Has Manny Pacquiao undergone a spiritual transformation? Or has he just grown up? Or both?

Lately there have been a spate of articles on how Manny Pacquiao has changed his ways — some say at the urgings of Jinkee, others say as a result of a dream in which he had an encounter with God who asked Manny why he was going away from Him.

I had a feeling that the November 12 fight with Marquez would have a meaningful effect on Manny — that it would not be “business as usual” after that, so I’m inclined to believe that the articles are based on substance, and I’m hopeful that Manny has come to some profound realizations about life.

Here is an article by Leo Reyes that sums it up well:

Manny Pacquiao Gives Up Vices, Renews faith in God

Filipino boxing star Manny Pacquiao renewed his faith in God after dreaming one night about his encounter with the Lord who asked why he was going away from Him.

After his latest “encounter with God”, Pacquiao said he decided to give up his vices, including his womanizing, gambling and drinking.

“If I had died last year or in the last two years, I’m sure I would have gone straight to hell,” Pacquiao told Dyan Castillejo of ABS-CBN News. “My faith in Him was there 100 percent but behind it, after prayers, I would still do evil things.”

Pacquiao said he now immerses himself in Bible study and spends more time when not in training with wife Jinkee and his children.

According to the Filipino boxer, the change came after his fight with Mexican counter-puncher Juan Manuel Marquez last Nov. 12 in Las Vegas, Nev.
In the ABS-CBN interview, Pacquiao said in his dream, he was in a forest and then a bright light shone on him as he heard a voice which said. “Son, why are you going away from me?”

“I woke up crying. I remember I was crying in my dream and when I touched my pillow, it was wet,” he said.

Pacquiao, who rose from extreme poverty to become one of the wealthiest and the world’s most popular boxer today, has been tagged by media as a gambler, womanizer and a drinker.

But now, Pacquiao is saying he has given up all these vices and spends more time with his beautiful wife Jinkee and his four children.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao has reportedly chosen Puerto Rican boxing idol Miguel Cotto as his next opponent from a list of four challengers presented to him by his promoter Bob Arum.

Pacquiao’s future foe Floyd Mayweather was not included in the list due to his scheduled time to serve his 90-day prison term for a case stemming from assault on his former girlfriend Josie Harris, who is the mother of his two children about two years ago.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/317950#ixzz1jg2u6f94

To me, this has the ring of truth. I have no doubt that Manny has a deep spirituality — nor do I have much doubt that his lifestyle has not been in synch with his religious and spiritual beliefs. We’ve all had powerful dreams that cause us to wake up in tears — and I won’t “go there” as to whether Manny experienced a dream or a moment with God, that’s a matter of individual faith. But I do believe he experienced an epiphany — and that epiphany was reinforced by the challenges and disappointments that the Marquez fight presented.

What does this mean for Manny’s future as a boxer? I’m not sure, and I’m not sure that I care. He has done enough already to seal his legacy as a world sporting icon. I’m more interested in, and concerned about, whether this means he is about to make the passage from boyhood to being a man …. from the happy warrior (replete with late night who knows what), to a sober, contemplative man with the ability to make a difference in the future of his country, and the “character capital” to see it through to the point where he’s not just a “promise of tomorrow” – but where that promise becomes reality.

I like this new Manny Pacquiao, and if his personal growth in some way diminishes his boxing prowess or success — so be it.