GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines, Feb. 19 KYODO He can demolish an opponent in two rounds and capture the attention and admiration of an entire nation. But despite his immense popularity, Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao is finding that landing a knockout in the political arena takes a lot more than his savage prowess in the ring. Pacquiao, 31, is making a second try for a seat in Congress. Running in the same ticket as presidential contender Manuel Villar, the prizefighter is hoping to be the people’s representative from Sarangani, a province in the southern island of Mindanao. As in his first attempt in 2007, political analysts reckon the odds do not favor Pacquiao. Firstly, he is up against a heavyweight opponent with well-oiled political machinery. Businessman Roy Chiongbian has the backing of influential families long entrenched in the politics of the region and has ties to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her chosen successor Gilberto Teodoro. Regarded as some kind of a demigod in the Philippines for his boxing victories, one would think that Pacquiao could easily parlay his iconic status for a foothold in local politics. Pacquiao has charisma and the typical underdog-who-made-good story that other local celebrities have exploited to the hilt to gain entry into politics. But fans and supporters have been vocal about their displeasure with Pacquiao’s decision to go into the political arena and foray into acting and singing. Pacquiao’s movies flop at cinemas. Jose Javier Reyes, a movie and television director and writer, said Filipinos adore Pacquiao ”as a prizefighter, as an athlete, but apparently not as an actor, singer or politician.” ”People will stop their lives to watch him fight in the ring, but it seems they will not go out of their way to watch him goof around in a movie. He is a real-life hero; not a superhero.” Many of Pacquiao’s fans, and there are legions of them, think he should stay in the ring and not sully himself in the dirty world of politics. ”He is much admired and loved as a boxer, but not as a politician,” said Rudy Cabral, a resident of this city on central Mindanao. Better known as ”Pac-Man,” Pacquiao’s pugilistic prowess has earned him the admiration of a nation that has been in the doldrums for decades because of economic stagnation and widespread corruption. In November last year, Pacquiao wrote history when he won the World Boxing Organization welterweight title by winning a seven weight crown — the first boxer ever to accomplish the feat — knocking off holder Miguel Cotto in the 12th round in Las Vegas. ”Pacquiao’s ring triumphs allowed Filipinos to revel that we are not a nation of losers and a basket case, at least in sports, but during the year (2009), our performance in the economy was less sterling than that in the boxing ring, and we were close to being a basket case in the field of governance,” wrote Amando Doronila in his column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer. The crime rate plummets when his fights are broadcast live as people around the country are glued to the television. Sincerity and a heart for the common man are not lacking in Pacquiao, who literally punched his way out of poverty. But his political naivete, partly due to the fact that he is not highly educated, is self-evident. ”Some politicians treat politics as a business and want to gain power to be able to protect their business. For me, politics is not like that,” Pacquiao said in a recent interview with Kyodo News. ”These days, politicians are equated with corruption. We should change that perception so that when you say politicians, you mean service and help.” Some analysts reckon Pacquiao’s bid for Congress signals his realization that he has already reached his peak as a professional boxer. Comments from his coach Freddie Roach and Pacquiao himself further bolster this. ”I hope to enjoy my winnings from boxing until I retire. My hope is to be given an opportunity to help other people. I’m happy if I’m able to help others,” Pacquiao said. On Feb. 9, the campaign season for the May 10 elections opened. But while other candidates are stumping for seats in Congress, Pacquiao is toiling at Roach’s Wild Card gym in Los Angeles, California, in preparation for his March 13 fight against Ghanian Joshua Clottey. He will be staking his World Boxing Organization welterweight title, which he won from Cotto. ”It’s going to be a good fight,” the 170-centimeter-tall boxing champ told sports reporters. ”I feel really good about this fight. Clottey is a good fighter, a top fighter, and he is bigger than me. I have to prepare for the fight, train hard and focus.” A fresh win will surely boost Pacquiao’s popularity — and worth — as the world’s top boxer. What remains to be seen, however, is whether Pacquiao will clinch his dream of becoming a lawmaker. ==Kyodo
