"God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast and when I run, I feel his pleasure."
Pacman
Return to the book list for titles beginning with 'P'.
Gary Poole, Philadelphia, Da Capo Press, 2010. ISBN 978-0-306-81949-0
Manny Pacquiao’s Roman Catholic faith comes out strongly in the book. The boxer sees his talent and his success in life as gifts from God. He thanks God regularly in public. He gives generously to charity as an expression f his faith.
The author suggests that his faith is a very Philippino version of Catholicism: “the Pacquiaos practiced a medieval type of Catholicism. They were especially devout and mystical in their belief”. He also believes in the concept of fate: that everything is meant to be.
The book is full of statements about his faith:
“God was always looking out for me…God is always with me”
“When I grew up, my mother taught me how to pray and believe in God. You have to trust God and believe in God”.
“I show my belief in God through confidence. If you believe… you don’t feel nervous.”
“Manny Pacquiao has visions. He dreams of God”.
“Manny Pacquiao is constantly crossing himself”.
“Commentators note how Pacquiao enters the ring with a blissful joy and pre-fight he appears to a Zen-like calm spread across his face. He says God possesses him…”
There is also a suggestion that at times his faith has been “more of a self-help tool used to give him psychology power in the boxing ring”
At the same time, the book portrays him as living in a state of chaotic management and finance and very motivated by money. The book refers to the persistent rumours of “extramarital affairs”.
There is nothing about boxing as a profession for a Christian.