CBCP: Don’t miss Mass to watch Pacquiao-Bradley fight

Don’t trade the Holy Mass for the sucker punch.

An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) appealed to the faithful not to skip Mass today, Palm Sunday, just to watch the rematch between Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao and American boxer Timothy Bradley Jr.

According to CBCP president and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, watching Pacquiao’s fight is not an excuse for not going to Mass, especially when the Holy Eucharist is a daylong celebration.

“There are many Mass schedules, anyway,” Villegas said in an interview. “And I think good Catholics will not prioritize watching a boxing match on TV over attending Mass, especially during the Holy Week.”

Fr. Cris Magbitang, who celebrates Mass at Sto. Niño de Taguig Parish, observed that during past boxing fights of Pacquiao, many churchgoers attended the early morning Masses—the 6:15 a.m. and the 7:30 a.m. schedule.

“Some people still attend the Mass scheduled before lunch, maybe because most of them are not watching the pay-per-view anyway, so they just catch the delayed telecast. Others go to Mass in the afternoon just after the fight,” Magbitang said.

“Even those who serve during the Mass, I have not encountered any of them changing their assigned schedule just because he or she wants to watch Pacquiao’s fight,” he said.

But there is no escaping the much-awaited match at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, even for boxing fans who do not have TV sets or could not afford the pay-per-view broadcast.

Several Metro Manila and provincial governments will be hosting free live screenings in different venues.

In Manila, a big screen and satellite have been prepared at San Andres Complex, among other venues, where Mayor Joseph Estrada is expected to watch the rematch of the two boxers.

The government has also designated venues for public viewing in Taguig, Marikina, Mandaluyong and Malabon.

In Cebu, selected SM and Ayala Center cinemas will show the fight live for P550. The Cebu City Coliseum will charge much lower rates—P150 for ringside and P30 for general admission.

In Buluan, Maguindanao, a large screen at the city gym will be installed for the public viewing.

All screenings will begin with the undercard, which will be shown at 8 a.m., but the main event will start close to noon. With reports from Tina G. Santos, Maricar B. Brizuela, Jaymee T. Gamil, Kristine Felisse Mangunay; Jhunnex Napallacan, Inquirer Visayas; and Williamor Magbanua and Allan Nawal, Inquirer Mindanao

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