Michael Pacquiao at Manny Pacquiao
KUNG mahina-hina lang ang anak ni Pambansang Kamao Manny Pacquiao na si Michael Pacquiao, siguradong bumigay na ito sa mga pagsubok na pinagdaanan niya sa murang edad.
Inamin ni Michael na matindi rin ang na-experience niyang pambu-bully noong nasa high school pa lamang siya sa General Santos City, ang hometown ng kanyang mga magulang na sina Manny at Jinkee Pacquiao.
Sa panayam sa kanya ng news anchor at TV host na si Julius Babao pati na ng vlogger na si Ned Adriano, nagbahagi ang binata ng mga naging karanasan niya noon.
“They thought Inglisero lang. So people thought na ano, na ako maarte, and then wala akong masyadong ano du’n, e, friends,” pahayag ni Michael.
Pagpapatuloy pa ng anak ni Pacman, “I was bullied because of my appearance. I’m not guwapo. No one really wanted to talk to me. Because of my name also. They were afraid.
“Most of the time in school, I would hear… make fun of me, saka they would make fun of my face, my name, tsaka backstab me. Talk behind your back,” ang paglalahad pa niya.
Pero ang pinakamasakit daw, mismong mga kaibigan pa raw ni Michael ang nam-bully sa kanya, “They were pretending to be my friends because yung name ko.
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“People were nice to me because they just wanted something from me. Libre ko sila, like that. In reality they don’t really genuinely like me for who I am,” dagdag pang kuwento ni Michael.
“I was thankful that I had two actual friends there. They were genuinely there for me. Blessed ako dun. I could talk to them, they would ask me, ‘Are you okay?’” aniya pa.
Nagbigay din siya ng advice sa mga tulad niyang biktima ng bullying, “If you listen, dibdibin mo siya, dwell, you would start to believe them. They would be dictating who you are and you would lose yourself.
“You shouldn’t listen to them. Have someone to talk to like relatives, friends. Cancel out the noise. Believe you are not what they say you are. Who are they to judge you?” pahayag pa ni Michael.
Nauna rito, inamin din ng binata na inatake siya ng matinding depresyon sa edad na 16 pero nalabanan niya ito sa tulong na rin ng kanyang pamilya at mga tunay na kaibigan.
Sa tanong ni Julius Babao kung ano ang maibibigay niyang advice sa mga tulad niyang kabataan na dumaranas din ng depresyon, “You’re not alone. Yun ang important part. You can talk to someone about what you feel and don’t let feelings determine your choice of action.
“It’s just a feeling kasi mawala rin naman ang feeling. Yung mali ko, nag-focus ako doon sa sadness,” sabi pa ng binata.
Pagkatapos ng kanyang mga pinagdaanan, nalaman na rin niya ang kanyang purpose in life, “To help encourage, influence, other people.” Ang Diyos na rin daw ang nasa center ng kanyang buhay.
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