SINGAPORE – The Filipino nation’s ecstasy over the emphatic victory of Manny Pacquiao over dethroned welterweight champion Miguel Cotto has reached this tiny city nation hosting the Asia Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) summit.

Although she missed the fight, President Arroyo cheered the latest triumph of Pacquiao, citing his courage and determination worthy of emulation by the rest of Filipinos.

The President was unable to watch the record-setting bout since she was attending the last day of summit of Pacific Rim leaders here.

She only learned of Pacquiao's victory from close aides, according to Press Secretary Remonde.

"President Arroyo joins the entire nation in rejoicing over the unprecedented victory of Manny Pacquiao over Miguel Cotto. Once again, Filipino grit and determination triumph over great odds,” Remonde said.

Remonde added that Pacquiao’s victory should be an inspiration to Filipinos that there is no limit to success “for as long as we work hard, put our hearts and focus our minds to achieve our goals.”

"Manny trained long and hard, imposed stringent self-discipline, persevered, and above all, has always placed himself in the hands of God. I hope we all learn from his example so that, together, we can also move forward as a nation," he added.

While their boss was in the middle of the APEC meetings, Remonde and other cabinet members in the President’s delegation watched the fight in their hotel rooms.

After the game, the President’s men rushed to Shangri-La Hotel to accompany the President in the first Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-United States summit with President Barack Obama.

Even Filipino workers in Singapore also settled to watch their idol Pacquiao on pay-per-view in their homes while others dined in restaurants airing the sports event.

Back in the Philippines, in Antipolo City, regular Sunday morning churchgoers at the Antipolo Cathedral apparently opted to stay home instead of fulfilling their religious obligations to watch the match on television.

Lay ministers at the cathedral of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage said mass attendance has decreased for almost half of the regular masses starting at 9 a.m. Sunday.

SPO4 Arnold Octavio, assigned to the tourist police outpost outside the cathedral, said the usually crowded compound of the cathedral during for the morning Sunday masses was almost empty Sunday.

The setting up of a giant television screen at the city park just outside the cathedral compound for a free public viewing of the live feed of the boxing match has also apparently contributed to the decrease in church attendance.

Police officers patrolling outside the cathedral said even incidents of pickpockets and swindling, two common petty crimes reported almost every Sunday at the Tourist Outpost, were gone at least Sunday morning.

Crowds watching the match on the giant light emitting diode (LED) television screen cheered not only when they see their idol scoring punches against Cotto but also when they see a gay round girl appear in front of the screen.

The free live viewing was sponsored by City Mayor Nilo Leyble and Representative Robbie Puno, and the crowd at times reacted when a short audio visual presentation of the two local officials were inserted before the match started.

“Akala ko ba walang commercial break? Bakit may ibang pinapalabas,” an old man at the back of the crowd reacted.

Traffic flow along M. L. Quezon Avenue was heavy as motorists parked their vehicles along the roadside to catch a glimpse of the boxing match.

Some fans climbed up trees and roofs of houses near Dimasalang Park to get a better view of the match.

In Cavite province, the police also reported zero crime and smooth traffic, according to the Cavite Police Provincial Police Office Tactical Operation Center (CPPO-TOC) as the radio communication unit assessed the situation during the Pacquiao-Cotto fight day.

“There was no crime incident; the only report here is the apprehension of a drug suspect in a town.

There were no homicide cases and other major incidents during the day. There was also no traffic accident,” said a TOC officer on duty.

The TOC is a unit which monitors crime incidents and receives communication reports from police stations and other offices in the province’s 20 towns and three cities. It is the only office at the CPPO building that is open on Sundays.

CPPO officials said the fight days of boxing icon Pacquiao and other world title champions, which are usually set on Sundays, have always helped the police in terms of peace and order through the years.

Zero-crime incident and smooth traffic flow were also reported during the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Juan Manuel Marquez fight last September.

Residents said that traveling time from Imus town proper to the Redemptorist Chruch in Baclaran, Paranaque, and vice versa during the Pacquiao-Cotto fight day was only 30 minutes.

Traveling time between the two areas during rush hours is about one-and-a-half-hour.

“Napakabilis ng biyahe; sana ganyan lagi,” Tina de los Reyes, an office executive who lives in Imus, said. De los Reyes travels by bus everyday to Manila where she works.

Cavite is the most populated province in the country. Daily traffic is heavy particularly in the Bacoor and Imus areas.

Almost all residents watched the Pacquiao-Cotto slugfest on television, although a wide-screen television was even set up at the Bacoor town plaza for residents to watch the fight.

Political leaders also joined in extolling Pacquiao’s virtues led by Senator Manuel “Manny” Villar.

“Congratulations on your astounding win over Puerto Rican boxer Miguel Cotto. Today as you set a new world record, you inspired our people to keep trying to make the impossible happen.

“When you stepped into the ring, there was no doubt in our mind that this fight will bring glory to our country. We have seen how hard you trained for this fight and no other man is more ready and more deserving of the seven world titles that you carry now on your shoulders.

“Thank you Manny, for giving this nation who have been battered by back-to-back calamities, a reason to celebrate and stand proud of the Filipino race,” Villar said.

Houe Speaker Prospero Nograles, in a text message sent all the way from Las Vegas, said that just like the rest of Filipinos all over the world, he shares the pride in Pacquiao’s victory because it has hosted the Philippine flag anew with honor, and has given the country great honor.

“I am glad I flew all the way here, proud to be a Filipino [with] the Philippine flag up high,” the House leader said.

“He (Pacquiao) is the best fighter in the world now. Everyone says he is a machine and he can’t take a punch. It’s a no-fear man really,” he added.

“They say Vegas has not seen a good fight in a long time,” he said.

Bangon Pilipinas leader Bro. Eddie Villanueva also sent his congratulations.

(Reports from Genalyn Kabiling, Nel Andrade, and Anthony Giron)