This morning we experienced another cultural phenomenon. Philippinos are not just devoted to Catholicism, they are also devoted to Manny Pacquiao!
Manny Pacquiao is the reigning World Welterweight Champion, and considered by many experts to be the best pound for pound boxer in the world. To the Philippinos he is much more than that, he is their only world class sports star and probably second only to 'Imelda' as the most famous living Philippino. The man himself is an unusual boxer, in interviews he is quite humble and complimentary towards his opponent, he prays in the ring before he fights, and when he isn't boxing he is an elected congressman in the national parliament.
We were woken by the sound of the sports coverage being played on loudspeakers. This was a full five hours before the fight actually started. Most Philippinos can't afford the pay-per-view cost of seeing the fight in their home. So neighbourhoods will club together and split the cost. The fight was as much a social occasion as a sporting event. Early masses were packed with people who would normally go later, even the homily was about Pacquiao.
At 1.00pm everything in the Philippines stopped and they collective paid homage to their hero.
As it happened the fight was much closer than we had been lead to believe it would be. At the end most of our fellow watchers seemed to think that the Mexican Marquez had won, but not according to the judges. Pacquiao edged it on a split decision.
As you can imagine they are all very happy!
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