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The Final Score: Manny versus Mayweather. Now, Please!
By MICO HALILI
Manny Pacquiao enters the boxing arena. The crowd erupts. Even in the middle of Las Vegas, he hears the cheers from Filipinos many time zones away. Yet when Pacquiao files his certificate of candidacy, aiming for a congressional seat in Sarangani, he hears neither thunderous applause nor deafening roars. All he gets are curious looks and raised eyebrows. Oh sure the media frenzy never abandons him. Amidst the shower of flashbulbs, however, Pacman has to realize that politics in this country rarely inspires.
Pacquiao has every right to pursue his political ambitions. If his dream is to annex a chair in the Batasan Complex with his numerous title belts, let him chase that dream. Itâs unfair to say that Pacquiao shouldnât run for public office because heâs just an athlete. We sent Freddie Webb and Robert Jaworski to the Senate after all. Itâs likewise unfair to prevent Pacquiao from joining the political derby because he canât quote Hemingway. Eloquence isnât a basis for integrity, you know. There is joy, no matter how fleeting, in watching Pacquiao raise a title belt. Itâs a sight that unites, albeit artificially and temporarily, a country. In contrast, Pacquiao shows off his accomplished COC and the nation shrugs its shoulders. It has little to do with Krista Ranillo. Perhaps Manny can blame every other corrupt politician roaming our 7,100 islands for the lukewarm response. Filipinos love their heroes in boxing gloves. They abhor thieves and alleged mass murderers in three-piece suits. A successful boxer is an honest fighter. A successful politician isâ¦well. A well-fought bout, a well-played game are described as beautiful. A sporting event, league or personality suddenly turns ugly when politics rears its unwelcome head. Politics and sports mix as well as barong and maong. So when Pacquiao stubbornly insists on joining the election Cirque du Soleil, the dissimilarity between Manny the pugilist and Manny the aspiring public official is as jarring as Mannyâs brutal left hook. Thankfully Bob Arum is in town. Letâs get this Pacquiao-Mayweather super bout finalized and let sports distract us from the fatal flaws of some of our government leaders. Efren Peñaflorida and many others like him are doing what they can to make the Philippines get on its feet. Unfortunately, Peñaflorida canât pack cinemas, arenas and barangay plazas the way Pacman can. I wish people would set aside one Sunday in a year for Peñaflorida, Tony Meloto et al. the way they do for any Pacquiao bout. But since Filipinos are more excited over heroes who punch opponents than champions who push kariton-classrooms, Iâm willing to work from there. In these extreme times, Pacquiaoâs higher purpose isnât to peddle Manny Pacquiao versus Roy Chiongbian. Pacquiaoâs higher purpose is to divert attention from politics at the least, inspire national pride at the most. They say Pacquiao versus Mayweather might happen in March 2010. I say March should come sooner. This country needed Pacquiao versus Cotto after Ondoy-Pepeng. It needs Pacquiao versus Mayweather now more than ever after Maguindanao. â GMANews.TV
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