Filipino boxing champ Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao on Tuesday said self-discipline will help him juggle his boxing career and his possible role as congressman if he wins in the May election.
Fresh from his knockout victory over Mexican fighter Jorge Solis, the boxing star faced reporters Tuesday morning at the Manila City Hall together with fellow boxer Bernabe Concepcion, the World Boxing Council youth super-bantamweight champion.
“Ipagpapatuloy ko pa rin ang pagbo-boxing dahil unang-una, karangalan ng bansa ‘yan. Para sa lahat ‘yan hindi lang para sa akin. At ‘yan ang hanap-buhay ko. Wala kasi akong balak na gawing hanap-buhay ang pulitika (I will still continue my boxing career because first of all, it brings pride to the country not just to me. Boxing is my bread and butter. I will not make a job out of politics),” Pacquiao said in a press conference.
He denounced detractors who said he could not juggle careers in boxing and politics at the same time.
“Kaya ko naman ‘yan basta magkaroon lang ng disiplina sa sarili. Kung dati nga ang dami kong ginagawa nagkaroon pa ako ng time sa lahat, ‘yan pa kaya na dalawa (boxing and Congress) lang pagtutuunan ko ng pansin (I can do both as long as I have self-discipline. If I could attend to so many things before, how much more if I just focus on those two things)?” he said.
Pacquiao is running for the congressional seat in the first district of South Cotabato under President Arroyo’s Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino party.
His opponent is the district’s incumbent Rep. Darlene Antonino Custodio, whose family had dominated South Cotabato politics for at least 20 years.
The boxing champ lamented that for 20 years he observed that no significant changes took place in his home province, aside from the mansion he built in General Santos City for his family.
He said he plans to build a bigger airport and hospital in the province if he wins in the May congressional race.
Pacquiao said he would respect the outcome of the May elections and even support Custodio if she wins. “What is important is that the winner will help, support and bring joy to the people,” he said.
Pacquiao flew home Tuesday morning to a cheering nation after his knockout victory over Solis Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila).
Pacquiao, his wife Jinky and members of his team arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Centennial Terminal 2 on Philippine Airlines flight PR113 from Los Angeles, California at 4:35 a.m. He was welcomed by Manila Mayor Lito Atienza.
From the airport, he proceeded to Manila Hotel for a brief respite before proceeding to Manila City Hall for a scheduled press conference.
The adopted son of Manila also paid a courtesy call to Mrs. Arroyo in Malaca?ang before leading a motorcade around the capital around 10 a.m.
In their meeting, Mrs. Arroyo said she hopes her husband, Jose Miguel, would be as brave as Pacquiao as the presidential spouse recuperates at St. Luke’s Medical Center after undergoing a high-risk open-heart surgery.
DZMM reported that both Pacquiao and Concepcion received an undisclosed amount of money as cash gifts from the President. The palace also presented a cake shaped like a boxing glove with a Philippine flag design.
Pacquiao earlier expressed his desire to visit the first gentleman in the hospital.
No undue advantage
Thousands of people lined the streets of Manila to cheer for Pacquiao. Colorful confetti rained down on the motorcade as it wound its way through the streets, causing traffic to grind to a halt.
The Commission on Elections earlier dismissed speculations that the motorcade would give Pacquiao undue advantage over his opponent.
COMELEC Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. said Pacquiao deserved to be given a hero’s welcome, which is not restricted under present election laws.
He, however, said that there should be some limitations when it comes to media interviews during the event. With reports from DZMM, The Philippine Star (first posted April 17 at 11:51:43 a.m.)
