PHILIPPINES–Superstar boxer Manny Pacquiao might be on the verge of a knockout loss at the polls against incumbent Darlene Antonino-Custodio. Latest counts show the well-loved Pacman trailing the petite and highly-educated Antonino by a mile.
But Philippine boxing has its share of winners at the polls too.
Take the case of the solid Pinol Brothers in North Cotabato, them of the lineage steeped in boxing pedigree.
The most popular of them all, North Cotabato Governor Emmanuel Pinol, who started out as a sports journalist years ago, has just ended his three terms, but won at the polls as the new vice-governor of the province. He has vowed to continue supporting the province’s boxing programs, which he has ably done in the last several years, in tandem with his new governor whom he had feverishly supported and won, Gov. Sacdalan.
Pinol’s brother Efren has also won the Mayorship of Magpet, one of the towns in North Cotabato. Efren is just one of the boxing fans in the Pinol family, a fixture in all boxing events held in the province.
Another brother Lito also won as Mayor of the town of M’lang, thus ensuring another big boxing supporter in the province.
But the biggest win belongs to yet another brother, Jun Pinol, who has just upset big names in winning the Congressional seat of his district.
“To those who prayed and contributed their efforts, our family’s victories are dedicated to you,” said Soc Pinol, youngest brother of the Winning Four, in a message to supporters. “My brothers’ victories are also victories for boxing in our province. We can now continue to enhance boxing in our area,” added the younger Pinol.
The Pinol brothers have been supporting amateur boxing in North Cotabato, while at the same time managing the careers of such upstarts as Jundy Maraon and Glen Gonzalez, among many
