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Family is crucial to Pacquiao
The children pick up loose objects that have fallen onto the ground – boxing speed bags, boots, and gloves – as Pacquiao leads them into the chapel. Sisson helps one boy struggling to carry a large medicine ball straggling behind.
Inside the chapel, children find space anywhere they can, fascinated with their new toys.
“Show us how to play with this one, Manny,” says one boy holding up a small punching bag.
“Be careful with that, Stephen,” warns one of the orphanage directors.
But it’s hardly the time for caution. Pacquiao will be gone by sunrise to catch a flight to New York and from there one to the Philippines. With only hours left before his departure, he makes the rounds among the groups of children, showing them how to use the equipment that is at times comically large for their little hands and feet.
“Last time he almost missed his flight back,” says Marlene, a director at St. Jude’s. A crowd has gathered around Pacquiao who’s teaching the children how to mount the punching bag on a low hanging chapel beam. “The kids here look up to him, but if we don’t step in, they’ll never let him leave.”
“It’s been like that since 2001, when he first visited us. He wasn’t as famous then but he brightened the kids’ lives all the same and promised he’d return whenever he fought in Las Vegas.”
Lucky for St. Jude’s, Pacquiao has been back to fight more than a dozen times following his big break in 2001, when he beat then super-bantamweight champion Lehlohonolo “Hands of Stone” Ledwaba. He’s watched the children of St. Jude’s grow up to be confident young men and women who show the world the difference a positive role model makes.
The crowd cheers as Pacquiao shuffles his feet and launches a flurry of punches on the new bag. He steps aside to let the children try, correcting their form after each one tires: a hand raised so that the head is always protected, a chin tucked so that the blow is always minimized. His ‘students’ study his movements reverently, practicing when he individually tutors the slow learners. Perhaps it’s these moments of patience that reflect a sense of empathy learned only through hardship. Dropping out of school at age 14 to support his mother and family, and turning professional at age 16, Pacquiao had to fight to survive, literally.
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A young Pacquiao
But the children seem to take his maturity and understanding for granted, not realizing how rarely it’s found in star athletes and celebrities today. Pacquiao seems to prefer it that way. He talks and moves as if he were merely resuming yesterday’s lesson that ran out of time. And to them, this is what a hero looks like: the unity of expectation and reality, an extraordinary man who is at all times his humble and gracious self.
The everyday character of his visit extends to the directors and staff. No one asks for or takes a selfie with the legend in their midst. They calmly savor the moment as they fasten gloves and adjust headbands for children eager to resume playing.
Although Sisson smiles when a group of kids show off their boxing combos to him in unison, he remains focused on Pacquiao’s itinerary. He waves at Pacquiao and points to his watch. It’s time.
Pacquiao tries to walk to Sisson but is held back. Two children hanging on to his legs insist he stays a little longer. One of the directors intervenes and asks the two children if they could show her some of the moves they learned, saying she is looking for some bodyguards. They let Pacquiao go and proudly snap into the routine they were just taught.
Sisson runs through the schedule with Pacquiao: meeting with sponsors, radio talk shows, press conferences. If they want to get through it all, they have to leave, now.
Pacquiao nods and turns back to the crowd of children.
“Kids,” he says, “I have to get going.”
“Awwww,” the children lament.
“One more hour,” pleads a small voice from the back of the chapel.
“I’m sorry, but David and I have to leave. But I will be back. Train hard and behave, OK?”
The children silently nod their heads.
“Alright,” says Pacquiao. “One last group hug.”
The chapel is filled with the clatter of bare feet on dry wood as the children rush to him. To escape their embrace might take another hour were it not for Sisson’s firm yet understanding reminder: “Manny, the contract says we have to arrive early at the interview to get ready. And I don’t think there’s room on the plane for everyone here.”
Pacquiao pats the children on their shoulders then slips through a gap in the mob. He and Sisson shake the hands of the directors.
As the two get into the car, the children line up near the gate and wave goodbye. The directors hold the hands of some of the children who try to get closer as if they could climb aboard. Pacquiao rolls down the window and sticks his head out to wave back. He waves until they can no longer be seen through the cloud of dust glowing red from the car’s tail lights.
Pacquiao settles back in his seat but before he can close his eyes, his phone vibrates. It’s a tweet from Floyd Mayweather: “$1.2mil on Armand de Brignac #TheMoneyTeam #WinnersWinLosersHaveExcuses”. Pacquiao shakes his head. Armand de Brignac champagne can cost over $100,000 per bottle.
Pacquiao swipes away from the tweet to a photo of him and the children at St. Jude’s. He’s crouching down in the middle, giving the V-for-victory sign with his fingers as the children on both sides clap or have their hands high in the air.
Pacquiao smiles and puts his phone away. It’s his first chance to rest after his match. But in the fight for America’s youth, he still has many rounds left, rounds that you might think he has to fight by himself. When his fellow athletes are more concerned with making the cover of Sports Illustrated or obtaining endorsements for fad products, a selfless star such as Pacquiao reminds us of the power sport has to change lives.
They arrive at the airport and unpack the luggage from the car. Pacquiao looks back down the road and says: “Habang may buhay, may pag-asa.” It’s a fitting Filipino proverb. As long as there is still life, there still lies hope.
And with Pacquiao in their corner, the children of St. Jude’s will have all the hope they need to succeed. Together, they’ll take down the toughest opponents the world throws at them. Together, they’ll have what it takes to go the distance. For one round and for the rest of their lives.
