Do you think Pacquiao ever experienced Quarterlife Crisis?

Seriously? You think he has/does?

After waking up at 7 a.m. today (probably the earliest I've woken up on a Sunday since braces were the "in" thing) and driving all the way to Makati with my dad to watch the live broadcast of the Pacquiao-Cotto fight with my brother, the thought suddenly entered my mind. Did Manny Pacquiao ever experience being lost and confused? Hey, he's the same age as me and we see him smiling before a very important fight. He must not have a lot of problems. But then I realized that the guy came from a poor family. He struggled at a very young age and even worked odd jobs just to support his family.

He did experience quarterlife crisis. But he was way younger than any of us. AND he worked hard to overcome that. When they didn't have a decent meal on their small table, he didn't just say, "Screw this, I'm stealing" or "I'm just gonna give up and die with the rest of my family." No. He willed himself to where he is now. It all started with a decision. He decided that he would do anything just to take care of his family. Just to put food on their table. And that was what happened. He discovered that he had a talent. He strove to become a good boxer. Then from that point on, he decided that he was gonna be the best boxer in the world and worked even harder to achieve this.

After demolishing Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto earlier, he has reached his goal. Many times over. Financially and maybe emotionally (he's a boxer so the "physically" part depends on his opponents if they're not Mexicans). He has uprooted his family and gave them a bigger table where there are many food to eat. Where there are choices on what to eat.

He made a choice. This was to do something about his situation. He did not blame the government (okay, he probably did). He did not resort to stealing or doing drugs because of depression. He did not get mad at his parents for not giving them a better future. He took the road less traveled. He punched his way to the top. Like what we all should do. Starting now. Not literally, hopefully.

Some observations while watching the fight at Fiamma earlier (Thanks, Rosa!):

• Longanisa stays in your breath for a minimum of five hours.
• I can still chew gum for more than five hours (my record is nine hours).
• Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. got the best reception especially from the girls (yes, some guys cheered for him because of his looks too). Oh, and this despite sporting an 80s hairdo.
  
• The Wapakman trailer also garnered a lot of applause from the crowd although most were laughing.
• Cotto didn't need to wink when he actually winked at Pacquiao after the fight because his eye was already half-shut.