I woke up this morning to the sound of Manny Pacquiao’s voice, singing ‘Para sa iyo ang laban na ito’ (This fight is for you) over the radio. In between the song were voice clips from his Las Vegas fight - announcing… “and we have a new champion…. Manny Pacquiao!” followed by thunderous cheers and applause from the audience, among which I imagined, were thousands of Filipinos present at the dome ecstatically jumping and shouting with joy.

Admittedly, for a moment, as I listened to Manny’s voice, I  was seized with a pang of nationalism. Goose bumps ran over my entire body…

Well, at least, I tell myself - hope is not lost.

Amid all the problems our country is in right now, and with all the graft and corruption, treachery, deception and over-politicking around, I have become indifferent and un-feeling about being a Filipino… until this morning….

Wala na. Wala na akong maramdaman, kahit pa marinig ko ang Lupang Hinirang na kinakanta kung saan… kahit ano’ng gawin ko - hindi ko na mahagilap ang kahulugan ng salitang ‘makabayan’ o pagmamahal sa sariling bayan.

Nguni’t sa hindi maipaliwanag na dahilan - nang marinig ko ang boses ni Manny Pacquiao sa radyo - at habang kinakanta niya ang - “Para sa ‘yo, ang laban na ‘to’ - sa gitna ng mga naghihiyawan at nagbubunying kababayan - biglang nabuhay na muli ang matagal nang nagtatampong damdaming ito. At muli, gumapang ang kilabot sa aking buong katauhan…. at sumilip ang pag-asa.. at nakintal sa aking puso’t isipan - oo nga pala… ito ang aking bayan…