Manny the Maharlikan

A few days ago, I noticed considerable increase of readership in the blog that prodded me to trace its origins. I discovered that most of these came from surfers around the world who typed in search engines the word, "maharlikan." It seemed unusual since many of the researchers didn't come from the country, until I found a recent article about Manny Pacquiao entitled "Is Pacquiao a Symbol of the Return of the Maharlikan?" by Gareth Davies of telegraph.co.uk. It is most likely this article that prodded world curiosity about the term Maharlikan.

Here is an excerpt:
"The Philippines has lost the essence of being a true Maharlikan nation. Long before the Spanish conquered the island [and renamed it after the Spanish royal Felipe] the Maharlikans were a great nation. The spirit of the Maharlikan was imbued with a sense of royalty, and one of divinity. Manny has that parallel in his life. He has the truism of a real national hero."

Incidentally, among the individuals interviewed by Mr. Gareth was Mr. Granville Ampong, editor and publisher of the Maharlikan Times, and he was the first to post comment in this blog. It's an honor indeed, Sir.

Manny Pacquiao has become a household name in this country. So endeared was Manny that he was given such titles as "Pambansang Kamao" (National Fist) and became the first Filipino boxer to be printed on postage stamps. it is even written in the country's law that the Army will go to Pacquiao's aid in the event of danger to his family.

Manny's early life was one of hard poverty that his family even lived in dwelling made of cardboard boxes. Manny's mother raised the future hero with belief in God and at first wanted him to be a priest. A crucial event happened in Manny's life one day when he brought home a stray dog. Enraged, his drunk father cooked and ate the stray dog to punish him. Horrified, Manny packed his bags and stowed away in a boat bound for Manila, about 500 miles from his home in Southern Mindanao. From then on, he has continually made unprecedented mark in world boxing history.