MANILA/ZAMBOANGA CITY, 21 March 2005 — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, rebel groups and common street folk found unity yesterday as they cheered for Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao, then collectively grieved over his defeat to Mexico’s Erik Morales.

All three judges declared Morales the winner after the non-title super featherweight showdown fought before a sellout crowd that included Arroyo’s husband and dozens of Filipino lawmakers at the MGM Grand hotel in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao, the slight favorite, fought desperately with blood flowing down his face from a bad cut over his right eye, earning praise at home despite his loss.

Many fans believed he would bounce back with the same ferocity that has earned him a string of boxing victories and turned him into an icon in his divided and poor Southeast Asian country.

“I praise Manny Pacquiao’s bravery, ability and fighting spirit,” Arroyo said. “I am sure he will bounce back from his loss.”

“We cheer Manny as an outstanding Filipino. He sets an example of the toughness we need to surmount our trials and in fighting our way to become a strong Philippines,” she said.

In their hinterland strongholds, communist and Muslim separatists took time out to monitor the bout over the radio.

“It’s sad because most of us expected he would win by knocking out his foe,” said Eid Kabalu, spokesman of a Muslim rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that has been fighting for a separate homeland in the country’s south. Pacquiao hails from General Santos City, very close to MILF strongholds.

“It’s good he did not fall because that would have been more painful for us,” said Kabalu.

Rematch

In many areas in the south’s central region, villagers and rebels were glued to their radios, and some traveled to town centers to watch the boxing match on TV, he said.

Communist rebel spokesman Gregorio Rosal said Pacquiao fought valiantly but lost, and if there were doubts about his defeat, Filipinos could seek a rematch.

In Manila’s streets, it was evident when Pacquiao landed a good punch by the howl of the crowd, which yelled his name as they gathered around TVs and radios. At a shoe store in the capital’s pier area, a crowd of about 30 men listening to a radio felt the first sign of trouble when Pacquiao’s suffered a cut in the 5th round.

When the decision was announced, they dispersed quietly, some shaking their heads.

Street vendor Agacan Angni said Pacquiao made him proud as a Filipino and felt the boxer’s loss was his. “It’s a sad day but don’t worry, someday we will be back.”

President Arroyo’s husband, Mike Arroyo, who was in Las Vegas to see the fight, sent a statement home saying, “We are all very sad here, licking our wounds.”

In radio call-in shows, some Filipinos complained Pacquiao had been unfairly head-butted, leading to a cut above his right eye in the fifth round.

Others called for a re-match for Pacquiao, a former two-time world champ.

Pacquiao, who had appeared with Arroyo in various public service commercials in the past, was widely expected to win in this country so he could move up to a title shot.

All over the archipelago, hundreds of thousands of fans crowded restaurants and other establishments that had TV sets showing the match.

Deeper down south in Zamboanga City, fans at one restaurant clapped their hands every time Pacquiao landed a punch on the hard face of his opponent. Some fans were jumping in joy and screaming “go for it Pacquiao, take him down!” Some clenched their fists and bit their lips as the battle see-sawed.

Enriquez Javier was so excited and carried away by the fight that he broke a pencil he was holding: “This fight is damn good. The Mexican boxer is also good,” he said in the local Chabacano dialect.

Enriquez, a motorcycle taxi driver who said he was sleepless for the past two nights waiting for the match, said his love for Pacquiao has not been diminished. “Manny Pacquiao is a great fighter and a truly a national pride,” he told Arab News.