When Manny Pacquiao boxed his entire country to a halt, the Filipinos glued to their TV screens. When Joseph Schooling was to swim his 100-meter butterfly final on the morning of August 13, my 72-year-old father gently bathed in the community gardens beneath our HDB apartment. Everyone must have their own interests.
Upstairs, like a real sports nerd, I was reading the swim record to my forgotten mother and sister. They are Manchester United fans, their life purpose is to ridicule this Liverpool naughty.
Cheering the beginning of the moment the school education appeared on television, out of his lane, emotionally, but ready. That morning, no party, only the three of us together, fixed in a pool of water.
In less than a minute, it’s over. Education is the first. My mother cheered, my sister. Ed, I snorted. Then, a few minutes later, the school rose to the top of the podium, the television screen to form a striking image.
Singaporeans stand under the Olympic logo, which are five interrelated rings, representing five connected continents. When he raised his hands in the traditional victory position, it seemed almost as if he was lifting his ring.
It seems to say that a child from anywhere in the world can rule the earth. Even if he comes from our planet.
hankeong@sph.com.sg
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This article was first published on Dec 31, 2016.
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