Boxing enthusiasts likely saw it as part of the ritual of a fighter separating himself from the distractions of family and sex to better train for an upcoming war. I saw it as a reflection of Manny’s known yet unknown relationship with adultery. I knew he was never the most faithful husband in the world. Even as a Manny fanboy, I cannot ignore his infallibilities. I’m not here to express moral superiority and highlight my holier than thou gender principles. In fact, when my homie, Jon, told me about a girl he knew from San Marcos who Manny had on the side, my instant response: “Is she at least cute?” I think back on my trip to the Philippines in 2003: drinking San Mig with an older cousin and his close friend. I was troubled by their talk about having mistresses. A girlfriend on the side was fine. Normalized. According to my pinsan, the reason for maintaining the mistress was that no meaning existed. The wife and kids were still being taken care of. It seems as if the mistress is simply an object to be enjoyed by a breadwinning father. The wife? She stays chaste and only available to her husband. I was young at the time and lacked the consciousness to critically discuss this with my cousin, but it did open my eyes to gender relationships in the Filipino community, where I hear friends tell me about their rat bastard fathers who have cheated on their moms. Vestiges of Spanish colonization? Perhaps. Considering the egalitarian family systems from the indigenous roots of the Philippines, I ponder upon how Spanish influences and Catholicism has created systems where infidelity becomes practice. Yet in the Philippines, divorce is illegal. Husbands with mistresses is basic knowledge not discussed. When we criticize Manny for what he’s doing, look at the role of patriarchy in our culture. He is seen by many as a living embodiment of the Filipino spirit. Manny Pacquiao is the old Filipino man.
Matthew Ledesma
Masculinity
11