Breathing Lessons

Hurrah!

The beautiful Sunday morning of January 22 is declared as a Manny Pacquiao battle day. I postponed my morning long-nap, my mountainous laundry, and worse is my 10 AM church routine re-scheduled just for the game. A friend sent me a text message to go with him and watch the game in Megamall. There’ll be no commercial breaks and very live for P300! Wow, that’s too much for a boxing aficionado. No way. I declined. I’ll just stay over the house and rest.

I watched the match and cheered alone at home. It’s sad that Ryan left early before the Pacquiao event was shown in ABSCBN. I can’t have someone to share my angst and cheers watching the said entertainment. I was anxious if he’ll pin El Terible down this time. It’s actually a re-match that every Pinoy is waiting for. It was a fight worth watching. No wonder, after several punches and blows, Pacman defeated the famous Latino boxer Morales, KO in round 10. That was a feel-good fight. I felt relieved and happy for a Filipino boxing-idol. Manny would be a hero again and a Star on tabloids and broadsheets.

After watching the game that drained my time and patience, I went to SM Sucat to buy some stuff. On my way, the Pacquiao fight was the word of mouth in my FX ride. The driver was even listening to DZMM to hear about the good news. A guy even copies an action from the great bout. He was emphasizing the strong blows from the head of Morales. It was a sight to cackle on. It was real Pacquiao treat for the masses.

I went to Netopia Internet café to chat with Blessie. I wanted to see her in the web-cam to say my birthday wishes. It was also one of her wish to webcam-chat with me. A few minutes later, she sees me grinning and smiling. I cannot resist to peep on a fellow chatter next to me browsing a Manny Pacquiao website. Maybe, he’s looking for a game video stream or something. The Manny fever is very hot. I just shook my head and uttered to myself – arrgh, it’s really a Pacquiao Fest.

After an hour, I posed and stood by the window of Astrovision Video and saw the Academy Award winning film Million Dollar Baby on sale. Unconsciously, I was buying a Clint Eastwood boxing-drama movie! Wow, what a coincidence. I haven’t thought I was also a silent victim of the on-going boxing hysteria aftermath. I was just going to pay for the Hilary Swank starrer movie in the counter, and a man (maybe) in his late 30s is purchasing a Manny Pacquiao CD Audio Album! I could remember that tune played on the radio. I retained some bits of information that the songs included in that album were composed by pop-novelty songwriter Lito Camo.

Whew, alas, I couldn’t take that anymore. My face couldn’t hide the contained blush and hilarity about to burst. I hurriedly paid for the stuff to the next counter and hurriedly rushed outside. In the parking lot, like a crazed dog – I laughed all my heart out.