The Day Manila Stood Still

Yesterday was the day that Manila stood still. It was Sunday, 3rd of May 2009. Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao was scheduled to face Ricky "Hitman" Hatton. Everytime there is a Pacquiao fight for sure Manila or the whole Philippines will be quiet and yesterday was nothing different. As early as 6 AM, our TV was already opened. I was watching the HBO 24/7 documentary of the two fighters and my gosh, Floyd Mayweather Sr. was so arrogant and boastful... referring to Pacquiao as a mule!!! At least the documentary showed a different Pacquiao, unlike the one made for his fight against Dela Hoya. The show highlighted the deep faith of Pacman. The show ended by around 8 AM. Then, the weigh in ceremonies was aired and we switched our channels to GMA 7.

While waiting for the fight, I decided to cooked lunch for me and Christian. We had grilled pork for lunch. I finished cooking and the main fight hasn't even started. It was the undercard who were still fighting in the ring. We ate lunch, I washed the dishes already, cleaned up. I even took a bath already but the fight hasn't started!!! I was all commercial ads. Christian made fun of Manny's Vitwater commercial. Vit/WAaah/tir ... and then the nonsense sealant commercial with the girl getting wet... We just don't get it... The commercial went on and on and on. When the fight began with the singing of the national anthems of each country... I feel ashamed on how Martin Nievera sang our Lupang Hinirang... He should be hang for that... I bet Julian Felipe is fuming under his grave! It was purely bastardized. Lea Salonga should have sung it instead. The commercials after that made me shake off the shock I have after hearing Mr. Nievera.

The commercials were just frustrating before round 1 begins, we already knew that Pacman won by knock out in round 2. People were texting Christian. Apparently, they watched the game thru pay-per-view. I hate GMA 7 for killing the suspense due to the dozens even hundred of commercials.... They even have to repeat the rounds!!! Grrrrrr.... But then, the fight was sweet... As if it was all scripted, Pacman left hand just flew right on Hatton's chin and boom... he was laying right in the center of the ring! Simply perfect! Funny thing was his coach was nowhere near him after he fell.

It was really a day that Manila stood still.. It was a day that Hatton's world stood still... lol... I just wished that the commercials stood still as well.