Youtube LinkI never leave my post during lunch breaks, simply for the sole reason that I hardly have lunch.
But before noon of July 28, The STAR’s 23rd anniversary, my boss approached me and informed me that Manny Pacquiao – yes, the Manny Pacquiao – will be gracing the company’s anniversary celebration.
Being a self-confessed rabid Pacquiao disciple, my insides rattled upon hearing the news. “Today I’ll be seeing face-to-face the best boxer in the planet today, pound-for-pound,” I discreetly told myself.
I was tasked to shoot Pacquiao’s once-in-a-blue-moon visit to the office, and I willingly obliged. I’ve never seen him up-close, although I saw his fight against Oscar Larios live at the Araneta Coliseum (if my memory serves me right, it was an Upper Box view).
With a video camcorder in hand, I rushed downstairs to join other excited STAR employees waiting to get a glimpse and rub elbows with the Philippines’ favorite son.
Then the rest was history.
I knew from the moment Pacquiao alighted from his black Hummer that this would be a remarkable day for STAR employees. As expected, the king was mobbed. Pandemonium broke. Work stopped as almost all employees left their posts to join the fray.
I managed to squeeze into the crowd and get a clear shot of boxing’s hottest commodity. Pacquiao, ever the gentleman, extended his hands out to everyone wanting to touch them.
Then the blessed hands found mine. It was my turn to shake Manny’s hands, the same lighting-quick, powerful weapons that knocked the senses out of Marco Antonio Barrera, Oscar De La Hoya and most recently, Ricky Hatton, among other tough foes.
Having touched those rough, hard hands, I had a glimpse of the countless hand-wrap and sparring sessions Pacquiao took every time he prepares for a fight. Those hands were the ones that put the Philippines to the worldwide spotlight. And it was an honor for me to shake them.
Pacquiao was given the opportunity to address employees in a prepared speech, something he delivered naturally and charismatically.
“I salute every editor, every writer, every worker, every leader at Philippine STAR. What you have are not just words but dedication to truth, convictions of integrity and passion for excellence,” he said, drawing constant applause from a still-star struck crowd.
“Parang SONA lang ah,” he joked, eliciting laughter from everyone.
He also reminded every employee that the day belonged to them, the true STARS.
“In closing, let me congratulate you for being the country’s number one newspaper. I greet you with all my heart on your 23rd anniversary. Mabuhay ang Philippine STAR.”
As Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao was being taken back to his hardcore Hummer by his security staff, he waved a final farewell to the crowd who continued to scream his name.
I didn’t think he realized that while many hands -- big and small -- waved back at him, his remain one of the biggest, most wonderful and most accomplished pair of hands to ever grace 13th Corner Railroad St., Port Area.
Hail, King!
Source: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=492071&publicationSubCategoryId=63
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