Does it take a victory to unite the Filipino Nation?

SOON AFTER scoring an electrifying victory in Las Vegas, ring sensation Manny Pacquiao expressed one wish for his country: "Sana magkaintindihan na po tayong lahat (I hope we'll all finally end our differences)."

And for three or four hours that day, Filipinos looked like they did.

In Metro Manila and elsewhere in the country, families stayed glued in front of their television sets, many motorists and jeepney drivers stayed off the streets, traders closed their shops and others set up TV monitors in markets to watch their idol hammer Erik Morales to submission.

In one hospital in Quezon City, doctors and nurses burst into cheers, although a patient was undergoing surgery in a nearby operating room.

Communist guerrillas and Moro separatist insurgents also listened to or watched the fight.

Even if only fleetingly, a people deeply divided over their President had united behind a former bakery worker.

Only light traffic flowed along stretches of EDSA (Epifanio delos Santos Avenue).

In Pampanga province, many jeepney and tricycle drivers in San Fernando City stopped plying their routes and watched the fight on television at their terminals.

Every Pacquiao punch that found Morales' chin or stomach set up roars of cheering.

"The victory of Manny is a moral booster to all of us Filipinos, especially during these times," said one friend of mine.

In Baguio City, traffic was at its lightest in years because most residents stayed home to watch the fight, according to the police.

Every thing that I have said was just a recount on what happened that faithful day of Jan 23,2006. Everything stopped because of one fight of a great man. Everyone was sticked like glue to the televisions and cinemas wishing that he would win. There are some that doubted him but since he is a Filipino no matter what happens he would support his fellow men. Does it take a victory to unite the Filipino Nation?

But, let us not forget that we do not need an everyday match or

victory of Manny Pacquiao's to be united; it's within us. We just need inspiration, and Manny is only one of the millions of Filipinos that can be the source of that great Filipino pride. Let us join togther and help one another.

Every day, let us be inspired to be united to move our motherland forward. Do you think is it time to start the

reforms that we have been looking for, for so many years?