#labankunglaban

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. -Isaiah 55:8-

“1,2,3...POWER HUG!” This, I always say when I get to meet the beautiful and wonderful daughter of my cousin. It is not always a “Yes!”from her knowing she also has her normal tantrums, but everytime she hugs me, wow I feel so happy and energized! Well, I guess it is true that we need a hug eight times a day, but what about in a boxing ring?

I am not a huge fan of boxing and a boxer, but I know that the former is a combat sport and the former really means Pacman for me. Yes, I am a Filipino! And yes, I prefer Pacman to win over Mayweather! But, of course, I really respect the official outcome amidst the issues tagging it, but will not buy some thoughts from some about Pacman’s lost. So, let me move on after expressing this Remym's Seven Moving On Lines…

A christian boxer is an athlete, not a predator whose selfish reason is to devour; it is a sport. Manny there did not give a POWER PUNCH because he hates Floyd. It does not make him less a christian or not at all when he wears that athlete side of him.

It does not mean that he lost, God abandoned him during the fight. God will never leave him nor forsake him, and his faith ( Okay, includes religion here) has nothing to do about the judges’ verdict. Manny still won a fight even after choosing to follow Jesus Christ.

Though many does not like the judges’ decision, it is still to be respected and (ai naku, accepted...) and Mayweather, though we do not think he deserves the win, he does deserve respect as a human and as an athlete. Some Manny’s fans should stop bullying him.

Our beloved Pacman has accepted the lost humbly, let us all continue to support him by also accepting the same fact.

Boxing in its essence is not bad; gambling, cheating and killing are. (Aguy, naay nag-pinatyanay tungod aning boxing result ug pag-pinusta-anay.)

God’s ways are better. I believe, Manny understands this and will not allow the situation to discourage him, but will be taken as another reason to stretch his faith, always put his confidence in the Lord and keep giving Him the glory.

Winning is good, but standing up for something that is honorable and godly is better and more rewarding.

Yes, ‎Floyd is still the #‎WorldUndefeatedBoxer as of this hour, (Let us see in September.); #‎Manny is the Lord's#‎KidKulafu! The “Fight of the Century” has ended, leaving Manny’s fans sad, but this fact remains- #‎Pacman has been victorious since the day he accepted#‎JesusChrist as his Lord and Savior and started living a life without vices and with much love for his God, wife, children, church, team, the country, and his fans.

September 3, 2014. Wednesday, 6pm ang out ko sa office, 7:30 ang start ng game ng Gilas vs Puerto Rico. Tinext ko ang Senyora ko na makikinuod ako sa kanila dahil walang tv5 sa apartment na tinutuluyan ko. Pumayag siya at isa sa mga alipin niya ang nagpahiram sa akin ng susi ng bahay nila. Kung sakali, ako pa lang ang mauunang dumating sa kanila dahil nasa opisina pa sila ng mga kasama niya sa bahay at yung magpapahiram sa akin ng susi, may lakad naman. Saktong 6pm nagkita kami ng alipin sa tapat ng opisina namin at ibinigay sa akin ang susi. Sa Ayala Ave. ako nagtatrabaho habang sa Evangelista St. naman nakatira ang Senyora. Dahil walang pakisama ang traffic, napilitan akong maglakad mula sa office hanggang bahay nila. Sa Edsa ako kumembot-kembot (dumaan). Ang saklap, umulan pa ng very light eh wala akong dalang payong! Deadma na lang sa ulan. 7:10pm, nakarating naman ako sa bahay nila ng buhay pa ngunit pagod, pawisan at basa.

Ewan, malas lang siguro talaga. Hindi ko mapagana yung tv nila Senyora. Patanga-tanga lang. Nag-call a friend na ako at lahat, pati si Senyora bothered na dahil ayaw pa rin gumana ng tv! Tumatakbo ang oras, anong gagawin ko sa pesteng tv? Paano ko mapapanuod ang game? Naisipan kong lumabas ng bahay nila. Sakto yung kapitbahay nilang lalaki lumabas din ng bahay. Narinig ko naka-tune in sa tv5 (malakas yung volume ng tv). Tinanong ko kung start na. Warm-up pa lang daw. Kinapalan ko na yung mukha ko at tinanong si kuya. “Kuya, pwede po makinuod ng gilas? Nagloloko po tv namin.” Tinawag niya muna yung misis niya at sinabi na makikinuod yung kapitbahay. Sinilip muna ako ng misis bago pinapasok. Napatalon ako sa tuwa nung pumayag. “Kuya, salamat po! Pupunta na po ako diyan.”

Pagpasok sa bahay, nakita ko may mga bagets pala silang anak. May tutorial pa sila misis at yung batang babae sa sala nila. Nakaupo lang ako sa sofa habang nanunuod. Behave na behave. Kasi nung napasigaw si kuya nung naka-shoot si Tenorio, pinagalitan siya ni bagets. Tapos nung napa-palakpak naman ako, sinabihan ako ni bagets ng “Ate, stop clapping. I am studying here.” Napa-reply tuloy ako ng “Ay, sorrryyy. Got carried away.” Englisera kasi si bagets. Nung tapos na siyang turuan ng mommy niya, lumapit siya sa akin and said “hello”. Mabait naman pala, ayaw lang siguro talagang ma-distract sa studies niya. So ayun, buong game, magkakasama kaming nanunuod. Minsan nawawala sa isip kong nasa ibang bahay ako, napapaluhod ako sa harap ng tv habang napapasigaw. Kakahiya! Buti na lang hindi rin napapansin ng mag-anak kasi busy rin sila sa pag-cheer.

Hanggang sa dumating na nga ang huling eksena ng laban. Na-focus si Pingris at Paul Lee sa camera. Si Papa Pingris nakatakip yung towel sa mukha, umiiyak. Talo. Nawalan ng gilas ang Pilipinas. Tahimik din sa bahay ni kuya, walang nagsasalita. Nagpaalam na ako sa kanila at nagpasalamat dahil pinayagan nila akong makinuod sa kanila.

Pagbalik ko sa bahay nila Senyora, nandon na si Doray. Isa ring alipin. Tumingin siya sa akin at nagsalita ng “Inday, ang sakit!” Hindi na lang ako nakapagsalita. Masakit naman talaga eh. Daig pa namin yung iniwanan ng boyfriend.

After 4years pa ang susunod na FIBA. Hindi natin alam kung makakasama ulit ang Gilas sa tournament. 4years pa. Ang tagal. Baka may asawa na ako non at may 5 anak! Paano kung yung mapapangasawa ko pa ay KJ at hindi supportive sa pagiging “die-hard fan” ko? Hindi maaari!