At the time Jesus was hanging on the cross, He uttered seven sentences which in the Christendom is popularly known as the 7 Last Words.

In the Good Friday of 2008, 2:00pm at the Solid Rock Bible Congregation in 151 Samat, Bugallon, Pangasinan, more than a hundred people heard seven inspirational messages highlighting the value of the 7 Last Words of Christ in the life of each person in attendance.

Then when Resurrection Sunday came, the church went to Tobuan Beach and at exactly 5:30am, the Sunrise Service was celebrated commemorating the triumph of Jesus Christ over death when He was not found in His tomb three days after He died.

Rev. Charlie Loranza stressed in his sermon that the Resurrection of Christ is the bedrock of our hope of an eternal life with God in His kingdom.

After the Sunrise Service, the church witnessed the water baptism of 33 brethren, all of them products of the G12 Vision of the church.

Rev. Charlie, assisted by his associates, Pastor Jess and Pastor Joel, and by church and cell leaders, led the baptismal rites.

I got what I wanted when Manny Pacquiao beat Juan Manuel Marquez for the WBC Superfeatherweight Championship but, honestly speaking, I was not impressed by my countryman’s victory.

It was a close fight, close enough for everybody to see it in three ways: win for the Pacman, triumph for Dinamita, or still an “unfinished business” in a draw. Although the judges saw my countryman the winner, it is not easy to dismiss the fact that it could have gone the other way around.

For all his sacrifices and claims to be the winner, I give credit to Juan Manuel Marquez for giving Pacquiao another hell of a fight. He has the tools to neutralize the Filipino dynamo. He’s got the correct technical skills to slow down the onslaught of Manny; he’s got the quick wits to improvise at every moment of danger; he’s got something that neither his two compatriots, Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales, don’t have in facing up to attacks of the one they call “The Destroyer of Mexican Legends”.

Despite his age, Marquez was able to give Pacquiao a tough duel which the Filipino seems to put immediately to oblivion. Those right hand leads, uppercuts and counterpunches were like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle that Pacquiao almost did not make to show us a victory picture.

The Pacman’s power was there. It floored Marquez once and probably twice more had Marquez failed to adjust properly. But what was missing was Manny’s speed and the improved right hand. Yes, there were moments when his speed was shown but only a few times. His right fist didn’t get to the target most of the time and there were occasions in which Manny seemed at a loss as to how to penetrate JMM.

See it again, folks, but during the time the winner was being declared by Michael Buffer, Manny Pacquiao went over to Juan Manuel Marquez to congratulate the Mexican. He knew he did not do enough to crack the Mexican nut and he thought it was well to accept the “fact” that he lost this time. He thought he failed his countrymen. He wouldn’t be surprised at the declaration of a loss unlike the first time they met when the mention of the word “draw” was for him a victory for Marquez and a defeat for him considering that he dropped the Mexican three times in the first round.

But when he was declared the winner, he painted a face of surprise, an amazement, some kind of unbelief in the pronouncement of his triumph. Noticeable also was the kind of moderate cheers from among the fans. There were many Filipino spectators there but half of them seemed to have been surprised also at the judges’ decision. They wanted to cheer but there was a question in their minds if it was right for them to cheer at the victory of their countryman.

No, I’m not impressed with Manny Pacquiao’s victory against Juan Manuel Marquez.

It’s not because I am a Filipino that I have this bias in favor of Manny Pacquiao.  I believe that the odds favor a victory for the Pacman, racial  and other factors counted out.

First, in terms of hunger, Manny has more.  Although he is the acknowledged king of superfeatherweights, Pacquiao’s not the legal king, and the man he will fight on March 16 is the recognized crown owner.  Manny feels that the crown should be in his hands, and to remove all doubts about his status as the numero uno, he will give all he’s got to legitimize his status.

Second, Manny has shown tremendous improvements in his skills as a boxer since his first meeting with the Mexican warrior.  He has grown more powerful and refined in his boxing craft.  Up to this point, no one has really solved the puzzle that is Manny Pacquiao, except of course, Marquez.  But the Pacquiao he fought that time is not the same Pacquiao he will meet on Saturday.

Third, Juan Manuel Marquez has not really shown much since he fought Pacquiao.  He only got the belt from Marco Antonio Barrera not really through his own efforts but also because of some misdeeds of Barrera himself during their match.  Had Barrera not hit Marquez while the latter was on the floor, Marquez would not have snatched the belt from the Baby Faced Assasin.

Lastly, Juan Manuel Marquez is old.  There’s no question about excellent technical skills but the age factor will take its toll on him especially against the younger and much more improved Pacman.  Pacquiao’s speed and power will wear down Marquez with his aging body.

I expect a knockout win for Manny Pacquiao.