A Legend Speaks for a Rising Star: Manny Pacquiao’s Powerful Words About Alex Eala Ignite National Pride.IH
“We are proud to be Filipinos.” Manny Pacquiao thrilled and astonished audiences worldwide when he mentioned Alex Eala and spoke with such overwhelming national pride. Manny expressed admiration for young athletes like Alex who have brought honor to the Philippines on the international stage.
His words sounded almost like a public stand in her defense against the harsh and selfish criticisms circulating these days. Alex was moved to tears—she never expected a legend to speak her name with such pride—and she responded with heartfelt gratitude, making Manny smile nonstop.
In a heartfelt social media post that instantly went viral, eight-division boxing champion Manny Pacquiao declared, “We are proud to be Filipinos,” while showering praise on 20-year-old tennis prodigy Alexandra Eala for her historic run at the 2025 Miami Open.
The message, posted at midnight Manila time, caught millions off guard as Pacquiao highlighted Eala’s stunning victories over world No. 2 Iga Świątek and No. 5 Madison Keys, calling her “the new flame carrying Philippine pride across the globe.”
Pacquiao, now 46 and serving as a senator, rarely comments on individual athletes, making his emotional tribute feel like a thunderbolt of national validation for a sport long overshadowed by basketball and boxing in the archipelago.
He wrote that every powerful forehand Eala struck reminded him of his own underdog battles, adding that young athletes like her prove “the Filipino heart beats stronger when the world doubts us most.”
Many interpreted the post as a subtle yet powerful defense against recent online trolls who accused Eala of being “overhyped” after early-season losses, with Pacquiao essentially telling critics to back off the teenager.
Within minutes, screenshots flooded Filipino Facebook groups from Los Angeles to Dubai, with overseas workers posting crying emojis and writing “Salamat, Senator Manny!” under photos of Eala celebrating on court.
Eala, training in Spain when the post appeared, saw it during a late-night scroll and immediately burst into tears in front of her team at the Rafael Nadal Academy, according to her brother Miko.
She responded with a simple but tear-streaked video on Instagram Stories: “Senator Manny, you made me cry at 3 a.m. Thank you for believing in me. I will keep fighting for our flag.”
The clip showed her holding back sobs while clutching a small Philippine flag pin, a gesture that melted hearts across the nation and pushed #ThankYouManny to worldwide trending status.
Pacquiao reposted her reply within seconds, adding a string of smiling emojis and the words “Keep smiling, kid. The whole country is smiling because of you tonight.”
Filipino sports analysts noted that Pacquiao has mentored Eala since she was 16, quietly arranging extra training sessions with his strength coaches whenever she visited Manila during holidays.
He once famously told reporters in 2022, “Watch this girl. One day she will do for tennis what I tried to do for boxing,” a prophecy now echoing loudly after her Miami heroics.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. quoted Pacquiao’s post on his own account, writing, “Two legends reminding us why we stand tall. Alex, the nation is with you every swing.”
Vice President Sara Duterte called Eala live on national television, joking that the entire Davao City would declare a holiday if she ever wins a Grand Slam title.
Major brands scrambled to capitalize on the moment: Nike Philippines released limited-edition “Eala x Pacquiao” shirts featuring both athletes’ silhouettes beneath the words “Proudly Filipino.”
Bench, the country’s largest clothing chain, announced it would dress Eala for all future tournaments and donate a portion of sales to grassroots tennis programs in public schools.
Even international stars joined in; Rafael Nadal commented three fire emojis under Eala’s tearful video, while Billie Jean King wrote, “This is why we play: to make an entire nation proud.”
Back in Manila, bars in Poblacion extended happy hour until dawn as fans toasted “to Alex and Manny,” turning the tribute into an impromptu national celebration.
Eala later told reporters she had saved screenshots of Pacquiao’s message as her phone lock screen, saying, “Every time I feel tired, I just look at it and remember 115 million people believe in me.”
Pacquiao, known for his stoic demeanor in the ring, admitted in a radio interview that reading her reply made him “smile nonstop for an hour,” something his wife Jinkee teased him about endlessly.
The exchange has reignited conversations about the next generation of Filipino athletes, with many calling Eala the rightful heir to Pacquiao’s mantle as the country’s global sports ambassador.
As Eala prepares for the clay-court season, coaches say she now trains with extra fire, often shouting “Para sa bayan!” (For the nation!) after practice points, a direct nod to Pacquiao’s influence.
For a country that has long celebrated collective struggle and triumph, the Pacquiao-Eala moment feels like a passing of the torch wrapped in tears, pride, and unbreakable belief.
Millions now await her next match, knowing that every ace she serves carries not just her dream, but the resounding echo of a boxing icon who once told the world the same four words: We are proud to be Filipinos.
