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 Pacquiao's triumph over American Brandon Rios in Macau served as a
rallying point for many still-traumatized survivors, many of whom
lost loved ones and their homes to the Nov. 8 typhoon, which killed
more than 5,200 people and left 1,600 others missing. Haiyan also
damaged or destroyed 1 million homes, displacing more than 3 million
people.
Many jumped repeatedly in joy as they cheered on Pacquiao, who won
by unanimous decision to take the WBO international welterweight
title.
"I was so happy and I wanted to cry, but there were too many
people," said street sweeper Ardel Nebasa, who lost his home in
tsunami-like storm surges that ravaged the city of Tacloban.
"It would have felt like another storm has hit if he lost," said
Nebasa, who watched the match with his son and thousands of other
people on a TV screen set up in a public plaza in Tacloban.
Another survivor waved a cardboard placard that read: "We're for
Pacquiao, God bless, Tacloban will rise again."
A damaged house in the city of more than 200,000 people displayed a
painted image of the boxing superstar with a battle cry: "Fight
Tacloban!"
Residents also cheered at Tacloban's seaside stadium, where they
watched the fight on a giant screen, their view partly obscured by
the light filtering through holes in the ceiling. One man carried a
Philippine flag.
Many residents were so excited to watch Pacquiao they asked
officials to temporarily halt the distribution of relief goods,
Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez said.
Pacquiao dedicated his comeback fight to Haiyan victims and promised
to visit Tacloban and outlying regions devastated by the typhoon.
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Interviewed by Manila's DZBB radio network after
his victory, Pacquiao thanked the Filipino people, particularly
the typhoon survivors who prayed for him. "The honor is for
you," he said.
President Benigno Aquino III's spokesman, Herminio Coloma, said
Pacquiao "once again united the hearts and mind of our
countrymen who are facing intense challenges brought by a series
of tragedies that have befallen our country."
When the bell rang to signal the end of the 12-round match,
many spectators in Tacloban threw their baseball caps, shirts
and pieces of cardboard into the air, even before the result was
officially announced.
Nebasa said Tacloban residents would eagerly await the visit of
Pacquiao, who rose from poverty to become one of the world's
highest-paid athletes.
"We'll be thankful if he can help us," Nebasa said. "He came
from the ranks of the poor and we identify with him and are
happy for his triumphs."
Hundreds of typhoon survivors and aid workers, as well as
several U.S. Navy personnel, watched the bout in a grandstand at
Manila's Villamor air base.
In Macau, the 13,200-seat arena at the Venetian, where the
fight was held, was packed. Many in the audience were Filipinos,
some of whom waved Philippine flags and chanted, "Manny, Manny."
Businessman Bong Ferrer said Pacquiao's victory was a boost
amid so much misery.
"This is a high-morale day to the Filipino people," he said.
[Associated
Press; BULLIT MARQUEZ]
Associated Press writers
Jim Gomez and Oliver Teves in Manila and Kelvin Chan in Macau
contributed to this report.
Copyright 2013 The Associated
Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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