The Neutral Corner

To further understand the loyalty that his countryman show him, as well as his popularity, we asked two people who have experienced it first-hand. Nigel Collins, editor-in-chief of The Ring magazine, traveled to the Philippines in March of 2004 to present Pacquiao with The Ring magazine championship belt. Here are his thoughts:

"Manny was already the most famous and most popular person in the country," said Collins. "The fact that I presented the belt at Malacanang Palace, with President Gloria Arroya as host, and the newspapers carried stories about my visit every day for a week, showed the high esteem in which he is held by all Filipinos. The whole experience was surreal. But since then, Manny mania has reached an astronomical level. In fact, I don’t think there’s ever been anything quite like it in the history of sports. Even Muhammad Ali, at the height of his popularity, wasn’t as huge as Manny is in the Philippines right now.”

The second person we reached out to is Ronnie Nathanielsz, a boxing journalist and commentator based in the Philippines. We asked him to compare Pacquiao's popularity to popular athletes in the United States. Nathanielsz offered this reply:

"Manny Pacquiao is not just popular with boxing fans or even sports fans. He is a household word among all sectors of Philippine society and his hero-worship cuts across all economic and social classes.

"When he fights the nation literally grinds to a halt. There is hardly any traffic on the streets, no crimes are committed, even the New Peoples Army communist rebels and the Muslim insurgents respond to the military’s cessation of hostilities in an informal truce. Every single theater, bar, restaurant, convention centers, office auditoriums and similar venues where Pacquiao’s fights are show are jam-packed with people. Bus and jeepney drivers park their vehicles and gather around roadside TV sets in showrooms and other similar establishments to watch the fight. Even pirated DVD’s of the fight which somehow go on sale hours after the fight are snapped up at roadside vendors makeshift stores.

"In this predominantly Catholic country people go to church either early in the morning or in the evenings so they could stay home to watch the fights while Parish Priests -- often drawing lessons from Pacquiao’s performance -- insert references in their homily.

"Michael Jordan in his prime was popular even in the Philippines but his popularity was also part of the popularity of the exciting Chicago Bulls championship team. Pacquiao is a stand-alone icon, not benefiting from a residual popularity of a team or teammates such as Jordan and Scottie Pippen.

"To some extent the overwhelming popularity of Pacquiao -- who is regularly honored by both the Senate and the House of Representatives, welcomed to the Presidential palace by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, mobbed on his return at the airport where millions line the streets four hours waiting to catch a glimpse of Pacquiao -- is, and has been. the greatest unifying force in the Philippines. In a country that is often sharply divided over issues and individuals, Pacquiao is the single unifying force. He is admired by just about every single of the 90 million Filipinos and adored by them all. He is a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon.

"Perhaps the one thing that has endeared him to the Filipinos aside from his achievements in the ring is his humility and his religiosity. He doesn’t stick his tongue out when he scores on a slam dunk or when victory is achieved. Instead, he walks to his fallen opponent as he did in the David Diaz fight and tries to pick him up, off the canvas while in the case of Oscar De La Hoya he gave him a genuine embrace and said “You are still my idol, no matter what happened.”

"He prays in his dressing room before walking to the ring, goes down on one knee and prays in his corner before the opening bell and when the fight is over doesn’t prance around the ring beating his chest like a conqueror but rather goes to his corner and prays in an act of thanksgiving for his success and the fact that he has been spared from injury.

"When he fights he unfailingly dedicates his fights to his country and people and in a universal gesture says he wants to make people who watch happy, by giving them a good performance. Jordan, for all his remarkable skill and style, didn’t play for a country although he did perform for the US in the Olympics. The admiration for Jordan was skill-based. The love for Pacquiao is based on skill, achievement and his total human dimension."

We also asked, what should the American boxing fan understand about Manny's popularity in the Philippines ?

"Don’t try to understand. It boggles the mind.

"His popularity is a reflection of the worldwide acclaim he has received which has helped tremendously in bringing honor and respect for the Philippines and Filipinos who are, regrettably and many times unfairly, looked down upon.

"He has earned for every other Filipino recognition and self-respect. That’s more than any single American athlete has done or has been required to do. You salute Americans like Michael Phelps for instance for his remarkable success in the Olympic Games. Filipinos salute Pacquiao for his success against all odds and his human dimensions plus the fact that a developing country, often maligned, has produced a good and decent young man who, in a sense, rules the world of boxing and in so doing brings immense pride to his nation and people.

"Since the sport itself is very popular in the Philippines and there have been a long line of great champions such Pancho Villa, the first world champion from Asia, Ceferino Garcia, who was known for his “bolo punch” and became world middleweight champion, and Gabriel “Flash” Elorde, who reigned as world junior lightweight champion for almost seven-and-a-half years. Pacquiao has outdone them all.

"Besides, he came from among the poor and a broken home but overcame the bondage of his childhood poverty to blaze a trail that no other Filipino or Asian has ever done before. He is simple and down to earth, never turns any fan away and helps the poor in a substantial way. He also uses his own life as an example to instill in the poor that with hardwork, dedication and strength of will, they too can overcome. They love him for the inspiration he brings.

"He also comes at a troubled time in the Philippines where life for many is hard. He helps them forget even for a few hours, their own problems and enables millions to share in his success. Most of all, Filipinos admire his indomitable courage no matter what the odds, he is prepared to face them without fear."

For a look at all of the Neutral Corner's coverage of the De La Hoya-Pacquiao fight, click here.

Click here to see photos of the Pacquiao-De La Hoya fight.

For more than 20 photos of Manny Pacquiao training and with Oscar De La Hoya, click here.

-- CASSIDY