President  Pacquiao

By Al S. Mendoza

I JUST SAW a streamer with the words “President Pacquiao” boldly emblazoned on it.  It was caught by the camera amid the din of Manny Pacquiao’s 8th-round knockout victory over the unbeaten Mexican Jorge Solis on April 15 in San Antonio, Texas.

Before that, the TV camera caught another streamer that read, “Congressman Pacquiao.”

The Comelec had said before the fight that using the fight to promote Pacquiao’s candidacy for congressman of the second district of South Cotabato would be against the law.

With those streamers, was Pacquiao guilty of violating the Comelec rule?

 No.  Pacquiao had nothing to do with those streamers.

In fact, Pacquiao even apologized on TV after the fight that he had no control of people wanting to express their thoughts about his political career.

In short, they were streamers done without Pacquiao’s knowledge.

The streamers were made by America-based Filipinos who deeply adore Pacquiao. 

Can the Comelec blame them for that?

And will the Comelec point a finger on the American cameramen who took shots at the streamers being waved by Pacquiao’s America-based fans?

It would be foolhardy for the Comelec to try to pin down Pacquiao.  The Comelec would have no leg to stand on if it did that.

The truth is, not only America-based Filipinos but the whole world want Pacquiao to become the President of the Philippines.

Pacquiao has become more popular now than GMA.

In stature, the Pacman has become like Ali, or Michael Jordan. Pacquiao’s face has become one of the most recognizable faces on Earth.

In our beloved city of Dagupan, whose face do we likewise recognize the most?

Al Fernandez, right?

Only Joe DV beats him in that regard, but that’s because the Speaker has been a national figure for so long now.

Unlike Pacquiao, though, Fernandez and Joe DV are virtual winners in the May 14 polls. 

The reason is obvious: Their opponents are midgets when ranged against the stature of   both Fernandez and Joe DV.

This election fight isn’t a joyride for Pacquiao as his foe, the charming Darlene Antonino-Custodio, appears formidable simply because her family has been in command of the district for nearly half a century now.

Like Solis, Darlene is also unbeaten.

Still, I believe Pacquiao has the antidote against Darlene-as he always does when facing a tough opponent.

Solis was also unbeaten in 34 fights before Pacquiao knocked him out cold.

And before Pacquiao knocked out Barrera and Morales, the two Mexican legends had never been knocked out in their storied boxing careers.

Always, Pacquiao has this uncanny ability to pull things out of the fire.

How he’ll do it outside the roped arena-that’s the so-called 64-dollar question that Hermie Rivera, the brilliant boxing analyst, wants answered come May 14.

Pacquiao by a knockout or victory on points against Darlene?

Hard to tell but for sure, this is one fight that Pacquiao knows won’t end in a draw.

***

My warmest greetings go to Ermin F. Garcia Jr. for again leading the humble Sunday PUNCH team to winning the “Best Edited Community Newspaper” award from the prestigious Philippine Press Institute. Hep-hep hooray to our team captain!  Cheers!

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/general-admission/)

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