Home 
Bacolod City, Negros Occidental ? A community in grief after a fire destroyed their homes and killed 17, once again jumped and shouted with joy as they watched their hero Manny Pacquiao defeat Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto in a live widescreen viewing at barangay 19 gym in Bacolod City.
The gym fronts the boarding house that was razed by the deadly Nov. 2 blaze.
Parents and their children waved their hands in the air and shouted at the top of their voices as Pacquiao scored points and finally won, while others on top of the houses they were rebuilding played a victory beat on their galvanized roofs.
They were brimming with pride as they spoke of their idol's latest feat.
Among those who cheered for Pacquio were jeepney driver Ruel Chavez, 45, his wife, Annadella, 42, and son, Jojo.
The couple lost their sons Novie, 11 and Beeg, 6, in the fire.
?We have been in so much grief, but today we are so very happy because our idol won,? Ruel said.
?I am so thankful my idol is world champion again. I will be even more thankful if he visits us and helps barangay 19,? he added.
?Manny's victory has made my heart lighter after all the crying we have gone through,? Annadella said.
?We are so happy and thankful he won, he might donate some of his winnings to help us here,? Jojo Chavez, 15, said.
?Thank you Manny Pacquiao for living up to the expectations of the Filipino people,? Junjun Apila of barangay 19 said, as other residents shouted ?Pacquiao, Pacquiao, Pacquiao? in the background.
?Manny eased the pain of the people over what happened here and for a brief time, he made them forget their problems,? barangay 19 chairperson Jocelyn Uychiat said.
Some 50 houses are being rebuilt in the barangay, according to Uychiat.
The barangay 19 gym served as a makeshift home for the residents after the fire.
She said the live feed to their barangay was provided by the Bacolod City government on orders of Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia.
The Bacolod City government also provided live showings of the fight at packed Bacolod Arts, Youth and Spots Center and in the villages of Banago, Sum-ag, Handumanan, Esterfania, Tangub and Granada.
