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COMMENTARY: PACQUIAO IN PHILIPPINE MEDIA, POLITICS - PART 2 By Patricio P. Diaz PhilBoxing.com Thu, 25 Jun 2009  II. Pacquiao in Politics The Pacquiao mania has also exposed Manny?s weakness: Either naivety or egomania [also: extreme self-esteem]. This makes him vulnerable to opportunism and pretense. Obviously, either he is made to believe or he believes that as ?king of the ring? he can also excel in whatever endeavor he will choose to undertake. As a singer, the media reports, he has already made two albums and he wowed his fans in a solo concert at the Mall of Asia right on his arrival from Los Ageles last May 8. He will soon go into the show biz. In sports, he has been honing his skills in billiard and dart. Of course, he is not the only multi-gifted super athlete, Developing his many talents and excelling in them should be Manny?s private concern ? just like his boxing prowess. His success will earn for himself more money and honor; for the nation, pride. But his entry into politics is another matter ? political leadership being a public concern. Strong Resolve Two attributes ? ?popular? and ?moneyed? ? could have aroused Pacquiao?s political ambition. That he is popular and moneyed is true. That he will make a good political leader is debatable. Also debatable is: Will his popularity and money make him win an election? The question was answered in the 2007 election. He ran for congressman in the first district of South Cotabato that includes General Santos City. He lost miserably. The defeat only whetted his resolve: That did not mean he is not a good leader. His rabid and avid supporters must have egged him not to give up. Last December, he organized with them the People Champ Movement as his party with him as president. As of last May 7, the Commission on Elections has accredited PCM. Pacquiao?s party is his strong political statement: There is no stopping him now despite that some cabinet members, senators, congressmen and bishops are discouraging him. Politics is not his forte, they tell him; even if it is, he can not be in the ring and Congress at the same time. If he sticks to the ring, he will continue reaping for himself money and honor while making the nation proud. On retiring from the boxing, he can enter politics. Wise and well-meaning may the advice be, it must be contrary to what his intimate advisers are telling him. Obviously, either they are keeping from him these liabilities or they are telling him only what he wants to hear. To reiterate: As he is either made to believe or he believes he is a good leader, will his political party, popularity and money make him win in the 2010 election? This must be weighed well. If he is a good leader and wins, good; if not, and he does not win, still good. But, if he is not a good leader and he wins, woe unto the people. Obsession So far, what quality of leadership has Manny Pacquiao shown? His heart bleeds for the people. He said in 2007 and has repeated it a number of times that he pitied the poor, so he wanted to be a congressman to help them. In short, serve the people! This is the obsession of all politicians ? from the barangay kagawad to the President. But after their election, who do they serve first? Themselves, their patrons, and their partners in interest! Look at how the government money is spent. Metaphorically, they feast while the people wait for the crumbs. If Manny Pacquiao has this obsession, he does not have to be congressman, governor or mayor to help the poor whom he says he pities. Right now he can use his millions to seed a foundation for the poor. In 2007 or earlier, he could have. How much did he spend for his 2007 congressional bid? It must have been tens ? if not hundreds -- of millions. Had he given that money to civic or religious institutions to help the sick, the homeless, the street children, etc., he could have done more for the poor than any member of Congress could claim or show. Letting all know his concern for the poor but not helping them when he can bares a frame of mind common among politicians. It gives a glimpse of the quality of leadership he truly possesses. More Had Manny Pacquiao initiated with his first earned millions through civic or religious institutions projects to help the poor ? the social class he came from ? and funding more with his subsequent winnings, then he could tell all without blinking that he is entering politics to truly help more the poor. The odds are people may believe that he is different from the common breed of politicians so well known in the Philippines. On the contrary, as a nouveau riche, he has a penchant for mansions, for lavish parties graced by top officials of the land and other VIPs and the social elite from Manila. The latest was the birthday extravaganza he gifted his mother in General Santos City last Friday, May 15 ? a son?s expression of love and gratitude to his mother that even minus the glitz is to be appreciated of any mother?s son. Don?t get us wrong. Let it be clear: In his private life, any person can do what he wants to. That is nobody?s business. This is true of Manny Pacquiao. But in politics any person compromises his privacy. What he does in his private life cannot be disassociated from considerations to determine the kind of public official he is. That, too, is true of Manny Pacquiao as an aspiring politician. In all probability, his close advisers would not tell him what people might think of him when he finally struts in the political arena. A few may be na?vely unquestioning; but many, if not most, are perceptive. Surely, they will differentiate between Manny the boxing champion and Manny the politician; they will weigh his pity for the poor against his penchant for mansions, lavish parties, the rich, the powerful and the Manila elite. Their perception and judgment will determine whether their option on May 10, 2010 will either elate Manny Pacquiao and his leaders or stun them. Will 2010 reverse the 2007 debacle? The Odds It appears that Manny Pacquiao is avoiding a return bout against the Antonino-Acharon team. As persistently reported, he has changed his residence to Kiamba so he could run for the lone congressional district of Sarangani. If he does that, can he unseat Rep. Erwin Chiongbian of the Chiongbian-Dominguez alliance? Disregard the educational or professional qualifications. Manny Pacquiao might belong to the class of a few who have distinguished themselves in elective offices despite their lack of college degrees. Leadership can be earned outside of schools. However, this deficiency is a liability. Can he overcome it with his money, popularity and party? Manny Pacquiao is a multi-millionaire. From at least one more fight before the 2010 elections, he will earn more millions. Can he match the wealth of the Chiongbians and the Dominguezes? Manny Pacquiao is popular. But the Chiongbians and Dominguezes are more popular in Sarangani for what they have done to make the province progressive. Will the people of Sarangani trade their tested political leaders for a politically untested boxing idol? Manny Pacquiao has a political party, the People?s Champ Movement. Can PCM, with all the media hype it has been getting ? boosted by the Pacquiao mania -- match the well-entrenched Chiongbian-Dominguez political machine? How organized is PCM now? So far this we know: Manny Pacquiao is president; Mayor Reyanto Constantino of Malungon, executive vice president; Sarangani Board Member Raul Martinez from Kiamba, secretary-general; and Pacquaio?s legal adviser, former GSC Kagawad Franklin Gacal, Jr., principal backer. Can they organize the PCM down to the precinct level like the Dominguez-Chiongbian segment of the Lakas-MCD? They have less than 12 months to do this in time for the May 10, 2010 elections. As critical as well-oiled political machinery are bailiwicks. Constantino?s bailiwick in Malungon is Pacquiao?s. Does Martinez have the same to offer in Kiamba? Incumbent Sarangani Rep. Erwin Chiongbian is from Kiamba. Will the oppositions in the five other municipalities in Sarangani support Pacquiao? How strong are they? These are among the odds stocked against Manny Pacquiao in Sarangani. Intentions PCM has no platform yet. However, its constitution and by-laws reveal what it intends to do (Inquirer.net: ?Pacquiao party more poll spending ? Comelec?, May 5):
All politicians are wont to impress the people with grand intentions to win votes. PCM shows Pacquiao and his supporters are not different. Can these intentions eclipse what the Chiongbians and Dominguez have accomplished in Sarangani? Except Intention No. 5, what Pacquiao and PCM intend to do must have been done by then Gov. Priscilla Chiongbian and continued by Gov. Miguel Rene Dominguez. PCM sounds presumptuous by Intention No. 5. Can any local government do that? The PCM is going to make the people of Sarangani choose between its intentions and the on-going progress under Dominguez administration. The odds are stacked against Manny Pacquiao. Bottomline This is not to dissuade Pacquiao from jumping into the political arena. He must be aware of the odds stacked against him. If he can overcome the odds, he will win. Winning, can he be counted among the new breed of politicians sorely needed to reform the unjust, morally bankrupt political system? At present, we have serious doubt. He, his leaders, his endorsers and his party mirror Philippine politics today. Pampanga Gov. Eduardo ?Eddie? Panlilio, when asked -- should he decide to seek the presidency -- if he might coalesce with Pacquiao said that it is necessary to conduct a serious scrutiny of the PCM and the people behind it. (Philippine Daily Inquirer, May 5: ?They will coalesce with Paquiao party if??) By the time the election campaign season starts, the PCM platform; supporters and leaders will be fully known for the people of Sarangani should seriously scrutinize. Will they still mirror Philippine politics today? * * * Photo: Pacquiao (with garland) during a speaking engagement in Malungon, Sarangani. Go to Part 1 of this article. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Patricio P. Diaz.  |
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