Special live coverage of the 12-round fight between Pacquiao and Ghana’s Joshua Clottey was broadcast without a hitch after energy officials vowed to prevent power shortages interrupting the event.

“If people don’t get to watch Manny Pacquiao, it’s big trouble. That is a national catastrophe,” Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes was quoted in the Philippine Star as saying.

“The nation again rejoices with and congratulates the people’s champion, Manny Pacquiao, on another victory for the Philippines,” President Arroyo, in a statement released via Press Secretary Crispulo Icban, said.

“We take heart in Manny’s proven formula of unselfish patriotism and unyielding perseverance. Sa pagkakaisa at pagsisikap, nagwaging muli si Manny para sa bayan. Ito rin ang ating landas tungo sa tagumpay ng sambayanan. Mabuhay si Manny Pacquiao!” she said.

“Once again, the officers, men and civilian employees of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, led by the AFP Chief of Staff General Delfin Bangit, are very proud of its very own Senior Master Sergeant Manny Pacquiao, a reservist of the Philippine Army, for his victory against Joshua Clottey,” a press release from the Armed Forces of the Philippines said.

“Pacquiao continues to be a hero and an inspiration to our troops, especially those who are fighting against the various threats to national security and development. Despite the odds, the fighting spirit of the Filipino sodier as embodied in Manny, prevailed,” it said.

Sen. Manuel Villar, whose bid for the presidency Pacquiao is endorsing, also released a statement on his win.

“Ang karangalang paulit-ulit nang ibinigay sa ating bansa ni Manny Pacquiao ay patunay lamang na walang balakid kailanman ang maaaring humadlang sa taong masidhing nagpupunyagi, isang taong may sipag at tiyaga,” Villar was quoted as saying.

“Isang halimbawa si Manny na kaya nating talunin ang kahirapan, na magaling ang Pilipino, at karapat-dapat lamang na kilalanin ng buong mundo. Mabuhay ka, Manny!” Villar added.

“Manny has once again made us proud. More importantly, he has shown us what good old-fashioned hard work and determination can achieve,” Senator Loren Legarda, Villar’s running mate, said in a statement.

After the fight, there were no signs of any of the daily outages that have afflicted the capital and the southern Philippines for several weeks.

Pacquiao, who is considered a national hero at home, easily defeated Clottey by a unanimous decision after 12 rounds to retain his World Boxing Organization welterweight title at the Cowboys Stadium.

In an interview with a local radio station after the fight, Pacquiao said: “I owe this to all my fellow Filipinos, most of all to my family.”

Pacquiao’s next bout will be even more of a challenge, when he runs for Congress in the May elections, seeking to represent a district on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao.

Despite his fame, Pacquiao has tasted defeat in this arena before. In 2007 he lost his first bid for a seat in Congress, and faces an equally entrenched opponent this time around.

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“We take heart in Manny’s proven formula of unselfish patriotism and unyielding perseverance. Sa pagkakaisa at pagsisikap, nagwaging muli si Manny para sa bayan. Ito rin ang ating landas tungo sa tagumpay ng sambayanan (These traits led Pacquiao to victory. These will also lead the country to progress),” President Arryo said.

Pacquiao is running for congressman in the May 10 elections representing the lone district of Sarangani province under the Nacionalista Party (NP) banner, which is fielding Sen. Manny Villar Jr. as its presidential bet.

Deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar said Pacquaio once again proved that the Filipinos’ talent and determination set them apart from the rest of the world.

“With the help of God, the country once again united in prayer and support behind our champion, with spectacular results. God willing, this same unity will see us through as we open yet another chapter in our nation’s history,” Olivar said, referring to the upcoming elections.

He said the forthcoming elections is necessary as the Filipinos exercise their “most cherished right” to elect the next leaders of the land who would be tasked to set the course of the country’s future.

“Though we have accomplished much in the last nine years, a lot still needs to be done. We need to muster the same courage and strength that Manny Pacquiao exemplified, in order to rise above the politics of hate and fear. This is the only way we can rightfully choose the leaders who are up to the challenges of our time,” he said.

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The order followed the release of the US State Department’s 2009 Human Rights Report, which said Philippine government agencies had carried out extrajudicial killings with impunity, presidential spokesman Gary Olivar said.

"The Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines should submit to the president by April 1 their reports on how they will address specific allegations of abuses in the report by the US State Department," he said.

If the allegations were true, then both the police and military should explain what they were doing to solve the problem, he said.

Olivar stressed that Arroyo’s government was acting to improve human rights in the Philippines, citing the establishment of human rights offices in the police and military and a swift crackdown after security personnel were linked to a bloody political killing of 57 people in November.

"Of course, we are not perfect so if there are any shortcomings and any reports of abuse, the president’s order is to investigate these things," he said, adding that such incidents, if true, tarnished the country’s reputation.

Human rights groups have long complained of a "culture of impunity" in the Philippines that allows powerful figures to kill or abuse political rivals, journalists, lawyers and others who get in their way.

In its annual report on human rights in 194 countries and regions, released Thursday, the State Department denounced the human rights situation in a range of countries, including North Korea, Myanmar and China in the Asia-Pacific region.

In the Philippines, the report said, there were "arbitrary, unlawful, and extrajudicial killings by elements of the security services and political killings, including killings of journalists, by a variety of actors."

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The revision would particularly be warranted if exports sustain double-digit growth in the coming months, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo told reporters last Friday.

“If the evidence is very strong that [there will be] more than 40 percent increase in exports in the next few months and the global recovery gains traction, there is reason to revise upwards the government’s target for exports,” he said.

Philippine export earnings surged by 42.5 percent to $3.578 billion in January from a year earlier and by 8 percent from the December level due to a pickup in demand from the country’s major trading partners.

It was the fastest growth since April 1995, when exports went up by 42.62 percent, the National Statistics Office said last week.

Guinigundo said another factor to consider in increasing the export growth target is the industry’s higher book-to-bill ratio, which shows whether a company has more orders than it can deliver.

“The book to bill ratio has gone up to 1.2 or 120 percent, which means the order is more than actual delivery… The global economic recovery is gaining more ground,” the central bank official said.

He noted that even the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had upgraded the world’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth outlook to 3.9 percent from 0.8 percent this year. The IMF now expects the Philippines to grow by 3.2 percent from 0.9 percent last year.

Earlier, the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. said exporters might revise their growth outlook this year after the better-than-expected performance in January.

Confederation President Sergio Ortiz-Luis said the group was now looking at growth of 25-35 percent from 10-15 percent earlier, as long as shipments of electronic products grow by more than a fifth.

The electronics industry has also increased its 2010 export forecast, this time to growth levels that could more than make up for the plunge caused by the global downturn last year.

From a 10-15 percent growth outlook, product sales could rise by more than a fifth based on a surge in orders recorded so far, the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines, Inc. said earlier.

The forecast means sales could top $27.1 billion this year, surpassing the level in 2007 before the global economy nosedived. The rosy outlook is in step with analysts’ predictions regarding global demand for electronic components.

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PCCI President Francis Chua said several neighboring countries in the region, including Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand, have announced plans to build nuclear reactors for electricity generation. He said the Philippines should jump aboard.

"There is no reason therefore why we cannot start a similar discussion and consider similar option," he remarked.

Vietnam plans to have 4 nuclear generation plants in operation by 2025 while Indonesia aims to operate its first nuclear plant some time after 2015. Thailand is also carrying out a feasibility study for a nuclear plant to be built by 2020.

Ambassador Benedicto Yujuico, PCCI vice president in-charge of energy, utilities and telecommunications committees, said the Philippines "is now facing formidable challenges in the energy and power generation sectors, further complicated by a burgeoning population."

He called on the government to create a joint non-partisan, private-public sector committee to address issues in the power sector including price competitiveness, long-term policy, renewable energy options, power security, and the construction of nuclear plants, which "provide clean electricity at predictable and competitive costs."

"Government should seriously look into this proposal of PCCI and consider its prompt creation and mandate," Yujuico said.

The Philippines’ only nuclear power plant located in Bataan province cost more than $2 billion and has never been used. Recently, there were calls to reopen the 620-megawatt plant, which will need another $1 billion in funds.

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DBS said election-related spending would significantly help spur growth this year along with the general recovery in the global economy.

“The economy should face fewer gyrations this year, thanks largely to the ongoing global economic recovery…. The positive global environment will benefit consumption and exports in the Philippines, the economy’s two pillars,” DBS said in its latest report on the Philippines.

DBS said that this year would be very different from last year when the country was badly hit by the global financial crisis which reverberated from US shores.

“Like many other economies in the region, the year began in the midst of a recession brought on by the global financial crisis. Recovery came in the second quarter but the economy soon had the wind knocked out of its sails as typhoons Ketsana and Parma battered the country in September and October,” DBS said.

In 2009, the ecomomy grew by a measly 0.9 percent from 3.8 percent in 2008.

DBS said remittances from overseas Filipinos would also continue to drive growth this year.

“Remittances from overseas Filipinos would also help drive growth. “This year, with positive growth areas for (US, Singapore and Hong Kong), we estimate that remittances could grow by a further 14 percent. These next few months consumer spending will also get a fillip from upcoming general elections on May 10, as candidates intensify their campaign efforts,” DBS said.

It expects candidates to intensify their campaign efforts.

However, DBS said the El Niño weather condition could threaten growth if the problem worsens.

“Should El Niño start to take a more material toll on the economy, we will be looking at cutting our growth forecasts , while lifting inflation projections. Although the rise

in inflation would owe to supply rather than demand-side factors, under such a scenario, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas may not be able to hold off on a more aggressive series of interest rate hikes,” DBS said.

The BSP’s overnight borrowing rate is currently at four percent while the overnight lending rate is currently at six percent.

On the fiscal side, DBS said risks to the fiscal position lie largely on the expnenditure side. It said that even if the government raises enough revenues through taxes and the privatization of state-owned assets, it might need to increase spending in response to El Nino or higher food prices.

The government’s budget deficit projection is currently at P293 billion for 2010. Last year, the budget gap hit P298.5 billion or above the program of P250 billion.

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Counting his guaranteed purse $12 million for his fight with Joshua Clottey at the Cowboys Stadium, the 31-year-old icon has reached the $53 million mark in his last four fights in the United States.

And while it doesn’t mean that he has taken home as much, since there are huge deductions to be computed, what’s certain is that Pacquiao is now rated as one of the world’s highest-paid athletes.

Pacquiao, who said he earned the equivalent of $20 in his first professional fight in 1995, got $15 million for facing Oscar dela Hoya in 2008, and $13 million for each fight against Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto last year.

With these four fights alone, he has earned, on paper, a grand total of P2.438 billion, which is enough to fund a presidential campaign in the Philippines.

Aside from his guaranteed purse, Pacquiao also stands to earn through the pay-per-view sales, ticket sales, gate receipts, merchandise and television rights. For the Dela Hoya fight, he earned close to $20 million in all.

And this won’t stop as long as he continues winning.

Before the Clottey fight was sealed, Pacquiao faced the possibility of earning as much as $30 million to $40 million for a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. But the negotiations fell apart and the fight did not push through.

Now that Clottey is out of the picture, the question is “Will the Mayweather fight now happen?”

Pacquiao said it might.

“Yes, I want the fight. The people want that fight. So, it’s up to him,” said Pacquiao of the ex-pound-for-pound champion who puts his undefeated record at stake against WBA welterweight king Shane Mosley on May 1 in Las Vegas.

“I have no problem fighting him. Anytime. But I don’t think he’s ready now. Or he should win against Mosley. If not, maybe Mosley and I will fight,” said Pacquiao.

The Pacquiao-Mayweather fell apart after the flamboyant American demanded an Olympic-style drug-testing that would require blood tests on days very close to the fight.

Pacquiao said he’d have none of it, saying drawing of blood close to the fight makes him weak, and offered a compromise that blood be taken 24 days before the fight and right after the fight.

And the fight that should break all previous records in boxing went up in smoke.

Pacquiao earnings through the years:

1. Lehlo Ledwaba – 2001 – $40,000
2. Agapito Sanchez – 2001 – $120,000
3. Fabbrakob Rakkiatgym – 2002 – P1 million
4. Serikzhan Yeshmangbetov – 2003 – P1 million
5. Jorge Julio – 2002 – $70,000
6. Marco Antonio Barrera – 2003 – $500,000
7. Juan Manuel Marquez – 2004 – $750,000
8. Fashan 3K Battery – 2004 – P3 million
9. Erik Morales – 2005 – $1.75 million
10. Hector Velasquez – 2005 – $750,000
11. Erik Morales – 2006 – $2 million
12. Oscar Larios – 2006  – $1 million
13. Erik Morales – 2006 – $2.5 million
14. Jorge Solis – 2007 – $2 million
15. Marco Antonio Barrera – 2007 – $3 million
16. Juan Manuel Marquez – 2008 – $3 million
17. David Diaz – 2008 – $3 million
18. Oscar dela Hoya – 2008 – $15 million
19. Ricky Hatton – 2009 – $13 million
20. Miguel Cotto – 2009 – $13 million
21. Joshua Clottey – 2010 – $12 million

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“I give him an A+,” said Roach.

The three-time trainer of the year awardee, however, expressed his disappointment over Clottey’s style.

Since Clottey was aiming for a world title against the world’s best fighter, Roach said he expected the Ghanaian challenger to be aggressive and not defensive-minded.

“He fought a very defensive fight. I thought he would be more offensive,” said Roach. “He was more in survival mode and when a guy is trying to survive, it’s hard to knock him out.”

Roach actually instructed the Filipino icon to go in for the KO after it appeared the fight would go the distance.

Clottey, however, stuck to his game plan and kept his hands high to survive the Pacquiao onslaught.

“I was looking for a knockout in the last round but he just did not open up,” said Roach.

This was the first time since March 2008 that Pacquiao heard the final bell, having gone the whole nine yards the last time against Juan Manuel Marquez for the world super-feather crown.

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We should’ve seen the signs. During the promotional run up, Clottey smiled like a gushing fan every time he stood next to Pacquiao. If Clottey hated Pacquiao’s guts, felt he could pulverize Pacman with his bare hands and detested all the attention Manny received, he did a magnificent job hiding it. At the weigh-in 24 hours before the main event, Clottey struggled to hold back his elation. During the customary stare-down for photographers, Clottey faced Pacquiao and giggled like a schoolboy who suddenly found himself face-to-face with a long-time crush.

I hoped it was all just a ruse to make Pacquiao comfortable and overconfident. Turned out the joke wasn’t on Pacquiao, the joke was on all of us who yearned to witness an epic. This was the one day in the year when a) all guys downed beer at 10 in the morning and (as a result of letter a) b) believed they coach better than Roach. Yet during an occasion when boxing pseudo-expertise is handed out like free pocket calendars in a campaign motorcade, the self-proclaimed pundits were all silent. They were all stunned to see such a huge, proud, hulking beast of a fighter reduced to a petrified soldier stuck in a fox-hole.

Let’s face it. It wasn’t a fight between Pacquiao and Clottey. It was a fight between Pacquiao and Clottey’s forearms. It was as if Clottey fought with a Dallas Cowboys football helmet on his head the whole time. Pacquiao had no other choice but to dart left and right, hit whatever open target and give the Texas throng the best show he could offer given Clottey’s cautiousness. In the end, while one must admire Clottey’s self-defense, and subsequently self-preservation, I can’t help but feel a little deprived. All Clottey’s super defense accomplished was to give Pacquiao a super workout. Solar TV Analyst Brian Villoria said it best. “To have an exciting fight, you need two fighters."

If I spent hard-earned money to fly to Dallas, purchase ringside tickets and drink overpriced beer, I’d be upset. But I watched in Club Filipino for free. So I’m okay. Somewhere in Cowboys Stadium, James Farias, a Texas-native we met last February, watched the fight with his buddies, ecstatic to see Pacquiao win, yet still hopeful to witness Pacquiao face Mayweather. He spent a lot to buy good seats for Pacquiao-Clottey. He’ll spend more to see Pacquiao-Mayweather. “I’d pay anything to see Mayweather lose."

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Accepting the Best TV Station award was News and Public Affairs head Maria Ressa who shared, “Thank you so much for this. We in ABS-CBN continue to work hard and like you, we also dream for a better Philippines.”

For the fourth time, ABS-CBN bagged the Best News Anchor and this year. Ted Failon personally accepted the award along with being the Best AM Announcer for the second time around.

Umagang Kay Ganda is now a two-time Best Morning Show awardee.

UP alumnus, Kapamilya talent and host Kim Atienza also won three awards: Gandingan ng Kabataan, Gandingan ng Kalikasan and Gandingan ng Edukasyon. His weekly magazine show Matanglawin also took home two awards: Best Educational Program and Best Environment-Oriented Program.

Completing the Kapamilya awards are Best News Program for TV Patrol World, Best Women Empowerment Show for Wonder Mom, Best Youth-Oriented Program for Yspeak, Best Livelihood-Oriented Program for Kabuhayang Swak na Swak and Gandingan ng Kababaihan for Karen Davila.

ABS-CBN also recently won 19 awards from USTv Student’s Choice Awards, 33 awards from the 2010 Gawad Tanglaw and seven awards from First Students’ Choice Awards for Radio and Television from the College of Management and Information of the Northwest Samar State University.

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