Pacquiao's new fight: Save Philippine eagle

By TJ Burgonio Inquirer MANILA, Philippines--He isn’t hanging up his gloves yet. But Manny Pacquiao now wants to focus on a larger-than-life fight outside the ring -- protecting the Philippine Eagle from extinction. The boxing icon bared his plans to help preserve one of the world’s rarest and most powerful birds after he was showered with red, white and blue confetti at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Pacquiao, 28, fresh from his second conquest of Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera in Las Vegas last Oct. 7, flew in early Thursday to a subdued, less festive welcome after a planned motorcade in Manila was scuttled. Mayor Alfredo Lim is going after Pacquiao for his failure to pay P120, 000 in concessionaires’ fees for operating the Knockout Bar, recently demolished along with other unsightly eateries at the edge of Manila Bay that the boxer’s former patron and erstwhile Manila chief executive Lito Atienza had established. Pacquiao denied the charge -- a denial affirmed by Atienza, Lim’s bitter political rival. Now the environment secretary, Atienza nevertheless managed a grandiose red carpet welcome for Pacquiao. He motored quietly to the main office of the DENR in Quezon City after a similar warm welcome in Malacañang led by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. “Thank you for your support and prayers. I got lucky again,” a smiling Pacquiao, clad in a striped white polo shirt, told the throng of well-wishers from a makeshift stage on the steps of the DENR building. “My trademark now is eagle. Because the eagle is endanger (sic) species,” he added, eliciting chuckles from employees. “Let’s protect it, and increase its dwindling population.” Unifier In Malacañang, the President hailed Pacquiao for unifying the nation with his victory. “The whole nation celebrates yet another victory in boxing for our national champ,” Ms Arroyo said. She then led reporters in interviewing Pacquiao, who said he would like to fight every day if it would mean getting Filipinos together as one nation. Atienza himself gave a preview of Pacquiao’s sudden interest in environmental protection when he introduced him to the crowd as “environment ally” in addition to being the “world champ.” Pacquiao, an endorser of San Miguel Corp.’s beer and a host of other products, said he had even asked Nike to put the figure of the eagle, instead of fists, on any apparel that he’d be wearing in public. Atienza said Pacquiao was serious about his new advocacy and had even shelled out an initial P100,000 for the Philippine Eagle Foundation for the conservation of the bird that preys on monkeys, among other meats. The boxer, considered by Ring Magazine as the world’s best “pound for pound” fighter, indicated he would be joining Atienza’s campaign to protect the environment, nurture the habitat of eagles, and raise awareness about these issues. Green plans “I’ll help in the best way I can. I’ll go to places that need to be saved from degradation, and campaign against illegal logging to protect our forests, and plant trees,” Pacquiao later said in a briefing. Toward the end of the briefing, Atienza handed Pacquiao a poster and a pin bearing the picture of an eagle. Pacquiao said he wasn’t retiring yet because he realized that each of his fight had been helping “unite people” in a nation deeply divided and polarized by political controversies. “My fervent prayer to God is to make me an instrument of unity and understanding. Help me spread unity and love,” he said. The boxing champ was joined in the briefing by Atienza and his son Ali, and later on, by former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson. Show biz and reality TV While preparing for his next fight, Pacquiao said he would also pursue his plan to enter college, rejoin show biz and star in a reality TV show. “Prioritize your studies. Wherever you go, if you’re educated, it’s easy to land a job. I’m not encouraging you go into a boxing. I want you to finish school first,” he said when asked for his message to the youth. With reports from Michael Lim Ubac and Tarra Quismundo