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Pacman: No Retreat, No Surrender By Fidel D. Banzon PhilBoxing.com Fri, 16 Feb 2007 Why ask Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao not to pursue his ambition to become a congressman? Is there a law that prohibits his intention to serve the people? If none, why tell him to forget his noble purpose? If you were in the situation of the Pambansang Kamao who in his honest belief can do more as representative to Congress, will you agree with the mere speculations, surmises or conjectures of some persons who believe they are correct? Why disagree with the decision of Pacman when nobody among us could justify that he couldn’t be a good lawmaker. There is a saying “don’t judge the book by its cover”. Some politicians disagree with the decision of Pacman and simultaneously do not want to change the Constitution. While our Constitution allows a person to become a candidate must only know how to read and write, no one among us has the right to tell others not to join the political squabbles. It is a right protected for each of us who wish to do can do. If really we do not want to see undergraduates to enter politics, first the Constitution should be changed. Without changing the Constitution it may become more a perennial problem every election period comes. There will be many more millionaires who are undergraduates that will join politics. A person who may win the lotto can join politics, be candidate. Who knows Pacman becomes a good lawmaker and sets an excellent example to persons having no college degree to run for President of our country, then who can stop him from aspiring to be? You politicians should change first the Constitution and set what educational attainment can a person be before becoming a candidate for any political position. Just imagine employees in the government are required to have certain level of educational attainment before being hired, while the lawmaker position only requires one to know how to read and write. So, my advice to Pacman is to go ahead, go on with your desire to serve the people and keep that slogan “Kung nangako kailangan tuparin”. Show those politicians that what they can do you can do too, not only in the boxing ring. You know Congressman Eufrocino M. Codilla Sr., is a high school graduate but he has done more things in the 4th Legislative District of Leyte than those who first held the said position. It was his sincerity to serve the people that made him a successful congressman. Do not listen to those opposing your candidacy because their discouragement to you will not help the people. I believe you have a better grasp of the English language than other college graduates who do not know spoken English. I had seen you having been interviewed by American journalist and you can answer them in English. So be confident that if others can do it you can do it too. One thing you must remember is for you to be shrewd, listen while others are talking, and analyze every words or sentence before making your reply or decision. By so doing you will be going to the right direction. Pacman and me are onboard the same boat, because I am also an undergraduate, nothing to boast for except I can read, write and speak the English language. Are you? (Email g_duna@yahoo.com) Pacman; politician? Why not? Manny Pacquiao has no difference with Senator Bong Revilla Jr., Jinggoy Estrada, ex-senators Tito Sotto, Ramon Revilla Sr., and other artists who became politicians, they have one in common, artist. A boxer is also an artist who knows the art of boxing, Pacman knows more than the art of boxing; he is a singer and has been acting in advertisements, what more do you want for a person to become a politician? For me, Pacman is an undergraduate, but former Senator Blas L. Ople is also undergraduate, but he not only became senator, he was Secretary of Department of Labor, Department of Foreign Affairs. He had been Provincial Governor of Bulacan. What makes a person politician is not the degree in college or university. It is not mere popularity but the character of a politician that the voters want to be their leader. In the 4th Legislative District of Leyte, Congressman Eufrocino M. Codilla Sr., is a high school graduate, but he served Ormoc City as mayor for three consecutive terms. He is now in his second term in Congress. Why voters like him as leader? It was the way he perform the task or responsibility assigned to him under the law. He is a man who abhors killings. He has the inborn feeling of loving his neighbor that he was able to adopt himself into working with all level in life, poor or rich. It is the desire of a person and how he does that desire that becomes a quality of a politician. That is the reason there were politicians that could not stay long in politics because of the desire, that I may not call evil, but a desire to serve less the ability to pursue such desire. Pacman may have the desire to serve the Filipino people, but would it be possible for him to fulfill such desire? In an interview over Channel 3 ABS-CBN TV, he said he wants to unite the Filipino people. That desire may only be possible if he will be launching his candidacy as an independent, not with any parties, because being a candidate of any party has already that distinction of being one-sided, hence contrary to his desire to unite. His desire must not be to unite the nation, but to serve the people whatever political color they may have, that he could be candidate of any party. Uniting the nation could not be done if a politician ran with a party because there is the multiparty system. So, to say to unite is already wrong because the multiparty have their different programs that uniting is impossible. At any rate, if Pacman really wants to toss his hat in the political arena, I suggest he runs for the senate, congress, city or municipal councils, instead of running for vice mayor. His academic knowledge would not be good for vice mayor who has the responsibility to preside over the council. It would be better for him to aspire as senator because he has all the chances of a sure-win. In the senate who can be just like the other senators who are not performing very well. Only thing he must remember he must be very careful in listening to his advisers because he may end his career in a bad light, the way some politicians became to be has been politicians because they listened to some of their advisers though bad. If Pacman decides to be a politician he has all the chances to be one and that chance knocks only once. Go ahead Senator-to-be Pacquiao; join the senate where you belong like other artist the way they were. (Email g_duna@yahoo.com) ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Mr. Fidel D. Banzon is a columnist of Leyte Samar Daily Express, a regional daily paper in Region No. 08 and residing in Ormoc City. He is a Board Member of the People's Law Enforcement Board (Pleb) and member of the City Peace and Order Council (Cpoc). He is a mere second year high school dropout and presently attending classes at Asian Development Foundation College, Tacloban City, to secure a degree in AB Journalism. He abhors persons who despise undergraduates; hence this opinion printed in his column ORMOC UPSIDE DOWN. He is now a septuagenarian (70) and has some 40 years experience in journalism.) Click here to view a list of other articles written by Fidel D. Banzon. |
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