Manny, Mary Jane,
greatness and gratitude

If there was still any doubt of our membership in the world stage, the last weeks should have erased it. Two of our compatriots, each in his own unique circumstances, captured the world's attention although for vastly disparate reasons.

Mary Jane Veloso, convicted for drugs in Indonesia became the object of prayers and appeals for mercy as her execution date neared and then went, bypassing her.

Manny Pacquio, world boxing champ and born-again Christian, caught the world's imagination for his gallant fight against unbeaten boxer Floyd Mayweather. Pacquiao lost the fight but decidedly won the hearts of the global audience; from the time the decision proclaiming his opponent the victor, which the crowd that jammed the MGM arena booed, until today, a few days later, people continue to cheer on Pacquiao in a display of affection and support no one imagined a boxer could generate. In defeat, Pacquiao loomed larger than ever, and I don't think the passionate regard of people have for him now can ever be matched by any boxing victory belt.

Like Pacquiao, Veloso also became the nation's rallying point, especially on the days leading to her scheduled execution. Unlike Pacquiao, however, Veloso “won” a temporary reprieve.

Also, unlike Pacquiao whose stature grew even in defeat, Veloso's goodwill stock broke immediately after. You see, unlike Pacquiao who took his defeat with grace and humility, Veloso's mother chose to use her “victory” to nag at the President whom she accused of not doing enough to free her daughter.

Pacquiao proudly stood on the world stage, confidently proclaiming he thought he won but nevertheless gracefully accepting the judges decision, he did not forget to thank his fans. Wang Leehom, the popular musician put it for everybody when he said: “If you ask me who won yesterday's fight, it's a no brainer. Manny Pacquiao! He showed everyone what it means to be a real champion. His humility, integrity, morals and charitable heart...that's the scoreboard that counts! Thanks Manny!”

Because of the dignified manner with which he accepted his defeat, Pacquiao earned more fans than perhaps if he had won the fight. And take note that he is now being cheered by the world not as a skillful boxer – I saw several rounds of the fight and I thought Mayweather was indeed the better boxer – but as a human being worthy of emulation, an inspiration to the rest of us.

By acting the way he did in defeat, Pacquiao became larger than the champion boxer that he is.

Veloso on other hand left us gaping in awe at her mother's ingratitude. It wasn't President Aquino who earned her reprieve she said, it was the people, and in fact she will now collect from him for the things she feels her daughter did not get from the government.

By acting the way she did, Veloso's mother simply forced the nation to look at her case from a realistic looking glass: that she got to the death row in Indonesia because of her own doing, and that she shouldn't expect her government to undo what she herself has done.

It did not matter I guess who and what helped Veloso win the temporary stay in her execution. To the nation who cried and prayed and begged for her, she and her mother could have shown a little sense of gratitude, some thanksgiving for the 11th hour blessing that came her way – gratitude as Pacquiao has so quietly but dramatically shown is where greatness flows.*

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