Boxing icon turned politician, Rep. Manny Pacquiao
With the kind of voter’s mentality that we Filipinos are known for, world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao as vice president in 2016 is not a far fetched reality.
During the tumultuous crowd of Mexicans welcoming the Pacquiao-Marquez world press tour, the Filipino icon said that, “Come 2016 I am going to run for vice president… no more boxing at that time.”
I would like to think that Pacquiao, now a congressman from Sarangani, sounded too presumptuous for his own good, but then he is not really known for his arrogance or uppity attitude even now that he has added politics to his luster of achievements.
Thank goodness that 2016 is still five years away for him to gain more knowledge and improve himself if he wants public service to be his life after boxing. With his known determination and fortitude, Pacquiao can be what he wants to be.
It’s not a bad idea that he plans to run for governor in Sarangani province in Mindanao after his stint in congress and before he finally sets his eyes for the vice presidential race in 2016. It is an excellent experience and test before embarking on a bigger responsibility in the executive branch of governance.
Pacquiao’s sincere and unpretentious ways have endeared him to his boxing fans worldwide. The same traits are drawing a lot of followers for the concern and service he is doing to his constituents as a novice congressman.
He has been performing a lot better than those who have been congressmen for a long time and are simply good at grandstanding (like movie actors turned politicians), and making a dynasty out of their coveted positions.
To think that Pacquiao has started honing his higher education and knowledge of parliamentary procedures only very recently, too, is quite amazing. One would think that the enormity of things to be learned would overwhelm his poor upbringing and uneducated self.
But Pacquiao is made of a different stuff. His propensity to improve and his ability to absorb and make perfect what has to be learned to become better and to excel has been proven in his quest for boxing greatness.
What makes Pacquiao head and shoulder above his peers in congress is his big and kind heart that knows how to empathize with the poor and impoverished and understands what has got to be done.
His exposure in congress coupled with his plan for the governorship in Sarangani province in the future are apt baptism of fires that will make him an excellent vice president of this country.
He has made enough money and continues to make oodles of money to last him his lifetime and that of his children’s.
It is simply heartening that the fire in his guts now is not about beating foes and winning more belts, but helping the poor in this country earn their worth and making this country respectable again.
If a politician-lawyer, a plain housewife, a military officer, an actor and an economist can’t turn this country around, maybe a champion boxer can.
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