Defeat an opportunity to become better – Noy

President Aquino sees a silver lining to the shocking defeat of world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao to American Timothy Bradley in their bout over the weekend.

In a text message to presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, Aquino said that Pacquiao should take his defeat, his first since 2005 and after winning eight world titles, not as a loss but as an opportunity to improve himself.

Aquino expressed confidence that with this defeat, Pacquiao is now bound to reach even greater heights.

“I believe that Manny Pacquiao has been given an opportunity to reach even greater heights,” Lacierda read the text message to Palace reporters towards the end of his press briefing yesterday.

Talks of a rematch between the two fighters are rife, and many Filipinos are expecting to see a new and improved Manny Pacquiao, who is also a congressman of Sarangani.

Fellow congressmen urged Pacquiao to move on after his stunning loss to Bradley.

“The loss of Manny Pacquiao is for the better. I am hoping that the drive and ambition that propelled Manny to the crest would return. He is still young. The loss is a good wakeup call,” Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao said.

Some congressmen told reporters that there were so many

distractions to Pacquiao’s boxing career.

They cited as examples preoccupations with his television show, his alleged gambling activities and even his politics.

Reps. Karlo Nograles of Davao City and Mel Senen Sarmiento of Western Samar said Pacquiao should accept his defeat and move on.

“Pacquiao will not be diminished by his defeat with Timothy Bradley. He is, and will always be, the winner in our hearts. I have no doubt in my mind that he was the winner. But like any battle, there’s a loser and there’s a winner and somehow we just have to respect the split decision in favor of Bradley,” Nograles said.

Sarmiento said he fully agreed with most Filipinos that the split-decision defeat of Pacquiao was highly questionable.

“However, it’s water under the bridge and we just have to show the whole world that we are magnanimous even in defeat. Even with his defeat, I’m truly proud of Manny Pacquiao that once again, he had shown to the whole world the true character of a Filipino: fierce in battle but always God loving,” he said.

Zamboanga City Rep. Ma. Isabelle Climaco said Pacquiao fought a good fight and showed exemplary humility in defeat.

“Manny is indeed a true athlete. Rematch, why not? Go Pacquiao!” she said.

Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong said he was still in disbelief that Pacquiao lost the match despite successfully showing to the world that he was more powerful and stronger than Bradley.

“I could not believe Manny would lose since I saw the fight. He won it more convincingly than his victory over Marquez,” he said.

Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo of Valenzuela City said adversities and setbacks could make people bitter or better, depending on their attitude.

“I hope Manny has the right attitude. Pride should give way to a rational analysis on the mental and physical fitness of Manny to face a rematch and get a different result from Saturday night,” he said.

Rep. Neri Colmenares of Bayan Muna said he was saddened by Pacquiao’s unexpected loss.

“I felt Manny delivered more power punches than Bradley. I’m sure Manny will learn from this defeat that you have to be focused on a goal in order to excel,” he said.

Despite his defeat Pacquiao still deserves to be given a hero’s welcome when he arrives in the Philippines, the Army said yesterday.

Army spokesman Maj. Harold Cabunoc said the giving of a hero’s welcome would depend on the recommendation of the Army Reserve Command (ARESCOM), Pacquiao’s mother unit.

Pacquiao is an Army reservist with a rank of lieutenant colonel.

“We acknowledge his acts and his skills. We still regard him as a champion of soldiers,” Cabunoc told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo.

He, however, clarified that there is no final decision yet on whether to give Pacquiao a hero’s welcome or arrival honors.

“It will depend on what the Army Reserve Command will say. It is still possible if recommended by ARESCOM,” Cabunoc said.

Pacquiao’s mother wants rematch

Pacquiao’s furious mother led demands for a rematch with Bradley, although church leaders said the Catholic fighter should retire.

Dionisia Pacquiao has for years publicly urged her son to walk away from the ring but, following the 33-year-old boxer’s controversial loss to Bradley in Las Vegas on Sunday, called for swift revenge.

“I wanted him to retire before, but now I want to see this rematch happen,” the exchamp’s emotional mother, 63, told GMA 7.

“I want to let all of Manny’s fans know there will be a rematch, and he will get back his belt,” she insisted.

Pacquiao is a social phenomenon in the Philippines, where his status as one of the greatest boxers ever has propelled him to huge riches, a movie career and election to parliament.

He has won world titles in an unprecedented eight weight divisions, but suffered his first defeat since 2005 and slipped to 54-4-2 when Bradley took his World Boxing Organization welterweight belt in a split decision.

Even the fight’s Las Vegas promoter Bob Arum questioned the scoring, describing the result as “nuts,” and many in the Philippines insisted their hero was robbed.

Mrs. Pacquiao said she believed her son won on points, and called Bradley a “dirty fighter” for clinging on to him during exchanges.

Cabunoc of the Scout Rangers said the military brass also wanted Pacquiao to face Bradley again.

“Let’s settle this once and for all. There should be a rematch, and Pacquiao will then be more vicious and knock Bradley out,” he told AFP.

Both boxers have already indicated their interest in a rematch, setting the stage for a lucrative bout potentially in November.

But for the Philippines’ influential Catholic Church leaders, Pacquiao’s loss was a sign for one of their most famous sons to quit the sport.

The boxer, who had a reputation for womanizing, gambling and drinking, recently said he was dedicating himself to religion following a dream in which God told him to follow a righteous path.

“We’re very happy he has found his way after a spiritual conversion of some kind,” Archbishop Oscar Cruz, a senior member of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, told AFP.

“But he should quit now and just continue to inspire the people with his other pursuits.”

Vice President Jejomar Binay said Pacquiao is still the true champion.

Binay said he is expecting Pacquiao to knock out Bradley when their rematch pushes through in November this year.

“Manny (Pacquiao) fought hard and has shown he has the true heart of a champion. He remains a source of inspiration for the Filipino people,” Binay said.

Binay said he believed that it was Pacquiao and not Bradley who rightfully won in their fight on Sunday.

“Sometimes there are tragedies like this that happen. But in our heart and all those who have watched the Pacquiao-Bradley fight, and for each Filipino, Congressman Manny (Pacquiao), you are the right winner,” Binay said.

– With Jess Diaz, Jose Rodel Clapano, Sandy Araneta, Alexis Romero, Rose Tamayo-Tesoro, AFP