astrodome to see the telecast.
“I can’t just put television sets in evacuation centers, it’s too expensive,” Salceda said. “I just hope Manny finishes the fight early, a knockout in the first round perhaps, so we can also knock down Bebeng.”
In a precautionary move, Salceda had ordered the evacuation of more than 28,000 families—comprising 131,000 people—living in flood- and landslide-prone areas in 356 villages in Albay province.
It was not known how many complied with the order.
Aquino calls Pacquiao
Despite the threat from Bebeng, thousands flocked to government-run gymnasiums in the cities of Legazpi, Naga in Camarines Sur, and Lucena in Quezon to watch the fight, cheering for the Filipino ring idol despite the downpour and strong winds outside.
President Benigno Aquino III was in Jakarta attending a summit of Southeast Asian leaders and failed to see the fight, but he immediately congratulated Pacquiao on his victory.
“He showed the discipline, determination and the true talent of the Filipino,” Mr. Aquino said in a statement.
“(His victory) was made even brighter by his choice of wearing yellow boxing gloves that symbolize his being a participant in our fight against poverty … Manny doesn’t forget to look back to help his countrymen,” the President said.
Mr. Aquino spoke with Pacquiao on the phone hours after the bout, congratulating him and saying he was sorry he missed the fight on television.
‘Boring fight’
While elated at Pacquiao’s unanimous 12-round points win, many of his fans were disappointed that he failed to knock out his aging American foe.
“His previous fights were more exciting. Today was quite boring because Mosley didn’t do much,” Patricia Tolentino said at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.
Many of the spectators were quiet most of the time but cheered wildly when Pacquiao floored Mosley in the third round.
Most of them came in small groups, like families enjoying the weekend and the celebration of Mothers’ Day.
At the Barangay San Lorenzo in Makati City, a predominantly male crowd crammed themselves into two makeshift tents that shielded them and the TV screen from the downpour.
“Clearly, it was a lopsided match. He’s fighting an old guy,” John Collado, 47, said.
“Mosley was very cautious during the fight,” said Larry Balles, 39, who came with his family to see the telecast. “Mosley may have realized he could not beat Manny.”
The spectators gasped in disbelief when Pacquiao hit the deck in the 10th after suffering what the referee called a knockdown. Slow-motion replays showed that Mosley had pushed Pacquiao to the canvass and the crowd booed.
Cheers for ‘Dirty Harry’
At the San Andres Complex, about 7,000 people, mostly men, whooped it up every time Pacquiao landed a solid punch.
They cheered louder when a photo advertisement featuring Mayor Alfredo Lim and Vice Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso appeared on the screen.
Many were unimpressed with Mosley. “He keeps running. All he does is jab,” a man guffawed. Another screamed at Mosley: “Stop hugging!”
Twenty-seven people had their blood pressure checked by nurse Avon Nova.
Just sparring
Fans in northern and central Luzon were also dissatisfied with the fight.
In Cabanatuan City, government worker Juanita Fajardo said: “It looked like just a sparring session.”
“We want a knockout,” chanted the crowd at the gymnasium of Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology.
“It was the most boring fight of Pacquiao so far,” said Isabela Gov. Faustino Dy III, who joined family members and the public in watching the bout at the provincial capitol amphitheater in Ilagan town.
Mother’s Day
In the Visayas, the Mother’s Day celebration and the annual fiesta meals were delayed as fans also watched the bout.
Traffic dropped in the cities of Cebu, Bacolod and Iloilo as most residents were glued to their television and radio sets. As in Pacquiao’s previous matches, police reported no crime incidents.
Msgr. Esteban Binghay, episcopal vicar of the Cebu Archdiocese, finished his 10 a.m. Mass early because he said most of the people wanted to catch the pay per view.
But the excitement was too much for Sonny Estremos, a former militiaman. He suffered a heart attack after Pacquiao went down in the 10th round.
He was declared dead on arrival in the hospital.
Bad weather
In Bacolod City, Mother’s Day lunches were held later than usual as Negrenses gathered around their television sets and at public venues to cheer for Pacquiao.
Fewer than the usual number of people attended Masses close to noon in Bacolod.
Despite the bad weather, thousands also watched the fight at RTR plaza in Tacloban City where a wide screen was put up by the provincial government.
In Iloilo City, hundreds of fans packed hotels, bars and restaurants with live screenings of the match. Tickets were worth P400-P500. Thousands more jammed free live screenings in public plazas.
A teary-eyed Dionisia Pacquiao, also known as Mommy D, emerged seemingly exhausted from the prayer room of the Pacquiao mansion in General Santos City.
The champion’s mother attended a 7 a.m. Mass before proceeding to the mansion to say the rosary. She started praying as early as 10 a.m.
“Nothing is impossible if we pray to the Lord,” she said.
She said one of her wishes is for her son to stop fighting. She is celebrating her 62nd birthday on May 15.
She said her birthday would coincide with the blessing ceremony of Pacman’s P40-million multipurpose gymnasium in Tambler village.
Another recognition from the military awaits its most famous reservist.
Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. said they are preparing a special award for Pacquiao when he returns home.
Time to retire
In Congress, lawmakers were divided on whether the Filipino boxing icon should now retire.
Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara said Pacquiao should hang up his gloves if there were no more worthy challengers for him around.
But Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao said Pacquiao should continue to fight because he was still at the top of his game.
“He should fight not for the money, but for national pride and unity that he is able to engender,” Aggabao said. Reports from Mar Arguelles, Delfin Mallari Jr. and Shiena Barrameda, Inquirer Southern Luzon; Armand Galang and Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon; Villamor Visaya Jr., Inquirer Northern Luzon; Jhunnex Napallacan, Carla P. Gomez, Joey A. Gabieta, Edison delos Angeles, Jani Arnaiz and Nestor P. Burgos Jr., Inquirer Visayas; Aquiles Z. Zonio, Rosa May de Guzman, Frinston Lim, Williamor Magbanua and Richel Umel, Inquirer Mindanao; Norman Bordadora, Niña Calleja, Jaymee Gamil, Miko Moreles, Gil C. Cabacungan, Christine O. Avendaño, Dona Pazzibugan, Nancy Carvajal and intern Jessica Santiago in Manila
