As he spreads his political wings, Manny Pacquiao needs a mentor something like Coach Freddie Roach has been for him in the boxing ring.
Pacman gets sworn into office on June 30 in Manila and it could be a New Dawn for the poverty stricken Sarangani Province. There’s plenty of oceanfront property in the province and fertile agricultural areas but the citizens of Saragani have no hospital and no college to serve the population.
I’m betting, not based on any insight into Filipino politics but on the character of Pacquiao, that he will be a success in his political role.
Politics is the art of the possible and pragmatists fare better than doe-eyed dreamers. Pacman is nothing if not pragmatic.
As far as a political “cornerman,” Pacquiao should look for someone like President Obama’s White House Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel.
British newspaper Daily Telegraph is reporting today that “Rahmbo” may leave the administration due to alienation from and disenchantment with extreme “idealists” who also surround Bam Bam.
If Emanuel, who uses the stick and sometimes forgets the carrot, leaves it will be Obama’s loss. The Chicago backroom, frontroom and sideroom wheeler-dealer gets things done in ways that the dreamers cannot.
(I’m Michael Marley and I approved this message.)
Clearly, rambunctious Rahm Emanuel has or had President Obama’s ear, now will Manny Pacquiao have Filipino President Nonoy Aquino’s ear? (Radioislam.com)
I’ve met Emanuel briefly, at a Manhattan law office, and discovered he’s an avid fight fan. Maybe Bob Arum and Pacman can invite him to sit ringside at the Mayweather-Pacquiao bout. Surely, the high level operative would dispense some great political tips to the Pinoy Idol.
Here’s Pitbull Emanuel snapping at the opposition, especially BP Oil apologist and Congressman Joe Barton on ABC’s “This Week:”
“Do you think that BP is the aggrieved party here? Do you think that Wall Street should be left alone and not have any reforms?” Emanuel said. “Elections are about choices. Those are what is fundamental. There is a difference in our philosophies.”
The voters in Sarangani made a choice and they chose Pacquiao to hopefully take their impoverished lives in a better direction.
As proof positive of Manny’s pragmatism, look at how he recovered from the drubbing Dazzling Darlene Antonino-Custodio gave him in his initial electoral foray. Darlene beat Pacman like a drum in Gensan and money Manny “put on the street” stayed inside the pockets of various hustlers he was foolish to trust.
Pacquiao’s wise wife, Jinkee, swore that they would not get fooled a second time.
So Pacman switched gears, hired new operatives and other advisers, and shifted his campaign out of hometown Gensan and over to neighboring Sarangani.
Down goes billionaire Roy Chiongbian in a massive defeat. Down went the other oligarchs bonded to the Chiongbian clan.
Pacquiao took his political lemons and turned them into lemonade. Pacman’s team turned the Chiongbian machine into David Diaz, taking a licking and barely ticking.
(It must be said Diaz has a better sense of humor than Old Roy.)
Another excellent piece of art from the talented pen and brush of John Paul Raloto
Now his political slate is wiped clean and he’ll begin writing on it in July.
Perhaps the biggest reason that Manny will make it at high levels in politics is that he knows what he doesn’t know.
Moving among the wealthy, the powerful, Pacquiao will build bridges with people who can deliver a hospital, a public university, clean drinking water and other benefits to Sarangani.
The rich, the powerful they want to trade on Pacquiao’s fame.
The fighter/politician realizes that and welcomes it but only for a price.
Pragmatist Pacquiao, who may master the art of the possible, can become president of his beloved homeland if he wants to.
Over time, he may decide he can do more outside the confines of Malacanang Palace.
But, if anyone thinks he’s going into Congress as somebody’s puppet or figurehead, they’re wrong.
Pacman is his own political man, owned by no person and no party.
It may be a rollercoaster ride but now the downtrodden and denied have a voice.
And that voice can’t be silenced by money or any other corrupting influence.
Only Manny Pacquiao owns Manny Pacquiao.
And that’s his “Manila Ice,” his most dangerous weapon in politics.
(Next: An American role model for Pacman’s burgeoning political career).
