For Pacquiao, ‘My Way’ is in the air

Paul Anka wrote: “…and now the end is near…I did it my way.” Of course, that’s from his song—the undying, if not murderous, “My Way.”

Frank Sinatra (who doesn’t know him?) sang it, too.

But to be fair, both versions by Paul and Frank are musical immortals.

But did you know that Paul wrote it with Frank in mind to sing it? Now you know. The song’s staying power is so great it remains a favorite ditty to almost everybody during a party, not to mention during also impromptu singing programs to this day decades after Paul composed it.

But one dark reputation of the song is it can trigger, ummm, murder.

How many had already died after it’s been sung in a beerhouse, a karaoke joint and other establishments featuring a stage where drunks could sing it via minus one? Or, to the more courageous lot, doing it a cappella style?

The great Rogelio “Tembong” Melencio, one of the greatest tall guards at 6-foot-2 in Philippine basketball, was a sad casualty himself.

He was stabbed to death by a man he had ordered to step down from the stage.

He didn’t like the way the man was singing “My Way” in a beerhouse many years ago.

When Tembong went to take a leak, the “My Way” warbler, who would turn out to be a military man, followed suit.

Tembong was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.

Manny Pacquiao will never suffer the fate of Tembong. I am sure that Manny, an accomplished recording artist himself, has his own music studio in each of his man- sions at Forbes Park and GenSan.

I’m sure, too, that “My Way” could be in his repertoire or he wouldn’t be considered a true-blue music buff.

And with his recent “defeat”— the quotes are intentional because I insist he won—to Jeff Horn, it could be that “the end is near” for the PacMan?

Yes, Pacquiao has agreed to a rematch. He should win again—at least in my estimation.

But because he couldn’t win by knockout anymore, as was seen by the world on July 2, the end, indeed, is near. No more winged feet. No more swift swirls and body swings. No more sting in his fists. Pretty soon, the show would be over. Pacquiao’s encore? “I took the blows…and did it my way.”