The movie in Pacquiao’s mind

 By Al S. Mendoza

 

IT seems Manny Pacquiao is bent on running for President in 2022.

Already, he has two videos circulating in social media profiling him as, well, a good netizen fit to occupy Malacanang Palace.

I believe more character build-ups are coming.

The national election is still a good two years or so away and you can expect a ton more of publicity stunts in the run-up to the polls.

It could mean additional internet plugs, newspaper items, television appearances, radio guesting—and more.

That has been the old style in Philippines politics for the longest time.

It will be that way today, tomorrow and in the years to come.

We are a nation of personalities, a culture of popularity, and a politics of tarps, billboards and advertising.

Pacquiao fits to-a-tee to all that.

He is famous because of his origins.  Poor as a rat.  Zero.  Climbing out of hopelessness has an immediate heroic effect.

He is famous because of his skill and talent in the prizefighting business. Champ like no other as he is now the world’s only eight-division titlist in boxing history.

He is famous because he became a congressman while reigning as a world boxing champion—the only one in boxing history.

He is famous because he became a senator while holding a record eight world boxing titles—the only one in boxing history.

He is one of a kind because he is what you call a multi-tasker.

Besides being a distinguished senator of the republic and a world champion boxer, Pacquiao also holds several high-impact positions in society.

He is a professional basketball player.

He is a coach of a professional basketball team.

He is a movie/TV actor.

He is a singer, having already recorded ditties on a professional level.

But how can Pacquiao possibly pound the path towards the Palace by the Pasig River?

Two options.  One, on his own.  Two, by President Duterte’s say-so.

If he goes solo—meaning, discarding outside help—it’d be almost a political suicide.

In every political fight, you need a team, an organization.

As I keep saying, while politics is all local, it needs two letters to succeed: M & O—Money & Organization.

No doubt that Pacquiao has the money.  He is a billionaire many times over to begin with.

But without an organization, Pacquiao’s presidential run would be like a car without head lamps: It would travel as blind as Jose Feliciano, if not Stevie Wonder.

His money can buy all the gas that his car needs in the race to Malacanang.

But, alas, without a party to lean on aka Digong’s blessing, Pacquiao will be hard-pressed to reach the finish line.

I’m not discounting an upset.

And, should Pacquiao defy the odds and land in the Palace single-handedly, Hollywood will surely rush to his side and beg, on bended knees, for a film on his life story.

The movie’s appropriate title would be: “From Nothing to Everything.”

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