Pacquiao runs against Chiongbian, prepares for second political round

Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao only had 24 days to campaign when he ran for public office the first time.

Apparently, he has learned his lesson. For the forthcoming May 2010 elections, he has begun preparations as early as 2008. After all, he’ll be up against Roy Chiongbian in Sarangani’s congressional race. Chiongbian belongs to an influential political clan in the home province of his wife Jinkee. Roy was chosen to replace his brother, Erwin, whose third term will end on June. Their father, the late James L. Chiongbian is considered as the father of the province, having helped pass House Bill 0046 that created Sarangani as a separate province from South Cotabato in 1992. Priscilla, the family's matriarch, was the province’s first governor. Pacquiao is running under his party People's Champ Movement which is aligned with Nacionalista Party while Chiongbian is the administration party Lakas-Kampi's congressional bet. Long preparation In late 2008, Pacquiao registered at the Comelec office in Sarangani’s Kiamba town where Jinkee is a resident. This was around the time that the boxing superstar was quoted on a television interview that his congressional bid in Sarangani was “final, no retreat, no surrender." As early as June last year, Pacquiao's party ran out of application forms as Sarangani residents scrambled to support the boxer in his congressional bid. [See: Sarangani folk scrambling to join Pacquiao political party] standard bearer Senator Manuel Villar Jr. believed that Pacquiao is more mature and more ready than he was for this second attempt for a House seat. "Sa palagay ko handang-handa na siya ngayon kesa noong unang sumubok siya. Ibang iba na siya ngayon, mas mature na siya at alam na niya ang gagawin (I think Manny is well prepared this time around, he is more matured than he was, and knows exactly what to do)," the presidential bet told reporters during Pacquiao's arrival from a victorious fight against Joshua Clottey in the US. He said the NP would provide Pacquiao with all the assistance he will need for the campaign. Asked if they will help the "Pambansang Kamao" with his finances, Villar said "hindi naman siya nanghihingi (he's not asking for it)." Chiongbian has a legacy to count on While Pacquiao has staked his popularity, Chiongbian has bet on his family’s legacy. “Bentahe ko e ang pamilya ko (my family) is well known here. In fact, yung father ko ang author ng bill to make Sarangani a province (My father was the author of the bill that made the province). Bentahe ko in the sense na kilala kami ng mga constituents (Our advantage is our constituents) know that we are here to serve them," he said. He even boasted that his family helped “make" the province. Before Sarangani became a province, local officials had to travel for 12 hours and endure bad roads just to get to Marbel, the previous provincial capitol at that time, Chiongbian said in a mixture of English and Filipino. But this inconvenience disappeared when Chiongbian’s father successfully made Sarangani a province, a move that also made the capitol nearer to local officials. At this point, Chiongbian turned the tables on Pacquiao. “Based on that, he wants to run here para makatulong pero last elections saan ba siya tumakbo? Kung gusto niyang makatulong sana pumunta siya dun sa dating tinakbuhan niya at dun siya tumakbo at tumulong (He said he wants to help residents here, but during the last elections, where did he run for office? If he really wanted to help people, he should have run again in the same province)," he added. Although it would be difficult to match Pacquiao’s popularity, Chiongbian said that his skills as a successful businessman can be useful for public office. “In public service, you don’t have to work to get the funds because the funds are already there," he said. “All you have to do is manage the funds and put it where it is more favorable to your constituents." However, Chiongbian knows that skills alone won’t cut it, admitting that he is not confident of beating the boxer. At the same time, he is confident that his constituents will not vote for somebody who is popular but can't give them good service “which our family has given them." “Ever since, what we’ve offered is not monetary value but service," Chiongbian said. “Our constituents are aware of how we served them." Despite the involvement of his family in Sarangani politics, he clarified that there is no dynasty in the province, adding that they allow other people and even help them gain political power. He named reelectionist Sarangani Governor Miguel Dominguez as one of the friends his family helped. In a separate interview with GMANews.TV, Dominguez expressed confidence that Chiongbian will win against Pacquiao. Infrastructure developments such as bridges and roads have helped transform the region, which “used to be such a backward area in South Cotabato." “The Chiongbians…are responsible for almost all of the developments, major developments in the infrastructure in Sarangani," he said. “Never has any incident or stain in their careers as public servants and that is one of their edges, their integrity." He added that in the past elections, Lakas has continuously won at least 97 percent of the seats from the municipal level to the province. “We’ll come out victorious in this election." Manny should stay in boxing Dominguez said a lot of Filipinos want Pacquiao to remain as a boxing champion. But he has a different opinion regarding Pacquiao’s move to seek public office, a sentiment shared by Chiongbian’s supporters. Romeo Neniel, a taxi driver in General Santos, said Pacquiao should have become a councilor or mayor first before setting his eyes on a seat in Congress, adding he did not vote for the boxing champion back in 2007, believing the latter is not yet ready to be a lawmaker. “Antaas ng Congress, gagawa ng batas. Kung mayor o councilor, implementer siya. Idol ko siya sa boxing pero hindi naman suntukan ang papasukin niya sa Congress (At the House of Representatives, you craft laws. As a mayor or councilor, you implement policy. He’s my idol in boxing but he won’t be boxing in Congress.)," he said in a talk with GMANews.TV Voters will vote Pacquiao for a change But the boxing idol’s supporters believe otherwise. They see Pacquiao as the person who will bring them out of their poverty. Sarangani is the 18th poorest province in the country. Sexagenarian Elizabeth Mendoza, one of the Maasim residents who flocked to the town plaza to see Pacquiao during the mini-rally there Friday, told GMANews.TV she would vote for the "Pambansang kamao." "Mabuti si Pacquiao, nagbigay ng scholarship sa pamangkin ko (Pacquiao is kind because he gave a younger relative a scholarship)," she said. The Chongbians “have not given us anything," she added in Filipino. Her sentiment is shared by 46-year old Teresita Daghoy, who says the Chiongbians haven’t done anything yet, Daghoy said in Filipino. Gasoline station service crew Renato Quimpan said he will vote Pacquiao to try someone new. “Si Pacquiao dahil bago, yung mga Chiongbian matagal na sila dito pero walang pagbabago (I will vote Pacquiao for a change)," he said. Maasim mayoral candidate Jun Albores, a former supporter of the Chiongbians, said Sarangani needs a change in leadership. “Meron naman silang nagawa pero dapat magbago na tayo," said Albores, running under Pacquiao’s People’s Champ Movement. She advised Sarangani residents to vote based on merits and conscience. A learned Pacquiao? Political analyst Benito Lim said Pacquiao is in different situation now than when he was upagainst Custodio. "Noon hindi niya naiintidihan ang pulitika, namimigay siya ng balato akala niya magta-translate into votes. Hindi niya naiintindihan na mayaman din ang mga Custodio. Ngayon nakikita na niya ang problema, may organisasyon na siya (Before he did not understand the inner workings of politics. Now he does. He has already an organization)," he told GMANews.TV. He said Pacquiao has studied the political landscape and got people who will secure his mass base to campaign for him and guard his votes. "Hindi na katulad noong araw na kinuwartahan lang siya. He has a good chance now dahil pinag-aralan niya yung kakulangan niya," Lim added. The Ateneo de Manila University political science professor said Pacquiao connection’s with Villar will work to the former’s advantage. "Mas magbebenepisyo siya kay Villar kesa si Villar sa kanya (He would benefit more from Villar than Villar from him). There will be people now who will watch over him," he said Lim said Pacquiao's generosity and humility are also plus factors. "Chiongbian comes from a rich family, some may think that they are running to protect their interest and family business while with Pacquiao, who appears generous, if he gets money he will not keep it, he will distribute it to the people," he said. But if Pacquiao's endeavors outside the ring will be the basis of whether he will get the votes he needs or not, it seems not that positive. The boxer's scheduled concert in Hawaii after his fight with Clottey was canceled due to low ticket sales [See: PEP: Manny Pacquiao's concert in Hawaii canceled] His recent movie 'Wapakman' was also a flop. [See: PEP: Director of Pacquiao's Wapakman reflects on the film's poor showing at MMFF] Earlier, a Pulse Asia survey showed that Pacquiao carries the proverbial 'kiss of Death" and voters will not support the presidential candidate he will endorse. [See: Pulse Asia: Aside from Arroyo, 3 personalities carry 'kiss of death'] - LBG, RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV