The Big Ticket that is Pacman

When I was young, I hated boxing.

My tatay would always spend the whole weekend watching almost every boxing card on TV and just bribe me with two 5 peso coins for me to get a snack and a bottle of soda while I sob because I missed another episode of my favorite shows like TGIS and Anna Karenina (hey! I was young then so I still don’t know how to tell what was right from wrong).

Also, I find the matches boring compared to those exciting sequences in WWE where people fly out of the ring, hit one another with steel chair and make someone die for a few moments and rise again when the audiences started to chant the grappler’s name.

But my impression about boxing changed because of one man --- the People’s Champ and eight division world champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao. There is no single adjective to describe this Filipino icon who is considered by many as the greatest boxer who ever lived. Aside from being a great athlete (he also played amateur basketball as a member of MP Warriors in PBL-Liga Pilipinas last year, btw), he has also a string of self-produced films and hit songs (deny or it not, but you have sang with one of his popular tunes either inside a sardine-like FX or while watching his post-fight concert). Of course, we should not forget that he was elected as the Representative of Saranggani province in the most recent national election.

Pacquaio is like a magnet (right, Krista?) that can attract even non-believers wherever he goes. He brings the crowd up into the rafters of the venues of his fights whether it’s in Dallas or Vegas (not to mention the local gyms and basketball courts converted to mini theaters for the live broadcast of the Pacman’s exploit against just about anybody who has the balls to share the ring with him. One of the few times that we feel that our Mayor is really doing something after all). Manny indeed is the Big Ticket of the Philippines. He is the face of boxing who has given fans of all ages some of the most exciting fights in the last 10 years. Thus, earning him the “Fighter of the Decade” award from the prestigious Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA).

This coming May 8 (Sunday), Pacquaio will again showcase to the world the fighting heart and world-class skills of a Pinoy fighter as he battles former world champion Sugar “Shane” Mosley at MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

I will definitely watch this fight and have to drop any schedule that will come that day. Everybody takes a day-off when Manny fights. Even hoodlums and criminals keep their guns and ice picks under their pillows during the most anticipated match-up in boxing this year.

One way of getting the best seat watching the Pacquaio-Mosley fight is via the Big Ticket which is a PLDT myDSL innovation that boosts Watchpad with an additional speed that can heighten online viewing experience. It makes internet faster in local sites. This is all for just 150/month conveniently charged to your landline bill. There is this great promotions that is currently ongoing where if you subscribe to Big Ticket until May 5, you can watch the fight for free! It’s also free for Plan 1995 and Plan 3000 subscribers or if you upgrade your DSL plan. Wow! That’s what you call an awesome Big Ticket!

Entertainment is better than it’s ever been, it’s awesome! This guarantees that you'll be spared from the almost endless strip of TV commercials after every round of the fight when you watch the delayed telecast with faster live streaming online courtesy of the wonder called Big Ticket only from PLDT myDSL Watchpad.

Subscribe now at www.pldtwatchpad.com/PacmanMosley.html and be one of the first to catch this mega fight and celebrate what many predict will be another rousing victory for our very own Big Ticket--- Manny Pacquaio.

Come Sunday, it's my wife who will hate boxing. It just happened that Mother's Day this year coincides with a Pacquaio fight. Our traditional mother's day date with our son will be a little different this year. For sure, we'll still be dining in a good restaurant but only this time there will be hundreds of screaming boxing fans who who will join us. Hmm... dear, I hope you'll understand (with fingers crossed) and advance happy Mother's day, by the way.