CNN iReport

In just 2 rounds or barely 6 minutes into the fight, "The Battle of East and West” is over! The long-reigning British IBO Junior Welterweight emperor completely crushed – laid flattened on the canvass by a devastating left-hook as he helplessly gasped for air -- and the People’s Champ came out the undisputed victor, however, again. Most Filipinos were exceedingly jubilant to have exceptionally felt yet another priceless gift of triumph away from the mind-bending day-to-day anxieties brought about by extreme poverty.

Another blessed day that usually gets to happen every time the People’s Champ climbs up the boxing ring to fight for God and country – worshipers-filled churches, a slowdown of traffic nationwide, jam-packed bars and restaurants, swarming public gymnasiums and parks, cheerful homes, empty streets and market places, silenced war zones, crimeless communities --- all-in-all --- a peaceful poverty-free holiday. Indeed, no other place on earth was much safer to hang around than the Philippines.

But, the day after, most of those who exuberantly celebrated Manny Pacquiao’s swift victory will return to their poor state which is not going to improve until “change” is fully achieved. They will go back to harshly contend with joblessness, ill-health, hunger, lack of decent shelter, and other perilous incidents that a deprived life may have to bring to them under the rule of a 22-year-old political dynasty whose intent – right from the outset – wasn’t to foster development but only to reinforce poverty.

Perhaps already deadened by this recurring horror, Manny’s townsfolk seemed to have let past the unfolding of each difficult day without protest. After all, they -- alone -- couldn’t do anything at all to solve it, yet they endlessly pray for God’s help. Seeing this predicament to linger deeply saddens Manny Pacquiao. That’s why the People’s Champ has been too inspired doing everything right, and good, and just, and true, inside and outside the boxing ring, to help his people to become emancipated.

Manny himself survived the scarcities being spread around by an overstaying feudalist political system. As a kid, he was forced by circumstances to leave school to help fend for his fatherless family. He ran into various callous labors that a youngster shouldn’t have normally done --- peddling, construction working, as painter, as welder, as messenger, as errand, as porter, as tailor, etc. Ask the People’s Champ of how it was like to be impoverished and he will give you a true-to-life story of how it was like to be hungry in the streets, to be ejected, to be homeless, wanting of medical attention while being sick, jobless, oppressed, and helpless. Manny had been in these heart-breaking situations countless of times before. He actually saw and felt the bitter state of being poor and alone, although this didn’t teach him anything at all: except, to remain humble and grateful, and most importantly, always faithful to God.

Manny grew up under a government whose administrators weren’t keen at vanquishing society’s most formidable enemy --- poverty --- but rather took advantage of society’s already poor conditions to perpetuate a forceful dynasty under the guise of promoting a “government of the people.” They use authority not to ensure developments but impede these from proceeding, especially, those that were supposed to make the poor become empowered. For 22 years now, they have been driving away potentials for progress that ought to happen to a promising community. And they aren’t going to alter to use all types of machinations and force and violence to punish anyone who attempts to question their rule. Manny, though, was just very lucky to have eventually escaped living under this misery.

But, for a meager individual, it’s almost impossible to get away from these politics-reinforced hardships: except, only when one gets that one-in-a-million chance to become famous -- to be like Manny Pacquiao --- the greatest Filipino known to the world today --- or there’s hardly any way “change” will come to redeem poor Filipinos where no one will dare unite and deliver them from the ditches. There’s got to be someone to be ordained to spearhead --- to cause “change” to happen.

So fortunate are the poor then, for they shall have the People’s Champ to lead for them. For no one else can be most fitting to offer honest and selfless service and become a role model to the poor than the person who comes from the poor, lives with the poor, and belongs to the poor. Manny Pacquiao is “People’s Champ” and, always, he will be, no matter what may come.

Manny Pacquiao’s fast rise from extreme poverty to superstardom is indeed God-planned. Thus, it obtains to send to the whole world a clear, strong message that evil doings won’t subsist for long and that “change” is coming to Manny’s hometown soon. In fact, Pacman’s complete destruction via a second-round-knock-out of the Hitman only proves nothing less than Manny’s God-given gift to eligibly “change the unchanging.” Bluntly, the People’s Champ means “change!”

Though, it would be inevitable along the course of achieving “change,” that some sectors shall get to be disowned. They shall intensely feel the brunt of being unable to join in the progress and prosperity that “change” will come to install. It won’t be long until people will begin to paint an awful picture of their misdeeds and false promises. They will be criticized because when offered the chance to be good, they chose evil. They were insincere. They mocked, cheated, and even have gone to exploit and ignorantly feast over a man’s defeat that truly wasn’t at all. And their teeth shall grind in regret when their doom arrives.

However, for the ever humble son of the Province of Sarangani and General Santos City, good days are certainly and shiningly coming ahead. Filipinos are awaiting their hero’s coming back home. Still, a lot more are getting overly excited to see for themselves how the People’s Champ partakes of his earnings from boxing among his poor brethren – giving away food and cash and gifts to elder men, women and children – when he lands home.

While a growing number of prominent townspeople are discretely helping to make way for “change” to come to light. They are beginning to believe in Manny’s kindheartedness and his unblemished sincerity to serve. They will help pave the way for Manny to reach to his ultimate destiny. And very soon, the poor will come to see their dream of progress and prosperity fulfilled under the watch of the People’s Champ.

Thank you and God bless you Manny!