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Philippines, 12 Mar 2026 |
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A CRITICAL CHOICE: PACQUIAO SEEN TO WIN BY "SPLIT DECISION" IN SARANGANI, SIGNALING A "NEW LIGHT" TO CONGRESS By Granville Ampong PhilBoxing.com Fri, 12 Feb 2010  SPECIAL TO PHILBOXING.COM - Amid heated demands for him to bow out of the race, Emmanuel D. Pacquiao stays silent but broadens his base in the grassroots. His calling, for one thing, touches the hearts of the electoral voters than the incumbents. In fact, his foray into politics eloquently meets the challenge of revolution. Without heat, without cant, without despair, he lives in the vortex of the troubled present, swept awash by dissonances of change, radicalism but survives with the rarity of his faith and keeps his perception intact. That's what exactly the culture of politics that our "National Treasure" must tackle in his days of trials in politics and in the sphere of dignity, hope and vision. But, Pacquiao has an exemplary qualities of a leader. Even Monsignor Roger Fuentes vouches the unmatchable kindness and sincerity of a man borne out simplicity and divine fortitude. "He is a very kind person, naturally intelligent and very religious; in fact, he defines kindness by his unconditional acts of helping the poor," says the cleric. In fact, "Pacquiao has brought healing to others who are sick and dying," says Thelma de la Cruz, a fan who hails from Sarangani. On the other hand, a seventy-six years old Filipino immigrant who claims to have received a seventeen-pound turkey says, "I could live longer than I should as long as I could see my living hero." She says she first met Pacquiao when he gave out dressed turkeys to the less fortunate and fans at Temple Park in Los Angeles just before the Thanksgiving week of 2008. She says she grew up Sarangani and left to US 10 years ago upon approval of her greencard under sponsorship of her youngest daughter. Regardless of social class disparity, Pacquiao continues to enthrall the public eye, even the high ranks and the extremists of the Philippines. Rightly so, he is the "saving grace" of the Queen, President Gloria "La Gloria" Macapagal-Arroyo, whose administration is marred by allegations of corruption and misgivings. In the Philippines, whenever he fights, crime drops to zero. New Peoples Army, Armed Islamic militants and peasants in the hinterlands pay homage to the might of the Maharlikan king as he readies himself to fight in the ring at a given moments' notice. Radios on high volume live coverage in native tongue to the ears of the less fortunate penetrate the thin air in the rural areas and in the remote sections - all with a throat-breaking anticipation. Huge attendance of the Catholic masses and other Christian church services all reduce into small groups, if not their schedules are changed to an afternoon celebration to honor Pacquiao's victory. Yes, traffic congestions in the crossroads of Metro Manila and in other major cities, such as Cebu, Dumaguete, Bacolod and Davao, loosen down to at least sixty percent. And there after all, one could see the mysterious conversion of someone having a recalcitrant bent...singing and dancing in jubilance because the old faith of a true Maharlikan has shown to their world a new light in the dawn of hope and moment of inspiration. Nonetheless, he is the pride and joy of the oppressed and repressed. Monsignor Fuentes must be right when he says, "Pacquiao must have the appointment of God to inspire the less inspired and uninspired and the less admired when he claims he heard a mysterious voice of God in his wakefulness at one moment during one of his early days in boxing. Once again, we will not experience the same magnitude of his might as was before but from now on in a much larger scale than ever. His mighty influence upon the lives of the Filipinos, both private and public, is beyond measure. Truly, we need not go beyond our historical experience to judge the man's heart. His heart has brought light to both young and old in matters of gaining new perspective about life's challenges. The perspective of not giving up despite failures and pressures from the outside. Anyone who has lost sight of the inspiration that the modern Maharlikan hero sheds to this generation and onward must have seen the crass hypocrisy of other politicians and lackeys who have become the masters of none and whose lips are laden with promise and hope. But, Pacquiao has done more than just what the Maharlikan nation expects. In fact, he has already exceeded his share of unselfish thread way more a public servant must do. Yes, Pacquiao is the true remnant of the faithful and a catalyst for change in the lone district of Sarangani. What more could Pacquiao do when his simple endorsement to any candidate can even boost one's acceptability in the hearts and minds of the voting public? And what more could he not do to bring change and improvements to the lives of the people he wants to serve? Many of our active participants in the electoral process may have not heard the call out in the midnight cry. In fact, our distinctive message is not often heard anymore because of our likelihood to pre-judge and relegate the best of our judgments to the back burner. But, here is the present truth: Our society needs more than just legislations, which Pacquiao has more than what legislations can offer. Pacquiao is a new light who has a new message. A new, growing movement must take place, which can help and strengthen by whatsoever the political will has to offer. Philippines has been in the state of vacuum, devoid in fact of inspiration since the declining period of influence of Dr. Jose Rizal, whose 1896 military trial and execution made him a martyr of the Philippine Revolution. Nevertheless, Pacquiao, the modern thinking "tao" or man, sends the powerful message of faith across the archipelago, that which he embodies the true spirit of altruism and servanthood. He applies the biblical stand of stewardship and self-sacrifice as he brings to close the gap between the rich and poor at his own intimation. Soon Pacquiao will have to be tested, and the footmen in the campaigns trails and sorties will have their days anew. Even so, Pacquiao has a saving faith experience that will remain fastened to the Most High. He is the man who will go beyond the fellowship and love you find most at potlucks and picnics. He feels that he just cannot abdicate his responsibility of possessing a special gift for public service. His love for public service could bring out the best of Sarangani more than just papers and numbers in the Congress. Conversely, his settling truth ranks the accolades in matters of engaging politics of achievements. Pacquiao himself is an epitome of a new revolution in the altar of achievements. And that's what the lone district of Sarangani needs as it responds to the pulse of the time. Yes, Pacquiao must be ready for a big change in Sarangani. And whether Pacquiao has the full backing of the local leaders of Sarangani, he has the hearts of the people whom he wants to serve. Just as in the same fashion Jocelyn Limkaichong of the first district of Oriental Negros has toppled the Paras dynasty that once ruled for over twenty years and just as when she had no mayors nor local incumbent leaders nor barangay captains to add up in her campaign sorties, Pacquiao will have to adopt the same strategy and have the beat of his feet and of his true henchmen be heard in the hinterlands to win the hearts and minds of the people in much the same way the grassroots must mobilize proactively to guard the sanctity of their conscience and of the rest of the voting public. "Vigilance is the key," says another immigrant who just came back to US from his vacation in Sarangani. He says he also joined the MunaTo Festival, a celebration of the rich cultural heritage of the province with the most number of native Blaan and Tboli residents, who love Pacquiao and regard him as the "Pearl of Sarangani". MunaTo is a Blaan term for “first people". However, honesty of Pacquiao's leaders will have to be tested whether they are really for Pacquiao and for the people or just for their deep pockets in anticipation of the huge campaign fund for this 2010 national elections. "Beware of those "fake defectors" and self-serving sycophants," says Ricky Torres who hails from the second district of South Cotabato where Pacquiao lost his congressional bid in 2007 by a margin of about 40,000 votes to Darlene Custodio. Torres said, "Pacquiao does not have the best political machinery, but he has the hearts of the people of Sarangani at this time." Torres just had his two months vacation with his family in South Cotabato and also spent a month in Sarangani where he claims to have a small farm of pigs and cows. He said Pacquiao has a chance to win his congressional bid in Sarangani, at least according to his friends and relatives who are residents in the said district. He further said Pacquiao is hot prospect to become a good congressman and the leaders there are better and faithful that what Pacquiao had in the first district of South Cotabato. "They are more God-fearing and simple in living," he opines. "Pacquiao should keep his candidacy and I know he will win by split decision this time." This writer just hopes that when the political dusts settle in the late night of May 10, 2010, Pacquiao will come out in the tally victoriously. Note: Granville Ampong writes also regularly as a broadsheet columnist for Nevada Examiner, California Examiner and as an investigative journalist for Manila-US Times. You may send your comment(s) to granvilleampong@aol.com. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Granville Ampong.  |
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