BY RONNIE NATHANIELSZ

WE were just about ready to wade into a newly appointed sports official for his obvious ignorance of the Constitution, which guarantees that Fil-foreigners, without exception, are Filipinos, and enjoy all the rights and privileges of Filipinos.

What is even more galling is the fact that this same official had problems running for a congressional seat because he was allegedly not considered natural born and had to get his Filipino wife to sit in. Yet, he would effectively discriminate against Fil-foreign athletes, who have served our country well and more than made up for the miserable failure of most of our so-called sports leaders. But, in fairness to him, he has moderated if not changed his original position, obviously feeling the backlash of his statements and has, in the short time since he assumed his post, done some really commendable things. We will leave that for another time.

But then, thank God with all our hearts for Manny Pacquiao. He pulled us away from writing a bitterly critical column and made us realize that perhaps, it?s time for us to pay attention to those who lift our spirits beyond belief and send a message to us that indeed there are Filipinos of remarkable achievements and immeasurable class who deserve our attention because they fill our hearts with joy.

As we sat down to write a critical piece, we received an e-mail from London of pictures showing Pacquiao attending Sunday Mass at Westminster Cathedral in the heart of London. They were truly amazing photos and told a story of unbelievable faith of the Filipinos in this sporting icon of epic dimensions.

Hundreds of Filipinos crowded around Manny as he left his hotel and then arrived at church. Their pride in the achievements of this truly outstanding Filipino was mirrored in their faces but it was not just pride in what Manny has done in the ring that drove them, but perhaps even more so what he has done outside in terms of helping the poor, providing hope for the near hopeless and inspiring others to overcome the hardships of their own lives and to realize that with strength of will and an unshakeable faith in God, they shall indeed overcome.

The British media was full of Manny Pacquiao. Indeed, they couldn?t seem to get enough of him. And as always, they were enthralled by his smile, his simplicity, his charm and his down-to-earth disposition. Here was the acknowledged greatest fighter in the world today showing not a trace of arrogance or a demanding nature so often displayed by athletes and individuals of far less achievement and diminished stature.

When Manny showed up at the Trafford Center in opponent Ricky Hatton?s hometown of Manchester where he is a hero, the Guardian reported that in an event designed to give Hatton momentum ahead of the Las Vegas showdown, it was Pacquiao who arrived and departed to the more thunderous roars of approval.

Filipinos, who live and work abroad, have always been a tribute to our country by the manner in which they conduct themselves which often is in stark contrast to how some of them at least behave when home. Through the years they have flocked to provide the morale boost for our athletes as pool legends Efren ?Bata? Reyes and Francisco ?Django? Bustamante can testify in all their travels abroad. Such is the bond among Filipinos who take genuine pride in achievers and go out of their way to demonstrate they care and that they are justifiably proud. It?s not like politicians who have to buy crowds, feed them and pay them an allowance in a patently false attempt to show the support they really don?t have. Our people have long seen through that charade.

Pacquiao was oh so different. Mercifully so. In Manchester, some 2,000 Filipinos traveled from all over Britain just to be there to get a glimpse of their hero. We were told that whenever a clip of Pacquiao appeared on a giant TV screen, they roared and waved banners proclaiming their love for Pacquiao. As the Guardian so correctly?and fairly? pointed out, never have Hatton?s band of supporters been so overwhelmed. There were cheers for Hatton, too, but he was the first?like the gentleman he is?to admit that the afternoon belonged to Pacquiao.

Nobody comes even remotely close to the man who must surely be acknowledged as the greatest Filipino athlete of all time and someone who has earned the love, admiration and respect not only of a nation he unites in unbelievable fashion, but a world aching for decent men who are among heroes who come along once in a lifetime. He truly fills our hearts with gladness. And on a personal note, we take immense pride in having been the very first to introduce Manny Pacquiao as ?our certified national treasure.? Surely, there isn?t anyone as precious as he is to all of us.