Pacquiao aka "The Greatness"

Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao, also known as Manny “Pac-man” Pacquiao, is a professional boxer. He is the first man to win seven world boxing titles in seven different weight divisions: flyweight, junior featherweight, featherweight, junior lightweight, lightweight, junior welterweight, and welterweight. This pound-for-pound king is also the only boxer to win the lineal championship in four different weight classes. Furthermore, after his fifth win, he became the only Filipino and Asian boxer to win those five world titles in five different weight classes. He was also first Filipino fighter to win a lightweight world title. While his accomplishments have made his name known world-wide, they have served a double purpose: Pacquaio has given Filipinos a hero.

(Photo courtesy of zimbio.com, by: Ethan Miller/Getty Images North America)

He is a talented fighter who set the bar for other Asian boxers; it is amazing to see how his fame has given millions of Filipino-Americans something to cheer about. However, it has also hindered progress in other aspects of his life. Although famous, his celebrity status seems to lay only in the ring. His movies flop, his political endeavors were frowned upon, and his interviews lie with smaller scale American talk-shows. Devoted Pacquaio fans wish for him to only pursue his sports career because it is obviously something he can do well. It is almost like a parent-son relationship, in which the parent pushes the child towards the goals already set for him because it is “what is best.” In this case, “what is best” seems to be influenced by the fact that it also gives the Philippines publicity throughout the boxing world. Pacquiao is easily one of the best in the sport. It is a way for a proud parent to say, “Look at what I have created. Look at my kid. He is the best, and everyone should know it.” He has become someone to brag about, a role model, a hero, a way for Filipino Americans to tie themselves to their culture.

To understand why he is so idolized, one must not only understand Pacquiao's history, but his people's history as well. The fact that the Philippines has been colonized twice is an important fact to understanding the Philippines' past and present. Because of Spain, who burned documents and erased almost everything before their arrival, most of what can be uncovered begins with the Spanish colonization. The American colonization occurs after, followed by the Japanese occupation. This is a story that begins with three hostile take-overs. In addition, the Filipinos were not only betrayed by outsiders but under President Marcos, they suffered a dictatorship as well. With all this corruption and violence, it is no wonder that Filipinos look up to Manny Pacquaio. Here is a man who literally fought his way to the top. And while there are many who see this as an irony and do not condone the sport, the drastic difference in the use of violence should be noted. Whereas Americans ordered their military to shoot anyone over 10 years old, Pacquaio fights for honor. His lineal championship shows that he is not the type of person to pick on the weak. With seven titles, and numerous other accomplishments, this renowned boxer does more than prove his own worth; as a representative of the Philippines, he shows the potential of the entire country.

After winning his seventh title, Pacquaio states that it will be his last weight division. He ends, “It's history for me; and more importantly, a Filipino did it.”

Accomplishments

• Pacquiao was listed in Time Magazine as one of the world's most influential people for 2009
• He was also in Forbes Magazine's Celebrity 100 list as the world's sixth highest-paid athlete
• Pacquiao is the first Filipino athlete to appear on a postage stamp
• With 1.25 million buys, the Pacquiao v. Cotto fight was the most watched boxing event of 2009
• Pacquiao had also won the the title of Best Fighter in the 2009 ESPY Awards
• He is featured in boxing video games, such as the Fight Night Round 2 – Fight Night Round 4 series
  

(Photo courtesy of philstar.com)

Unsuccessful Attempts

• The film, Pacquiao:The Movie (2006), which was played by an actor, did not do well at the box office, grossing less than $100,000
• He lost the election of becoming the representative of South Cotabato by 37,000 votes
• Pacquiao tries to star in the action movie, Anak ng Kumander (2008), which does poorly
  

(Photo courtesy of pinoycentral.com)

Why We Still Love Him

(Photo courtesy of boxnews.com)