Friendly neighbors

IT was heartening to see a victory in the ring by Senator Manny Pacquiao again. But more heartening was the beaming smile of Malaysia Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad as he accompanied President Rodrigo R. Duterte, who watched the WBA World welterweight title bout in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday.

By now, we all know that Pacquiao clinched his 60th victory with a seventhround knockout of Argentinian Lucas Matthysse, ending Matthysse’s nine-year winning streak. There is every reason to celebrate victory, and bask in being Filipino.

But the smiling faces of both leaders were an even more heartening sight to behold for there we see a fraternal association, a relationship we would want fostered among all leaders in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

Being an unofficial visit, a personal one as the President’s team intimated, there is absence of formality and thus the friendly vibe was apparent in all their appearances and photos that were shared and shown over social media.

This is the kind of relationship we would love to foster with all our neighbors as each nation faces different challenges, both global and local, a camaraderie that celebrates victories and commiserate with each other’s sufferings. We are just grateful that there is that effort from our government’s side to celebrate such informal meetings as well. It’s a breath of fresh air, it’s a glimpse of assurance that our people, wherever they may be, as Filipinos have been for decades now, will be seen through the eyes of friendship and not discrimination. Friendship and respect with other leaders by our own play a very big role here.

Congratulations, Manny Pacquiao for that victory despite having to suffer the catcalls of a few Filipinos before the fight. And our thanks to the President for taking that personal time out and show us a glimpse of how it is when two leaders of nations meet in their own personal time. That was a first for us, and we relished it.