Op-Ed: New Jersey Fans Chime In 'Happy Birthday, Manny Pacquiao!'

Dear Manny, As 2009 comes to a close and we look back at your tremendous accomplishments – the annihilation of British champion Ricky Hatton in the second round and the Puerto Rican gentleman Miguel Cotto in the 12th – this is an amazing year indeed.

You have been compared to the legendary Henry Armstrong in annexing title after title and your name has lately been mentioned alongside the likes of Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran and other all-time boxing greats, but it seems like you still keep on going. Your seventh title in 7 weight divisions is a world record. Only fighter ever. Mind-boggling. Your fans here in New Jersey/New York area, as well as all your fans around the globe who are mostly Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), are beaming with pride with the honor you are bringing to the Philippines and to us as well. We are now afforded a little extra attention, in a positive sense, every time people of different nationalities find out we are Filipinos or of Filipino lineage, and it rings a bell every time the name “Manny Pacquiao” is mentioned. You are now more popular as ever and we become “beneficiaries” as a result, simply because we are Filipinos. The feeling is indescribable. Of course, there would still be doubters around, but it does not really matter because in the end, you always give your all in every fight and that makes you special. You don’t stop punching until your opponent gives up. As you prepare for your biggest – and probably the last -- fight of your life against flamboyant American Floyd Mayweather Jr., just disregard the trash talk from his father and uncle, it is just the way they are. Please continue to show them and the public that being the best does not always necessarily mean being the brightest in school or being the richest in the neighborhood. The raison d’ etre for this premise is that there should be a combination or a set of qualities to enable an individual to be considered as “the best”. Embracing a right attitude, being respectful to others, having faith in the Divine Providence, acquiring the passion to help the needy and possessing a “great” heart are just a few of these qualities. Without doubt, you are on the right track. Keep it up. Thank you Manny Pacquiao and a happy 31st! Mabuhay ka Manny! All the best, Your Central New Jersey Fans P.S. Herewith is a picture taken in Springfield NJ during the Pacquiao-Cotto PPV. Kindly note the Pacquiao Nike shirts and shoes.