MANNY "THE DESTROYER" PACQUIAO RUINS CHURCH WEDDING, UNINTENTIONALLY

I'm a big fan of Manny Pacquiao, and I'm glad and thankful that he remembered Iloilo City during its downest moments by donating P1.5 million from his humongous fight purse (Was it $5 million or $3 million?) to help the Ilonggo flood victims, but I won't be amused or remain nonchalant if ever he'd mess up my own (future) church wedding by turning up there unexpectedly and uninvited--like what he did this morning today at the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral.
 
According to radio reports, the nuptial mass stopped for like half an hour when people (including the couple's relatives and guests) left the pews and--as if forgetting they were in the middle of the holy mass--screamed and cheered for Pacquiao, who, together with his wife, dropped by the church to supposedly hear mass before distributing relief goods to the flood victims.

Despite the disruption of their wedding, the couple was reportedly amused--even flattered--that Pacquiao made their already-memorable day even more unforgettable. (To make it much, much more unforgettable, they might as well name their first-born "Manny" or "Emmanuel" if it's a boy or--God forbid--"Emmanuela" if it's a girl, and invite Pacquiao later to become the kid's godfather or ninong. Manny as ninong could mean lots of money for the kid during birthdays and Christmas.)

Me, I won't be amused or flattered or starstruck. I won't even allow it to happen in the first place--especially now that I realized it's not really impossible to happen (that is, that some big shot would barge into my wedding, steal all my guests' attention, compel the priest to suspend the mass for half an hour, and just ruin all our preparations--unintentionally or otherwise.
 
Weddings are usually planned several months--even years--ahead (unless it's shotgun), and some couples (especially those from well-to-do families) fork out thousands of pesos for professional wedding planners just to ensure that the whole thing will be perfect and also to spare themselves from all the stress brought by the preparations.

I don't think I could afford a professional wedding planner now (unless he/she is a friend who's willing to do it for free), but a celebrity gate-crasher is definitely the last thing I'd want.

MANNY PACQUIAO DETHRONES DAVID DIAZ

I didn't bother going out and fork over P500 to watch Lethal Combination: Pacquiao vs Diaz at SM City-Iloilo because not only that the mud from the monster flood that hit Iloilo City nine days ago was still four inches thick outside our house, but I could also watch the whole thing anyway inside my room--live online via PLDT myDSL.
 
Well, it was what every Filipino boxing fan expected: Manny Pacquiao will knock out David Diaz and will take home the World Boxing Council lightweight championship title.
 
And in fact he did, exactly at 36 seconds remaining in the ninth round via a mean left hook on Diaz' left lower jaw that sent him down to the canvass, face first. 

Right from the onset, it was evident that Diaz was totally outclassed by Pacquiao. He couldn't just keep up with the latter's freakish combination of power and speed, and appeared like a complete patsy on slow motion against the Filipino.
 
Despite the gaping cut in his right eye, the blood-soaked Diaz had the heart to continue (when he could easily tell his corner to just throw in the towel, get an ambulance, and watch Conan O'Brien in his hospital bed).

Unfortunately, it wasn't like in the Rocky movies where grit alone overcomes natural talent, killer hand speed, brutal punching power, and baffling lateral movement. In real life, it doesn't and it can't.
 
With this recent victory, Pacquiao has become the only Asian fighter to win four major titles in four different weight classes.
 
Wala kang katulad, Manny!