Many found the presence of politicians bearhugging, crowding and photo-opping with Manny Pacquiao after his victory disturbing. I’m not one of them.
His victory speech calling for national unity — with Mike Arroyo by his side — struck many as a rehearsed endorsement of the Arroyo administration. I don’t think so.
But I have to admit. I found it most reassuring to hear Manny declare that he and politics are no bedfellows and that he would never allow himself to be used by politicians.
“Nobody told me to say that there should be national unity… That statement came from my heart,” he said in a radio interview.
As the world’s reigning superfeatherweight champion, Manny is being pulled in different directions and offered an array of options all leading to a post-ring career in politics. He is being courted to promote Charter Change, run for mayor in Saranggani province, or at least neutralize the opposition in General Santos.
So far, Manny has politely demurred, thanks but no thanks.
Manny today reminds me of Nora Aunor in the 70s when she was starting to make a name for herself, when smiling came naturally, and waving to fans was almost an act of extreme flamboyance. This was before the image makers took over and fashioned her into a Little Brown Barbie and dictated what she said, what she wore, and who to fall in love with.
In Malacanang before President Macapagal Arroyo, Manny wore a simple striped shirt and a pair of ill-fitting jeans that bulged in the wrong places. I like it that he insisted on being himself rather than suiting up in an Armani and looking like he was wearing a hand-me-down from a rich padrino.
The euphoria over Manny’s triumph reminds me of the 1986 bloodless revolt that swept Corazon Aquino to power and ended nearly two decades of dictatorship that sank the country deeper into despair. Filipinos held their head fractionally higher, proud of their nation and what it was capable of achieving when the people stood united.
So far, signs point to a business-savvy Manny, juggling one product endorsement after another and launching his own line of sportswear to be called ‘MP.’ The www.mannypacquiao.com domain remains under development. It won’t be long before it is up and running.
Well and good. It seems Manny is looking to grow his fortune that sprouted from the cutthroat world of professional pugilism.
But please no partisan politics for Manny.
I think I speak for many Filipinos who pray that Manny remain pure of heart, humble, polite, his own man no matter that there are hordes of hangers-on trying to cast their lot in the re-making of Boxing’s newest Million-Dollar Baby.
He does not owe his victory to the politicians who cheered him on in Vegas, nor does he owe them a debt of gratitude for being by his side when it mattered most. It sure was a great morale booster– especially for one who grew up dirt poor and survived selling pan de sal on the streets of General Santos City — to have by your side prominent and influential people. Manny has thanked them enough and that’s that.
“No politics for now; let’s focus on sports,” Manny was quoted as saying.
As for the hordes of Pacquiao followers, let’s hold on to these famous words for now and pray that he follow through as in the time he vowed to knock out Morales and kept his word.
