Recently in Manny Pacquiao Category

"IT'S probably the first time in his life that Pacquiao has lost this publicly," said a friend of mine. "Don't tell me you're feeling sorry for him," said someone else. "I am. Pacquiao's always been the hero, the winner, the idolized. Losing to a girl whom almost no one out of Gen San knew, until she became the person running against him, must hurt," said my friend. "He deserved it." "Well..." "I mean, if Pacquiao had run for a position in the executive branch, he might have fared better. He's just so out of place in the legislative. Seriously. How can a man who bungles his English post-fight interviews make our laws?" "But he's always been the winner," my friend repeated. "And he lost. In front of the entire Philippines. You don't feel the slightest bit sorry for him?" "Was he planning to give up boxing for politics? No. Can you be a good boxer and a good politician at the same time? No. Come on. He was asking for it." "I'm a big fan of Pacman." "So am I! I just think he should stick to boxing." "So do I! I wish he'd never run in the first place." "Not me. It's a good thing he ran and lost. Lesson learned." "That's cruel." "That's life." Listening, I wondered if plenty of other Filipinos were having the same discussion. Differently worded, in different places, but the same. I found myself agreeing with both of them. Is that possible? It can't be denied that Pacquiao has done more to boost the morale of the country than every single senator, congressman, and the First Family combined. But it also can't be denied that Pacquiao has never done anything that hints he would have been a good politician. His fame rests on his humility; politicians need to toot their own horn. Loudly. His fame rests on his charisma -- even when he massacres the English language, we love him. But that's because for a boxer, charisma rests on coming across as one of the masses. As one of those who rose from the bottom to the top. But the charisma of politicians rests on something entirely different -- coming across as the savior of the masses. A politician is not a role model, he is the person who slips the medal around the role model's neck. Pacquiao is a boxer. A very good one. In this case, his loss was a victory -- let's leave it at that, and wish him luck in his next battle. Hopefully, this time it will be in the boxing ring, not the political arena.

THE SPOTLIGHT may be on Manny Pacquiao, but other sports stars are also running for public office in the May elections, including Yeng Guiao and Jerry Codiñera. Here's an excerpt from the Philippine Daily Inquirer article:

Even Jerry Codiñera, named one of the 25 All-Time Best Players in the pro league, has joined the political fray as a nominee of Pwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA), a party-list group that advocates sports development and the welfare of national athletes. "Honestly, many politicians have invited me way back," Codiñera says. "But when a friend conceptualized putting up a party-list for athletes, I could not say no. I have relatives and friends who don't like the idea. But it's for the welfare of the athletes. I don't want to think it's [just for] politics."

BOXING champ Manny Pacquiao is a hero to many Filipinos, but he also now happens to be a candidate. Which is why the promotion of his upcoming bout with Mexican pugilist Jorge Solis is being cited as an "undue advantage" over opponent Darlene Antonino-Custodio. Here's an excerpt from INQUIRER.net reporter Erwin Oliva's Breaking News story, in which an election lawyer said Pacquiao's ads should only be banned in the district where he is running:

"I think we cannot ban the promotion of the boxing match of Pacquiao because it is of national interest. We cannot also ask for a suspension on the airing of his advertisements because these are being shown nationwide and he is running only in one district in Cotabato," lawyer Romeo Macalintal said in Filipino. Unlike actor Cesar Montano who is running for a national position, Pacquiao is a local candidate, and therefore, his advertisements should only be banned in the district where he is running as congressman. Opposition lawyer Sixto Brillantes urged the Commission on Elections last week to stop the airing of Pacquiao's advertisements, citing provisions of the Fair Elections Act.

What do you think?

I WOULD like to propose a debate between Representative Darlene Antonino-Custodio and Manny Pacquiao on all issues: ranging from the economy to issues regarding overseas Filipino workers, etc. And then they could talk to the people of General Santos City about their own platforms. To run for office without direction "ay parang manok na pinugutan ng ulo (is like being a decapitated chicken)." -- DANTE FARAGAS, San Jose, California (via e-mail)