Patrick Reusse: Pacquiao's victory is cause for celebration

Boxing still breathes in this country only because of the involvement of the major pay cable networks, HBO and Showtime. HBO has created a wonderful method for promoting major pay-per-view bouts: the 24/7 series, which offers a behind-the-scenes look at both camps in the buildup to a fight.

The work done leading up to last weekend's Manny Pacquiao-Oscar De La Hoya bout served to raise the level of fascination with the emotional bond between Pacquiao and his home country, the Philippines.

And when Pacquiao pummeled De La Hoya into submission after eight rounds, an effort was made to track down some Twin Cities Filipinos to check the enthusiasm level for this warrior/champion.

This is a strategy recommended for future generations of journalists, for when you make contact with an active woman such as Lita Malicsi, soon you're going to be enjoying a Filipino smorgasbord in a home warmly decorated for Christmas.

The hosts on Friday night were Tito and Becky Sumangil. There were dinner tables in two rooms to handle the crowd. The sportswriter wound up with Tito, Lita and three men of Pacquiao's generation: Robert Mariano, Darwin Yusis and Ramon Hough.

"When you dine with Filipinos, if you take one plate you are a guest," Tito said. "When you take seconds, we like you. When you take a third plate, you're special. And when you take a fourth, you're a relative."

That's why Sumangil is now my cousin Tito.

"There are 10,000 Filipinos in the Twin Cities," Malicsi said. "We're assimilated into this area. We live all over the Twin Cities, but there are things -- social events, holidays -- that bring us together."

In recent times, Pacquiao fights have become both social events and holidays for the 90 million Filipinos on the islands, and for their relatives around the world.

"The calls started coming two months before the fight: Where are you going to be Dec. 6?" Tito said. "The first call, I asked, 'Why?' The answer was, 'That's the Pacquiao-De La Hoya fight.' "

Mariano, an outgoing 40-year-old, said: "I don't think there was a Filipino in the Twin Cities who wasn't with friends watching the fight. We made a day of it: Texas Hold 'Em, some San Miguels, and then a very nervous time before the fight."

The folks in this group admitted there's a Filipino fondness for gambling. "On anything," Tito said. "In fact, we all wanted Pacquiao to win, but in our group, it still was $10 to make $6 if you wanted to bet on De La Hoya.

With ferocity. With younger legs. With faster hands and harder punches.

"There was jubilation as Manny took over the fight, but we still were nervous," Mariano said. "We were wondering, 'Is Oscar playing possum? Is this the round he's going to come out and start bulldozing Manny?' "

Hough nodded and said: "Boxing is the sport where you can make a 10-point shot. One punch can change everything."

This fight never changed, until De La Hoya stayed in his corner, and the 5-6 1/2 Pacquiao, who started his career as a 106-pounder, became a world champion at 147 pounds.

Pacquaio's 30th birthday is Wednesday. That coincides with the nine-day celebration of Christmas in the Philippines -- nine consecutive days of early morning Mass where families walk to church together and greet friends.

"Do you know what people did in the Philippines right after the fight?" Yusis said. "They went to church and the priests said a Mass of thanks for Manny's victory."

A moment later, Tito looked at his visitor and offered another observation: "You seem to be enjoying my wife's flan. If you want a supply for Christmas, give us a call."

What's that number again, cousin Tito?