Pacquiao and Media Culture

Last week, the whole Philippines has again stopped "moving" to witness the most awaited boxing fight of Manny Pacquiao and his Mexican opponent Oscar Larrios. ABS-CBN Broadcasting Company was then the official media company to cover and broadcast the event in partnership with the Pacquiao Productions. While that last week was a big day for them and for most of the Filipinos, it was just an ordinary day for me.

As I saw it, this "Pacquiao Fever" was nothing but another pop culture created by the media. It was nothing but a mere 'exaggeration' of media on how they instilled to the people the essence of Manny Pacquiao in the contemporary society. Honestly, I never wished him to win, or in the simplest sense, I did not give a damn on his essence, and on his fight--which he always says that "my fight is for the country." What does he think of himself--a warrior which if he wins would change the unstable state of our society? Would his fight alleviate the economic condition of the country? Would it help eradicate poverty in a broader scale? I SAY IT WOULD NOT.

I must emphasize here that Pacquiao's popularity is a product of the creative, persuasive, yet deceptive formula of media. Sensationalism is still prevalent in the media culture, even embedded in our daily culture. Because of his popularity, every suffering Filipino perceives that he somehow helps the country's problems be solved. Because of this fight last week, escapism again had prevailed among our fellowmen leaving the problems unsolved. Ergo, it is a stupid premise saying that this fight is for his country. It is a stupid premise to say that Pacquiao can be considered a hero of our country, since heroism nowadays is just an image among us.

The media sensationalized this popularity and the people accepted it. Who is to blame? the people who continuously suffer this 'fiscal crisis,' the media which are considered to be profit-oriented in nature, or Pacquiao who wants to save or salvage the country's condition through fist fight?