Baptism of Fire. Pacman's Personal Victory. RIP Boxing.

Manny "PACMAN" Pacquiao loses from the "still undefeated" Timothy "DESSERT STORM" Bradley Jr.  Bradley is the new Welterweight titleholder.  In a split decision of 115-113, 113-115, 115-113, Bradley defeats Pacquiao.

In the last 6 moths, we saw Pacman in a different state.  He is singing and praising God.  We have always seen him going to church and attending masses especially before and after his fights.  But Pacman himself revealed that in the past months he turned his back on his ugly ways.  He no longer gambles, drinks, or womanizes.  He looks so much at peace now and closer to God.

What can I say about his defeat now?  It's the "baptism of fire".  He may have been in the ring for the longest time already,  but this is his first time fighting in the ring as a true soldier of the Almighty.  Every soldier has to undergo baptize de feu.  How he faces this stunning defeat is the real test of his heart.

No matter what the outcome has been, Filipinos still adore and love the world's only holder of 8 titles in 8 weight divisions in boxing.  One snatched belt is something.  But hey, he still has 7 belts.  LOL.  He can always get it back, right?  Who can say what's in store for Pacman?

Here's our fireworks.  We still celebrate your "more important" personal victory! 

UPDATE:  RIP BOXING

An overwhelming outcry in TWITTER is happening.  The trending topics are #RIPBoxing and #MannyPacquiaoStillTheWorldsBestBoxer.  Top international celebrities are one in saying that the fight should have been won by Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao.  Katy Perry, Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus, Bruno Mars, Jeremy Lin, and more, are all united and that they "know who really won"!  Even the blow-by-blow accounts of on-line web sites has given to Pacquiao most of the rounds.   The whole world is flabbergasted on the result.  A rematch in November is definitely in the offing...

Muggles versus Pure-bloods. 5 Successful Half-Filipinos and Full-blooded Pinoys.

Into the final stretch.

Just got the news, sizzling hot from the pan.  Congratulations Jessica Sanchez!  Jessica Sanchez made it to the finale pitted against Philip Philips in the Season 11 of American Idol.  This is the first time that a contestant of Filipino descent made it to the Top 2.  Hawaii's Jasmine Trias from 8 years ago is the first to reach Top 3.  I thought it would be a battle between Joshua Ledet and Jessica Sanchez since they are vocally on a par with each other.  I have strong  faith that the American public would judge and vote past "skin color".   Let the best singer win!

Jessica Sanchez is half-Filipino and half-Mexican.  Her mother is a Filipino and her US Navy father is Mexican.  Jessica Sanchez is a "muggle" - half-breed (no offense meant).

Half-Filipino and Half-Something-Else.

Did you know that the Philippines has been occupied by Spain from 1521 up to the 1890's?  That's more than 300 years of Spanish regime.  At those times, interracial marriages were probably uncommon but "mestizos" and "mestizas" abound.

Mestizos (male) and mestizas (female) are half-Filipinos and half-something-else.  They are normally characterized as having fair skin.  You see, FIlipinos belonging to the Malayan race have brown skin.  Thus, mestizos and mestizas are naturally popular.  Most Filipinos up to the present time think that they are special for having foreign blood in them.  If you are just like me, I consider this cuckoo!

Colonial Mentality, Papaya, and Glutathione.

Is this part of colonial mentality?… that anything made abroad must be good including half-breeds?  A lot of Filipinos think so.  Proof of which is the popularity and domination of fair-skinned actors and actresses in the showbiz industry in the Philippines.  Brown-skinned artists with a few exception aren't so popular.  As a result, pure-bloodied Filipinos painstakingly do what it takes to have whiter skin.

Soaps, facial creams, and body lotions with Papaya extracts which are advertised as having enzymes that lighten the skin flooded the market.   Glutathione IV (intravenous) injectables are now very popular.  You will see hordes of supplements claiming skin whitening in a matter of days.  The funny thing is Filipinos kept on buying these products.  I cannot actually pinpoint the cause of this phenomenon.  It seems to me, more and more cases are observed openly that dark-skinned people wants to be lighter while fair-skinned people (caucasians) wants to be tanner.

Muggles Versus Full-blooded.

Here's a bit of controversy.  Is there any link between the color of one's skin to the level of success  one can attain?  Some would think yes (or no).

To help us decide, here's a list of successful "muggles" - half-Filipino and half-something-else, and full-blooded Filipinos.  Let's check:

5 Successful Half-Filipinos & Half-Something-Else.

1.  Bruno Mars - successful grammy-award winning singer and songwriter.   His mom's a Filipino,  and father's African-American (I think).

2.  Darren Criss - Glee star.  His mom's a Filipino, and father's Scottish.

3.  Nicole Scherzinger - vocalist of Pussycat Dolls.  Half-Filipino (on the mother's side), half-German.

4.  Batista - wresting superstar.  Half-Filipino (on the mother's side), half-Greek.

5.  Lou Diamond Philips - Hollywood star.  His mom is a Filipino.  I am not sure of his father (i.e., something else…).

5 Successful Pure-blood Filipinos.

1.  Lea Salonga - Tony and Olivier-award winning actress.  Disney Legend.  Singing voice of Alladin's Princess Jasmine and Mulan.  International recording and concert artist.  Boradway superstar.

2.  Gloria Diaz - 1969 Miss Universe.

3.  Nora Aunor - one of Asia's most-admired actresses.  Multi-awarded movie actress.

4.  Charice Pempengco - Youtube singing sensation.  International recording artist.

5.  Manny Pacquiao - Mega-boxer.  Holder of 8-Division World Boxing Titles.  One of the world's most influential and powerful athletes.

I know these are very short lists.  But analyzing the lists, it's a TIE, don't you think?  Conclusion:  color of the skin does not matter… (that much?).  Changing one's skin color is more of a personal choice.

With this, I hope that Jessica Sanchez win!  TALENT rather than skin color should prevail... fingers crossed!

SPREAD HAPPINESS.

Top 5 Reasons Why It's More Fun in the Philippines

Hot From the Pan.  

One hot topic right now is the controversial article of Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao about his reaction on Obama's support for "gay marriage".  Pacman is being criticized for his "alleged" hatred against the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered) community.  The issue is blown out of proportion because of the article's author that cited a passage in the Bible's Leviticus which allegedly tells that "gays must be put to death".  This was attributed to Pacman and the LGBT community condemns him for it.  Later Pacman clarified that he loves the LGBT community but he is however, not in favor of "gay marriage".

The Actual Score.  

This is NOT however, the topic of my post.  When I logged in at "reddit", the trending topic is Pacman.  Naturally, the most popular post is about Pacman and his "alleged" belief that "gays must be put to death".  But what caught my attention is one of the comments under this post that says "the Philippines is on a civil war".  The commenter is saying that Pacman is respected in the Philippines and that when he is on the ring, he literally stops bloodshed from the civil war that's going on.  So, people should value his opinion.  I replied to his comment and corrected him that there is no civil war in the Philippines.   The commenter replied back and said that he has poorly worded his comment.  Further, that part of the comment is based on a link in wikipedia about "Terrorism in the Philippines".   I followed the link.  Wikipedia has a table of terrorist incidents in the Philippines from the 1970's to the present.  So, this is what I said to the commenter:

"Thank you for the link.  I read it.  I wish to say that the Philippines is an archipelago that is composed of 7,107 islands.  If you will examine the tables in the wiki post, you will see that the locations of these unfortunate incidents are concentrated in the southernmost and remotest part of the country.  It is very, very, very far from the capital and other major and key cities.  The conflict is mostly rooted on religion and their claim for land.  These are all being addressed by the government.  In fact, there is an on-going ceasefire between these factions [and the government].

Come visit the Philippines.  Our Department of Tourism has launched its campaign recently that even CNN featured it in their programs and website.  We now say.' It's More Fun in the Philippines!'."

Join the Bandwagon.  

From the time the tagline, "It's More Fun in the Philippines!", is launched, I wanted to contribute and support it.  As a Filipino who has traveled around a lot and lived most of his life in the Philippines, I can truly say that "it's more fun in the Philippines".  I'll give you my top 5 reasons.  Here they are:

Top 5 Reasons Why It's More Fun in the Philippines  

1.  the people.  Filipinos pride themselves for being hospitable.  Amidst the economic hardships of most Filipinos, we still rate as one of the happiest in the world.  We love to laugh.  We smile a lot.  It's contagious, you know.

2.  the sites.  Explore the 7,107 islands.  Okay, that's too many.  Let me give you a couple of recommendations.  There's Boracay in Aklan.  Boracay is always in the lists of top 5 beaches in the world and at most times tops the lists.  There's Bohol with the Chocolate Hills.  Nature is trying to impresses humans with these unearthly beautiful small hills clustered together in a single area much like a bunch of Hershey's Kisses.

3.  the karaoke.  Did you know that the sing-along system was invented by a Filipino?  The World Intellectual Property Organization awarded the Filipino inventor the Gold Medal for Best Inventor in 1985 for this sing-along system that has been popularly referred to as "karaoke".

4.  the vast talents.  I will have to do some name dropping here.  Lea Salonga (Disney Legend, singing voice of Princess Jasmine and Mulan, Tony-award-winning Broadway superstar).  Charice (international recording star).  Jessica Sanchez (American Idol 2012.. okay, not quite).  Filipinos love to sing.  Filipinos are born with a microphone on their mouths.  If you want to jam and sing your heart out, immensely enjoy yourself everyday, come to the Philippines.  Just don't pirate too many of our nurses, doctors, teachers, engineers, and artists.  They are world class, indeed.  But leave some of them in the Philippines.

5.  the food.  Since the Philippines is an archipelago, there is a variety of flavors.  There are significant differences in food preparation and cooking from province to province for a single dish.  Can you believe it?  Each version is an experience in itself.  What's more is that a 20 US dollar seaweed salad sold in New York is just  1 US dollar in the Philippines.  You must try it.

All countries have domestic problems.  Rising above these problems is what's more important.  Filipinos are good at rising above their daily hardships.  After all, there is so much more reason to be grateful for.  The Philippines has more than 7,107 reasons.  Come, experience the fun.  In almost every way, IT'S MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES.

SPREAD THE HAPPINESS!