Pacquiao's Downfall

Sunday seems to be a nightmare to the entire Filipino nation as they watch Pacquiao kiss the ring right in front of their awestruck noses. Mixed reactions immediately spread in various social media: some were in shock, some were disappointed, some were sad, while some were even angry (and I assume these are the gamblers who lost thousands, perhaps millions).

I wasn't able to watch the fight because I was heading back to Cavite from Fairview when this happened. But the moment I received the news from my good friend Luis, I immediately remembered John 3:30 "He must increase, but I must decrease.". As I read the verse from my Bible App (thanks to technology), I started to ask a number of questions. What happened? What is God's purpose for letting this happen? What is Manny's reactions? How will the Filipinos take this?

It wasn't too long when two old men at the back part of the bus were throwing curses down on Manny.

"Hindi yan mangyayari kung hindi sya nagpalit ng relihiyon..." said one (That wouldn't have happened if he didn't change religion)

"Tsaka wala na kasing bisa ang agimat nya..." said the other. (And his amulet will not work anymore...)

As I browse the net for reactions, I read the same from various people. Thankfully, there are still a lot of encouragers amid discouragers.

As the bus rolls, I reflected: Did the "changing of religion" really affect the fight?

First, I don't believe that Manny changed religion. He just re-established his faith. He just got more intimate with his relationship with God. He just got to know Jesus more than before. Something that Catholics, Protestants, Baptists, etc. can do ANYTIME THEY WANT, if they choose to.

Second, I think this precisely happened because Manny is on the process of dying to oneself. This is something very difficult for other people to understand, especially for those enjoying a luxurious life like Manny did. Why in the world will he give up his gold, girls, and guns? But you see, increasing and decreasing is in a continuum. They're binary opposites. One cannot boast that he has "faith in God" if he/she still brags about his achievements, talents, skills, wealth, etc. Manny's downfall is his death from the Manny most of us knew.

I was actually happy to realize that a lot of people saw this change. Now, everyone becomes curious (some skeptical, but that's OK) about what kind of encounter (perhaps "transfiguration??!!") Manny had.

Third, I was also happy to realize that his "agimat" (amulet) (if he really had one) is not working anymore. This means he has surrendered it to God, and nothing and no one else works in him but God alone.

Anthropologically and Psychologically speaking, humans are always in search for something concrete that would represent the abstract. We search for things that would "carry" and "give" us power. Something we can "hold" as if faith can really be held with bare hands without realizing that we can freely get this from God, if we only seek for it through prayers and devotions.

Thus, contrary to the flurry of discouragements and curses, I say "Congratulations Manny!!! As you decrease, Jesus will increase! Keep it up and may the Lord continue to bless you and the people around you."

Pacquiao's defeat and downfall is not a failure. It's victory over oneself.