Pacquiao loses
by split decision

It looked like the country was plunged into mourning yesterday when the announcement was made – Manny Pacquiao had lost his fight against Tim Bradley by a split decision.

The largely partisan crowd at the MGM of Nevada immediately erupted into a howl. This was taken up by local crowds in Manila and various cities of the country where the admirers of Pacquiao had anticipated another major win.

But Pacquiao, true to form as a sportsman, admitted gallantly the results given by the judges and immediately said there may be a rematch in November.

He must have felt the frustration of Manuel Marquez, the Mexican boxer, whom Pacquiao narrowly outpointed by the same margin in their last fight.

No doubt about it. It was a sort of a national tragedy. Although most Pinoys did not agree with the scoring by the judges, everyone immediately raised the same outcry for a return bout between Tim Bradley and Pacquiao to once and for all show who between the two is really the better fighter.

I and a grandson, Giancarlo Pasolini, had earlier rooted for Bradley. The major reason – the Pacquiao and his reputation for a late conversion of his lifestyle and his insistent that he had been born again. A signal that he may have lost his killer instinct.

Anyway, both of us did not get stunned by the outcome. We had anticipated it.

The General Santos City crowd must have been stunned by the outcome of yesterday’s bout. Their hero had been dethroned. And, of course, there will be talks about his political future and his plans to run for a higher position. But Manny may again rise up from his present setback. He is a fighter and may not take things staying down. He will dare to get up and stride again.

Yes, Manny, life has its ups and downs.

***

To a certain extent that national tragedy has been mitigated by the return to the country of President Benigno Aquino III with the assurance from President Barack Obama that the United States is backing the Philippines’ efforts to build a minimum credible defense posture.

Although both leaders did not mention China in their discussion, there was no mistaking that Obama’s assurance of support must have taken into consideration the maritime dispute between China and the Philippines over the Spratlys and the Scarborough Shoal.

Of course the US did not single out China as the threat to its assertion that it is a Pacific Power.

But there was no denying that whether we like it or not, the US was alerting China that it will stand behind its commitment to its Pacific Partners which include Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore and South Korea and other littoral States.

While the US assistance to the Philippines recently consisted largely of sea craft for its coast guard, nevertheless, the rotation of US forces to the Philippines and other neighboring countries certainly are aimed at strengthening geopolitical position vis-a-vis the Pacific.

The US adheres largely to Admiral Mahan’s geopolitical thesis that he who controls he peripheral countries controls the center.

Great Britain and other American allies also subscribed to the same thesis. This is the reason why UK, Canada and France as well as Italy maintain strong navies.

Shortly after the US evacuated its forces from Vietnam, the traditional rivalry between that country and China led to a war between the two community powers. Vietnam managed to turn back the Chinese Liberation Army.

Thus, the two former allies (in ideology) remained at logger heads. Both have also rival claims to the South China Sea.

Anyway, the situation remains volatile, and the only assurance of the Philippines and that the US is reportedly backing us with its support in case the country is threatened by outside forces.

But there is no need for us to wave the America defense treaty to China. There is no need to arm the Chinese about the US threat to its ambitions. We can remain friends of both superior powers.

***

That is why, with yesterday’s celebration of Corpus Christi, perhaps what is important at this is time for all of us, Catholics remain more prayerful and to ask for God’s providence for our country.

We really need God’s providential presence at this time and in the future. We can never go wrong if we invoked God’s assistance for our country and for every Filipino.

That is why I pray that the team of evangelists from the Philippines sent to various Asian countries, including China, may be able to help defuse the situation. This is something which has been going on for sometime. And I hope it will stimulate the conversion of China and other countries soon.

Impossible? No. A lot of miracle have been “astounded” the world by God.*

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