EVERY time the country goes through a divisive political crisis such as what we have at present, a Manny Pacquiao fight mercifully takes place to unite all Filipinos under one flag, inside one ring.

Pacman’s March 16 conquest of Juan Manuel “Dinamita” Marquez was again a triumph for Pinoys everywhere. With apl.de.ap singing the new “national anthem” for Pinoys, Black-Eyed Peas-style.

Pacman’s latest feat, of course, was the acme of Philippine boxing in modern times—thus far. Pacquiao carved a name out there not just for Pinoys , but for the entire Asian race, after his defeat of Marquez enthroned him as the very first Asian to win three different crowns in three different divisions.

Now, rightfully so, the conquering hero is back in town and being feted left and right with motorcades in various parts of the country. His induction into the Elorde Boxing Hall of Fame on March 25—the birth anniversary of that other late great boxing hero—is the cherry on the sundae, the precious gem on his kingly crown.

Everybody knows how Pacquiao’s boxing career started: how at 16, weighing a mere 106 pounds, he started his professional career via a four-round bout against Edmund Ignacio on January 22, 1995. It was one of those small fights in small venues covered religiously by Blow By Blow, a Vintage Sports production to support the other B of the Philippines’ best loved sports (the first one being basketball). In that fight, Pacquiao won via decision, and he became an instant star.

That actually jump-started his boxing career, says my good friend Debbie Tolentino, a Vintage Sports stalwart for many years running, who was in charge of production for the show. Yesterday she shared with me some behind-the-scenes facts about The Pacman way before his star rose in the boxing ring.

“Alam mo ba ’yang si Manny, ang ganda talaga ng swerte niyan,” began Debbie, who now runs her own well-oiled events company called Team Communications (TeamCom for short). “Nung unang dumating ’yan dito sa Maynila galing sa South, walang-wala talaga ’yan. Pero matiyaga. Nakahanap siya ng trabaho dun sa boxing gym kung saan kami nagsu-shoot. Tapos, patulong-tulong lang siya don. Panay lang ang nood ng boxing. Wala nga siyang tirahan non, kaya dun na siya natutulog sa gym.”

Pacquiao eventually got to box, too, but mostly to spar, Debbie says. He was so good, however, that he became very popular with the Vintage crew. At that time, no one ever suspected he would become the sensation whom he is today.

One day, a scheduled fighter failed to arrive for a televised fight for one reason or other. And rather than cancel the show or do something drastic, the crew egged Pacquiao on. “Ikaw na lang,” they told him part-jokingly, but for the most part serious.

Pacquiao stood up to save the day for Vintage Sports, took up the challenge and rose to the occasion. “Nanalo!” Debbie shouted, triumphantly, as if the event had just taken place yesterday.

From then on, the lure of the ring got to Pacquiao. He pursued his opportunity relentlessly, and did not disappoint. It was destiny.

The Pacman won 11 bouts in succession and his weight increased from 106 to 113 pounds. His first loss came at the hands of Rustico Torrecampo via a third-round technical knockout because Pacquiao was using heavier gloves than Torrecampo.

Pacquiao settled at 112 pounds after the Torrecampo fight, and won the WBC flyweight title over Chatchai Sasakul. He later also bested Thai Medgoen Singsurat, or Medgoen 3K Battery, via a third-round knockout in a bout held in Thailand in the 90’s.

Pacquiao lost to Singsurat when they met again though, but after that, Pacquiao’s career zoomed, and he later got the WBC International super-bantamweight title, defending it five times.

Pacquiao’s big break came on June 23, 2001, against IBF super-bantamweight champion Lehlohonolo Ledwaba. Again, Pacquiao stepped into the ring “as a late replacement and won the fight by technical knockout to become the IBF super-bantamweight champion on a bout held at MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada. He defended this title four times” (Wikipedia).

The rest is history, as they say. And through it all, Pacquiao never lost his humility and natural sense of camaraderie with his fellow man, says Debbie. When he met his old Vintage buddies recently, they asked Pacquiao: “Nakikilala mo pa ba kami?”

“Bakit ko naman kayo malilimutan, eh ang lalim ng pinagsamahan natin,” Pacquiao reportedly said. He treated his old friends to a feast of a blowout, for old times’ sake.

Pacquiao’s recent achievements—his stringing up three crowns in three different divisions, plus his induction into the Elorde Boxing Hall of Fame—are his utmost feats so far, placing him in a category all his own.

For sure, Pacman still has got a lot of rockin’ and rollin’ to do in the ring before he even thinks of retiring. But being up there in the Pinoy boxing firmament alongside such classics as Pancho Villa and Da Great Flash (Elorde) himself is good enough reason for just being.

One more thing. None of the other Pinoy boxing greats, or even outstanding athletes in other sports, have done what The Pacman has done and continues to do for the country every time he fights: erase the crime rate from the megapolis for one brief, shining moment and unite all Filipinos under one flag wherever they are, whoever they may be, and no matter what the color of their politics is.

That’s a knockout, any way you look at it.

For Manny, a harvest of honors

Manny Pacquiao achieved another first Tuesday night after he became the only Filipino enshrined into the Flash Elorde Annual Awards at the Manila Hotel.

Luisito’s wish? That he finally gets his purse

REMEMBER Luisito Espinosa?

One of the country’s former two-division world champion is in town after staying in the United States for 10 years.

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus does not agree that boxing should be banned in the Philippines, saying the sport has contributed much in giving the country global recognition.

ONE of the top boxing patrons in the country called for the head of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (Abap) to step down.

FRANCIS Casey Alcantara was left to carry the Philippines Wednesday in the 19th Mitsubishi Lancer International Junior Tennis Championships at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

BURGER KING braces for a big game against Hapee Toothpaste in the 2008 Philippine Basketball League (PBL) Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup Thursday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

IT looks like it will be a very busy year for Harbour Centre as far as international competitions are concerned.

CARITO VILLAROMAN assured himself of another stint in the Philippine Open next week after topping the 36-hole qualifying tournament conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) with a closing one-over-par 73 played in another sun-baked Air Force course of the Villamor Golf Club in Pasay City.

EVERY time the country goes through a divisive political crisis such as what we have at present, a Manny Pacquiao fight mercifully takes place to unite all Filipinos under one flag, inside one ring.