Pacquiao consoles fans in a video message in Bisaya

With his countrymen feeling low over Manny Pacquiao’s loss in  Sunday’s Las Vegas fight, the Filipino boxing icon accepted his defe at but held out the possibility of a rematch.

For now, he said he would undergo an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) exam  to check on a pre-fight injury in his right shoulder.

In an ABC 5 interview in Las Vegas, he said  the injury, which Team Pacquiao kept out of public view until two hours before the match when they sought permission to use a pain-killer but was refused, may require an operation as well.

Pacquiao mentioned the possibility of getting back in the ring with Floyd Mayweather in a a 36-second  video, where he spoke in Bisaya, thanking Cebuanos for their support.

His brief words were intended to console his fans, who were disappointed by the judges’ decision to award the victory to Floyd Mayweather.

Manny Pacquiao shows his Bisaya roots in a video message to Cebuano fans posted on Facebook by former Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña (right), who watched the fight in Las Vegas with a ticket given by the People’s Champ. (Facebook grab)

The video was posted on the Facebook page of former Cebu city mayor Tomas Osmeña,  a long-time fan who watched the fight in the MGM Grand Arena, and apparently used his access to the champ to secure a message for the Cebu audience.

“Sa tanan nakong mga kaigsuonan sa Cebu, mga Cebuano ayaw mo’g kabalaka. Okay lang ko,” said Pacquaio.

“Salamat sa inyong suporta ug pag-ampo. Atong dawaton ug unsay desisyon diri kay ingon ana man gyud sila diri. Pero sa sunod ug tagaan tag higayon nga maglaban utro, atong paningkamutan nga modaog na ta. Daghan salamat ug ang Ginoo magauban kaninyo kanunay  (To all my brothers and sisters in Cebu, all Cebuanos, don’t worry. I’m okay. Thank you for your support and prayers. Let’s accept whatever is the decision here because that’s  really the way they are here. But next time, if given another chance to fight, I will strive hard to win. Thank you very much and may the Lord be with you always).”

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Good morning! Manny Pacquiao has a special message for the people of Cebu and his mga fellow Bisaya :)#MayPac

Posted by Tommy Osmeña on Sunday, May 3, 2015

Manny Pacquiao throws a punch at Floyd Mayweather Jr. who dismayed fans by evading the blows with defensive tactics at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.
(INQUIRER PHOTO)

Osmeña, who appeared in the same frame as Pacquio, was one of the fortunate fans who were given tickets by the boxer to watch the “Fight of a Century” with son Miguel.

Osmeña earlier commented on his Facebook page that he believes Mayweather won “fair and square” but that  this should not diminish the Filipinos’ pride in Pacuqiao who “fought his heart out.”
“He is not the boxing champ tonight, but in my mind he is still THE champ, and I know many of us are still proud to call him our own,” said Osmeña.

READ: Sad Pacquiao fans in Visayas: How can running constitute boxing victory?

As of 6 p.m. yesterday, the video was viewed 139,000 times, and drew 12,114 “likes” and 2,811 shares.

Pacquiao, who was born in Bukidnon province, considers General Santos City in South Cotabato his hometown.

MAKE HIM AMBASSADOR
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said the national government should give Pacquiao higher recognition as an “ambassador of tourism” or the “best ambassador of goodwill”.

“No one has ever brought the Philippines (to world acclaim)  better than  Pacquiao . He deserves a national award,” said the mayor, who is in Tagum City, Davao to accompany Central Visayas athletes in the 2015 Palarong Pambansa.

In a conference call with reporters,  Rama suggested that Vice Mayor Edgar Labella make a privilege speech in the City Council asking  the national government to declare Pacquiao not just a hero but  a “national figure bringing the best tourism attraction to the Philippines.”

The request to the Office of the President would still be a good idea, he said, even if President Benigno Aquino III is with the Liberal Party and Pacquiao is allied with the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

“I wish the President will take it up even if Pacquiao will run under UNA. This is not about political parties. This is about pride. This is about popularity. This is about prestige. This is about historical marks that a Filipino has brought the Philippines to the world,” he said.

Despite losing to Floyd Mayweather Jr. during last Sunday’s “fight of the century,” Pacquiao earned the cheers of fans inside the MGM Grand Arena.

Mayor Rama earlier  said Mayweather’s win was a “home-court decision” and that fans were disappointed to see Mayweather evading Pacquiao’s blows.

“We were expecting a great fight. But it ended up with Mayweather all the time running away. He was being chased by Pacquiao so it was no longer a boxing bout,” Rama said.

He compared Sunday’s match to “a cat chasing a mouse.”

“I cannot imagine why a mouse would beat a cat.  I don’t know how the world will be seeing it because I did not see greatness in Mayweather but I saw greatness in Pacquiao even before he was in the ring,” said the mayor.