Pacquiao for president in 2022?

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

 

WHEN Top Rank Promotions boxing czar Bob Arum told some sports scribes that Filipino boxing icon Senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao is planning to run for president in the Philippines in 2022, the news turned viral among sports and political netizens. As expected, there were pros and cons about it. Pacman admitted that they had conversation recently but denied talking about politics. “I did a Zoom telephone call with him and said, “Bob, I’m gonna run in 2022, and when I win, I want you here at my inauguration,” Arum affirmed.

Pacman entered politics in 2007 and ran initially as representative of the First District of South Cotabato but was knocked out by a lady politician, the former mayor of General Santos City Darlene Magnolia Antonino Custodio, the great granddaughter of Senators Gaudencio and Magnolia Antonino. He then moved to Sarangani province the following year and ran again as representative, and this time won in the lone district of Sarangani province. He was reelected twice beating the politically well-entrenched Chiongbian clan that had been in power in Sarangani for more than three decades. After serving nine years as congressman, he ran for senator in 2016 for the first time and won receiving more than 16 million votes to land seventh overall of the 12 elected senators out of 50 candidates. Pacman’s term as senator will expire on 2022 and qualified to run as a reelectionist, but if Arum’s words are to be believed that Pacman will likely seek the highest position of the land. If elected, then Pacquiao will be the very first professional boxer in the world to clinch a country’s highest office since prizefighting was born. As many are wont to say, that’d be easier said than done. I agree.

The eight-division champion Pacman, 41, is not only a boxer and lawmaker but also a devout Christian and been very vocal regarding his faith. He described his success in the ring through hard work and attributed it to God. In fact, he authored the law called “National Bible Day” to be celebrated last Monday every month of January purposely to help unite the government, entertainment, business and the religious on this special day.

To him, the Holy Bible is the cradle of the Christian faith and the manual to life, adding that it is the only book we need to discover the truth to walk with God. I agree. He also said that he had 100,000 Bibles printed and to be distributed. But honestly, I seriously doubt that those who will receive the Good Book will read it at all. Most would rather read and watch movies on their cellphones than to read the words of God.  For this, I believe this is the reason why we’re suffering from this COVID-19 pandemic because God is so jealous and indignant because instead of reading His Holy Book to know more about and learn His words, many prefer to spend time with their gadgets.

Anyway, this talk about the presidency doesn’t make sense to me. I think Pacman was absolutely right about the National Bible Day that he authored. But about the presidency bid on My 9, 2022? If he asks me, I’d say run first as vice president to gain from the experience before seeking the highest political ladder of the land.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 1 PETER 2: 12

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