HOT POTATO via HOLLYWOOD, California – In an exclusive interview this morning with GMA-7, Manny Pacquiao responds to constructive views that his fellow countrymen have expressed about his less convincing win, if not controvertial one, over Juan Manuel Marquez last Saturday night at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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“Let’s us get rid of that crab mentality by not putting down your fellow countryman,” says Pacquiao as translated from Tagalog.
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While there’s an element of good advise from his statement, it does not mean one must stifle his power of choice and right of independent opinion and , worse, compromise one’s principles. And the same message is directed to writers, broadcast journalists, boxing experts, boxing fans and more.
I just wish Pacquiao should have been properly briefed by his cohorts before he makes statement(s) of such tenor public. I understand his feelings. But, the context of his counsel is like one of a ‘Pope’ on ex-cathedra, who may need further self-reflection.
As for me, Yahoo and Examiner are my payors, not Pacquiao. Yahoo is owned by an American multinational corporation. And Examiner is owned by Phillip Anshultz, an American, who ranks No. 124 based on Forbes.com’s list of World’s Billionaires.
Being an independent writer, I rather stick to objectivity as I am not beholden to anyone. I am not his public relations agent. And my racial background should not becloud my judgment. Of the same distinction, tenacity and adherence to independence like my fellow Examiners who are also Filipinos, Marv Dumon and Dennis Guellermo, I should have been disapproved of my writing association with Examiner especially had I been inclined to favor Filipino fighters without upholding the test of objectivity. And I hope Pacquiao understands that as much as his counsel does.
We, independent writers, are not puppets.
Just like most of us of principle, I work based on ‘inspiration’. And that has nothing to do with my color, backgound and circumstantial-social disparity, so to speak, with the rest of the society. It’s based on my conviction of such ‘inspiration’.
My sincere thoughts tell a lot of my stand: I lavishly praise Pacquiao when ‘inspiration’ tells me so and I constructively disapprove his ways when the same ‘inspiration’ tells me it’s imperative.
For me, Pacquiao, nonetheless, is a product of inspiration worth-beholding but not to the point of infallability.
This, I will continue to assess and explore my discernment as much I can at the altar of ‘inspiration’.
Stay tuned for more!
