Sight of destruction, human misery makes Pacquiao cry

Manny Pacquiao visits and distributes relief goods near Palo Cathedral in Palo town, Leyte while businessman Philip Romualdez looks on. PHOTO BY RICHARD A. REYES

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte—Boxing champion Manny Pacquiao said his desire to provide inspiration was the only thing that prevented him from wailing his grief over the destruction and human suffering Supertyphoon Yolanda left in this city and other places in the Visayas that it ravaged last month.

Pacquiao, who also represents his province of Sarangani in the House of Representatives, distributed food aid and other relief goods in Tacloban City on Monday after doing the same thing in other parts of Leyte and Samar the previous day.

The boxer admitted in an interview with the Inquirer that he could not help but cry countless times on seeing the widespread destruction and misery left by the typhoon but he could not let the typhoon victims see him crying because he wanted to inspire them to get up and rebuild their lives.

“I have cried several times over this,” he said, but never in public.

“I did not come here just to give [aid] but I also want to give inspiration,” he said, adding he wanted to rally the typhoon victims to pick up the pieces and face life anew.

Standing before a crowd of survivors here during the distribution of relief goods, Pacquiao interrupted his speech several times to raise a fist and shout, “Laban (Fight)!” The crowd chanted his name and clapped in unison each time.

“Let’s not lose hope in life,” the boxer said.

He recounted how he had been defeated  before but managed to stand up victorious again. It was a clear reference to his recent victory over American boxer Brandon Rios, in a fight that was broadcast live to the typhoon survivors, following stunning defeats at the hands of Timothy Bradley, another American, and the Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez, who knocked him out cold.

Pacquiao said he believed Filipinos were resilient, and “I know Filipinos will fight whatever hardship there is in life.”

He said he knew what hardship means as he came from a very poor family. “I know how you feel,” he said.

But Pacquiao also asked the victims to trust in God, saying their endeavors would not succeed unless God was by their side.

“Only God can help restore back your normal lives,” he said, announcing he was distributing some 10,000 copies of the Bible.

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