ONCE again last Sunday, the country's boxing icon, Manny Pacquiao, entered our collective consciousness. At 46, it seemed he still had plenty of fight left, even against champion Mario Barrios, who is still in his 30s.
The fight ended in a draw, with Barrios retaining his championship title. And many people were still talking about the ‘Pambansang Kamao’ (National Fist) — his exploits, his attitude and stories from his earlier life.
One such story resonated with this writer. Melvin Anggot, a radio station manager, recalled a time about a decade ago when Pacquiao came to Iligan for a basketball game, another sport Manny loved. His team played against a local team at Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology. Naturally, crowds gathered, not just to watch the game but to see Pacquiao in person.
Anggot said that while he was in the venue’s restroom, he saw an old man limping, trying to get closer to see Manny. Curious, Anggot spoke to the man, who expressed his desire to see Manny, saying he knew him personally, even if the world-renowned boxer might have forgotten him.
Given the man's difficulty walking, Anggot offered to tell Pacquiao about him. He asked the man to write down his name and took it to the boxer.
Seconds after Pacquiao saw the name, Anggot said the boxer's face brightened, and he immediately went to where the man was.
There was a long hug between the two. Then, Pacquiao reached into his sling bag, pulled out some money, and gave it to the man without counting it. He then instructed one of his aides to get the man's complete address, explaining that he would send him money monthly.
It turned out that when Pacquiao was very young and living in Bukidnon, he sold pan de sal (bread rolls) for his family's daily subsistence. To save money, Manny would hitch free rides on jeeps, or “bukong” style (hanging on the back). The old man had taken pity on him then, insisting he come inside and sit comfortably among the passengers.
The boxer was incredibly thankful for that kindness and never forgot such a display of compassion for a young boy struggling to support his family.
Well, we know the rest is history!
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