Editorial (January 24-30, 2006) 

The latest victory of Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao has made him P2 million dollars richer. Converted to Philippine peso, that is a whooping 100 million pesos! It seems though that it is not only Manny who is  happily watching the figures roll, but also those who bet on the chammp, especialy those who went all the way to Las Vegas to gamble their money on the game.

But the significance of Manny’s victory does not end in the prize but more so on what it did to the whole Philippine nation.

On that Sunday, January 22, millions of Filipinos were glued before the television sets, watching, praying, cheering, hoping for Manny’s win.

In that one single moment in Philippine history, the Filipinos were finally united in one aspiration and goal - the crown for Manny. If it were only possible to capture that instant with a single camera - it could have been a great spectacle - where we could see ourselves holding our breaths as our kababayan gave punch after punch to his opponent, in order for himk to gain honor and prestige for the country.

And when finally Manny knocked down Morales on the 10th round, there was a unison of cheers all over the country. Ah, at last - we were not fighting nor bickering against each other…. finally, one voice, one goal.

The two million dollar check that Manny received from his win can give the boxer and his family comfortable life through the years. Yet Manny’s true joy should not depend on what is in the bag - but rather on the honor, pride and virtue that he has contributed to his native land.